Eleven bankers have completed the 2022 Wisconsin Bankers Association Agricultural Lending School, which was held Aug. 10-12 at the WBA headquarters in Madison. The WBA Agricultural Lending School’s rigorous curriculum includes case studies, a farm visit, and in-class work and discussions. The individuals who completed this year’s school are:
- Cassandra Baeten, Ag Portfolio Manager, Bank of Luxemburg
- Cody Belken, Credit Analyst, Royal Bank, Dickeyville
- Riley Carson, Ag Loan Officer, Community Bank, Vernon Center
- Hope Francis, Credit Analyst, Community First Bank, Platteville
- Chris Greenwood, Branch Manager, Waumandee State Bank, Arcadia
- Heather Hafften, Ag Loan Officer, Peoples State Bank, Dickeyville
- Marissa Hanley, Agricultural Credit Analyst, Nicolet National Bank, Seymour
- Mara Hird, Residential Relationship Manager – AVP, Peoples State Bank, Wauzeka
- Jamie Horsfall, Agricultural Relationship Manager, Peoples State Bank, Fennimore
- Rayanne Walker, Agricultural Credit Analyst, Nicolet National Bank, Eau Claire
- Amy Bloczynski, AVP/Branch Manager, Waumandee State Bank, Black River Falls
“I am happy to congratulate the bankers who recently completed the WBA Agricultural Lending School,” says WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels. “Agriculture is integral to Wisconsin’s economy, and having highly professional ag lenders who understand the needs of our farmers is key.”
Farming is both a specialized industry and high risk when it comes to financials. That’s why one of the core functions of the WBA is the Agricultural Lending School. This is a hands-on seminar for members to get a handle on today’s ag markets and farm balance sheets. The association’s director of education Lori Kalscheuer tells Mid-West Farm Report about enrollment numbers and curriculum for this year’s cohort.
The program was led by faculty Bradley Guse, senior vice president, agribusiness banking at BMO Harris Bank, Marshfield, and Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, professor and UW-Extension farm management specialist, UW-Platteville. Participants built their knowledge and skills around current trends in agriculture, borrower/lender relationships, farm business financial modeling, and best practices in lending.
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