Leadership

Mr. Gibson resides in Aliceville, Alabama, and is president and owner of Gibson Forest Management, Inc., a forestry consulting firm established in 1994, and Gibson Timberlands, LLC, a land and timber company. He manages approximately 60,000 acres of timberland for clients in West Alabama and East Mississippi, where he provides complete forest management services, and he owns approximately 2,000 acres of timberland, where timber and wildlife are the primary commodities. Mr. Gibson is a member of the Alabama Forestry Association, the Society of American Foresters (past state chair), the Association of Consulting Foresters (past state chair), and Alabama Farmers Federation of Pickens County, having served on the boards of each organization. He currently serves as a member of the Pickens County Industrial Board (industrial development). Mr. Gibson earned a bachelor’s degree in Forest Management from Mississippi State University. He is a trustee at Hebron United Methodist Church.

Mr. Sanders resides in Roeton, Alabama, and has been farming full time all of his adult life. He farms in partnership with his son on 1,000 acres, where the primary commodities produced are peanuts, cotton and corn. In addition, Mr. Sanders has a 100‐head brood cow operation. Mr. Sanders serves as president of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (peanut promotion), a director of the American Peanut Council (peanut promotion), a member of the Peanut Standards Board (peanut promotion), president of the Coffee County Farmers Federation (agricultural federation), and a director of the Alabama 4‐ H Club Foundation (resources for promotion of youth in agriculture). Mr. Sanders earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science from Auburn University.

Ms. Dee resides in Aliceville, Alabama, and has been farming all of her adult life. She is president and part owner of Dee River Ranch, a family‐operated 10,000‐acre farm where the principal commodities produced are corn and soybeans. In addition, Dee River Ranch has over 1,000 head of Brahman and Angus crossbred cattle, along with pine and hardwoods planted on part of the farm. Ms. Dee is part owner and manager of Dee Farm, a general partnership that runs the farming operations located at Dee River Ranch, and Dee Farm Equipment, LLC. The farm also engages in collaborations with several universities in irrigation research projects, and crop variety and fungicide trials. In addition to her work on the farm, Ms. Dee’s affiliations and board service include the Alabama Soybean and Corn Association (agricultural commodity promotion), the Pickens County Farmers Federation (agricultural federation), the West Alabama Food Bank (storing and distributing food for hunger relief), the Advisory Board for the Soybean Innovation Lab administered through University of Illinois, and the USDA Cover Crop Advisory Board. Ms. Dee is a Soil Health Partner for the National Association of Conservation Districts and also serves as a lead farmer for the Farm Journal Foundation. In addition, she serves on the NRCS State Advisory Board, the Simplot Grower Solutions Grower Council, and the Agriculture Advisory Council of the Birmingham branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Formerly, Ms. Dee was a member of Pickens County Cattlewomen (past president), New Era Arts Club (past president), and Corpus Christi Parish Council (past president). She also served on the advisory committee for Auburn University Forestry Department and Auburn University Integrated Pest Management. Additionally, she served on the boards of the United Soybean Board and the Alabama Soybean Producers and has worked with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation on “Invest an Acre” and “Harvesting the Potential” programs. Ms. Dee earned a bachelor’s degree in Animal Industries from Clemson University, attends Corpus Christi Church.

Mr. Evans resides in Hope Hull, Alabama. He and his wife, Kathleen, have two children. Mr. Evans has been raising cattle since 2010 and has been a full-time seedstock cattleman since 2015. He and his family operate CK Cattle, a Lowndes County-based farming operation encompassing 3,100 acres of owned and leased pastureland. The cattle operation includes a base herd of approximately 700 registered Angus, Chiangus, and SimAngus cows. The farm markets over 250 bulls each year. They also grow 200 acres of corn silage and 400 acres of Bermuda hay. Mr. Evans serves on the board and is the immediate past president of the Lowndes County Cattlemen’s Association (beef promotion) and chair of Dallas/Lowndes FSA County Committee (USDA Programs). He also serves on the boards of the Alabama Farmers Federation for Lowndes County (agricultural federation) and Alabama Ag Credit, ACA (agricultural credit and related services). In addition, he is a member of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition. Mr. Evans formerly served as state chair of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Council and has participated as Alabama’s delegate to NBCA’s Young Cattlemen’s Conference (2018). He is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries Management. Mr. Evans is chairman of the deacons at Hayneville Baptist Church and teaches a third- through sixth‐grade boys Sunday school class.

