Board of Directors

William T. Robinson from St. Matthews, S.C., is owner/operator of Robinson Family Farm, which consists of row crops, hay, cattle and timber. He also owns MMR Consultants, LLC, a business consulting firm specializing in utility and industrial market segments. Mr. Robinson is the former executive director for the SEFA group, an engineering, construction and transportation company. He retired from the Department of Treasury and Corporate Financial Planning at Santee Cooper, South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility. He serves on the boards of the Orangeburg Area Cattleman’s Association and Tri-County Electric Cooperative. Mr. Robinson obtained a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in civil engineering from Clemson University and a master’s in business administration from Charleston Southern University. He currently serves on the board of AgSouth Farm Credit, ACA. In addition to serving as chair of the AgFirst Board, Mr. Robinson chairs the Coordinating Committee and is an ex officio member of all committees. 

Jenny R. Black from Lakeland, Fla., is a Certified Project Manager and owns and operates Jenny Black Consulting, LLC, an information technology consulting company. Ms. Black also serves as manager for the following citrus and agricultural operations: Ridge Investments, LLC; Black & Myers Properties; and BHB Holdings, LLC. She is a director of Farm Credit of Central Florida, ACA, and serves on the board of the Farm Credit Council. She also serves as a director for the Polk County Florida 4-H Foundation Board, the Volunteers in Service to the Elderly Advisory Board and the National Watermelon Promotion Board. Ms. Black has bachelor’s degrees in English and liberal studies and a master’s in business administration with a concentration in information technology, finance and marketing from the University of South Florida. In addition to serving as vice chair of the AgFirst Board, Ms. Black serves on the Board's Compensation, Coordinating, and Governance committees.

Gary L. Baldosser from Republic, Ohio, owns and operates Baldosser Farms, Inc., a cow/calf and row crop operation, and Garbec Farms. He serves on the AgCredit, ACA, Board of Directors and also on the board of Sunrise Co-Op Clyde Condominium Association, a condominium grain storage association. In addition, he serves the following family land-holding entities: Tri-Grain, LLC, as a trustee; and Bloc-B, LLC, as a member. Mr. Baldosser received a bachelor’s degree in ag economics from The Ohio State University. He is on the AgFirst Board’s Audit Committee.

Jack W. Bentley Jr. from Tignall, Ga., owns and operates A&J Dairy, a dairy, pasture, crop and timberland operation. He is a director of AgGeorgia Farm Credit, ACA, and serves on the boards of the following agricultural and dairy trade and promotion organizations: USDA Farm Service Agency, Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, American Dairy Association, Lone Star Milk Producers and the Wilkes County Farm Bureau. Mr. Bentley has a bachelor’s degree in ag mechanics and business from Clemson University. He is on the AgFirst Plan Sponsor Committee and the Board’s Risk Policy Committee.

Sherry E. Bowden, outside director, is from Johns Island, S.C. She retired as CFO of State Street Corporation and is a certified public accountant and a certified personal property appraiser. Ms. Bowden is trained in business process improvement as a Six Sigma Green Belt. She is a member of the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives. Ms. Bowden received her bachelor’s degree in economics from the College of William and Mary and earned master’s degrees in international management in finance from the American Graduate School of International Management and business administration from Drury University in a dual degree program. Ms. Bowden is AgFirst's Board-designated financial expert, serves on the Board’s Coordinating Committee and is chair of the Board’s Audit Committee.

William K. Jackson from New Salem, Pa., is a partner in Jackson Farms, a dairy operation with other farming interests, including corn, soybeans and alfalfa. He is president of Jackson Farms 2, LLC, a small dairy processing facility that produces milk and makes ice cream sold in area stores and on-site. He is also president of Jackson Farms 3, LLC, and Jackson Farms Limited Partnership, which are involved in the production of natural gas. Mr. Jackson serves on the boards of Horizon Farm Credit, ACA; the Farm Credit Council; the Fay Penn Economic Development Council; and the Penn State Fayette, Eberly Campus Advisory Board. He has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management from Penn State University. Mr. Jackson serves on the AgFirst Board’s Compensation and Coordinating committees and as chair of the Governance Committee.

Dwain K. Lanier, outside director, resides in Raleigh, N.C. He is managing director of Pareto Consulting, LLC, specializing in consulting for performance improvement and change management. Mr. Lanier is also president of Aspire Higher LLC, a real estate rental company, and is retired from the Tennessee Valley Authority, where he served as vice president of Operational and Regulatory Assurance. Previously, he was president and CEO of MEMCO Barge Line and served in various leadership positions with Progress Energy, GKN Automotive and Data General Corporation. Mr. Lanier founded Patriot State Bank, where he served as a director and chair of the Governance Committee. He is on the board of the Southeast Raleigh YMCA. Mr. Lanier holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina State University and a Six Sigma Certificate from the University of Texas – Austin. Mr. Lanier serves on the AgFirst Board’s Coordinating Committee and is chair of the Board’s Risk Policy Committee.

