July 17, 1916: It all began more than 100 years ago, with President Wilson’s signature and the Federal Farm Loan Act. This piece of legislation created the Federal Farm Land Bank system that included a Federal Farm Loan Board, 12 Federal Land Banks (FLBs), cooperative National Farm Loan Associations, and for-profit Joint Stock Land Banks.

Nearly one year later, A.L. Stockwell received the first Farm Credit agricultural loan in Larned, Kansas, right here in our territory.

Over the next decade and a half, the System continued to develop with the extension of service and increasing funding capability. Later, as farmers struggled through the Great Depression, the Farm Credit System was rescued and expanded further to help provide for the needs of American farms.

It was during this time that the Farm Credit Act of 1933 established Production Credit Associations (PCAs) to make short-term loans and Banks for Cooperatives to lend to cooperatives.

The following decades united FLBs, PCAs, and Banks for Cooperatives in their mission of helping farmers feed a nation at war and then set the system on a path toward independence.

In 1947, the Federal Land Banks paid off the last of the federal capital provided during the Great Depression. Just six years later, the Farm Credit Act of 1953 provided the Farm Credit Administration independent regulator status.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Farm Credit continued to grow in its lending authority and achieved borrower-owned status. The System also deepened its support for young, beginning, and small farmers by establishing a program for this group in each Farm Credit District.

Despite this growth and success, the Farm Crisis of the 1980s was a uniquely challenging time for institutions. The struggle ultimately led to the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 that provided financial assistance and directed mergers and other reorganizations. The result: a more efficient, stronger Farm Credit System.

The restructure led to the creation of the “Parent ACA” that you may recognize today. In fact, during the time of transition, Federal Land Bank Associations converted to Federal Land Credit Associations (FLCA) or joined with PCAs, creating ACAs.

With greater efficiency as its strength, the restructured Farm Credit System repaid the last of the federal capital provided during the Farm Crisis. In 2005, Farm Credit once again became a fully borrower-owned cooperative.

Now, two decades later, Farm Credit is proud to continue to operate under this borrower-owned status. Through the good times and bad, Farm Credit has persisted in its mission to support farmers and ranchers.

As we do so, the BioStar remains our guide, with symbolism rooted in the rich history of the Farm Credit System.

When Farm Credit first came into existence, institutions operated under hundreds of varying logos. As the System grew and developed, leadership created a set of logos in 1963 to represent our all-inclusive agricultural financial solutions.

At that time, each of the three main functions of the Farm Credit System bore a different color of logo: blue for the Federal Land Banks and Federal Land Bank Associations, red for the Production Credit Associations, and gold for the Banks for Cooperatives.