Holly Pond residents Ben and Jena Mayo were recently selected for the 2018 Farm Credit Young Leaders Program.

The Mayos, member-borrowers of Alabama Farm Credit, were among 27 agricultural producers chosen.

The Mayos attended the program on behalf of Alabama Farm Credit. They celebrated the completion of the program in Mount Vernon, Virginia, with Stan Ray, Farm Credit Bank of Texas Chief Administrative Officer and Tenth District Farm Credit Council president.The 13th annual program began with visits to a Wall Street brokerage firm and the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation. Together, Farm Credit’s customer-owned co-ops provide more than $261 billion in financing to farmers, ranchers, rural homeowners, agribusinesses and other eligible borrowers nationwide.

Next the group traveled to the nation’s capital to exchange ideas with public officials. While on Capitol Hill, the Mayos discussed policy issues with Rep. Bradley Byrne and congressional staff. That same day, the Senate passed its version of the farm bill, setting the stage for a compromise bill of this vital agricultural and food legislation.

At the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Business–Cooperative Service Administrator Bette Brand and others talked with the group about USDA programs tailored for young ag producers.

The five-day program ended with a visit to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s innovative farming and milling operation.

“This annual program is one of the ways we support young and beginning agricultural producers,” said Ray. “Participants are chosen by their local lending cooperatives, and come home with a new appreciation of the role Farm Credit plays in agriculture and rural communities across the country.”

The Mayos both grew up on family farms. In addition to running their own cattle operation, Ben works for Ingram Farms and Jena is an instructional coach with the Cullman County Board of Education. A former Good Hope Middle School science teacher, Jena also is a repeat winner of the Cullman County Secondary Teacher of the Year award. The couple has a son and two daughters.

The Tenth District Farm Credit Council is the regional member of the national Farm Credit Council, the trade association that works on behalf of Farm Credit cooperatives and their member-owners.