The Garcia family’s farm and dream home was purchased with help from the Farm Service Agency. Pictured (l to r) Micaela, Alex, Cesar, Ivan, Hector and Edgar.
by Bonita Pfannenstiel, farm loan officer, Ness City, Kan.
Call it fate or good fortune. When Cesar Garcia started working with the Pawnee County Farm Service Agency staff in Kansas, he developed a relationship that would help achieve his dream of owning a farm.
“The Pawnee County staff has been a great help. I would say it is an opportunity of a life-time for me,” said Garcia, who has lived in the Garfield/Kinsley area since 1985. “My family and I are very thankful to [FSA] for giving us the opportunity to own our own farm.”
An FSA farm loan officer in Ness County provided Cesar with a loan for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in order to purchase cattle, a half section of farmland and his dream home. Since receiving the funding, Cesar has completed the required borrower training courses and has become knowledgeable in the business side of agriculture, including how to develop a balance sheet and a cash flow statement.
"I was pretty young when I started working. I was just a hired hand, but over the years I learned quite a bit more about farming,” said Garcia, who now raises cattle, alfalfa and some wheat. “I kind of got it in my blood. I like the farm living.”
Cesar and his wife, Micaela, have four sons. Ivan is a freshman at Fort Hays State, Edgar, 11, Hector, 9, and Alex, 7.
"All my boys enjoy helping me on the farm. They are a big help,” said Garcia.
Farm Service Agency has loans targeted for socially disadvantaged individuals. This program provides farm operating and farm ownership loans to minority groups who want to purchase and operate a family-size farm. Operating loans can be made to purchase livestock, equipment, feed, seed or pay other business expenses. Ownership loans provide capital to purchase or enlarge a farm
