Grains of Knowledge

2010 Ingham County Fair

 

Earlier this month, we spent a day at the Ingham County Fair in Michigan with Tracy Ostrander from the David Chapman Agency. Tracy spent the week at the fairgrounds working to building a relationship with the farming and agriculture community in the area. The exhibit showcased Westfield as a farm insurance provider.

Tracy and the agency's presence with their booth at the fair drew some attention to the agency, and will hopefully continue to spur some name recognition as an agricultural insurance provider in the area. In conversations with fair growers, there were several individuals who had questions about their insurance we were able to assist with and generate some client opportunities for the agency.

What a great way to get involved in the community and generate some awareness of agricultural insurance!  If you are an independent agent and would like our assistance with promoting your agency within your local agricultural community, please contact your underwriter to learn how we can hep!

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Guest Author: Bethany Haynes is an agribusiness underwriter who currently works with farm and commercial agribusiness accounts from our home office in Westfield Center, Ohio. Her background in the dairy industry and passion for agriculture guides her to assist our Westfield Agents and Customers to find insurance solutions.

Summertime and Family Farm Days

Earlier this summer, a group of Agribusiness Field Managers and Underwriters from our Lancaster, Pennsylvania office volunteered their time at an annual event sponsored by a local business.  The event, Farm Family Days, http://oregondairy.com/familyfarmdays.asp, draws a crowd of over 12,000 each year with the fun activities including pony rides, barrel rides (driven by a garden tractor), a straw tunnel, tractor rides and some informational and fun sessions to learn more about agriculture.  Also, yummy food and treats are readily available.

I asked each of our staff members what they enjoyed most about the event and why they volunteered their time.  Here is what they said:

• To meet new people
• Share discussions about agriculture
• Give back to the community
• Drive a tractor
• Wagon rides
• Educate children about farm life

How do you get involved in your community events?  Tell us your stories!

 
 Source: Oregon Dairy
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Stacey is a region leader for the small/specialty segment of Westfield's Agribusiness Division which is based out of Westfield Center, Ohio, the corporate headquarters of Westfield Insurance.

Tweeting in a Twub via Twitter - @WestfieldAg gathers for #AgChat!

 
Last evening, various members of our AgriBusiness Division gathered to discuss hot topics in agriculture via a Twitter discussion group (also known as a "twub") called #AgChat.  Not only did the group include underwriters and Division leadership, but we were also joined by a Westfield Agent, Marc Clinard from AVI Risk Management and Insurance Brokers in Farmington, NM.

We participated in the discussion with the @WestfieldAg Twitter handle, but also had members of our group participating with their personal user names and even had members of our business unit joining in the discussion from home across various states!   Last night's moderated discussion touched on farmer's markets, their vendors and customers and also vetted thoughts on community supported agriculture.  According to Scott Orndorff, our National Leader of Specialty Markets, "It's amazing to observe the diversity of opinions shared during the conversation."

The purpose of us attending as a group was to help staff gain a greater comfort level with social media and specifically to explore the many ways that we can utilize Twitter to build a deeper knowledge of specific segments and issues within agriculture.  We also believe this is another avenue for us to develop stronger relationships with our agency partners as well as current and prospective customers who are also using the tool.

When asked about her thoughts on the evening, underwriter Bethany Haynes shared, "#AgChat is something I've wanted to participate in for some time now, but was never able to find the time.  After we were organized in a fun group environment, I will feel more comfortable joining the discussion in the future when the time suits my schedule and I look forward to following future topics that may be discussed."  Lee Kolenich, another underwriter agreed that the evening was enjoyable and she liked "meeting other #AgChat participants on line and reading views and questions from all over the country!"

All in all, the event was a success and we're looking forward to finding more opportunities to engage in social and professional networking.  Please feel free to share comments below on how and why you use social media to support your busines!

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Kristin is a farm and commercial agribusiness underwriter with the Western Region of Westfield’s AgriBusiness Division. She is located at the company’s headquarters in Westfield Center, Ohio and holds an underwriting responsibility for the states of Illinois and Iowa.  Kristin’s love of agriculture is strongly tied to her experience growing up on her family’s registered Jersey farm in north-central Ohio. .