Mr. Platt resides in Fruitdale, Alabama, and has been farming full time for the past 23 years. He is co‐owner of Platt Farms, a Washington County‐based operation that includes 950 acres where principal commodities produced are poultry, soybeans, hay, peanuts, feed grains, cattle and timber. Mr. Platt serves on the boards of Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District (soil and water conservation), Washington County Farmers Federation (agricultural federation) and the Clark‐Washington Farm Service Agency (USDA programs). Mr. Platt is a member of Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, and Alabama Peanut Producers Association. Mr. Platt attended Alabama Southern, where he earned an associate degree in Industrial and Business Technology.

Mr. Meadows resides in Columbia, Alabama, with his wife, Kathy, and they have three sons. He has been involved in the farming business most of his life. Mr. Meadows is an area sales manager for WB Fleming Mineral Company, where he has worked for 17 years. The company is a producer of livestock minerals and is based in Tifton, Georgia, with Mr. Meadows’ sales territory covering central and south Alabama and the Florida panhandle. Mr. Meadows is a partner with his brother and other family members in Meadows Creek Farm, LLC, a cattle operation partnership formed in 1985 and based in Houston County, Alabama, focusing on seedstock production of Charolais, Angus and SimAngus cattle. He also raises commercial cattle and market feeder calves through SAFE feeder calf sale. Meadows Creek Farm also grows corn silage, grain sorghum and small grains for cattle feed. Mr. Meadows is past president and current board member of Houston County Cattlemen’s Association (treasurer) and Alabama Charolais Association. He is also a past president and now treasurer of Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (cattle promotion). Mr. Meadows earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Dairy Science from Auburn University and a Master of Business Administration degree with concentration in Agricultural Economics from Auburn University. Mr. Meadows is a deacon at Watermark Church in Ashford, Alabama.

Mr. McLeod resides in Pike Road, Alabama, and has 25 years of experience in the financial industry. He currently serves as the director of the Office of Cash Management at Auburn University, a position he has held for nine years. Previously he served in leadership positions with the State of Alabama, Office of State Treasurer for 11 years. Mr. McLeod has also served in various roles in commercial banking for six years. He is a certified public manager and is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery. Mr. McLeod earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business at the University of North Alabama. Mr. McLeod also serves on the board of trustees for Beulah Baptist Church.

Mr. Stabler resides in Fairhope, Alabama, and is a retired CPA. Mr. Stabler has over 42 years of experience in public accounting and is retired from service as a member/partner with the accounting firm Warren Averett, LLC. He served on the firm’s Executive Committee and was chair of the firm’s Office Managing Member Council for nine years and served as the office managing member of the Montgomery office of the firm for 10 years. Mr. Stabler also serves on the board of directors of Montgomery based Whitfield Foods Inc., a company specializing in packaging of beverage, retail syrup and other food products, and on the board of CDG Inc., a southeast regional engineering and consulting firm based in Andalusia. Mr. Stabler also serves on the board of Leadership Alabama, an Alabama‐focused leaders educational organization, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, a Montgomery‐based nonprofit organization that provides a variety of theatrical performances and educational and community programs. Mr. Stabler earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Troy University.

Nick Hartley serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Alabama Ag Credit, and has been in the Farm Credit System since 2008. Before joining Alabama Ag Credit, Nick was the Chief Lending Officer at AgGeorgia Farm Credit, where he played a vital role in driving financial growth and fostering strong relationships within the agricultural community. Nick holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, an MBA from Mercer University, and is a graduate of the LSU School of Banking. His career has been defined by his strategic vision, leadership, and dedication to supporting rural communities and agriculture.

