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A scenic aerial view during sunrise, with sunlight reflecting off of the water of agricultural land.

Farm Credit System

Established by Congress in 1916, Farm Credit is one of the nation's oldest financial institutions created to provide a dependable source of financing and financial services for agricultural purposes and rural housing. Farm Credit is an equal credit opportunity lender and an equal housing lender. Our members, the same people who borrow from Farm Credit, own us. As a stockholder, you elect the board of directors that govern your lending institution. We obtain funds from the sale of bonds and notes in the national money market. Loans and financial services are made through our nationwide network of local lending institutions.

Code of Ethics

All directors and employees of Golden State Farm Credit are responsible for maintaining the highest standards in conducting business. In that regard, a Code of Ethics has been established for the Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team, and all Association staff. The Code of Ethics supplements Golden State's Standards of Conduct Policy.

Click here for the Association's Code of Ethics Policy. A hard copy can be mailed to you at no charge by completing the Contact Us form.

Code of Ethics

Executive Leadership

Rob Faris

President and Chief Executive
Officer
Read Bio Close Bio

Rob Faris has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since April 2019. He also serves as the Vice Chairman for the AgVantis Board of Directors, our technology services provider, since January 2019, and has been a member of the Board since 2014. He was previously the President and Chief Executive Officer for Farm Credit Services of Colusa-Glenn, ACA. Rob began his career in agricultural lending in 2000. His career experience includes credit, business banking and management. Rob is based in the Chico Administrative office.

Dave Lehrman

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Read Bio Close Bio

Dave Lehrman has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since February 2020. Prior to this appointment, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Appraisal Officer. Dave has been employed with the Farm Credit system since 1986 and served in several roles including Appraisal Manager for Golden State Farm Credit and Federal Land Bank of Kingsburg, FLCA.  His career experience includes operations, business development and management. Dave is based in the Kingsburg office.

Ali Enos

Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer Read Bio Close Bio

Ali Enos has has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer since 2023. She has been with Golden State Farm Credit, ACA since 2017. Ali is based in the Chico Administrative office.

Pete Huffine

Senior Vice President - Strategic Lending Read Bio Close Bio

Pete Huffine has served as Senior Vice President – Strategic Lending since 2023.  Pete oversees the Capital Markets division at GSFC and is a member of our Executive Loan Committee.  He works closely with our Farm Credit partner alliances and other strategic business initiatives for the Association.  Pete brings 20+ years of Farm Credit experience to this role, having previously held senior management positions with Farm Credit West, ACA and CoBank, ACB. Pete is based in Granite Bay. 

Manny Mejia

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Read Bio Close Bio

Manny Mejia has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since October 2024. He has been working in the Farm Credit System since 2021. Prior to his current role, Manny has served as the VP Finance at Golden State Farm Credit where he assisted in managing the finance department. His agricultural finance experience includes working at a CPA firm specializing in agricultural for almost ten years. Manny is based in the Chico Administrative office.

Justin Nunes

Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer Read Bio Close Bio

Justin Nunes has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer since September 2021. He has been working in the Farm Credit System for 15 years in various roles, including loan officer and credit administrator. Justin served as the Regional Vice President until his current role where he was responsible for managing the credit team in the North region. He brings experience in agriculture lending and credit procedures and administration. Justin is based in the Chico Administrative office.

Mike Rico

Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Read Bio Close Bio

Mike Rico has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer since September 2021. He has been working in the Farm Credit System since 1996 with various associations. Prior to his current role, Mike has served as the Branch Manager in Hanford and most recently in the role of Regional Vice President, where he was responsible for managing the credit team in the South Valley region. He brings experience in agriculture finance and lending. Mike is based in the Kingsburg office.

Board of Directors

Michael Fry

Board Chair Read Bio Close Bio

Mr. Fry farms tree fruit, pistachios and walnuts in partnership with his brother. Prior to joining the Golden State Farm Credit, ACA Board, he served on the Federal Land Bank Association of Kingsburg, FLCA Board since 2006. His term expires in 2026.

Gregory W. Long

Vice Chair of the Board Read Bio Close Bio

Mr. Long grows almonds and does custom farm management of almonds, walnuts and prunes. He is a member of the Tehama County Farm Bureau and Red Bluff High School AG Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Golden State Farm Credit, ACA Board, he served on the Northern California Farm Credit, ACA Board since 2004. His term expires in 2024.

Stephen Brown

Director Read Bio Close Bio

Mr. Brown is a dairyman and farmer. He also serves on the California Dairies, Inc. Board of Directors. Prior to joining the Golden State Farm Credit, ACA Board, he served on the Federal Land Bank Association of Kingsburg, FLCA Board since 2009. His term expires in 2025.

