Putnam, IL (October 28, 2026) First Mid Ag Services, a division of First Mid Wealth Management, has entered into an agreement to acquire Winship Farm Management, based in Putnam, Illinois. The transition of farm management responsibilities will begin January 1, 2027, and continue through 2029.
Founded by Harold and Judy Winship in 2004, Winship Farm Management provides comprehensive farm management services to landowners across west central Illinois, primarily in Knox, Warren, Henderson, Henry, and Mercer counties.
During the transition, Harold and Judy will remain actively involved to provide continuity for clients as they work toward retirement.
"It has been our privilege to serve our clients for more than 20 years," said Harold Winship. "We are grateful for the trust they have placed in us and are confident that First Mid Ag Services has the team, expertise, and processes needed to serve them well into the future."
First Mid Ag Services is one of the largest professional farm management and real estate firms in the Midwest, offering comprehensive solutions to landowners.
"We are pleased to welcome Harold, Judy, and their clients to First Mid Ag Services," said Craig Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of First Mid Ag Services. "Winship Farm Management has built strong relationships throughout west central Illinois by combining practical agricultural expertise with attentive, personalized service. The extended transition will allow our teams to work closely together and provide clients with consistency while introducing them to the broader resources and capabilities available through First Mid."
Brad Beesley, Chief Executive Officer of First Mid Wealth Management, added, "This acquisition strengthens our presence in west central Illinois and supports our continued growth in agricultural services. Winship Farm Management's client-focused approach and deep understanding of the region align well with First Mid's commitment to helping farmland owners protect and enhance the value of their investments."
About First Mid Ag Services: First Mid Ag Services manages, brokers, and values Midwest farmland and provides agricultural consultation services, primarily in Illinois and surrounding states. With seven regional offices in Bloomington (Principal Real Estate Office), Decatur, Kankakee, Mattoon, Peoria, Princeton, and Springfield, the team includes 27 farm managers/Illinois licensed real estate brokers who combine their unique skill sets to represent the absentee farmland owners they serve. First Mid Ag Services is a division of First Mid Wealth Management Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Mid Bancshares, Inc.
About First Mid Bancshares, Inc.: First Mid Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company of First Mid Bank & Trust, N.A., First Mid Insurance Group, and First Mid Wealth Management Company. First Mid is a $9.2 billion community-focused organization that provides financial services including banking, insurance, wealth management, brokerage, and ag services through a network of locations in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin, and a loan production office in Indiana. Together, our First Mid team takes great pride in providing solutions and services to our customers and communities and has done so since 1865. More information about the Company is available on our website at www.firstmid.com. Our stock is traded in The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the ticker symbol "FMBH". Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender.
Investments and Insurance Products: Not a Deposit | Not Guaranteed by the Bank or its Affiliates | Not FDIC Insured | Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency | May Go Down in Value.