Our expertise and highly competitive rates combined with our wide range of financing options and services can give you the leg up you need.
What is a Young, Beginning or Small farmer/rancher?
- Young - Age 35 or younger
- Beginning - 10 years or less experience
- Small - Less than $350,000 of gross annual agricultural income
By utilizing our flexible loan terms and working closely with other governmental guarantee programs and organizations, we can tailor loans to fit the unique financial needs of YBS borrowers.
Taking Root is AgTexas’ new program for Young, Beginning, and Small (YBS) farmers and ranchers.
Taking Root offers a two-tiered approach that covers everything from relaxed lending standards to increased educational offerings and from business tools to qualified grants.
Tier One encompasses the less rigid underwriting standards that the Association has employed for years as well as educational resources. The educational resources could include commodity-specific conferences, grower meetings, financial literacy workshops, industry forums, blog and podcast recommendations, extension courses, and any other education opportunities the Association is aware of.
Tier Two offers expanded and reimbursable education offerings as well as a qualified grant opportunity. Both the Ag Biz Basics and Ag Biz Planner courses offered by Farm Credit University (FCU) are incentivized to YBS borrowers as the expense of these courses will be reimbursable by the Association (up to $25,000 annually). Further, AgTexas is proud to offer five $10,000 grants each year to qualified YBS borrowers on a first come, first serve basis.
To be eligible for a grant, a borrower must show proof of completion and mastery (passing) of FCU’s Ag Biz Planner course and must demonstrate financial literacy though development of a business plan that is to be submitted with the grant application. Grant recipients will have the opportunity to be featured across all advertising medias, including social channels, website, blog, podcast, etc. Grant applications for eligible applicants will open in January of 2025.
YBS OUTREACH
Our philosophy is to set all of our customers up for success. While we can be flexible with terms, we will not endanger your financial well-being by letting you get in over your head. AgTexas supports programs that improve your chances of success –
- Master Marketer Program
- Tenth District Young Leaders Program
Through outreach programs for YBS borrowers and youth in agriculture, we continue our commitment to agriculture and maintaining the rural way of life.
- FFA & 4H Youth Events
- Stock Show Concession
- Stock Show Animal Purchase and Add-On
- Farmers Markets
