Back

AgGeorgia Promotes Matthew Hart and Ryan Whitfield in Royston Office

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the promotions of Matthew Hart and Ryan Whitfield to Commercial Loan Officers.

Mr. Hart joined the AgGeorgia team in June of 2023 as a Consumer Loan Officer in the Washington Office, where he worked to serve an existing portfolio.  In late July of 2023, he moved to the Royston Office in the same position, but with a new emphasis on member visits, community events, and outreach activities.  Matthew will handle forestry, logging, vegetables and fruit crops, and recreational/hunting portfolios in his new role.

A native of Jackson County, Mr. Hart graduated from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences with a degree in Agriscience and Environmental Systems and a minor in Turfgrass Management.  Before joining AgGeorgia, he worked at John Deere as a branch manager, at USDA NRCS as a soil conservationist, and as a territory sales representative. An avid outdoorsman, Matthew enjoys hunting, hiking, and gardening, and added that he “loves to support Georgia agriculture wherever and however he can.” Mr. Hart lives with his wife (and their chickens) in Jackson County.

Mr. Whitfield began his career with AgGeorgia in 2019 as a Credit Officer, serving multiple branches across AgGeorgia’s North Georgia territory.  Ryan analyzed nearly $200 million in loan actions over that span in addition to playing a key role in multiple special projects. He is a cornerstone in the credit department, with a track record of providing insightful data to help make critical business decisions.

Ryan grew up in Elbert County and received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Agribusiness from the University of Georgia.  He comes from a multi-generational farm family and grew up spending time on his grandparents’ farms raising cattle and goats.