Farm Credit Mid-America has named Chase Harris as vice president of agricultural lending for east central Indiana, placing him in a leadership role serving large farming operations and agribusiness customers across the region.
The appointment comes as agricultural lenders continue to play a critical role in helping farmers navigate a challenging economic environment marked by fluctuating commodity prices, elevated production costs and ongoing uncertainty in agricultural markets.
Harris will be based in Farm Credit Mid-America’s Bluffton office and will work with the organization’s east central Indiana lending team. His responsibilities will focus primarily on serving larger agricultural producers and agribusiness clients.
A decade-long employee of Farm Credit Mid-America, Harris has held several sales and leadership positions within the cooperative lending institution. Most recently, he served as regional vice president for the organization’s crop insurance operations in northern Indiana.
“Chase truly cares about helping agriculture and rural communities thrive and has the knowledge and experience to make a meaningful impact on our current and future customers,” Gary Coleman, regional vice president of agricultural lending in Indiana, said in a statement.
Harris earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and professional selling from Ball State University.
In a statement, Harris said he is looking forward to helping farm operations position themselves for long-term success and sustainability.
“One opportunity I am most excited for is partnering with operations to position them for success and ensure an exceptional experience for our customers — not just for today, but for the future as well,” Harris said. “I look forward to being a trusted partner who can support our team in making strategic decisions that drive long-term viability and sustainable growth and success for our customers.”
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Harris serves on several local agricultural and community organizations, including the Wells County Agricultural Scholarship Committee, the East Central Indiana Quail Forever chapter and the Go for the Flag fundraising organization. He also volunteers as a youth basketball coach and manages wildlife habitat projects on his farm.
Farm Credit Mid-America is part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, a network of borrower-owned financial institutions that provide credit and financial services to agriculture and rural communities. The cooperative serves customers across Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee and manages nearly $49 billion in earning assets.
