FCS Financial: One Hundred Years July 2016 | Page 13

The Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, signed
into law on January 6, infused up to $4 billion into
the Farm Credit System and took other measures
to strengthen the system. Under the terms of
the act, the Farm Credit System in Missouri
was organized into five territories: Northwest,
Northeast, East Central, Southwest, and still
separate from the others was Progressive Farm
Credit Services servicing the Bootheel region of
the state. More offices were closed or consolidated
to reduce operating expenses although enough
branch offices remained out in the countryside to
serve the customers. More than ever before, the
organization became customer-centric.

The FCS Financial Nevada office served lunch to more
than one hundred 4-Hers and their parents who were
preparing the fairgrounds for the Vernon County Fair.
Their staff is very involved in their local communities
and this is one way the Nevada office supports the
local 4-H program.

In 1989 the CPCA was dissolved and
additional, but not yet final, mergers took
place as the Northwest and Southwest
organizations merged to become FCS of
Western Missouri and the Northeast and
East Central organizations merged to
become FCS of Eastern Missouri.
The computerized service was advertised as
being no more difficult to use than a manual
service yet saved time with less chance for error.

On July 16, 2001, the directors of both entities voted to merge the Eastern and
Western organizations, this time as a means of making two strong entities even
stronger with a combined capital base of nearly $180 million. Stockholders of
both organizations approved the merger and the current association was officially
formed on July 1, 2002. A new name—Farm Credit Services of Missouri—was
chosen, Daryl Oldvader was appointed chief executive officer, and the centrally
located Jefferson City office was selected as the general headquarters. FCS of
Missouri now consisted of
twenty-eight directors and
178 employees working in
twenty-nine branch locations
in 102 counties serving 11,500
member-customers. Just two
years later, FCS of Missouri
experienced a 9.2 percent
growth rate, one of the largest
since the early 1990s.
On March 20, 2002, FCS Financial hosted a grand
opening and ribbon cutting of their new central
office located in Jefferson City. Meredith Kapp (left)
and Jim Zerr (right) cut the ribbon.

11