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Ohio Farm Bureau and Nationwide recently hosted a symposium where they invited the state’s best farm-focused insurance agents to discuss the robust relationship between the two organizations, and to strengthen the relationship between all parties.

The agents who attended the symposium, 39 in total, are all part of Ohio Farm Bureau’s Select Partner Program, an insurance and financial services preferred partnership program for Ohio’s agricultural community. All participating agencies and advisors are endorsed by a county Farm Bureau, with vetting by local farmers and ag professionals.

“These agents are vital when it comes to protecting our members with quality Nationwide farm insurance products and giving them solutions needed to ensure their business is successful,” said Ohio Farm Bureau President Bill Patterson. “They are also incredible partners with county Farm Bureaus, supporting programs designed to grow our organization and improve the well-being of our communities throughout rural Ohio.”

To become an Ohio Farm Bureau Select Partner, participants pledge to provide the best in consultative service. The partnership pledge puts the needs of the member at the center of service, which is not accomplished by selling products: It is accomplished by serving as a consultant and advisor ensuring the solutions provided best meet the member’s needs.

Select partners pledge to:

• Work with members to fully understand their risks from top to bottom.
• Always include and offer the best protection, solutions and options available on the market.
• Provide excellent service, including a detailed explanation of the coverage and options available.
• Conduct regular business operation and portfolio reviews annually or as needed.
• Be responsive and offer innovative business strategies and solutions as part of the service.
• Commit to continued educational development for staff and staying at the forefront of industry innovations.
• Commit to working together to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities.

“Thinking back some 20 plus years when I first started, we didn’t have anything like this. We were trained that the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau relationship was all about the discount,” said Select Partner Chad Ruhl, farm manager with CSI Insurance. “Through the Select Partner Program, I realized how much more there was to the relationship. We became educated in farm insurance and weren’t just selling policies. We learned about lawsuits, pollution, agritourism, all the things we design policies to protect against. We discovered trends in these areas and it became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau to have a voice in the lawmaking process.”

To find an Ohio Farm Bureau Select Partner that is right for you, visit the program’s website or  contact your local Farm Bureau.

Feature photo caption: Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president (left) and Dirk Pollitt, vice president, Nationwide Agribusiness