Since 1956, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) has presented its Distinguished Service to Agriculture (DSA) award — the organization’s highest honor — to deserving individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the state's agricultural industry.
Dave Armstrong, former CEO of GreenStone Farm Credit Services, was named the recipient for 2024 during MFB’s 105th Annual Meeting, held in Grand Rapids.
Armstrong started his career as an intern for what was then a Production Credit Association, eventually taking a position as a loan officer in Monroe County, following graduation from Michigan State University in 1981.
“For the older veterans here tonight, you know that ag loan officers paid their dues during the 80’s farm crisis,” retiring MFB President Carl Bednarski said in presenting the award. “Dave saw it all early in his career with high interest rates, falling land values and a struggling farm economy.”
That experience — as tough as it was — formed a lasting impression on Armstrong and helped guide his career and the evolution of four separate Production Credit Associations into one entity that we now know as GreenStone Farm Credit Services. Armstrong was instrumental in that consolidation process and eventually was appointed CEO by the GreenStone board in 2009.
Under his leadership, GreenStone became the preferred lender for farmers in Michigan and now Northern Wisconsin. As the seventh-largest association in the Farm Credit System, GreenStone now manages $12 billion in assets and serves 28,000 customers.
Armstrong was praised by his peers for his tremendous core values, and always putting the customer first.
“Not only would he return the phone call, but he always would commit to do it within 24 hours, which is pretty impressive given the role that he was in and the tens of thousands of customers that we have,” said Randy Stec, former GreenStone executive vice president.
“To be able to make that kind of a commitment is really evident of his focus on customer service and the importance of taking care of people.”
Click here to watch the video presentation of the DSA Award.