On October 26, the Carolina Farm Credit Board of Directors appointed Susie J. Gambill of Sparta to fill the seat of her late husband, Bobby Joe Gambill, who served as director for 15 years.

Carolina Farm Credit Director, Bobby Joe Gambill, passed away on October 2, 2011 after a long battle with cancer. Susie Gambill will serve as a member of the board of directors until director elections take place in September 2012.

Susie is a farmer and Clerk of Court in Alleghany County. Her operation consists of dairy and beef cattle, Christmas trees, corn, and hay. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree in business and education and completed post-graduate work at East Tennessee State University. Gambill serves on the board of L&S Land Corporation (real estate), and is a member of the Alleghany Christmas Tree Association, Blue Ridge Electric Community Leaders, and Clerk of Court Conference. She is also a member and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church of Sparta.

Carolina Farm Credit is a stockholder-owned cooperative providing short, intermediate, and long-term financing to full and part-time farmers and agricultural-related businesses and also provides financing for the construction and purchase of homes in 54 counties through 36 service centers.  Other financial services available are credit life insurance, crop insurance, appraisal services, leasing programs and financial planning.

Carolina Farm Credit serves over 8,900 members with loans outstanding totaling more than $1.4 billion.  The association’s territory covers the western half of North Carolina, with service centers located in Albemarle, Asheboro, Asheville, Boone, Burnsville, Carthage, Concord, Ellerbe, Graham, Hendersonville, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lenoir, Lexington, Lincolnton, Marshall, Mocksville, Monroe, Murphy, Newton, Pilot Mountain, Reidsville, Roxboro, Rural Hall, Salisbury, Shelby, Siler City, Sparta, Spindale, Statesville, Taylorsville, Wadesboro, Waynesville, Wilkesboro, Yadkinville, and Yanceyville.
Directors for Carolina Farm Credit are Joseph A. Lail, Chairman, Shelby; Mark A. Bray, Vice-Chairman, Lawsonville; John M. Barnard, Statesville; E. Bernard Beck, Seagrove; W. Rex Bell, Statesville; Herbert R. Cheeks, Hayesville; David M. Coltrane, Pleasant Garden; Susie J. Gambill, Sparta; W. Steve Love, Graham; Bobby J. “Bud” Matthews, East Bend; Clark M. Newlin, Haw River; Thomas E. Porter, Jr., Concord;  Tony L. Ragan, Sanford; Lewis E. Smith, Lincolnton; Vickie N. Smitherman, East Bend; L. Kim Starnes, Salisbury; Dr. Alton Thompson, Summerfield.