Why KFB? - Kentucky Farm Bureau

Why KFB?

Why Join Kentucky Farm Bureau

We take pride in a friendly company culture, a healthy work-life balance and our commitment to a happier you.

When you’re here, you’re not just another face in a cubicle. Those who make up the KFB family define who we are. Here are just some of the ways we thank them:

Down the Backroads | May We All Take Note of the Beauty Around Us

I’m very fortunate to travel as much as I do as part of my job, and not just around our beautiful state but to different locations across the country.

While most of these trips are work-related, it’s exciting to visit new places and see new sights.

However, a recent trip that took me across the country will be one I will not soon forget for many reasons. Occasionally, my wife will travel with me as she did on this particular trip as we flew to Utah for a national convention. While there was work to do at the convention, we discovered how beautiful this part of the country is.

Unfortunately, we both became ill while on the trip, so much so, that when the day came to return home, we were too sick to fly.

That left us with two options: stay until we felt better or rent a car and drive the 1,600-plus miles home. We chose the second option.

To say it was a big adventure, may be a bit of an understatement, and the first few hours felt as though we were driving on a treadmill, going along at a steady pace but not seeming to get anywhere.

But I tried to remain positive and focus on our goal of getting home. Somewhere along the way I began to notice the landscape around me. I started taking note of how beautiful this region is. I realized I was seeing sights I had only seen in books up to this point.

I felt like a kid again witnessing one amazing view after another. From the foothills of the Rockies in Western Wyoming to the Great Plains regions near Cheyenne and into Nebraska.

For the first time, I saw wild horses grazing near the highway and their mule deer neighbors. I saw rock formations that jumped off the pages of travel magazines in full view as we traveled. We experienced long stretches of highway with scenic vistas on both sides that seemed to go on forever.

The cattle ranches seemed too big to imagine as we made our way closer and closer to home.

These are all sights I may have never seen had it not been for our unfortunate turn of events.

We found ourselves making the best of the situation and found, between the coughs and sneezes, a certain amount of enjoyment with our travels.

However, it was great to get back home to rest and recover.

Having made this journey made me realize a few things. There is so much of this beautiful country I haven't seen yet and now I have the urge to travel more of it. This trip also made me appreciate home a lot more.

We may not have the Rockies, but our eastern mountains are just as scenic to me. We may not have ranches that encompass tens of thousands of acres but the farms we have are the best in the world.

And while we may not have the same terrain as I saw along Interstate 80 out west, nothing was more beautiful than Interstate 64 that led to my front door.

May we all take note of the beauty around us even in the toughest of situations, but I hope we all can appreciate the wonderment found in our own backyards and as we travel down the backroads.

Tim Thornberry
Editor, KFB News

    

Across Kentucky - March 18, 2024

https://www.kyfb.com/KYFB/assets/File/Federation/Across Kentucky/2024/1201.mp3?cacheid=0.0687562010478

Across Kentucky -March 15, 2024

https://www.kyfb.com/KYFB/assets/File/Federation/Across Kentucky/2024/1103.mp3?cacheid=0.6503204412505676

Across Kentucky - March 13, 2024

https://www.kyfb.com/KYFB/assets/File/Federation/Across Kentucky/2024/1102.mp3?cacheid=0.002755392574365967

2024 Legislative Reports

March 15, 2024 - Legislative Report No. 12 - 2024 Kentucky General Assembly

https://www.kyfb.com/KYFB/assets/File/Federation/Legislative Reports/2024/2024-Legislative-Report-No--12---Final.pdf?cacheid=0.40241110495879573

About Us

OFFICERS

President   Debbie Hutchison
1st Vice President   Caleb Sadler
2nd Vice President   Brandy Graves
 Secretary   Katie Crump
Treasurer   Sam Clay
Young Farmer Co-Chair   Stephanie Crouch
Young Farmer Co-Chair   Mahayla West
Generation Bridge Chair   Savannah Robin
Immediate Past President   Ben Robin

 

DIRECTORS

Courtney Bartenslager   Paris
Stephanie Crouch   Carlisle
James Cundiff   Paris
Wm. Todd Earlywine   Paris
Andrew Fritsch   Paris
John L. Hutchinson   Carlisle
Annie Johnson   Paris
Michael Langfels   Paris
Dustin Mallory   Paris
Eric Mayes   Paris
Doug Parke   Paris
Savannah Robin   Paris
Justice Scott   Paris
Mahayla West   Paris
     

 

Gold Star Reports

Our Gold Star Reports are designed to recognize the achievement and success of Farm Bureau Women throughout the state.

