FFB&T Newsroom

News from the Sheridan Branch

The Sheridan Chamber of Commerce recently held their Annual Dinner at the Palomino Ballroom. During the event, they give an award presented to a community business. For 2009, First Farmers Bank & Trust received the Sheridan Chamber Appreciation Award for Outstanding Dedication and Devotion. We are very excited and thankful to receive this award from the Chamber!

In other Sheridan news, the Sheridan Harvest 5K was held on October 3rd at Biddle Memorial Park. Brian Bragg, branch manager at our Sheridan office, helps to organize this event every year, which runs concurrently with the Sheridan Harvest Moon Festival. The race is open to both walkers and runners and there is also a corporate challenge. In 2008, FFBT won this challenge. Brian and Keith Hill, Chief Financial Officer, participated in the event this year for FFBT. Brian stated, "The 5K had a great turnout this year with 105 runners and was a huge success."

All of the proceeds from the event go to the upkeep of the Sheridan portion of the Monon Trail.

Michelle Boyd is usually a participant in the Sheridan 5K, but she was focused on something else this year: the Chicago Marathon! She ran in the race on October 11th with a time of 4 hours, 29 minutes, and 14 seconds.

FFBT and Employees Participate in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

First Farmers Bank & Trust participated in a unique event that generated national publicity recently as it partnered with Hallmark Homes and a variety of other vendors to help host ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. FFBT was a monetary sponsor of the event and several FFBT employees donated their time and skills to the project over the course of the 8 day building in Bunker Hill. A number of long hours were spent in poor weather conditions at various activities including food service, painting, cleaning, building, and transporting materials. Participants said it was an incredible experience to witness and be a part of that they would never forget. FFBT is proud of the dedication of staff to volunteer their time and abilities to help such a worthy family. Several FFBT clients also helped in the build, some spending more than 24 hours continuously at the build site. Employees also visited the site throughout the week as spectators and several were able to represent the bank at the wrap up party on Tuesday night.

FFBT Donates to Susan G Komen Foundation and National Lee Denim Day

For the past several years, First Farmers Bank & Trust has supported the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Lee National Denim Day. Employees have the option of contributing funds to the effort in exchange for a casual jeans day. This year, Denim Day took place on Oct 9th and all 18 branches participated. Overall, First Farmers employees raised $1282 and the Bank donated $350 for a total donation of $1632 to be split between the two organizations. The two branches that contributed the most funds were Converse and Culver. Great job!

Cancer awareness and research funding remains an important part of community outreach for the Greentown branch of FFBT. The staff hosts several events throughout the year for supporting Relay for Life including, a Walk, a Motorcycle Ride, and a cookbook sale containing customer & employee recipes. For more information on these events or cookbook order information, please visit our FFBT Facebook page.

Order Your Relay for Life Cookbook Today to Support Greentown's Efforts

The Greentown Branch employees are proud sponsors of “Relay for Life”. The American Cancer Society “Relay For Life’ represents “ The hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those facing cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.”

Wherever you look, it seems that someone has been touched by this devastating disease. Whether it be a loved one, a friend, or neighbor we all know someone who is struggling to survive, or has been taken from us, by this deadly disease. Cancer does not discriminate. Whether you are a child or adult, healthy or unhealthy, Cancer doesn’t care. “Relay For Life” has always been a special project for the Greentown Branch but even more so this year. This time it struck the FFBT family in Greentown, not once but twice. Thanks to regular screenings, ½ of all new cancer diagnosis can be prevented or detected early.

The true spirit of our dedication and passion for “Relay For Life” can be seen in our fund-raising efforts in the past 11 years. Our fundraising efforts have grown from bake sales and lunches to motorcycle rides, a community walk, and cookbooks. Our goal is to raise as much money as possible to help with the Fight For a Cure!!! This cookbook is just another example of our community coming together to support one another!

To order a cookbook, which is filled with 164 recipes of appetizers, desserts, and beverages, contact the Greentown branch at (765) 628-3309. Each cookbook is $10, with all proceeds going to benefit Relay for Life, and all recipes were submitted by Greentown customers and employees.

Ken Perkins' Wife and Daughter To Act in the Wabash Area Community Theater Production of 'Anything Goes'

Ken Perkins, FFBT Vice President and Senior Commercial Lender, has talented family members. His wife, Beth, and daughter, Emily, will perform in the Wabash Area Community Theater Production of Anything Goes on Oct 9-11 at the Ford Theater Stage of the Honeywell Center. Emily Perkins will be playing Reno Sweeney, former evangelist turned nightclub singer, one of the lead roles. She has performed in many other productions through high school and college. She encouraged her mom, Beth, to audition after a role became open--a member of Reno's group, Reno's Angels.

