Programs
Operating Lines of Credit Capital Projects Equipment Loans Real Estate Loans Technology and Efficiency Program DeLaval Program
Tools
Balance Sheet Cost of Production Calculator Payment Calculator Debt to Income Ratio Equity Calculator Liability Calculator Loan Application
About Us
About DFA Financing Find Your Loan Officer
DFA Financing News
Contact
Contact Us Find Your Loan Officer
The staff behind the scenes
May 04, 2023

While you probably have met your DFA Financing Loan Officer in-person and showed them around your farm, there are staff at DFA Financing who you may have talked to on the phone to get documents in order, manage the credit process, etc. Richard, Barb, Tris, Mike, and Myah are the people behind the scenes getting your loans processed.

We are incredibly thankful to this team of people for their work and dedication to DFA Financing and DFA’s farmer-owners.

To honor them we wanted to share some fun facts about each of them.

 

Richard:

  1. What is your job at DFA Financing? My job as Portfolio Manager is to manage the day-to-day operations in the office and to assist loan officers with technical questions on loan structure as well as to review and approve loans above the delegation of the individual loan officers.
  2. What is the most exciting part of your job? The most exciting part of the job is when I get the opportunity to visit our farmer-owners at their places of business.
  3. How did you get started at DFA? I started with DFA in December of 2016 after spending most of my career in agriculture. Before coming to DFA, I spent 2 years working at the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on their dairy farm business summary program.
  4. What is your favorite part of working with DFA farmer-owners? The best part of working with the DFA farmer-owners are the discussion I am able to have with producers from across the country and get the chance to understand how different dairy is from coast-to-coast.
  5. What is your favorite dairy product? My favorite dairy product is cheese. It is such a versatile food that can be used in many dishes, eaten on its own and there is such a wide range of flavors and tastes.

Tris:

  1. What is your job at DFA Financing?  My job as Loan Specialist includes preparing loan and lease documents and related agreements, working with state-specific attorneys and title companies on real estate loans, reviewing entity organizational documents, preparing and monitoring UCC filings, and being a point of contact for loan document process and procedural questions
  2. What is the most exciting part of your job?  An exciting part of my job is the ability to always be learning and growing and contributing to the department and cooperative and knowing that no two days are the same
  3. How did you get started at DFA?  I have a paralegal background in business and law firm settings, with significant experience in the real estate and corporate areas.  This has transferred well to my job at DFA
  4. What is your favorite part of working with DFA farmer-owners? It is fulfilling to see the processes I work on come to fruition, with being part of the loan process to farmer-owners and knowing that has in some way enabled them to fulfill their passion in dairy farming
  5. What is your favorite dairy product?  Yogurt is one of my favorite dairy products, with its health benefits, nutrients and versatility to be eaten as is, mixed with fruit and grains, and even used in recipes

Barb:

  1. What is your job at DFA Financing? My job is a customer service representative. I send out loan applications, run the preliminary information when an application comes back and help loan officers with whatever information they need. I also keep insurance on our loans up to date and set up transfers to pay vendors or draws members need to take on their loan.
  2. ​What is the most exciting part of your job? One of the most exciting part of the job is getting to know that we are helping farmers.  
  3. How did you get started at DFA? I got started with DFA back in October of 2006 as a temp helping out other business units. In January of 2007 I got hired with Agri-Max.  
  4. What is your favorite part of working with DFA farmer-owners?  My favorite part is knowing that we are helping out our farmer-owners by providing financing for their daily operating needs and any unexpected expenses that may come up.
  5. What is your favorite dairy product?  If I had to choose a favorite dairy product it would be ice cream. Now that my kids are getting older and life is busy, they will always make time to let you take them to the ice cream shops and get an ice cream. 

Mike:

  1. What is your job at DFA Financing? I am a loan administrator. I create the loan and lease documents, provide support for the loan officers and customer service, and provide support for our farmer-owners with current and new loans. I also work on financial statements and reports
  2. What is the most exciting part of your job? The most exciting part of my job is the opportunity to work with so many different people at DFA from so many diverse backgrounds, both dairy and non-dairy
  3. How did you get started at DFA? I started with the accounting/balancing team six years ago, and then moved to the financing team three years ago
  4. What is your favorite part of working with DFA farmer-owners? When I work with the farmer-owners I enjoy being able to help them out in any small way I can that will make their day a little easier. Letting them know we can help with an advance, or a bill payment might seem ordinary for us, but if it’s one less thing for them to worry about they might appreciate it more than we realize
  5. What is your favorite dairy product? My favorite dairy product is ice cream. I like most flavors, but my favorites are cookies & cream and brownie

Myah:

  1. What is your job with DFA Financing? Sr. Accountant – I am responsible for all accounting functions for DFA Financing.  This includes processing of daily activity in our Loan Accounting system SAP; preparation of monthly statements to borrowers, preparation of month end Financial Statements, reconciliations, and reports for internal management and external parties; preparation of annual interest/1098 statements for our borrowers, preparation and collaboration with external and internal Auditors for Annual Financial Statements; and any other Financial requests
  2. What is the most exciting part of your job? Never knowing what to expect each day.  Yes, there may be some items or processes that you do every day, but the situation or circumstance may not always be the same.  Plus, there are always opportunities to collaborate with others in DFA Financing, Farm Services, Headquarters, etc
  3. How did you get started at DFA?  In 2002/2003, Dairylea management decided they wanted to expand the lending capability of DFA Financing (at that time it was Agri-Financial Services).  They purchased our first Loan Accounting software (LAPro), and I started on 6/1/2003 for DFA Financing to maintain and work within the new software. In 2005, DFA Financing became a 50/50 joint venture with Dairylea & DFA.  Then, in 2014, we became a wholly owned subsidiary of DFA with the merger of Dairylea into DFA.  Almost 20 years later, we just transitioned to our second Loan Accounting software, SAP, as of 1/1/2023.  That is also another reason right now, why I never know what to expect each day too (with a new system).  My whole Dairylea/DFA career has been working with DFA Financing
  4. What is your favorite part of working with farmer-owners?  My favorite part is knowing that the funding DFA Financing can provide, will help our farmer-owners to continue to produce the high-quality milk/milk products for millions of people all over
  5. What is your favorite dairy product?  Ice cream is my favorite dairy product.  I especially love being able to go to & support local family-owned ice cream shops when they are open