Fred R. Moore Jr. from Eden, Md., is president of Fred R. Moore & Son, Inc., d/b/a Collins Wharf Sod, which also grows corn, soybeans and wheat. He is also partner of F&E Properties, LLC, a rental business; and a partner in F&E Moore Properties, LLC, a land-holding partnership. Mr. Moore currently serves on the boards of Horizon Farm Credit, ACA; Wicomico Soil Conservation District; and Wicomico County Farm Bureau; and he is an active life member of the Allen Volunteer Fire Company. He has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Mr. Moore serves on the AgFirst Board’s Risk Policy Committee.

Michael W. Patrick is from Canton, Miss., and is a partner in Patrick Farms Joint Venture, a cotton, corn, soybean and timber operation. He serves on the First South Farm Credit, ACA, board of directors; as a commissioner for the Madison County Soil and Water Commission; and as a member of the Madison County USDA FSA County Committee. Mr. Patrick holds a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State and a master’s in business administration from the University of Mississippi. Mr. Patrick serves as chair of the AgFirst Board’s Compensation Committee and serves on the Governance and Coordinating committees.

John Whitworth “Whit” Player from Elliott, S.C., operates J. Whit Player Farms and Players Stoney Run Farms, consisting of cotton, corn, peanuts and sunflowers, along with 12 turkey grow-out houses. Mr. Player serves on the ArborOne Farm Credit Board of Directors; the board of Carolina Cotton Growers Cooperative, a cotton marketing organization; and SC Boll Weevil Eradication Program, an agricultural organization. A graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in ag tech and business, Mr. Player has been farming for 32 years. He is also a forestry technician with the South Carolina Forestry Commission and vice president of the St. Charles Gin Company. Mr. Player serves on the AgFirst Board’s Compensation and Governance committees.

David L. Richesin resides in Philadelphia, Tenn., and is owner and operator of Cherrybrook Farm, a row crop operation growing corn, soybeans, wheat and straw. He serves on the River Valley AgCredit Board of Directors. Mr. Richesin also serves on the Tennessee Farm Bureau Board of Directors as director-at-large, as president of the Loudon County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and a board member for the Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. Mr. Richesin received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from the University of Tennessee. He serves on the AgFirst Board’s Audit Committee.

Alfred W. “Al” Stephens Jr. resides in Wytheville, Va., where he owns and operates Stephens Dairy Farm. The farm consists of a dairy and beef cow/calf operation and crops including corn, alfalfa, wheat and grass hay. He is a member of the Farm Credit of the Virginias, ACA, Board of Directors, and also serves as secretary-treasurer on the Wythe/Bland DHIA. Mr. Stephens, who received a bachelor’s degree in dairy science from Virginia Tech, is on the school's Dairy Science Advisory Board. He serves on the AgFirst Board’s Compensation and Governance committees.

Michael T. “Bo” Stone is from Rowland, N.C., where he owns and operates P&S Farms, Inc., and Bo Stone Farms, LLC. He produces corn, wheat and soybeans and also grows small produce for a roadside stand. His operations include a swine finishing unit under contract with Murphy Brown, a cow/calf herd and timber management. Mr. Stone is a director of AgCarolina Farm Credit, ACA; Southeastern Health hospital; and Dillon Christian School. He is a member of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Energy and Transportation Committee and serves on the boards of the Farm Credit Council and Farm Credit Council Services. Mr. Stone has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management with a minor in animal science, as well as a master’s in agriculture from North Carolina State University. He is the board-appointed member and chair of both the AgFirst Plan Sponsor Committee and the AgFirst/FCBT Plan Sponsor Committee. Mr. Stone serves on the AgFirst Board’s Risk Policy Committee.

Ellis W. Taylor is from Roanoke Rapids, N.C. He is owner and operator of a row crop operation, Mush Island Farms, LLC, which consists of cotton, soybeans, wheat, corn and timber. He is also part owner of Roanoke Cotton Company, LLC, which operates cotton gins and a warehouse. Mr. Taylor is a director on the boards of AgCarolina Farm Credit, ACA; Northampton County Farm Bureau; Northampton County Voluntary Ag District; and the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corp. He has bachelor’s degrees in agronomy and in agricultural business management and a master’s in economics from North Carolina State University. Mr. Taylor serves on the AgFirst Board’s Audit Committee.