For more than four decades, B.E. “Billy” Powell has served Southwest Georgia Farm Credit as a member of its Board of Directors. He offered his resignation to Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Board Chairman Bobby Brooks at the May 31, 2012 meeting. The Board, and members of the Association’s staff, recognized Mr. Powell at its June meeting of the Board of Directors, calling him “a man of character who always put shareholders first” in his decision making.

 Bobby Brooks, Chairman of the Board of Directors, holds clock presented to Mr. Billy Powell, center, in recognition of Mr. Powell’s service as a director for 44 years, while Richard Monson, President/CEO, displays framed photos of Mr. Powell’s Big Chief Grist Mill.

“Since the beginning, Billy has been an advocate for farmers, and has helped steer the Association in a progressive manner,” Chairman Brooks said. “We are thankful to him for his years of service, and know the Association has benefited from his input, values, and integrity.”

B.E. Powell, and his wife, LaVerne, have owned and managed Big Chief Grist Mill near Buena Vista, Georgia since 1994, producing “Big Chief Corn Meal.” Mr. Powell has been a farmer for more than 55 years.

“On behalf of the Association’s Board, staff, and members, I want to thank Mr. Powell for serving his neighbors with distinction,” said Richard S. Monson, President/CEO, Southwest Georgia Farm Credit.

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit, headquartered in Bainbridge, is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its member-borrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock, and production, as well as rural home mortgages. It is part of the national Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America. For more information, visit SWGAFarmCredit.com.