NORMAL –1^st Farm Credit Services remains strong and successful, and is once again passing on a portion of it profits to clients.

More than $3.8 million will be returned to clients through the association’s Patronage Program. During the four years of the program, a total of $13.8 million has been returned to clients.

Patronage is the method cooperatives use to distribute a portion of net income to owners.

Each year, the success of the association has allowed the total amount of patronage paid to clients to increase.

"We are an association owned by our clients, and we share in each others’ successes," said Gary J. Ash, President/CEO of 1^st Farm Credit Services. "Sharing our profits is one of the ways client-owners of 1^st Farm Credit Services receive value."

About 8,900 clients who have a loan or lease with 1^st Farm Credit Services are eligible for the patronage program. The amount of patronage a client receives depends on the amount of business with 1^st Farm Credit Services.