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Rural leaders organized the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) in 1919 to help represent farm families and protect their rights.

Seven years later, Farm Bureau members started an insurance company to protect their property. The company was owned by the member-customers who pooled their premiums to share the risk of insuring their vehicles, and later their homes, farms and lives.

The new company, started with a $10,000 loan, was named Farm Bureau Mutual. It grew to become Nationwide Insurance, which is still owned by its customers and still focuses on serving farm families. In addition, OFBF members continue to enjoy rates and coverages designed to meet their needs.

"Our original goal was to help farmers reduce costs and limit risks – concerns as relevant today as they were in 1919," said Jack Fisher, executive vice president of Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. "Common sense told OFBF founders that their members were being overcharged for auto insurance. So in 1926, we created an insurance company to provide members with quality coverage at lower rates."

That goal remains a key part of the strong relationship Ohio Farm Bureau maintains with Nationwide Insurance. Results show the strategy is working: The vast majority of OFBF’s 216,000 members insure their vehicles with Nationwide.

"Nationwide can offer Farm Bureau rates and coverages to nearly all our members, even if a person’s driving record isn’t perfect," he said.

Fisher is taking part in a new campaign to raise awareness among members not insured through Nationwide. "It’s called ‘Come home to the company you founded’ to illustrate the close ties we have with Nationwide, and the company’s interest in serving Farm Bureau members," he said.

The campaign also emphasizes Nationwide’s "Customer Choice" plan, aimed at allowing members to be served on their terms and at their convenience. This encourages members to check Nationwide’s auto insurance rates in any of three ways:

• By visiting a local Nationwide agent to discuss your policy needs and possibly save you money.
• By calling toll-free 877-On Your Side (877-669-6877), to ask for a free Farm Bureau auto insurance quote.
• By logging on to www.nationwide.com for a quick quote in just a few minutes with minimal personal information required.

"We want every Farm Bureau member to be aware of the insurance opportunities they have with Nationwide," Fisher said, "especially the savings related to Farm Bureau’s auto insurance program."