The show features a lot of Cole Porter's best songs and the show is a light comedy set aboard a cruise ship.

Come see Emily and Beth Perkins perform this weekend at the Ford Theater stage of the Honeywell Center! Showtimes are listed below:

Friday, October 9th: 7:30pm
Saturday, October 10th: 7:30pm
Sunday, October 11th: 2:00pm

Tickets are available at the Honeywell box office or by calling (260) 563-1102.

FFBT's Ken Perkins Speaks at Midwest Pork Conference

First Farmers Bank and Trust, Sr. Commercial Lender, Ken Perkins recently spoke to industry representatives and producers at the Midwest Pork Conference at the Hendricks County Conference Complex in Danville, Indiana. The conference, hosted by Indiana Pork, hosted over 300 attendees and is the premiere regional event in the industry. Ken’s topics included necessary communication strategies to implement when examining the economic viability of agricultural lending relationships. Ken spoke on suggested practices that should be employed by pork producers in cooperation with the lenders and the long term practices that will help those producers better analyze the profitability and costs associated with their operation.

FFBT Wins 4th Overall at the Corporate Challenge

Each year, First Farmers Bank & Trust participates in the Miami County Corporate Challenge. The mission of the Corporate Challenge is to promote a community-wide commitment to health, fitness, and wellness activities. This is accomplished through the planning and execution of a series of events and opportunities for the corporations and businesses in the Peru/Miami County area. The YMCA encourages all companies in Miami County to compete, cheer, and support the team as one. First Farmers Bank & Trust has four branches in Miami County, with participants from each branch.

 

FFBT had 4 bowling teams in the Mixed Men’s and Women’s Bowling event. The teams were as follows:

 

Team 1 – Crystal Scales, Steven Cecil, Vicky Pickering, and Brandt Downing
Team 2 – Julie Cain, Ruth Glassburn, Dave Eikenberry, and Steve Wilson
Team 3 – Carol Savage, Suzanne Arnold, Bruce Savage, and Craig Langley
Team 4 – Amy Million, Greg Million, Amanda Frey, and Paul Maish.

 

We also had a team in the Fishing Derby, which consisted of Pam Camden and her family. They won first place in this competition, as they have the past 6 years in a row! We had 36 employees and family members who participated in the fun walk, which is a 2 mile walk at your convenience. In the 1.6 Mile Race, we had Suzanne Arnold as a participant and 3rd place winner. We also won 6th place in the Cornhole competition, which included Melody Ringeisen and Theresa Bond. Ron Douglas is always a participant in the Racquetball event and won 3rd place this year.

FFBT won 4th place overall! Go Team FFBT!

FFBT Sponsors the Successful Jim 'Moose' Carden Kid's Fishing Clinic

For the past 5 years, First Farmers Bank & Trust has sponsored the Jim ‘Moose’ Carden Kid’s Fishing Clinic in Kokomo, IN. Bart Alexander, Vice President and Commercial/Ag Lender with First Farmers, and his family, have been an integral part of this event’s success for the past 14 years. The clinic is a 2 week annual event that teaches children in the area how to fish and gives them the tools to do so. It began in 1983 as the Kokomo Kid’s Fishing Clinic and was headed by Jim ‘Moose’ Carden and John Martino. Carden passed away in 1990, and Martino chose to rename the event in honor of him. Martino is the current chairman of the event. Also sponsoring this event was Zebco, the City of Kokomo, and the Kokomo Park and Recreation Department.

 

This year, the event took place from July 13th-July 25th and 135 kids participated. During the first meeting, the kids received a rod and reel donated by Zebco and a T-shirt sponsored by First Farmers and Adams Auto Group. The following two sessions began with casting practice in the Kokomo High School Parking lot and followed with various guest speakers. Then the kids were split up by age group and went to two classes each session, with topics including lure presentations, types of rods and reels, outdoor ethics, seasonal patterns, types of bait, and fish cleaning. The sessions ended with “Happy Half Hour” where the kids won various door prizes geared toward helping their fishing experiences. Funds for the door prizes were raised from the Adams Auto Group 6th Annual Jim “Moose” Carden Kid's Fishing Clinic Benefit Bass Tournament which was held in May. During the last session before the big tournament, the kids were entertained by Trick Caster Scotty Lucas, who traveled up from Tennessee with his father to perform at this event.

