Rooted in service, growing through leadership: Amanda Brown selected for prestigious leadership experience

For Amanda Brown, agriculture isn’t just the industry she serves. It’s part of who she is.

Growing up in Slaton, a small agricultural community in West Texas, Brown learned early lessons about hard work, perseverance and service. Her childhood was shaped by time spent on her family’s cotton farm, raising livestock and participating in FFA, experiences that would ultimately influence both her career and leadership philosophy.

Today, Brown serves as Capital Farm Credit’s director of participation accounting, leading a team of seven professionals responsible for managing participation loans across the Farm Credit System. Her role requires collaboration with teams throughout the organization to ensure Capital Farm Credit’s loan portfolio is managed accurately and efficiently in support of the association’s mission.

Now, Brown has been selected to represent Capital Farm Credit in the upcoming Gettysburg Leadership Experience as part of Farm Credit’s Advancing Women in Agriculture through Resilience & Distinction (AWARD) Program, a national initiative recognizing emerging women leaders from across the Farm Credit System. The AWARD program that blends historical lessons in decision-making, legacy-building, and resilience with modern leadership strategies.

Brown is one of just 41 women selected nationwide.

“It’s truly an honor,” Brown said. “To be recognized among accomplished women from across the country is both humbling and inspiring. It serves as a reminder of the impact we can have through leadership, collaboration and service.”

Brown’s leadership journey spans more than two decades within the Farm Credit System, including 17 years with Capital Farm Credit. After joining the association as a loan administrator in the Agribusiness Department, she steadily took on greater leadership responsibilities. She completed the Leadership Development Program, was promoted to Treasury Services manager in 2016 and later became director of participation accounting in 2022.

Along the way, she has contributed to numerous organizational initiatives, including the Process Improvement and Product Enhancement Committee, the IDEAL Committee and, most recently, the Data Governance Committee, where she serves as vice chair.

Her dedication to both the organization and agriculture has not gone unnoticed. One of the accomplishments she cherishes most is receiving Capital Farm Credit’s Commitment Award, an honor selected by fellow employees.

“It was incredibly meaningful to know that my dedication is appreciated more widely than I had ever imagined,” Brown said. “The recognition reflected not only my commitment to agriculture and Capital Farm Credit, but also my devotion to supporting my team and encouraging their success.”

Brown credits much of her success to remaining focused on serving others and leading with consistency.

“As a woman in agriculture, one of the biggest challenges was learning how to lead with confidence,” she said. “I focused on knowing my work inside and out. I asked questions, prepared more than expected and followed through with my actions every time.”

That commitment to growth, humility and service is exactly what she hopes to continue developing through the leadership experience. Brown looks forward to learning from other women leaders across the Farm Credit System, gaining new perspectives and strengthening her ability to lead during complex situations.

“I am committed to leading with integrity, accountability and respect while ensuring my team is equipped to serve our customers with consistency and excellence,” Brown said. “This experience will help me better support my team, contribute to Farm Credit’s long-term success and continue serving agriculture with purpose, confidence and stewardship.”

The opportunity holds special significance as part of Farm Credit’s Year of the Woman Farmer celebration, which recognizes the contributions women make to agriculture, rural communities and the Farm Credit System.

Throughout her career, Brown has been inspired by strong women leaders, including the late Chief Financial Officer Sally Lawson, whose example shaped Brown’s approach to leadership.

“She taught me the importance of serving with purpose, leading with integrity and investing in others,” Brown said. “This initiative is about honoring women like Sally and countless others who have helped shape our industry while encouraging the next generation to pursue leadership opportunities and make a lasting impact in agriculture.”

Despite her professional accomplishments, Brown remains grounded in the values she learned growing up in rural Texas. One of her favorite memories is helping her grandmother plant, tend and harvest vegetables from the family garden, a true farm-to-table experience she says helped instill an appreciation for agriculture from an early age.

When asked to describe her Farm Credit journey through a song, Brown chose Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind.”

The choice seems fitting for a leader whose career has been defined by service, commitment and a genuine desire to help others succeed. As she prepares to represent Capital Farm Credit on a national stage, Brown carries with her the values of agriculture, the support of her colleagues and a continuing commitment to making a difference for the farmers, ranchers and rural communities Farm Credit serves every day.