NEW this year, we have an on-line version of our Gold Star reports. This feature allows you to fill in the questions as you go and save your work. Once you have everything entered and supporting documents attached (if any) hit submit and you’re done! If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

To access the on-line forms, select the link below.

          Winter - https://kyfb.jotform.com/220653828366058

          Spring - https://kyfb.jotform.com/220724115805145

          Summer/Fall - https://kyfb.jotform.com/220726034807149

 

For the traditional paper form, please access the links below.

Women’s Program Winter Report

Women’s Program Spring Report

Women’s Program Summer/Fall Report

Our Top County Award is the highest achievable honor in the Women’s program and is awarded to the most outstanding county women’s program.

Top County Women's Award Program

Ag Literacy are used to share your county’s successful activities and to help Kentucky Farm Bureau better plan each of these events yearly.

Ag Literacy Week/National Ag Day Report

https://www.teachkyag.org/

https://www.agfoundation.org/resources

https://www.agday.org/

Now Accepting Applications for 2024 LaRue County Farm Bureau Scholarships

https://www.kyfb.com/KYFB/assets/File/Counties/LaRue/2024/LaRue-Co-Farm-Bureau-Scholarship-Application-2024.docx?cacheid=0.12331243543073

Now Accepting Applications for the 2024 Dr. Ben H. Crawford, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

https://www.kyfb.com/KYFB/assets/File/Counties/LaRue/2024/LaRue-Co-Farm-Bureau-Ben-H-Crawford-Memorial-Scholarship-Application-2024.docx?cacheid=0.9000673031647222

Kirby and Vicki Rosser of Mason County Farm Bureau Attend the 2024 KFB Congressional Tour

Mason County Farm Bureau President Kirby Rosser and his wife Vicki in Washington DC during Kentucky Farm Bureau's (KFB) 2024 Congressional Tour. Each year, KFB members by the hundreds make their way to the nation’s capital. Many activities take place, as part of the tour, the purpose of the event is to get updates on national issues and to communicate with Kentucky’s Congressional delegation.

 

Marion County Farm Bureau Ladies Attend the 2024 KFB Women's Leadership Conference

Judy Bradshaw, Beth Veatch, Jeanne Craig, Kaye Peterson, Rita Spalding and Luann Mattingly from Marion County Farm Bureau attended the 2024 KFB Women's Leadership Conference in Lexington, KY. The conference included inspirational speakers, tours, and workshops. (not pictured: Kim Jones and Peggy Peterson.)

 

Calendar Of Events

2024 KFB Calendar of Events 3-13-2024.pdf

National Affairs Updates

KFBMIC

Tips to protect your home against theft

Don’t fall victim to theft if you can help it. Protect yourself, your family, and your home with these tips below. | Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

Did you know that property crime happens more often in the summer and fall months than in the winter and spring? According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, both burglary, the unlawful entry into a home with the intent to commit a crime, and household larceny, the unlawful removal of property, occur more often in the summer. Many of these cases tend to take place during the day when nobody is home, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when occupants are likely to be at work. Of the 10,785 burglary offenses reported in Kentucky by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2022, 6,775 were residential cases, and of those, 3,849 (57%) happened during the daytime.

Thieves want to be in and out of a house as quickly as possible. In fact, most burglaries occur in under 10 minutes, so any precautions that can be taken to slow them down is worth it. Don’t fall victim to theft if you can help it. Protect yourself, your family, and your home with these tips below.

  • Invest in a home security system and video surveillance cameras. Make sure to place cameras where they are visible but not able to be damaged by unwanted visitors.
  • Inspect your home by walking around and taking note of anything that could be a weak spot, such as tall shrubbery that thieves could use to hide or conceal themselves, no visible security features, or valuables that can be easily seen through windows. A home security checklist, such as this one from the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), is a great resource to use to be extra sure that your home is as safe as possible.
  • Verify that all locks have been changed since you moved in, and don’t keep the spare key under the doormat or in a flowerpot. Entrusting it with a neighbor or family member or keeping it in a hidden lockbox are much better alternatives.
  • Make sure the driveway and perimeter of the house are well-lit. It may even be helpful to invest in motion sensor lighting.
  • Prepare for the worst by backing up your computer files and making copies of important documents.
  • Keep valuables, important documents, and money in a safe that is either bolted to the floor or built into a wall, and in a hidden location.
  • Ask a trusted person to watch your house if you plan to go out of town. Collecting mail and packages and taking care of your lawn gives the appearance that someone is home.
  • Leaving on lights, TVs, or radios can deter thieves from breaking in. To avoid an increase in your electric bill, consider using timer technology to turn on and off certain lights or a radio.
  • A car in the driveway tells burglars that somebody is home, and they may avoid a house because of this.
  • Make certain all windows and doors are locked anytime you leave the house, and after any strangers have been in your home.

