![]() In all three of the farm-related meetings I’ve attended so far this winter, there has been a significant amount of time spent telling us to get our records in good shape, make realistic projections — and get ready to meet with our bankers to do cash trickle planning. Good luck to you, I hope you own cows. Read our entire issue and back issues. Click here. I went to see my banker After adding up my slips. It wasn't quite as fun As it had been some other trips. With more commas in the numbers Last year at this time, And not so much subtracting To find out what was mine. I’d been to see my tax man. He said, “That can’t be right. There must be some income checks That slipped out of your sight.” “And did you really spend that much On gas and tools and stuff? Really, how much glyphosate Seems to be enough?” After he had slapped me down With pen and yellow pad, Well, going to the bank would take All the guts I had. My banker offered me a seat And handshake that seemed warm, Then spooled up his computer And fired up his charm. He made a little small talk About the kids and more, Then quietly stepped over And tightly shut the door. He copied all my numbers To his electron page While making little grunting sounds That I just couldn’t gauge. He sat there staring at the screen, Left thumb upon his chin, Then jumps to move his cursor, Types some other number in. It got deathly quiet In that banker glass wall crypt. His pen, it scratched like thunder As he laid down some script. He picked up all the papers And stacked them like a deck. I felt just one small bead of sweat Trickle down my neck. Then the thing he told me next Almost made me sob: “The bank is sticking with you, But keep your writing job.” David Kragnes farms near Felton, Minn. A former board member and chairman of American Crystal Sugar Co., he currently serves on the CoBank Board of Directors. Read our entire issue and back issues. Click here.
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Write Field column is written by David Kragnes. David farms near Felton, MN. He is a former Chairman of American Crystal Sugar Co., and currently serves on the board of directors of CoBank.
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