A Place to Lead: Insights and Advice for the Next CEO of Farm Credit of the Virginias

As Brad Cornelius prepares to pass the torch after more than three decades of service to the Farm Credit System, he reflects not only on the legacy he leaves behind but also on the bright future ahead for Farm Credit of the Virginias. In this follow-up conversation, Brad shares what makes the Association uniquely positioned to attract and support its next leader, from the breathtaking beauty of the region to the strength of its people and an unwavering commitment to its mission. With insights on the culture, opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, Brad offers thoughtful advice for his successor and a hopeful vision for the continued impact Farm Credit of the Virginias can have on agriculture and rural communities. Join us as we explore what makes this organization a special place to lead and why its best days are still ahead.

What unique aspects of Farm Credit of the Virginias stood out to you and would be appealing to a new leader? 
You know, while not the most important thing, the first thing about Farm Credit of the Virginias that stood out to me and would be appealing to a new leader is our amazingly beautiful territory. You’ve got the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Shenandoah Valley, all of those wonderful mountainous places in West Virginia and the scenic lake near Oakland, Md. It's a beautiful place to live and work.

One of the other appealing aspects of Farm Credit of the Virginias is our people. We are staffed with really high character people who are committed to helping their teammates and serving our customers. That really comes through in all of our interactions.

In what ways have the staff and board of directors at Farm Credit of the Virginias contributed to your success as CEO, and how will this be beneficial to your successor? 
Well first off, I have to thank the board for the opportunity. There are many people who were qualified who would want this job, and I was very fortunate they picked me.

Our board has always had a true long-term focus on how to best serve agriculture. When I came into the system, there was a saying, we provide credit at cost as a cooperative. With that mindset, we really focused on providing the commodity of money. However, starting more than a decade ago when Farm Credit of the Virginias invested in the Knowledge Center, the organization has had a real focus on what agriculture is evolving into, how we can support that and continue to be a part of the future of ag, and how we can advocate for it for years to come. The board has supported this journey wholeheartedly.

Another thing I'm proud of is our human equity / employee engagement journey, and how the board has supported investing in our people and adding resources where we need them. That leadership development has set us up for the future.

One piece of advice my first CEO taught me was that while the CEO can't take care of customers, they have to take care of the staff so that the staff can take  care of our customers – and that's what I've tried to do. We've got a tremendous team of leaders here at all levels. We have young people who aren't a leader on the organization chart yet, but they're leading in pillar teams and in their respective locations, which bodes really well for whoever my successor is, and I'm sure they will recognize that quality and continue to foster those opportunities for growth.

What opportunities and challenges do you foresee for your successor and the Association over the next five years? 
You have to choose optimism every day. There are some headwinds in the national economy right now, and there are some headwinds in agriculture with market volatility and high input prices. Maintaining an optimistic outlook and working with folks to come up with solutions is something we all have to do.

As far as opportunities, so many young people want to get into agriculture, and we do so well in our efforts to support young, beginning and small (YBS) customers here. If we continue to support those YBS customers, we’ll be able to bring a lot of people into agriculture. I think from a political standpoint, we're going to need those people to advocate for agriculture as Virginia and West Virginia become more suburbanized, and as Congress is filled with more suburban congressmen. The opportunity is to continue to grow and to challenge ourselves to be present for agriculture.

Another challenge is that we are in a war for talent. The reason we place such emphasis on employee engagement here at Farm Credit of the Virginias is that it takes top quality people to serve our mission. We’re good at understanding what we need in talent and hiring good people, and we're better at training, but it’s a never-ending battle. We’ll have to continue to get better at training and onboarding. As we continue to adopt new technology to better serve our customers, we’ll have to dedicate time as a leadership team to training and supporting team members through challenges – something I’ll be doing right up until my last day. My successor will also have the opportunity to work through those changes in such a way that employees feel supported and customers don’t feel any loss in service.

What advice would you give to your successor? 
Since we are a values-based organization, no matter how much time you spend talking about our core values and our mission, you need to do it more. Looking back, I realize how much people crave that and how important it is for me as the CEO to remind our people of why we're here and what we're about as Farm Credit.

The other piece of advice I would give is to keep in mind the board chose you for a reason, and authenticity is everything. In leadership, credibility is your only currency, and you must be yourself. You don't have to try to lead my way or anyone else’s way. You have to do it your way. Also, remember to look around, your success will be totally dependent on the quality of people you surround yourself with. The senior leadership team is great, and the management leadership team is great. Rely on them, trust them to help you.

What impact do you believe the next CEO can make in the ag industry? 
I think the next CEO can have a great impact on the future of agriculture through our YBS efforts, through our legislative advocacy and through the Farm Credit Knowledge Center. There will be people who are farming 25 years from now in part because our Knowledge Center is holding transition planning workshops, encouraging folks to talk about transition planning in ways that will keep the family farm together and just as importantly, keep the family on speaking terms.

As Brad Cornelius prepares to close this chapter of his career, his reflections serve as both a tribute to the people and purpose that define Farm Credit of the Virginias and a guiding light for the road ahead. His insights reveal an organization rooted in values, strengthened by its people and energized by its mission to serve agriculture and rural communities. For the next CEO, the opportunity is clear: to lead with authenticity, invest in people, and continue building on a legacy of service and innovation. With a strong foundation and a dedicated team in place, Farm Credit of the Virginias is not just a place to lead, it’s a place to make a lasting difference.

The CEO application can be found HERE. The final date for application is June 27, 2025.