Did you grow up thinking Indiana Farm Bureau and your local Farm Bureau Co-op were the same entity? You wouldn’t be alone if you did.

Indiana Farm Bureau Inc., the state’s largest farm group, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. In this third article in a six-part series about INFB and its history, here are answers to key questions about the organization, beginning with its connection to Farm Bureau Cooperatives.

Molly Zentz, public relations manager for INFB, provided the following information. Various staff members assisted her in preparing answers.

Farm Bureau Co-op grew out of Indiana Farm Bureau, correct? In the early 1920s, the Federated Marketing Service was formed as a cooperative that banded grain farmers and grain handlers together to gain market strength. A few years later, when the federation disbanded, the service was placed in the purchasing department of INFB.

In 1926, Farm Bureau leaders determined that a better buying and selling program was needed, which led to the organization of the Indiana Farm Bureau Cooperative Association. The role of IFBCA was to purchase and sell many of the products that farmers needed to do their jobs. IFBCA owned a seed plant and manufactured plant food, and even sold farm machinery. The association also bought oil wells and became a petroleum producer. The production facility at Mount Vernon still operates today in southwest Indiana under the CountryMark brand.

Related:Indiana Farm Bureau: A look at first 50 years

When did the groups split? Over time, the co-op grew and extended its services in many areas, with nearly every county having a Farm Bureau Co-op grain elevator, and feed and supply store. By late 1960, the co-op had become a multimillion-dollar organization. But in the 1980s, it was negatively impacted by a suffering farm economy. As a result, the co-op merged with CountryMark in 1991. With the merger, INFB’s president no longer had a seat on the co-op board, and the co-op lost its INFB-affiliated name. 

CountryMark later underwent massive changes, including an employee buyout in 1996. CountryMark merged with Land O’ Lakes two years later, and many of CountryMark’s services were moved to Land O’ Lakes. 

What is the current connection between INFB and the co-op system? While Indiana Farm Bureau was a crucial part of forming some of the services that the modern-day co-ops still provide, today INFB has no formal affiliation with CountryMark or Land O’ Lakes.

What is the relationship between INFB and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance? Does INFB have a say in what Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance does? Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. founded Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance in 1935 after members expressed a need for an insurance company to cover their specific needs as farmers. While they’re separate companies, INFB remains the parent company of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. Both companies are guided by the same board of directors — elected into office by INFB members to represent the organization’s 10 districts. The two companies work together to make sure they’re serving members to the best of their ability.

Related:8 milestones from past 50 years of Indiana Farm Bureau

Do you have to be an INFB member to have Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance? You don’t have to be a member of the agriculture community to be a member of Indiana Farm Bureau or to purchase Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. But all insurance customers do purchase an annual membership to Indiana Farm Bureau, which makes them eligible for insurance coverage and gives them access to several INFB membership benefits.

What is the difference between a voting and associate membership in INFB? All Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance customers are members of INFB. There are two classes of membership: associate and voting. Insurance customers and individuals who want to support INFB but aren’t directly involved in agriculture are associate members. These members have access to insurance, INFB’s quarterly magazine and all INFB’s member benefit discounts. Voting members are those who are directly involved in agriculture. Voting members may participate as INFB county leaders; vote for county, district and state leadership; and participate in INFB’s many agriculture-related programs.

How many members are in INFB today? There are approximately 260,000 total members, 72,000 of which are voting members.

What are current INFB dues? An INFB membership only costs $32.50 per year. That membership covers your immediate family.