Thursday morning, American AgCredit held a ceremonial groundbreaking for its new facility to be built at the corner of 10th Street and Patton Road in Great Bend, in spite of the colder than expected temperature.  
Executive Vice President  and Chief Administrative Officer Roger Bastow welcomed attendees and introduced Greg Reno, vice president of American AgCredit in Wichita.
“Agriculture happens at this intersection in Great Bend, Kan., and it’s very important for us to be here,” he said.
The 6,500 square foot, single story facility will have eight permanent offices, seven portable offices, and three conference rooms, all with video capability.  The large conference room will be accessible to community ag groups like 4-H, FFA and the Extension to utilize the facility for meetings and other activities that serve agriculture, Reno said.   

Nearly 100 years of service
While the company may be new to this location in Great Bend, it isn’t new to central Kansas.  To underscore that point, Reno explained the presence of a time capsule on display next to the podium.  
“Our association made the first farm credit loan in the United States in Pawnee County in 1917,” Reno said.  “We have a tremendous heritage of serving agriculture here.”
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the farm credit system, agricultural leaders from all over the United States gathered in Central Kansas March 27, 1917.  American AgCredit asked those leaders to bring information to put in a time capsule that would be opened at the 100th anniversary of  farm credit.  The time capsule has been cared for by American AgCredit for the past 48 years, he said.
Great Bend Mayor Mike Allison welcomed the company to the community.  He also thanked L.D. and Marilyn Davis for making it possible to have the property available for American AgCredit.   
“The new jobs that American AgCredit will bring to Great Bend will boost our economy,” he said.  “By building this facility here, it shows that they see a bright future for American agriculture.”
According to American AgCredit President and CEO, Byron Enix, who flew in for the ground breaking from California, the project is expected to be completed over the summer and a ribbon cutting is tentatively planned for the fall.