There have been tremendous changes in the agriculture of the Palouse in the Northwest area of the US over the years. One bank that has taken on the challenge of adapting to these changes is Whitman State Bank (Colfax, Washington). The major crop in Whitman County is dryland winter wheat at 425,000 acres., follower with 243,000 acres of barley and spring wheat. At Whitman State Bank loans are increasing to finance larger combines. On the other hand there are fewer people. Jim Tribett, CEO, was quick to recognize that his funding source was eroding. He too a 2-pronged attack to head off the problem: 1. He expanded his bank into some small towns that had an irrigated agriculture base. 2. He used Farmer Mac to develop a new funding source.