Meet Your Director, Ann Russell
Meet your newly elected Farm Credit of Western Arkansas director.
Tell us about your family and how your farm got started.
Doug and I met when we were both supervisors working in a chicken plant in Siloam Springs, and in 1993 we had the opportunity to move to the Milltown community near Greenwood. Doug and I both came from farming families, but we wanted to build something that was completely our own. We started renting a house and 100 acres, bought a few cattle, and began building our herd. Doug's been full time on the farm since 1997, and I joined him in 2020 after 21 years with the FBI. Our sons Kyle and AJ both grew up in agriculture. Kyle and his wife, Graycen, live in Russellville, and AJ farms with us and runs his own herd.
What do you raise and what makes your operation unique?
We raise beef cattle and sell farm-to-table beef. Our business, Milltown Valley Meats, started in 2020 after I came home from my off-farm job. We process locally and sell directly to friends, neighbors, and families right here in Greenwood. Some customers buy one roast at a time while others fill their freezers. I love that our beef is born, raised, processed, and sold right in our hometown.
How did your relationship with Farm Credit begin?
It took us a couple of years to make the switch, but after our bank hesitated to expand our line of credit and said they "weren't sure agriculture was where they wanted to be," we called Farm Credit. The transition was quick and easy, and we've been with them ever since. I truly believe Farm Credit understands agriculture in a way traditional banks don't.
What legacy do you hope to leave through your work in agriculture and service?
I think one of the most important things we can do is leave it better for our kids. Doug and I have always believed in giving back. Doug serves on the board and I serve as the livestock chair for the Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair, and I spent ten years as a 4-H leader. I hope my example encourages young people to get involved, serve their communities, learn lifetime skills, and be proud of the agricultural life.
What motivated you to serve on the board?
I first served three years on the nominating committee, and that experience sparked my interest in running for the board. I've always admired how Farm Credit operates, and I wanted to understand more about the decision-making process and contribute to something that's helped our operation succeed.
Read Ann's full story and meet our other newly elected directors in the Winter 2025 issue of the Rural Scene magazine.
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