Delaware Farm Bureau News
Local Farmers Feeding Your Family
Farm Bureau attends 97th AFBF Annual Convention
Delaware Farm Bureau staff, members and directors traveled to Orlando, FL in January for the 97th Convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The Annual Convention serves as a time for farmers and ranchers from across the county to gather for networking opportunities, to elect Farm Bureau leaders and set policies for the coming year. This year’s convention location boasted opportunities for visits to citrus farms, gator farms, horse farms and a mining company.
President Kitty Holtz was elected to serve as Delegate to the AFBF Annual Convention while First Vice
President, Laura Hill served as Alternate Delegate. State Women’s Committee Chair Mary Bea Gooden and New Castle County Women’s Chair June Unruh were elected to serve as Delegate and Alternate Delegate for the Women’s Committee.
The Delaware Farm Bureau received four separate awards during the convention in Orlando. The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture awards were again presented during the Foundation for Agriculture’s “Flapjacks with the Foundation” breakfast.
Delaware won the Apex award for increased total contributions by 10
percent over last year to the Foundation for Agriculture. Delaware Farm Bureau also received the Award of Excellence. To qualify for this award, a state Farm Bureau and all of the county Farm Bureaus in the state must make a monetary donation to the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. Delaware Farm Bureau was also awarded the Quota Award, as well as the Navigator Award for increasing membership quota by 4.5 percent.
Kent County Farm Bureau was one of 24 counties awarded the County Activities of Excellence award during the IDEAg Trade Show for their inaugural Farm-to-Fork Dinner. The award showcases the counties as they serve as models of innovation for local program development and display the ability of Farm Bureau volunteers working together to strengthen the lives of rural Americans and and build strong, prosperous agricultural communities. Jonathan Thompson, Sandy Virdin, Mary Bea Gooden and Jan Cartanza manned a booth inside the trade show which gave visitors a look at continued on pg 4
DFB’s Richard Wilkins Assumes Presidency of American Soybean Association
Richard Wilkins, a farmer from Greenwood, Delaware, assumes the role of president of the American Soybean Association following his confirmation by the ASA board of directors at their annual winter meeting in St. Louis, Missouri.
Outgoing President Wade Cowan from Brownfield, Texas, moves to the position of chairman of the ASA board, and Ron Moore of Roseville, Illinois, was elected to serve as vice president.
“I’m honored to serve as president of this wonderful team of farmers, and I’m excited to move forward with what is a very full agenda for the year,” said Wilkins.
“Richard is a smart leader who has a great purchase on how our industry can engage with our partners in other walks of agriculture to make sure we’re all successful,” said ASA CEO Steve Censky.
With his election as vice president, Moore is now in line to be the association’s president in 2017.
“These are an extremely important next few years for our industry,” said Moore. “The soybean industry and agriculture as a whole will need continuity and strength in its leadership, and I’m excited to continue that here at ASA.”
Also elected to form ASA’s ninemember governing committee were Sec. John Heisdorffer from Keota, Iowa; and At-Large Governing Board Members Bret Davis of Delaware, Ohio; Kevin Hoyer of West Salem, Wisconsin; Kevin Scott of Valley Springs, South Dakota; and Sam Butler of New Hope, Alabama. Current Treasurer Davie Stephens of Wingo, Kentucky, was elected
Former AFBF President Bob Stallman (second from left) presents the CAE award for the Farm to Fork Dinner to (from left) DEFB President Kitty Holtz, Kent County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Chair Sandy Virdin and DEFB Executive Director Pam Bakerian.
Richard Wilkins
From the President’s desk
After returning from a wonderful AFBF convention in Orlando, we are hard at work on state issues important to the farmers we support. I am pleased to announce Delaware Farm Bureau is sponsoring a State Legislative Day on March 9, 2016 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Legislative Hall in Dover. Additionally, we will assist members in scheduling appointments to meet with their Senators and Representatives to discuss the following issues:
OPPOSE- H.B. 189- Dairy Cattle Tail Docking
This amendment to Title 11 seeks to make Dairy Cattle Tail Docking a class A misdemeanor, punishing farmers with up to one year in prison and a $2,300 fine as well as a court ordered restitution of costs incurred by others as a result of the crime.
This bill has been tabled in House Public Safety Committee but, any member of the committee could motion to bring the bill off the table for consideration. We strongly oppose this legislation.
SUPPORT-H.B. 124- Constitutional Amendment to fund the Delaware Farmland Preservation Fund
This bill mandates $10 million in funding annually to conserve, protect and encourage improvement of agricultural lands within the State. This bill was placed on the House agenda on Jan 28, 2016 but was not voted on. The legislation remains on the agenda for March 2016. We highly support this legislation.
