Menu

More than 500 Nationwide agents sold Farm Bureau memberships during the past campaign, adding nearly 18,000 new members. Their efforts bolstered OFBF record-breaking membership total of 217,531 – the 36^th consecutive year of growth for OFBF.

"Nationwide’s support of Farm Bureau’s membership campaign demonstrates the strong, ongoing commitment we have to our 77-year sponsor relationship." said Steve Uhlman, Farm Bureau relationship manager for Nationwide. "We’re proud we could contribute to Farm Bureau’s all-time membership high."

Agent Al Capretta of Cuyahoga County sold 217 new memberships, the most among Nationwide’s Ohio agents. Twenty-two agents signed 100 or more new members, and 121 agents sold 50 or more memberships.

Uhlman said Nationwide encourages agents to sell Farm Bureau memberships to all their new customers.

"We provide both incentives and rewards for agents to participate," he said, adding that the biggest incentive – lower rates – favors the customer as well. "The attractive rates that members receive on auto, homeowner and farmowner coverages help sell the customer on both Farm Bureau and Nationwide."

At the same time, Farm Bureau encourages its county organizations to involve Nationwide agents in Farm Bureau activities. "When county leaders invite agents to participate and recognize their contributions, that can be a big plus," said Jeff Watkins, vice president of field services for OFBF.

Agents have jumped on this year’s membership campaign wagon and are "off to a great start," with the help of new insurance programs for Farm Bureau members, Watkins said. These include a Farm Bureau auto insurance plan for drivers who may not have qualified in the past. Nationwide’s new farmowner insurance plan has become another important member benefit, along with a long-term care insurance product and a pet insurance program aimed at attracting associate members.

"We want our sponsor relationship to produce mutually beneficial results that help counties gain new members, Nationwide gain new customers, and our member-customers gain from both organizations," Uhlman said.

"While helping to grow members," he added, "we remain focused on serving OFBF’s most important constituents – the farmers of Ohio. Our aim is to provide farmer members with a broadest array of products and the best possible customer service."