From Intern to Employee

The Farm Credit of Western Arkansas internship program allows college students to immerse themselves in the agricultural lending world through hands-on experiences and unique learning opportunities. Throughout their internships, students meet with farmers and industry experts, collaborate with Farm Credit professionals, and form connections that last a lifetime. For some interns, those experiences led to a career with the company, where they continue to create lasting legacies today.  

Anna Lester  

Hailing from Delight, Arkansas, Anna Lester grew up immersed in agriculture. Her family raised breeder hens and had a small cow/calf operation. Alongside her sisters, she showed livestock through her local 4-H and FFA programs. She currently lives in Atkins with her husband and children, who show hogs and are involved in 4-H. Her hobbies include beekeeping, quilting, reading and spending time with her family and friends.  

In 2011, Anna graduated from Southern Arkansas University with her bachelor’s in Ag Business. She then returned to SAU and completed her MBA with an ag emphasis in 2013.  

Anna first joined Farm Credit of Western Arkansas as a field services intern in 2010 and worked part-time until she graduated in May 2011. Then, she began working full-time as a loan officer in the Mena/Waldron branch. She moved to Russellville in late 2012, and recently switched roles from day-to-day lending to now assisting other lenders as Vice President of Ag Markets.  

As a field services intern, Anna visited members across western Arkansas to conduct chattel inspections, meet farmers and learn their operations. Throughout her internship, Anna visited with over 150 Farm Credit of Western Arkansas members across the southern portion of our territory. “Each member is so different,” she said. “I enjoyed meeting and learning from each one.” 

Anna says her internship prepared her for a career at Farm Credit by teaching her the organization's operations. “My internship introduced me to the many different types of members that we provide financing for, and it opened the door for me to start lending and helping those members reach their goals,” she said. 

When asked what advice she would give future Farm Credit interns, Anna answered, “Learn as much as you can about the different roles across the association. Each person here plays an integral part of our success.” 

And Anna Lester is an integral part of Farm Credit of Western Arkansas’s success. Throughout her journey from field services intern to Vice President of Ag Markets, she has continuously supported members, helping them to achieve their farming and rural living dreams.  

Denise Sweat  

As a long-time agriculturalist, Denise Sweat is familiar with the joys and discomforts of rural life. Her agricultural journey began on her family’s commercial egg and cow-calf farm in the small town of Lincoln, Arkansas. As she grew older, Denise became heavily involved in 4-H, FFA, and the American Junior Simmental Association. While involved in these organizations, she exhibited chickens, turkeys, market hogs and cattle on a national level.  

Denise now resides in McCaskill, Arkansas with her husband, Chris, and their daughters, Sara and Anna. They operate a small family farm where they raise Simmental, Simbrah, Sim-Angus and commercial cattle. They also run a goat and sheep auction monthly. Sara and Anna, like their mother, have both actively participated in 4-H, FFA and the American Junior Simmental Association. Sara is a pre-vet major at Southern Arkansas University and Anna is a rising senior at Spring Hill High School. Denise and her family are active members of Avery’s Chapel Church and enjoy being home on the farm, working in the yard, flowers, and sewing. Their family was also named the 2020 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year. 

In May 1999, Denise began her journey with Farm Credit as a field services intern. At the time, she studied ag business at Southern Arkansas University. She graduated in August 2000, and the following month, joined Farm Credit full-time as a Credit Trainee. You can now find her working at our Nashville office as Senior Vice President Loan Support Services.  

As an intern, Denise traveled to offices across western Arkansas to visit farms and conduct chattel evaluations. While at each office, she learned from different Farm Credit employees and witnessed the different types of farming operations that Farm Credit finances. Denise recounts that her internship equipped her with the skills to effectively communicate with customers and improve her time management abilities, allowing her to make the most of her daily schedule.    

“Absorb all the knowledge you can, embrace every task assigned to you, put your best effort into everything, and savor every moment,” she said. “Being a Farm Credit Intern is truly the most enjoyable experience there is out there!” 

Denise says working at Farm Credit of Western Arkansas is like working with family every day. “It is rewarding to be able to help future farmers achieve their goals, watch farmers provide for their families and help feed the world,” she said. “There are always joys and discomforts, however, the joys always outweigh the discomforts.  Being able to relate and understand the farmers’ needs has always assisted me in my roles over the years.”  

Not only does Denise have a great love for and connection to agriculture, but she understands what it takes to succeed and thrive in the industry. Throughout her internship, she learned and grew within the rural lending sector and continues to provide opportunities to rural Arkansans to this day.  

