ABA announced today that Pennsylvania banker Michael H. Firestine will receive this year’s Bruning Award, which honors a banker demonstrating leadership and outstanding dedication to providing credit and financial guidance to farmers, ranchers and businesses. Firestine will be presented with the award on Nov. 13 during the ABA National Agricultural Bankers Conference in Milwaukee.
Firestine began his career as an ag banker 35 years ago at Lebanon National Valley Bank, which later merged with Fulton Bank where he is currently SVP. In addition to agricultural lending, Firestine also runs a family farm where he produces pumpkins and other crops and raises Hereford cattle.
“The best feeling in the world is helping a young, beginning, start-up farmer establish himself and then five to six years later see that he’s doing really well, he’s successful and family is prospering. That’s been the most rewarding part of my career,” said Firestine.
