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By Jack Fisher, OFBF executive vice president

Brand loyalty isn’t what it used to be. Across Ohio there’s red paint parked next to the green paint in the machine shed, and Dekalb caps hang by Pioneer jackets on the back porch. Sure, there are still some die-hards who’d rather fight than switch, but allegiance to a single, exclusive manufacturer, supplier or dealer is largely a thing of the past.

This trend is understandable, given how agriculture’s changed. Many of grandpa and dad’s old reliables have been bought, merged or bankrupted. Some brands stopped earning loyalty by turning out inferior products or services. And frankly, farming’s a business in which you must shop around for the best products at the best prices in order to make a profit.

Having said that, I also believe farmers prefer business relationships that are long-term in nature. As long as the product, price and service are right, it’s just more comfortable doing business with a company we know, and who knows us.

I’ll leave it up to your good judgement to choose between shopping around and sticking with a brand the next time you buy a tractor or book seed. I will, however, offer a little unsolicited advice when it comes time to make another important purchase. When you need insurance, you should be doing business with Nationwide.

You’re probably familiar with the Farm Bureau-Nationwide story. In 1926, Farm Bureau invested $10,000 to start an insurance company that would treat farmers fairly. Today Nationwide has over $157 billion in assets and is one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the world. The company is hardly a struggling start-up you should feel obliged to help along. But Nationwide deserves your loyalty because it’s been loyal to you and your industry.

Nationwide is a generous supporter of 4-H, FFA, Ohio State University’s agricultural leadership development program, Farm Safety 4 Just Kids and the Swank Endowed Chair for rural-urban policy at Ohio State University. The company partners with Farm Bureau to spread agriculture’s message through the Land and Living exhibit at the Ohio State Fair. And it's joined with us to build the Nationwide-Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on the OSU campus. Nationwide is also our partner in marketing Farm Bureau’s Our Ohio brand, through which consumers are becoming more connected to farms and farmers.

Nationwide's commitment to agriculture reaches beyond our state. Nationwide’s companies are the nation’s largest insurers of farms and agribusinesses. Among its sponsors and endorsers in addition to OFBF are the state Farm Bureaus of California, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as Southern States Cooperatives.

As a mutual company, Nationwide takes seriously its responsibility to provide products that meet farmers’ needs. Farmers sit on their board of directors, county Farm Bureau presidents participate in policyholder conferences and OFBF members and staff work closely with Nationwide staff and agents. The result of this interaction is a package of risk-management tools that farmers have helped design. Two examples are AgriChoice Farm Insurance, which offers state-of-the-art coverages such as pollution liability, ID theft protection, and CountryChoice Small Farm Insurance, which is broader than homeowners insurance but less complex than large farm policies. Nationwide also has created, with farmer input, other insurance products including health, life, auto, home, agritainment, ATV, pet and equine. And importantly, these quality insurance products are sold at preferred rates – that means lower prices – to Farm Bureau members, saving you potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars.

While these insurance products are important to your family and farm, Nationwide also contributes to your organization. Every year, Nationwide agents sign thousands upon thousands of members into Ohio Farm Bureau. Our ability to affect public policy and public opinion is largely dependent on growing our membership, and the value of Nationwide in this effort can not be overstated.

For me, loyalty to a product or company is based largely on how loyal they are in return. Do they hold up their end of the bargain with quality products, fair pricing, exceptional service and support for my community? With Nationwide, the answer is yes. If you’re a Farm Bureau member, Nationwide is on your side. And you should be on theirs.