Higbe joined Alabama Ag Credit in 2011 and has been chief credit officer since 2012, managing the credit risks for the association. Higbe has more than twenty years of commercial banking experience and serves on the board of the Alabama Agribusiness Council. He holds bachelor’s degrees in general business and accounting from Auburn University at Montgomery.

McKinley has been with Alabama Ag Credit since 2017. In addition, he has nearly two decades of experience in the financial industry, including time as the President & CEO of a credit union in South Alabama. At Alabama Ag Credit McKinley drives the business development strategy for the association by shaping and guiding the relationship management and lending teams. McKinley holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Auburn University.

Smith joined Alabama Ag Credit in 2022 with over 24 years of experience in accounting and auditing roles and has served the last eight years as vice president and controller inside the Farm Credit System. A seasoned Certified Internal Controls Auditor, Smith is a native of Cullman, Alabama, and graduated from Athens State College with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Accounting.

Dorrill joined Alabama Ag Credit in 2014 and has been the VP, Credit Officer since 2016. In 2020 Dorrill became the Vice President of Credit for AgFast Loans. Working in credit since 1991, Dorrill spent twenty-three years with the USDA Farm Service Agency. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Auburn University.

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Hallman joined Alabama Ag Credit in 2005 and has been the Chief Appraiser since 2013. He came to Alabama Ag Credit with five years of experience as a part-owner and procurement forester for a timber dealership operation. A Certified General Appraiser and Alabama Registered Forester, he holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry from Auburn University.

Brent Howard started with Alabama Ag Credit in February 2022. He has over 25 years of accounting experience primarily in the electric cooperative field. He also worked in the municipal electric industry as well as in public accounting. Howard also served in the U.S. Army and participated in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Howard earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Jacksonville State University.

Pratt joined Alabama Ag Credit in 2017 with more than 10 years of experience in the field of advertising and communications. At Alabama Ag Credit, Pratt directs all the adverting and communication activities. Prior to joining Alabama Ag Credit, she worked as an executive branding specialist, where she consulted with high-profile clients, including several Farm Credit system associations, to help with branding and promotions. Pratt earned a master’s degree in strategic communication from Troy University.

Satcher joined Alabama Ag Credit in 2013 and has been the Vice President of Information Systems since 2019. He came to Alabama Ag Credit with twelve years of experience managing the information technology systems for a domestic and international insurance company. Satcher holds bachelor’s degrees in Management Information Systems and Marketing from the University of Mississippi.

Sellers joined Alabama Ag Credit in 2003 with more than 10 years of experience in public accounting. He also worked for four years in a family-owned forestry consulting and rural real estate brokerage firm. A certified public accountant, he holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Auburn University and a master of business administration degree with an emphasis in finance from Auburn University at Montgomery.

Story joined Alabama Ag Credit in 2018 with more than 20 years of experience in human resources in both the corporate and private sectors of business. She has held management-level positions in Human Resource Management in the staffing, communications, hospitality, and finance industries. Story holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in Human Resource Management. She is also certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP). Susan has been an active member of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) both on the national and local level since 2007.

Kevin Vest has 25 years of experience in field of accounting and finance and currently serves in the role of Regional Credit Administrator. He began his journey at Alabama Ag Credit in 2007, initially serving as the Controller. In this role, he oversaw the company's financial operations and insured the integrity of financial reporting. In 2013, Vest transitioned to the credit department, bringing his extensive expertise in accounting and finance to a new domain. This move marked a significant shift in his career, allowing him to expand his skill set and contribute to AAC's credit management strategies. Vest holds both a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and an MBA with an emphasis in accounting from Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). In addition to his academic achievements, he is also a Certified Public Accountant.

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