Exploring a Career in Agriculture Lending with Brinton Colburn

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole interviews Brinton Colburn, agriculture industry specialist at Foothills Bank, about his path into ag lending and how agricultural finance works in Arizona. Raised in Gilbert, Colburn began at Wells Fargo while attending ASU’s Morrison School of Agribusiness, completed its commercial credit program during the 2009 downturn, and moved into ag lending as an analyst in Mesa, where he learned the complexity of underwriting farms and ranches. After 15 years, he joined Foothills Bank (Glacier Bank) to help revitalize its ag program, drawn to its large ag portfolio and credit approach that accounts for commodity and weather risk. The conversation highlights the relationship-based nature of ag lending, how Arizona agriculture differs from Midwest models, and how federal programs like FSA can affect lending. Colburn explains that ag lenders interpret financials to tell an operation’s story, and that ag borrowing mirrors commercial lending but often lacks polished reporting. He advises aspiring lenders to start at a bank, pursue credit analyst roles, seek ag-focused institutions, and gain out-of-state experience before returning to Arizona—noting the state has few ag lenders. He adds that while advanced math isn’t essential, understanding financial statements is, and emphasizes budgeting on core production rather than uncertain “icing on the cake” revenue. Watch the full video on our YouTube Channel ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@MaricopaCountyFB