
Is there any chance that the Indiana Farm Bureau will follow the Illinois Farm Bureau’s decision to waive the membership requirement for insurance, subsequently leading to removal from the American Farm Bureau Federation?
The short answer is no.
“There is no interest from INFB companies or our board in doing anything like what Illinois Farm Bureau is attempting to do,” INFB President Randy Kron says. “INFB is fortunate to have very strong and mutually valued relationships not only with Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, but also with the American Farm Bureau Federation. Our board of directors and management teams believe in the strength of [the] farm bureau and the importance of remaining connected to the network of other states and the national federation.”
How insurance is structured
INFB membership is a prerequisite to obtaining insurance through Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. Kron says that insurance is just one of many member benefits offered by INFB to its members. It is part of a variety of companies created by INFB to address members’ needs since the 1930s.
The same quality of service is offered to both farm and non-farm members, adds Kevin Murphy, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance executive vice president and CEO.
“All members have exclusive access to money-saving discounts and more — all while supporting Indiana’s agricultural sector as a key driver of economic stability and growth,” Murphy says. “The annual primary membership dues are $36.”
Membership is required for other services provided by Indiana Farm Bureau Inc., such as Indiana Farm Bureau health plans and educational programs offered by the Indiana Ag Law Foundation.
No changes
Kron shares that INFB is satisfied with this structure and does not plan to change anything in the foreseeable future. And he shares that any proposed changes would need to involve ensuring there is adequate funding at the county level. Those 92 Indiana counties also would be involved in the decision-making process if anything were to happen.
When reflecting on the Illinois Farm Bureau’s recent actions, Kron says that it boils down to a “management decision” that did not factor in feedback from the core of the organization.
“At the heart of the matter for the AFBF board is the fact that it was a ‘management decision’ not controlled by farmers,” Kron adds. “This is contrary to [the] farm bureau’s core commitment to organizational control by farmers for the benefit of farmers, and the impacts will cause harm to Illinois farmers who will no longer have a voice in our federation.”
INFB will continue to bridge the gap between non-farm members and the farm, Kron says. Allowing those non-farm members to join the organization gives them the opportunity to do so.
“At INFB, we cherish the opportunity to share agriculture’s story with non-farmer members,” Kron says. “Reaching beyond our farms is important, as fewer people have direct connections to agriculture and a growing number have questions about where their food originates.”
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