Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Joins AgAmerica Advisory Board of Directors
AgAmerica is proud to welcome its newest board member, former Governor of Nebraska, United States Senator and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns.
Secretary Johanns’ addition to the board illustrates AgAmerica’s commitment to providing farmers and investors with a secure and profitable lending experience and after a record year in 2022, with $1.4b in loans, his expertise will support our continued growth and ensure AgAmerica is well-positioned for success in the years to come.
Secretary Johanns’ experience will:
- Add to our commitment to the farmer with his deep agricultural background,
- Enhance our connectivity within agriculture and,
- Help us stay informed on ag policy and how it may impact our farmers and our business.
Secretary Johanns brings a depth of industry knowledge for farmers, particularly in the Midwest. Johanns was born in Iowa and grew up doing chores on his family’s dairy farm. As the son of a dairy farmer, he developed a deep respect for the land and the people who work it. He still describes himself as “a farmer’s son with an intense passion for agriculture.” That passion showed during Johanns’ tenure as Nebraska’s 38th Governor, U.S. Senator, and as the United States Secretary of Agriculture.
During his six years in office as Governor of Nebraska, Johanns was a strong advocate for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. He was sworn in as the 28th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 21, 2005, and served as a United States Senator from Nebraska from 2009 to 2015. As a member of both the National Governors’ Association and the Western Governors’ Association, Johanns concentrated on issues important to agriculture, including drought relief, ethanol, and the 2002 Farm Bill. Secretary Johanns also played a pivotal role in increasing funding for the Farm Bill conservation title to provide support for farmers and American landowners protecting the natural resources they steward.
In the 1980s, Johanns was practicing law when the farm crisis hit. Banks went from lending money on inflation to lending on cashflow—putting many family farms out of business for good. That experience taught him that bankers need to be financial partners. Farmers need someone to guide them through the ebbs and flows of farming.
From his deep roots in the ag community as a child to spearheading the development of past Farm Bill legislation, Secretary Johanns will be instrumental in helping guide the company forward in supporting the future of American agriculture.
“If we can help ensure farmers have both land and a legacy to leave behind for the next generation, that’s a pretty powerful thing,” says Secretary Johanns.
To learn more about AgAmerica’s commitment to supporting our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners visit www.AgAmerica.com or call us at 863. 607. 9500.
