“At the end of the day, FCS Financial wants me as a farmer to be successful—and I really, truly feel that they will do whatever they can to make that happen.” -Tim Barnes

As a recent college graduate, Tim Barnes was eager to invest in a new ethanol plant going up near his farm. “I thought that’d be a great opportunity for me, as a farmer, to help create a market for what I grow,” Tim said. The only problem? As a young farmer, Tim didn’t have the cash to make this investment.

Lending a Hand

That’s when he turned to FCS Financial. It created a program that supported farmers who wished to invest in the new cooperatively owned plant. Tim’s family had been FCS Financial customers for four generations, and borrowing money to invest in the ethanol plant was just the beginning of Tim’s own personal relationship with Farm Credit. In the years to follow, Tim would take on his family’s operation, Barnes Farm, and now grows corn and soybeans in Mayview, Missouri.

From lending to other financial resources, FCS Financial meets Tim’s needs. “I never have a problem asking my loan officer any kind of question because I know that if she can’t help me herself, she’ll put me in touch with those that can,” he said. 

Farm Credit Difference

Tim also appreciates the role that Farm Credit plays in his local community. “It’s quite common to see Farm Credit employees out at functions supporting the community, whether it’s at benefit auctions or the county fair,” he said. “FCS Financial has their feet on the ground, day in and day out, helping this community.” 

Reflecting on the years he’s done business with FCS Financial, Tim said, “At the end of the day, FCS Financial wants me as a farmer to be successful—and I really, truly feel that they will do whatever they can to make that happen.”