Molly Eastman, FMH Assistant Vice President – Accounting, and Landon Shafer, FMH District Sales Manager III, are learning how to advocate for the crop insurance industry through the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau’s Emerging Leaders Program (CIRB ELP).This is the program’s eighth class of emerging leaders, and FMH’s 14th and 15th employees to go through the program.

Eastman commented how the relationships she’s building through this program will have a lasting impact. “CIRB ELP brings together individuals from the industry to allow them to foster relationships in ways they otherwise wouldn’t be able to,” she said. “I have learned the importance of relationships and being involved not only with other AIPs, but also RMA, industry partners, lobbyists, and congressional leaders."

The program concludes in April with a graduation ceremony during the CIRB Spring Fly-in in Washington, D.C. Eastman is already applying what she has learned to her role at FMH: “This program has opened my eyes to the key issues that are impacting the industry, which will allow me to help prepare FMH for future changes or identify them as risk areas for our Enterprise Risk Management program.”

Ultimately, the program has taught her the importance of having a voice in D.C, “as a small decision could have a huge impact on our business.”

She noted the value of a variety of voices as well: “In order for the federal crop insurance program to be successful, we not only need to listen to each other’s concerns and ideas, but also understand that we all may have different goals for the program.”