Farm Credit of Central Florida Chairman of the Board, David J. Stanford, announced recently the appointment of Michelle G. Hurst to the cooperative’s board as an outside director.

“We are elated to have Michelle’s expertise in accounting, trust, and estate planning as a resource to our association,” Stanford said. Michelle is a CPA and a partner at Bunting, Tripp & Ingley LLP in Lake Wales. “I look forward to being a part of the Farm Credit Board, a team of sophisticated, warm and highly intelligent businessmen who really understand the complexities and challenges their customers face today and want to help make their Association The Lender of Choice,” Michelle said.

Raised in Bavaria Germany, Michelle, is bilingual, and earned her BS in accounting from the University of South Carolina. She and her husband of 27 years, Stewart W. Hurst, live in Babson Park and have two grown children, Charlie and Jacqueline. Michelle and Stewart enjoy exercising, spending time together, and volunteering in their church and community as much as possible.

Michelle has an extensive background in accounting and has been with her current firm since 1992, after working with firms in Vero Beach, Fla. and Greenville, S. C. She has been an active member of her community, serving in numerous positions of authority including, Past President of Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club, Florida Institute of CPA’s, Lake Wales YMCA Service Club, and the Heartland Estate Planning Council, to name a few.

“Michelle is well respected throughout the area and her skills will greatly enhance the strength of our board of directors,” said Reggie Holt, President & CEO of Farm Credit of Central Florida.

Farm Credit of Central Florida is a Member-Owned agricultural lending cooperative serving farmers, ranchers, growers and rural homeowners in 13 central Florida counties including, Polk, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sumter, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Osceola, Volusia and Brevard. The association also sells crop insurance.