As a borrower-owned Association, American AgCredit owes its success to its borrowers, the farmers and ranchers who are out there in the fields working the land.

The stories here are all true, and they tell the story not only of each individual family, but also the story of American AgCredit.

Through good times, challenging times, and throughout every season, we have been there ~ with real estate and mortgage financing, equipment leasing, livestock and operation loans.

John J. Gless's citrus legacy began in 1907 when his grandfather, Juan Gless, a Basque sheepherder, immigrated from Spain to the El Toro area of Orange County, California, where he bought a hundred acre property that had five acres of oranges. John's father, John P. Gless was born and raised on this property. He increased the farmed acreage to include 35 acres of Valencias, and 20 acres of lemons and various row crops. John J. grew up farming with his father until 1960 when his father sold his property and became ill and unable to continue farming.

Married and the parents of a young child, John J. and his wife Janet set out on their own. John saw potential in a property that was at the time not considered to be viable for citrus production. With advice from Cooperative Extension at University of California, Riverside, on how to transform the decomposed granite soil, John took a risk and purchased this property in the Woodcrest area of Riverside. With a loan provided by American AgCredit, John and Janet purchased 20 acres and John planted the first orange grove in Woodcrest, by hand, in 1961. A new citrus producing area in California had begun.

Today, John and Janet own and manage several thousand acres of citrus in Riverside and Kern Counties. Their children, John S., Betsy, Jeff, and Jason grew up working with their parents and each continues to be involved in some aspect of the business. John S. runs the farming operations in Kern County, Betsy works with Janet on public relations and marketing. Jeff runs the company's packing and direct sales through the Gless Ranch markets, and Jason provides legal counsel.

The next generation is involved as well, with granddaughter Amanda helping to manage one of the markets, and grandson John C. (Little) running the Riverside County farming operations with his grandfather, along with one-year-old son John M. by his side.

Take a peek at the family and watch the video here!

Currently, the Longstreth family works 120 acres of cherries, 1800 acres of almonds, 2000+ acres of walnuts, and does custom harvesting for leased properties - totaling 4500 acres of rich farmland.

Robert and Suzanne

Farming began in the Longstreth family with Robert's father, a dentist who owned a 33-acre parcel that was originally purchased in the 1960s. Robert loved farming so much that he took that over at age 14 and that's where it all started. The farm that Robb and Suzanne now work in Oakdale, California, was purchased by Robb's father in 1984 as a 67-acre cling peach orchard inter-planted with walnuts. The orchard and the original 33-acre vineyard were both converted to walnuts, where the family had their own huller and dehydrator on the property. The original 33 acres was later re-planted and is now filled with cherries. As the partner and farm manager, Robb is the president and Suzanne shares work as the co-partner and office manager. Through the family farm, and Growers' Choice (their custom harvesting, management and leasing company), both of their businesses get financing from American AgCredit. The family has been customers since they began farming nearly 30 years ago. The Longstreth family tree has a great history with us…. Robert's parents were customers in the 1960s as well.

Brandon, Evan & Griffin

All of their three sons have worked on the farm, Brandon, Evan and Griffin. Currently in charge of all spraying, fertilizer and chemical applications, Brandon wants to take over general operations in the future. Evan is currently a student at Fresno state studying Crop Production & Management. He helps out on weekends as equipment operator. Griffin is currently studying at San Jose State, and all three are grateful for their upbringing on the farm and values they have learned from it.

Take a peek at the family and watch the video here!

The Bergkamp operation is split about 50/50 between irrigated crops and dry-land crops. Their main crops include corn, soybeans, and wheat. They feel fortunate and realize God has blessed them too. Parents Tom and Arleen farm together with thier son Mark and his wife Kristen full time together. The family's first loan was in 1973 and by 1989, Farm Credit became their primary lending institution. They have stayed with American AgCredit because Farm Credit understood where they wanted to go. The Bergkamp Family has farmed for several generations, but Mark is the 2nd generation on this land.

Tom and Arleen

Tom is the son of a dairyman from Garden Plain, KS. His dad helped get 3 of his sons started farming in different areas of Sedgwick and Harvey Counties. Tom purchased his first 80 acres in 1973. Tom met Arleen in 1974, married in 1975, and together rented a half section of the farm from his parents, Norbert and Celestine Bergkamp. Tom worked in town as an electrician until 1995. Together Tom and Arleen have 3 children: Mike (1978), Mark (1980), and Judy (1982).

Mark and Kristen

Mark has helped out on his parents farming operation since he was old enough to pull weeds and close gates for flood irrigation. He helped on the farm throughout college where he attended Wichita State and recieved a Business Finance degree in 2002. He rented his first piece of ground in 2000. Mark and his wife Kristen got married in 2003 and purchased their first quarter in 2005. They had their son, Jackson, in 2007. Over the last 4 years, they have gradually made the switch from FSA ownership and operating loans to American AgCredit ownership and operating loans. They switched to American AgCredit in large part due to Mark's parents positive experiences with them. These days, some crop inputs are purchased 2 years before the crop they help raise is turned into cash. A good lender is a necessity.

Take a peek at the family and watch the video here!

Sangiacomos have always connected to the land, especially through farming. Vittorio Sangiacomo voyaged to America from Genoa, Italy, and got his first job at age 17 in the vegetable fields at Bay Farm Island in Alameda County, California. For many years, he found industrial work in the booming San Francisco region, but longed to return to working the land. In 1927, he was able to purchase a 52-acre fruit tree ranch in Sonoma.

In 1928, Vittorio married Maria, and together they became the largest pear-producing farmers in Sonoma County. The Sangiacomos had four children - Angelo, Bob, Buck and Lorraine - who inherited their love of the land, worked the fields, endured the Depression and pursued a life in the agricultural community as their father had hoped. And their operations continued to grow.

In 1969, the Sangiacomos came to American AgCredit for help converting those fruit orchards to vineyards. And the second generation of Sangiacomos began planting grapes. By the late 1980s, the conversion from fruit trees to grapes was complete.

Today, the third generation continues the farming tradition. Michael and Whitney Sangiacomo, Steve and Connie Sangiacomo, and Mia and Mike Pucci are continuing to implement the latest viticultural techniques while developing the types of grapes to enhance their award-winning, premium wines.

The family knows what they want their legacy to be: that the fourth generation and beyond are able to grow outstanding grapes and continue the Sangiacomo's American Dream. American AgCredit is proud to be a part of that Dream and an important contributor to their family's legacy.

Take a peek at the family and watch the video here!

Back in the 1860s, the Branstetter Family came out to California and started a ranching business. About 100 years later they were looking to grow and came to American AgCredit for financing. Their first loan with us was back in 1963 when Prescott and Helen Branstetter needed money to buy the adjoining Peter's Ranch.

After Prescott, Bill & Marlyn Branstetter took out their first loan in 1979 for operating funds. They plan to eventually turn the operation over to their daughter Meaghan and son-in-law Justin Langer, who will carry on the family tradition.

The Branstetter Ranch has 240 beef cows on 960 owned acres and an additional 3600 leased acres, with a business that produces about 140,000 pounds a year of grass-fed organic beef.

Some interesting family facts.... Prescott was a branch manager for the early Farm Credit PCA, and later served as a Director for many years. Also, Marlyn is an accomplished painter and does beautiful ranch landscapes and livestock & cowboy paintings. In fact, she was the artist for the 2009 Fortuna Rodeo painting and poster. Bill has had more "lives" than most people and is a legend in the Northern California area.

Take a peek at the family and watch the video here!