Employee Spotlight: Cole Williams

Job Title: Loan Officer
Location: Bridgeport Branch
Tenure: 4 years
Briefly describe your involvement in 4-H. I have been involved in Harrison County 4-H since I was 7 years old and am a 4-H Allstar. As of late, I have been helping to grow the livestock side of the program for the county.
Briefly describe your involvement in FFA. Unfortunately, my high school at the time did not have an FFA Chapter or any ag programs. Since college, I have been involved in judging FFA competitions and am proud to say that my high school now has an active FFA chapter that I help to support.
Briefly describe your involvement in agriculture. I am a 5th generation beef cattle producer (Three generations pictures below). We are comprised mostly of stocker cattle as well as some cow/calf pairs. We have recently, within the last five years, added a small hay enterprise to the operation as well.

Are you involved in any other clubs or organizations? Currently, I serve on the Board of Directors for the Harrison County Farm Bureau and am the sitting president for the Harrison County Livestock Association.
Tell us about your family. I have been very blessed to farm beside my grandfather and father growing up. I find that as I have grown older, finding a three-generation operation that everyone gets along and pulls for the same common goal is not as common and for that I have been very lucky. Unfortunately, we lost my grandfather last year in June. However, as one great chapter closed, my wife and I welcomed the birth of our son on April 7th of this year. My hope is that he can grow up with the same cherished memories that I did on our family operation.

Tell us about your pets. As much as I love dogs, I had put off getting a dog for many years despite my wife's best efforts to convince me to give in. In the fall of 2023, I finally gave in, and we went and picked up Roxy. Roxy was a one and half year old, 125-pound red lab. The stipulation with the dog was that the dog was hers and up to her to manage. Since we brought home Roxy, she has very little to do with my wife and follows me everywhere, from checking cows to working late nights in the shop repairing equipment. Honestly, I wouldn't change that for the world – just don't tell my wife.

What is your favorite song or artist? My playlist on my phone is one that catches most people by surprise. I have everything from Johnny Cash to Jay Z. My favorite song though, by far is “In Color” by Jamey Johnson. Ever since that song was released up to when I hear it now, the lyrics just hit me and paint the picture of all the memories that my grandfather would tell me from his life as he worked on the farm.
What is your favorite app and why? My most used apps on my phone are my collection of weather apps. To say which one is my favorite depends on which one has the correct forecast at the time.
What is your favorite season? My favorite season by far is fall. It can be the most hectic around the farm with shipping yearlings out and bringing in the next round of feeders, but the change in temperatures coupled with the foliage change makes it absolutely my favorite time of year.
What is your dream vacation destination? Alaska has been a place that I have been fascinated with since I was a child. One day I hope to take a couple of weeks to go explore all it has to offer.
What is your favorite place you've ever visited? My favorite place I have visited is Idaho, through the base of the Rocky Mountains.
What was your dream job as a child? My dream job as a child was to be a veterinarian. That was my plan up until my third semester in college, when chemistry and I could not see eye to eye. 
What is your favorite thing about Farm Credit? My favorite thing about Farm Credit is that the deep connection and passion for the ag community that I have personally is shared through the company I work for as well.
What are your favorite weekend activities? My typical weekend is generally spent on the farm but on the rare occasion that the weather is cooperating or the list is not a mile long, my wife and I enjoy spending time at our camp in Webster County on the river.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? My superpower would be to control the weather.