Pete Knight

Director Read Bio Close Bio

Mr. Knight and his sons run a diverse farming operation in Glenn and Butte Counties. Their main crops are rice, almonds, walnuts, prunes, tomatoes, vineseeds, sunflowers and alfalfa. They also own and operate Dixon Seed, Inc. Mr. Knight serves on the Glenn Colusa Irrigation District Board and is an active supporter of Hamilton High School FFA. He was elected to the Golden State Farm Credit, ACA Board in 2019. His term expires in 2024.

Dan Mattos

Appointed Director, Governance Committee Chair Read Bio Close Bio

Mr. Mattos retired from CoBank in March of 2021 where he served as a Relationship Manager for nine years.  He worked with Farm Credit Associations as well as lending to cooperatives in California.  Prior to joining CoBank, he worked in the Farm Credit System for USAgBank, Western Farm Credit Bank, Sacramento Farm Credit Bank and Fresno-Madera Production Credit Association.  He received a Bachelor of Science in Ag Business from Cal Poly and an Associate Degree from Modesto Junior College.  He was appointed to the Golden State Board in 2022.

George R. Nicolaus

Director, Compensation Committee Chair Read Bio Close Bio

Mr. Nicolaus grows almonds, walnuts and seed crops in Butte County. His family owned business, Nicolaus Nut Company, provides custom farming, planting and harvest operations. He is a general partner in two farming and land development partnerships in the Chico area. Mr. Nicolaus is chairman of the Zimmerman Scholarship Committee, member of the North State Hulling Co-op, and a Butte County Farm Bureau member. Prior to joining the Golden State Farm Credit, ACA Board, he served on the Northern California Farm Credit, ACA Board since 2006. His term expires in 2025.

John Nock

Director Read Bio Close Bio

Mr. Nock farms almonds, walnuts and irrigated crops. He currently serves as a Trustee on the Board of Butte Community College, and as a member of the Boards of the Sacramento River Forum and the Durham Community Foundation. Mr. Nock has served on the Golden State Farm Credit, ACA Board since 2023. His term expires in 2028.

Zane Peterson

Director Read Bio Close Bio

Mr. Peterson is president and owner of a logging business in Anderson, CA and has seven (7) years of experience in the forestry industry. He has been an active member of Shasta County Farm Bureau and serves as a Board Member for the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference and an Advisory Board Member for Shasta College Agriculture and Heavy Equipment program. Mr. Peterson was appointed to the board in 2024

Robbie Rocha

Director Read Bio Close Bio

Mr. Rocha is the owner-operator of R&R Farms, which consists of pistachios and row crops and K&M Ag, an agriculture composting and trucking business in Kings County and surrounding areas. He is a member of Kings County Farm Bureau, a supporter of the E.A.T Foundation, actively involved with local 4-H and FFA programs as well as the Kings Fair in Hanford. He has served on the Golden State Farm Credit, ACA Board since 2022. His term expires in 2027.

Jake Rodgers

Director Read Bio Close Bio

Mr. Rodgers farms table grapes and owns a farm management company that manages table grape vineyards in Kings, Tulare and Fresno counties while also providing farm labor contracting services to outside growers. He has served on the Golden State Farm Credit, ACA Board since 2023. His term expires in 2028.

Tim Sellers

Director Read Bio Close Bio

Mr. Sellers farms and is the owner of a feedyard operation. He serves as an advisor and mentor to entrepreneurs who build successful businesses and assists businesses to streamline operations and increase margins. Mr. Sellers has served on the Golden State Farm Credit, ACA Board since 2023. His term expires in 2028.

Terri West

Appointed Director, Audit Committee Chair Read Bio Close Bio

 

Ms. West is Chief Financial Officer at Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies.  Previously, she provided consulting services for a broad range of clients with large, complex agribusinesses from 2019 to 2021. Prior to that, she served as Chief Financial Officer at Actagro, LLC from 2009 to 2019. Before joining Actagro in 2009, she served as Finance and Credit Manager for a California-based manufacturer, and as Senior Accountant at two public accounting firms. She received an MBA with an emphasis in Finance from California State University at Fresno and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Pacific Lutheran University. Ms. West is a certified public accountant. She was appointed to the Golden State Board in 2017. Her term expires in 2028.

Interested in running for our Board?

The Golden State Farm Credit board consists of twelve members: ten are elected by Golden State Farm Credit stockholders and two are appointed by the board. Directors are responsible for representing the best interests of Golden State Farm Credit and its borrowers. Customers can impact the business by electing the board of directors who set policy.

The board meets six times a year to review operating results and provide strategic direction for the Association.

Candidate Interest Form

Fill out my online form.