Hunter Daniel 

Rural life is a deep-rooted family tradition for Hunter Daniel. As a fourth-generation cattleman, Hunter grew up immersed in the agricultural world and continues to pursue the rural lifestyle. He and his wife, Taylor, live in Pope County and are raising their two daughters, Hallie and Hartley, on a Red Angus cow-calf operation. They also raise hair sheep, and Hunter helps with his father’s broiler houses. In his free time, Hunter enjoys working on the farm, riding horses and deer hunting. He is a member of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association and a graduate of ACA’s Arkansas Cattlemen’s Leadership Course. He currently operates out of the Russellville office as Vice President of Risk Management. 

Hunter joined Farm Credit as a field services intern in 2016 while studying Ag Business and Animal Science at Arkansas Tech University. After his internship, he began working in the poultry industry, and in May 2017, he graduated and joined the Farm Credit full-time. Hunter remarks that his internship allowed him to meet farmers across Western Arkansas and learn how Farm Credit assists in their operations. “The best part of my internship was going on farm visits,” he said. “I got to see and discuss each borrower’s operation and learn about their successes and failures.”  

He nods to Farm Credit of Western Arkansas as an atmosphere of dedicated staff serving hard-working members. “The employees - they’re all passionate,” he said. “They’re passionate about agriculture and the members they serve. They want to see them succeed.”  

Hunter’s takeaways from his summer as an intern? “Listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and be eager to take on new challenges. Remember it's okay to start with a beginner's mindset - it's a powerful way to grow and learn.” 

Hunter notes that his internship gave him a broader and more in-depth knowledge of the day-to-day tasks throughout the association. Through his experience with Farm Credit, he joined the team with an understanding of its operations and a passion for agriculture. Now, he serves members of rural western Arkansas and helps turn their farming and living goals into a reality.  

Lindsey Holtzclaw  

If you’ve read a Farm Credit of Western Arkansas article such as this one, scrolled our social media or flipped through our magazine, you’ve likely been impacted by Lindsey’s work. As Director of Marketing, she wears many hats - including writer, graphic designer, photographer, editor, budgeter and sometimes even cook when the Farm Credit grill is fired up at events. Not only is Lindsey a valuable member of the team, but her impact at Farm Credit is evident as you follow her journey from intern to employee.  

Lindsey joined the team as a communications intern in August 2015 while studying at Arkansas Tech University. In May 2017, she graduated with her bachelor's degree in agribusiness public relations and a minor in journalism and joined Farm Credit as a full-time communications specialist. In 2022, she was promoted to Director of Marketing, her current position.   

Growing up on a small cow-calf operation in Damascus, Arkansas introduced Lindsey into the world of agriculture, but joining her school’s FFA program led her to a true passion for the industry. She now lives in Taylor, Arkansas with her husband, Jes, and two sons, John Monroe and Porter. Her hobbies include anything involving the outdoors – she loves gardening, kayaking, and beekeeping. She also enjoys live music, playing guitar and singing. Lindsey and Jes serve on Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers state committee, and she is the president of Arkansas Women in Agriculture.  

When asked what working at Farm Credit is like, Lindsey doted on her favorite parts of the job. “I love hearing and telling our members’ stories of how Farm Credit was able to help them accomplish their goals of farming, owning land, or building a house,” she said. “I work with the best people who truly care about agriculture and rural Arkansans.” 

One of Lindsey’s favorite experiences during her internship was writing her first story for our member magazine, The Rural Scene (which was then called Farming with Family & Friends).  

“The story profiled Mr. Troy Buck and the ag program and FFA Chapter he had built at Centerpoint High School,” she said. “Mr. Buck was also a Farm Credit member and director. As a former FFA member, Mr. Buck was an icon, and it was fun to see my two worlds combine. It was also exciting to see my words and photos printed in a publication.” 

Lindsey’s advice to prospective interns? “Use every minute of it wisely - internships generally go by in a flash. If your workload is slow, use it as an opportunity to learn more about a position or role you’re not familiar with.  Take the time to build meaningful relationships with each person you meet – whether an employee, member, or fellow intern. The world of agriculture is small and it’s likely you’ll see them again after your internship ends.” 

Lindsey says that her internship gave her many of the building blocks she needed to develop and strengthen her communication and marketing skills. From communications intern to Director of Marketing, she still practices many of the same skills. Because of her internship, she has evolved as a communicator, become more familiar with Farm Credit’s inner workings, learned how members are served, and created a lasting impact on the organization. 

We're celebrating National Intern Day! Stay tuned to learn about our six current interns.