Many of our policyholders share this same foundation, maintaining long-standing, trust-based relationships with their FMH agents across generations.

That’s certainly true for FMH policyholder Sue Lorimor, whose family has farmed in southeast Iowa since 1855. Her family’s relationship with her FMH agent, Ben Campbell, and his family spans nearly a century. 

The two families have lived in the same area since the early 1920s. Lorimor’s grandmother, Blanche, moved to the family farm in 1917 at age six and lived there for the next 80 years. Both families attended the same church and shared the story of Ben Campbell’s great-grandfather, Robert, who once defended Blanche’s right to play the church organ despite opposition from some church elders. “It was such a scandal that both of our families have passed on this story!” Lorimor said.

Lorimor inherited the family farm from her father, Jerry, and today her cousin Kris Miller and his son, Kyle, continue farming the land. 

The Campbell family has worked with the Lorimor family for about forty years as their FMH crop insurance agents. Ben Campbell’s aunt, Judy Campbell, sold crop insurance to Lorimor’s father and cousin, and his uncle, John Campbell, has sold Pioneer corn and soybean seed to them since the late 1980s. When FMH agent Judy Campbell retired in 2011, Ben Campbell became a crop insurance agent, taking over Campbell Insurance Agency in Hedrick, Iowa, in 2013.

“I appreciate working with Sue because it’s fascinating to see how our families’ histories connect,” said Ben Campbell. “It was rewarding to help her secure Beginning Farmer and Rancher (BFR) benefits to save her some premium when she inherited her dad’s farm.”

Campbell has also enjoyed getting to know Lorimor’s cousin, Kris Miller, who has expressed how he appreciates the service FMH provides. “A few years ago, RMA randomly audited one of his corn yields,” he said. “It was reassuring to know we could get it resolved quickly with help from my FMH underwriter, Lyn Bell.”

Lorimor and Ben Campbell’s working relationship epitomizes the importance of teamwork and collaboration – values Lorimor says she appreciates from growing up on a family farm.

"You can’t move a farm, and you can’t pick your neighbors. You have to know that working together is key." - Sue Lorimor, FMH Policyholder

That spirit of partnership extends to her connection with Ben Campbell. “Working with someone who has a long connection to a community is special – Ben and I both know how important that is,” she said. “I appreciate that Ben knows the area and provides great help and support as my FMH agent.”