AgAmerican Spotlight: Erin Smith
Since joining AgAmerica in 2019, Erin Smith has advanced in her role at the company to support the American Farmer, now serving as Director of Client Growth and Relationship Management.
Erin Smith didn’t always want to work in finance. Before joining AgAmerica, her main financial experience involved what she had learned through her family’s relationship with their long-time agricultural lender. Her real passion is in agriculture, an industry she’s grown up in and developed a deep respect for.
At AgAmerica, we take pride in our people and the values that drive them. Interested in learning more about her background, we asked AgAmerica’s Director of Client Growth and Relationship Management, Erin Smith, what led her to AgAmerica and keeps her showing up for our clients each and every day.
Here’s what she had to say.
Why Erin Smith Chose AgAmerica
After college, Erin began working at the county farm service agency, assisting with disaster relief programs for local producers. It was in this role that her passion for supporting the agricultural community truly took root, as she realized how much was required of producers outside of their day-to-day farming and ranching responsibilities. Erin grew to love consulting with them and seeing the positive impact of resources on their operations.
AgAmerica reached out to her about an open position, and from the very beginning, it was clear that the AgAmerica team shared her commitment to helping farmers and ranchers succeed. The alignment of values and vision felt like a perfect match. Since then, her five-year journey with AgAmerica has allowed her to make a meaningful impact within the industry she loves.
Erin and the rest of Class 13 of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Emerging Leadership Development Program.
Erin’s Background and Role at AgAmerica
Erin’s deep roots in Florida’s agriculture community have shaped the way she approaches her role here at AgAmerica. She has a genuine understanding of our clients and what they do. Staying up to date with the market on commodities across the board is paramount. Through her network, Erin is always keeping an eye out for opportunities to provide financial relief. Raised in a farm family herself, she values the rich traditions that agriculture brings and holds a passion for ensuring that she plays a role in keeping these traditions alive. Instead of focusing on current financial needs, Erin takes a long-term approach to ensuring the sustainability and success of an operation for generations to come. Being able to carry on the heritage of being an agriculturist is what encourages her to serve the agriculture community and to provide the best service to each of our clients.
Erin delivering beef purchased by AgAmerica from a Youth Fair Steer Project to a local food bank.
As Director of Client Growth and Relationship Management, Erin manages her current clients and engages with farmers, ranchers, and landowners in the state of Florida to evaluate any financing needs AgAmerica can fulfill. She strives to foster long-lasting relationships with each client by understanding their operation, current needs, and long-term goals.
She feels that she has the privilege of serving the best industry and clients out there. “We get the chance to be a part of an industry that is so humble yet so vital to our nation. What a blessing that is,” she explains. “There is nothing easy about farming or ranching, but our team has a goal to make their experience with their ag lender as easy and seamless as possible.”
During Erin’s time at AgAmerica, she has seen so many instances where our financing solutions positively impacted the farming community. Some of her favorite moments have been when the team has thought outside of the box to build custom financial structures that were unique to the client instead of trying to fit them in a box that wasn’t right for them. AgAmerica largely values family farms and strives to set up each client for lasting success. According to Erin, “It’s neat to see clients now being able to smoothly transition their operation and finances to the new generation.”
Erin’s Community Involvement in Agriculture
Aside from financing, Erin also plays a critical role at AgAmerica as a helping hand to support farmers in the best and worst of times. “Agriculture in the Southeast has really been hit hard by natural disasters in the past few years, and AgAmerica is always willing to lend a hand in any way we can,” she says. One instance that she’ll always remember is AgAmerica’s efforts after Hurricane Ian. Immediately after the hurricane hit, AgAmericans led an all-hands-on-deck effort to help not just our clients but also the severely impacted community. AgAmerica collected an abundance of supplies and provided meals for first responders, current clients, and farm employees in the community. “It was a team effort,” Erin recalls. ”And not one person on the AgAmerica team hesitated to help out. AgAmerica is there for the ag community in the good times and the bad. Witnessing this mission live out and being able to play a part in it was so rewarding.”
Erin volunteering at the Holley-Brewer Adaptive Rodeo, where special needs children participate in a variety of rodeo events such as barrel racing, goat tying, roping, and whip popping.
Erin’s role at AgAmerica is also tied in with a myriad or community involvement initiatives. She grew up raising livestock to show through the FFA and 4H, which has instilled a passion for youth in agriculture. She believes that being involved in each of these organizations instilled all of the core values she has today. Each year, AgAmerica supports our youth in the community by contributing or purchasing their fair projects. The meat from any animal purchase is donated to a local charity organization.
“It’s very fulfilling to be part of a company that supports the future of agriculture and makes a difference with the food security issue in our community. When we support young people in the ag industry, we are supporting the future leaders and innovators in agriculture.”
Erin Smith, AgAmerica’s Director of Client Growth and Relationship Managment
Erin volunteering with the Polk County Young Farmers and Ranchers to glean blueberries for a local producer. All blueberries were donated to a local food bank.
AgAmerica’s Role in the Future of Agriculture
Erin is very excited about the future of agriculture and how AgAmerica plays a role in shaping it. She loves to see that people are finally waking up and understanding the dire need for agriculture in America. She believes that there’s still a long way to go, but feels that our farmers and ranchers are finally starting to get the recognition they truly deserve.
“It truly is such a thankless job, yet producers continue to work tirelessly to provide food and fiber while being stewards of the land,” she says. Part of what makes Erin proud to be an AgAmerican is how the company truly values the clients we serve. Not only are we dedicated to providing financing solutions that fit their needs, but we also use our platform to advocate for these farm families by sharing their stories and promoting the importance of this industry. “Founded by an entrepreneur, we are always evolving to provide the best products and services to our clients,” she explains. “Nothing about agriculture is consistent, and our client’s resilience surely doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s our duty as lenders to keep up with the current state of the industry and be in tune with where it’s going. It’s exciting and rewarding to be able to be a part of it and to be a resource for family farms and ranches across the U.S. for generations to come.”
“At AgAmerica, I am a part of a team that all have a common goal to serve farmers and ranchers in America. We all share similar core values, work ethics and most importantly, a passion for sustaining the future of agriculture in this great country. I wouldn’t want to be a part of any other team or industry.”
Erin Smith, AgAmerica’s Director of Client Growth and Relationship Managment
Join the AgAmerica Family
Partnering with a financial firm that understands the unique challenges and opportunities in U.S. agriculture can make all the difference in structuring a farm loan to fit your needs. At AgAmerica, we are dedicated to ensuring the future of the American family farm thrives because many of us are a part of these families ourselves. We have skin in the game and are committed to your lasting success.
Contact us today to learn more about the innovative financing solutions available to you.