 

Saturday, July 25th, was the big day of the event, the tournament. Approximately 70 individuals donated their time, their boat, and their equipment to take the kids fishing on the Kokomo Reservoir. Everyone met at the reservoir at 7:00am. John Martino welcomed everyone to the event and expressed the rules and schedule of events, and Mayor Goodnight shared a few words. The kids were out on the water from 8:00-11:00 even though rain showers came through throughout the morning. At 11:00, all of the boats and kids came in to weigh their catch. The Hoosier Open staff weighed each child’s catch and determined who caught the biggest fish in each category. Categories were based on age and were as follows: 6-9 years old, 10-12 years old, and 13-15 years old. The winners for the event were:

 

6-9 years old: Emily Bales, 5 fish, 23 lbs
10-12 years old: Andrew Nearon, 6 fish, 16 lbs
13-15 years old: Camden McGrew, 6 fish 13 lbs

 

In addition to a large trophy, the first place winners also received a rod and reel and a tacklebox donated by Outcasters Bass Club in Indianapolis. As Emily Bales was the overall winner with her 15 lb carp, she also received $25 cash and a certificate from Jeff and Terri Rood of the Hoosier Open. Every child who participated in the tournament received a trophy. After the weigh in, lunch was served to the public, the volunteers, and the kids and parents. Lunch included two hogs, donated by Frank Simpson of Simpsons deer processing in Young America, hotdogs, hamburgers, several sides, and homemade ice cream. Scott Lucas and his father spent the day at the event, helping announce winners and talking to the kids and parents.

More pictures from this event are located in a photo album on our Facebook page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marion Branch of FFBT Participates in Sand Sculpting Contest to Benefit CASA of Grant County

On Saturday, July 18th, FFBT sponsored and participated in the First Annual Sand Sculpting Contest to benefit CASA of Grant County. The event was created and led by FFBT employee Michael Belcher’s 11 year old son, Bradley, and 7 year old daughter, Lauren. Bradley Belcher has been involved in several fundraisers in the area and especially enjoys helping organizations that benefit kids. The Community Foundation of Grant County previously recognized his work by naming him Youth Philanthropist of the Year. After discussing the organizations that needed help, Bradley and Lauren chose CASA and decided on a sand sculpture contest. This event was held in memory of Pastor Andy Schramm, who dedicated many years to CASA and Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The event was held at The Splash House in Marion. Along with First Farmers, Paddock View Residential Center and Westminster Presbyterian Church also served as sponsors. All three organizations and 10 additional teams participated in the event as well. Teams could contain up to four members and they had from 1:00-6:00 to build their creation. They had an 8’ x 12’ area to work in and IMI donated over 63 tons of sand for the event. The sand was delivered courtesy of Thompson Trucking, and the city of Marion has agreed to store the 63 tons of sand for use next year.

The First Farmers team consisted of Lanita Ferre’, Katie Smock, and James Norris, all of our Marion branch. They build a turtle (picture shown below). Michael Belcher teamed up with Dawn Darga to create Frosty the Sandman (also pictured below). At the end of the contest, several awards were given out. The first was the Schramm Family Award, which was voted on by the Schramm family. The winner of this award was Carey Services. The second award was the People’s Choice Award and was given to the group that collected the most money. This award went to Westminster Presbyterian, who had spent a lot of time collecting money in memory of Pastor Schramm. The final award was the Golden Pail Award, given to the group with the best spirit and who had the most fun. This award went to Paddock View Residential Center.

First Farmers Bank & Trust was very excited to participate in this event and looks forward to participating again next year. It’s great to see employees, and employees’ families, doing so  much for their community. 

  

First Farmers Financial Corporation Welcomes New Board Member

John O’Donnell has been added to the Board of Directors of First Farmers Financial Corporation, the parent company of First Farmers Bank & Trust. O’Donnell resides in Kokomo and is the owner of Reality Investors. John has an extensive background in the financial industry. He began his banking career in 1973 with Union Bank (now Key Bank) and worked there for 11 years as head of trust investments. After moving to American Fletcher Bank (now Chase Bank) in Indianapolis to work in the investment area, John returned to Kokomo with First National Bank in Kokomo as Vice President. During that time, he also formed First National Investments and served as President of the organization. In 2004, he became President and board member of First National Bank and Regional President for Harris Bank in 2006.

John is the current chairman of the Kokomo Howard County Chamber of Commerce, a Vice President of Finance of the Sagamore Council Boy Scouts of America, a board member of the Kokomo Family YMCA, and a member of the Elder Board at Fairview Baptist Church. He currently spends his time working on real estate investments and has been a client of First Farmers Bank & Trust for over 20 years.

John earned his degree from Indiana University’s School of Business and currently resides in Kokomo with his wife Patti. They have 3 children: Ann Cleary, who resides in Leesburg, VA with her husband, David and son, Will, Laura Misinec, who is currently serving as a J.A.G. Officer in Iraq with the U.S. Army with husband, Marcus, who is also a J.A.G. Officer currently serving in Iraq, and Matthew O’Donnell, who resides in Kokomo with his wife, Meagan.