In the unfortunate case that you do someday have to file a claim for theft, having a home inventory will save a lot of stress. After all, the last thing anyone needs in this situation is to have to sit and rack their brain thinking of every specific item that could be missing. A smart way to do this is by using Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance’s Home Inventory Form and going room to room writing down every single electronic, piece of furniture, and any other valuables you own. Make sure to be as specific as possible, logging price, size, color, serial number, purchase year, etc., as well as including receipts and pictures. Lastly, don’t forget to back up the document and store it in multiple spots.

Don’t forget to take advantage of Kentucky Farm Bureau’s member benefits by saving on a home security system! For more information, click here.

How to choose a safe car for a new driver

Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance wants to help keep Kentuckians safe, and that begins with making sure you and your children are in reliable vehicles before ever even getting out on the road. | Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

Watching your child drive away for the very first time can spark many emotions all at once: pride that they accomplished this milestone, excitement for the independence they will gain, and absolute terror for the countless things that can go wrong on the road. It brings you back to their first steps, their first day of school, and now their first time driving on their own. Picking a good first vehicle is not only crucial, it could mean the difference between life and death if a crash were to occur.

Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance wants to help keep Kentuckians safe, and that begins with making sure you and your children are in reliable vehicles before ever even getting out on the road. To help parents and guardians, we have compiled a list of five points, including resources, to consider when car shopping for a new driver.

  1. Avoid older vehicles. A study from the Journal of Safety Research found that teenage drivers often drive older car models, which are less safe. So, while many parents may be concerned with keeping a low budget for their teen’s first car, it’s important to remember that newer models come standard with many important safety features.  Some safety features to look out for when car shopping are Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), lane assist, and blind spot monitoring. Many of these functions have been offered for several years now but were not required until recently.
  2. Start them out with a family vehicle. Did you know that young drivers who own vehicles are more likely to speed and participate in reckless driving activities? On the other hand, if the teen is driving a family car, or a vehicle that their parent is the owner of, they are less likely to drive recklessly or do anything that may result in a wreck or property damage. Research from the National Library of Medicine suggests that it may be wise to let teenagers gain experience with a family vehicle before entrusting them with their own.
  3. Avoid smaller models. A study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute has shown that smaller and lighter vehicles don’t provide as much protection in a crash as bigger ones do. In fact, teens driving smaller cars are more likely to be injured or killed in a crash than those in bigger models due to the lesser weight, small crush zone, and minimal stability that smaller cars tend to have. It is recommended that parents lean more towards a large sedan or small SUV when shopping for their teen’s first car.
  4. Stay away from vehicles with a higher horsepower. Keep in mind that new drivers are not experts and getting them a car with high horsepower could encourage speeding and reckless driving. Multiple reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) and the IIHS have provided data showing that teens aged 16-19 have a fatal crash rate per mile driven that is nearly three times that of drivers aged 20 and up. While teens are still new to driving it may be smart to allow them to gain experience with a vehicle that has a lower to average-powered engine. While the fast sports car may be what they want, that might need to be pushed off for a couple of years. 
  5. Research crash test ratings and recalls before making a final decision. Thinking about your teen getting into a crash is the last thing anybody wants to do, but nevertheless, it’s important to put them in a durable car so that if a crash does occur, they are as safe as possible. NHTSA provides a valuable resource with its 5-star safety ratings program and its safety issues & recalls search tool. Finding important safety information has never been easier.

The IIHS and Consumer Reports have joined forces to provide a great resource with their Safe Vehicles for Teens list. All vehicles on the list provide a direct link to informational pages detailing the crashworthiness, tests, and safety features of each vehicle, and includes both used and new cars, with prices ranging from below $7,000 to upwards of $20,000.

Ensuring that your teen driver is in a safe and reliable car is one of the best things that you can do for them as a parent before sending them out onto the road. However, this alone won’t ensure their safety completely. For additional pointers on how to prepare a young driver for the responsibility of being behind the wheel, read our article: Is Your Teen Road Ready? Tips for Coaching a New Driver.

Nicholas Jackson

After the storm: What to do following a property loss

Matthew Carrico, a Senior Property Claim Adjuster for Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance, inspects a property in Shelby County, Ky.
Matthew Carrico, a Senior Property Claim Adjuster for Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance, inspects a property in Jefferson County, Ky., in April 2022.

