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No. 6 Large Company: AgFirst Farm Credit Bank |
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 An AgFirst Farm Credit Bank value is putting its focus on its employees.
“We want our employees to feel like part of our farm credit family,” said Steve Francis, vice president of human resources. “I think that gives us a special feeling that is not as typical as with other places to work.”
As part of the Farm Credit System, the nation’s largest agricultural lending organization, Columbia-based AgFirst as assets of more than $26 billion. AgFirst provides funding and financial services to 23 farmer-owned financial cooperatives in 15 Eastern states and in Puerto Rico.
These cooperatives, operating as Farm Credit and Ag Credit agricultural credit associations, provide real estate and production financing to 80,000 farmers, agribusinesses and rural homeowners.
In business since 1916, AgFirst is headquartered in Columbia, where its 300 employees enjoy a number of company benefits. Those include a 401(k) plan with dollar-for-dollar matching, tuition reimbursement, annual and sick leave benefits, a casual dress code, medical benefits and on-site health screenings.
“AgFirst values each employee, and we demonstrate that by providing training and benefit programs that have resulted in a workplace with high morale, many long-term employees, and a strong team spirit,” said Andy Lowrey, CEO and president of AgFirst. “Our people are highly dedicated and talented, with a strong connection to both the company and its customers.”
“We recently put together our vision and core values,” Frances said “When we design programs around core values it helps us focus on our success.”
Those values are integrity, service, leadership, performance, kinship and diversity.
The company’s greatest lesson learned is how individual employees are treated, Francis said.
“We continue to work with our managers on recognizing employees, bringing fun to the workplace, teamwork and cohesion. The programs are really the icing on the cake,” he said.
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