Statement on Farm Credit System Outreach 

to Veterans and Native Americans

Tyler Fish

Senior Advisor and Assistant to the Director

Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion

Farm Credit Administration Board Meeting

November 9, 2023

Thank you, Chairman Logan, Board Member Hall, and Board Member Smith. And to all FCA 

employees and FCS institutions, we share greetings. 

November is a time of gathering, a time of remembrance, and a time of honoring. As we all 

look forward to giving thanks with our loved ones, we begin the month in recognition of two 

communities that have contributed tremendously to the fabric of the United States. 

November is National Native American Heritage Month and National Veterans and Military 

Families Month. 

Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month is observed in the month of November to coincide with the 

traditional season of harvest. It is a time to honor and recognize the contributions, cultures, 

and histories of Native Americans in the United States. 

November is an opportunity for all of us to also “learn from all that we observe,” which is a 

principle stated in a traditional Cherokee morning prayer. 

The prayer contends that we each have a responsibility to strive toward better 

understandings of the world around us. We have a responsibility to use this knowledge to 

improve ourselves and the lives of others. 

National Veterans and Military Families Month

November is also National Veterans and Military Families Month. Tomorrow is Veterans Day, 

a time when we show our appreciation to the brave men and women who have served in 

the United States military in times of war and peace. Veterans Day is a moment to 

recognize their valor and unwavering commitment to the ideals that define our great nation. 

November, however, is also a month dedicated to acknowledging the families who stand 

steadfastly by the side of their loved ones who serve in the armed services. 

Military service is, after all, a sacrifice borne by the servicemembers and their loved ones,

who endure long separations and uncertainties, and share in the triumphs and challenges of 

service. Their strength, resilience, and devotion to their loved ones are pillars upon which 

our military community thrives. 

Guidance

These communities are not mutually exclusive. American Indians and Alaska Natives serve 

in the U.S. military at the highest per capita rate of any ethno-demographic in the United 

States.
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Earlier this month, Chairman Logan issued a memorandum encouraging Farm Credit System 

(System) institutions to increase their functional knowledge and outreach among tribal 

communities. The chairman’s call is for System institutions to focus their attention both 

internally and externally to increase System outreach capacity among tribal communities. 

Just yesterday, Chairman Logan issued a comparable memorandum encouraging System

institutions to strengthen outreach to military veterans for lending and hiring purposes.

Veterans represent an underused resource in the agricultural finance sector and the broader 

rural agriculture industry. The chairman’s message highlights the unique skill set held by 

many veterans, which makes them well-suited for roles in finance and operations — perhaps 

most importantly in roles of leadership. 

Closing thoughts

As we close this month’s board meeting, I implore all FCA employees to take a moment to 

learn more about each of these communities. From that knowledge, consider why do we 

care? Why are the people in these communities important to us? 

Although we can all arrive at different conclusions individually, the one unequivocal truth is 

that the United States would not be what it is today without the sacrifices and contributions 

of both of these communities — whether it’s the personal sacrifice of our veterans, or the

inspiration the Five Leagues of the Iroquois provided to the founding fathers of the United 

States. 

Chairman Logan, Board Member Hall, Board Member Smith, thank you for your support and 

consideration for the critical issues affecting Indian Country and our veteran community in 

the United States.