Thunderstorms, ice storms, floods, droughts, tornadoes – severe weather can pop up in the blink of an eye. In fact, global insured losses due to natural disasters rose to $275 billion in 2022, according to Swiss Re Institute.

You never know when a storm may hit, but you can prepare ahead of time by learning how to minimize the damage and properly report a loss to your Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance agent.    

Keep in mind the following tips to help you weather the storm:     

  • First and foremost, make sure everyone in your family is safe, and get medical care if anyone has been injured.
  • Contact the local authorities in the event of a theft loss or burglary claim. Obtain an incident report if possible, even if the damage is minor.
  • If your home is damaged, take steps to secure it and protect it from further loss or damage. Protect your property by sealing broken windows, putting tarps over cracks or openings in exterior walls or the roof, and doing whatever else you can to prevent additional damage. Keep receipts for any materials you buy; those costs may be reimbursable if you have a covered loss.
  • Report the claim by calling your local Kentucky Farm Bureau agent’s office or by calling the after-hours claims reporting hotline. You can also report a claim online by visiting the KFB member portal my.kyfb.com.    
  • If your loss is severe or has affected many rooms, start preparing a room-by-room inventory of damages and lost property. If you have the information, or remember it, include manufacturer names, model numbers, and purchase dates.
  • If possible, do not dispose of any damaged items — especially if an item may be responsible for the loss (examples of this could be a water heater or a stove). If a damaged item has to be disposed of because of personal safety or by order of the authorities, try to document it with photographs first.   
  • In the event of a widespread catastrophe, begin the process of selecting your contractor. We suggest that you seek out contractors who have a proven track record in your area.  There are several things you can do to help ensure that you choose a reliable contractor:    
    - Get references from any contractor you interview, and check those references thoroughly.
    - Contact your local Better Business Bureau for information about the contractors you’re considering.
    -  Don’t sign a contract until you’ve reviewed it carefully and have agreed to payment terms. Deliver a copy of your contractor’s estimate to your KFB claims representative, who will review it, connect with your contractor to discuss differences, and make any appropriate adjustments. Our estimate will be based on typical labor and materials rates in your community.

For additional information about what will take place after you file a claim with Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance, visit our claim FAQ page here.

Flood insurance 101

Floor insurance - Kentucky Farm Bureau
Homeowners and renters policies written through most insurance providers across the U.S. (including Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance) do not protect against flood damage. A majority of flood insurance nationwide is written through the NFIP, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). | Photo credit: Adobe Stock

If you don’t live near a body of water, you may think you’re in the safe zone when it comes to floods. That’s not necessarily the case, as floods can happen anywhere, even in areas at low or moderate risk. Floods are the nation’s most common and costly natural disaster, producing millions of dollars of destruction every year, according to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In fact, just one inch of water in a home can cause more than $25,000 in damage!    

Homeowners and renters policies written through most insurance providers across the U.S. (including Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance) do not protect against flood damage. A majority of flood insurance nationwide is written through the NFIP, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Congress created the NFIP in 1968 to reduce future flood damage through floodplain management, and to provide people with flood insurance through individual agents and insurance companies.

 

Do I need flood insurance?

If you live in a "high-risk" area, you may be required to have flood insurance, but floods can happen anywhere. In fact, more than 20 percent of flood claims come from properties outside the high-risk flood zone, according to the NFIP. Flood insurance is a great extra layer of protection no matter where you live. 

FEMA works with communities across the country to identify flood hazards and create flood maps, which show a community’s risk of flooding. Not sure which zone your home is in? The flood maps for your community should be available for review at your local community map repository site, such as your county courthouse, city hall, or local planning, zoning, or engineering office. To see the flood zone for a specific address, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Map Service Center.

 

Coverage options

According to the NFIP, “Physical damage to your building or personal property ‘directly’ caused by a flood is covered by your flood insurance policy. For example, damages caused by a sewer backup are covered if the backup is a direct result of flooding. If the backup is caused by some other problem, the damages are not covered.”    

The NFIP offers two types of flood insurance coverage: building property and personal property. A building property policy would help protect things like the insured building and its foundation, electrical and plumbing system, appliances, permanently installed flooring, window blinds, and more. A personal property policy would help to protect items such as curtains, clothing, electronics, and certain valuable items, such as original artwork.

Click here for information from the National Flood Insurance Program which may help you further understand flood insurance. This document provides a more in-depth look at deductibles, what is and is not covered by flood insurance, and how items are valued at the time of loss.

>>  Your Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance agent can offer NFIP flood insurance through Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance CompanyTM. Click here to begin the easy quote process, or you can contact your local agent today to learn more about how we can help protect you with an affordable flood insurance plan.