OPPOSE-
S.B. 39- Minimum Wage
This bill provides an increase to the state minimum wage by 50 cents per year for the next four years beginning June 2016 and adds a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase thereafter. Minimum wage would
State Legislative Day
increase to $15.05 by 2023. Several farmers testified how detrimental the legislation would be to their operations during the committee hearing. The bill was tabled and placed on the Senate agenda the next day. The sponsors amended the bill to cap the increase at $10.25 and later offered an amendment that removed the automatic COLA increase. This bill passed the Senate 11-8 and was sent to the House. We strongly oppose this legislation.
We would like to publically thank Senator Bonini, Senator Cloutier, Senator Lavelle, Senator Lawson, Senator Lopez, Senator Pettyjohn, Senator Richardson, and Senator Simpson for supporting Delaware farmers by voting against this legislation.
Delaware farmers have supported clean water initiatives since 1997 through BMP’s, supporting the Nutrient Management Task Force, the Nutrient Management Commission, voluntary NM plans, and now mandatory Nutrient Management Plans. Committee members were told Farmers take water quality very seriously and have been doing their part for many years.
The committee met again on Tuesday, February 9 and discussed various “Clean Water Initiatives” including a Fixed Clean Water Fee added to all public water suppliers; (municipal and private utility) bills. For water users with private drinking wells, DNREC would bill the Clean Water Fee annually using well permit date with only on fee per farm. This option could produce an annual revenue stream of approximately $15.75 million at the residential fee rate of $45.
It has been reported that Just Label It, an anti GMO organization, hired a Delaware Lobbyist firm. Although this organization has placed ads opposing the Safe and Affordable Food Act, we shouldn’t assume they are only interested in federal legislation. Now is the time to educate Delaware legislators. They need to understand how devastating a patchwork of state legislation would be to our industry. Delaware Farm Bureau also has representation on the Clean Water & Flood Abatement Task Force. In 2015, committee members were asked to support draft property tax legislation. This proposal was brought before our voting delegates on December 1. The resolution was defeated by our delegates and a letter of opposition was forwarded to the Committee Chair. In January 2016, several stakeholder committee members asked DFB to support a well tax proposal. The executive committee opposed the proposal and asked Pam Bakerian to explain to the full committee that
Another option proposed, is establishing Fixed Clean Water Fee added to all wastewater bills (municipal, county, and private utility). For septic system users, DNREC would bill an annual fee of $45 using individual and large system septic permit data or assessment data. This option would produce an annual revenue stream of approximately $13.5 million. The existing Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory could provide governance with the addition of a Delaware Farm Bureau member. Funding would be used for agricultural conservation projects, Brownfields, 21st and Century-type drainage projects, through a prioritization process.
Protecting agriculture from damaging legislation and regulations has always been our number one priority but, we need your help. Please participate in Delaware Farm Bureau’s State Legislative Day. Together we can unite our voices to ensure the sustainability of Delaware agriculture in the First State.
DFB President Kitty Holtz
Farm Succession Planning Helps Farmers Have Tough Conversations About The Future
“If something happens to you, who gets up the next morning to do your job?” Steve Hamilton of Nationwide asked the crowd at Delaware Ag Week this past January. This important question for farmers and business owners alike was the topic of discussion during the first of five risk management sessions concentrating on farm succession planning.
Presented by the University of Delaware Extension and Applied Economics and Statistics; University of Maryland Extension Ag Law Initiative; and Nationwide Insurance as part of their Land As Your Legacy program, the Farm Succession Planning Education Series began at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington, DE. A series of educational workshops that will include family communication; business, retirement and transition planning; goal setting, legal issues, and case study examples will continue through 2016 in different locations throughout Delaware and also include a webinar. All of these sessions will present farmers with the knowledge to begin or to continue the process of succession planning.
Farm Succession Planning is a business and risk management practice that is critical to the agricultural industry and to the health of families and farm businesses.
Delaware Farm Bureau News
Editor Caroline Foltz 302-697-3183 caroline.foltz@defb.org
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Hamilton, who serves as the Technical Director for Nationwide continued on the planning topic; “If money is needed to pay medical costs, longterm care expenses, taxes, or final expenses; where will it come from? The farm? How will that impact the farm and those living on it?”
One farm family who attended the presentation told their Nationwide Financial Planner, David Ivey “My father passed recently and I am not going to put my kids through what we had to go through to settle the estate and pass on the business and land. That will make you think about taking care of this now versus waiting.”
While wills and trusts are important, Hamilton pointed out they are not a plan, which is why sitting down with the family to have these sometimes tough conversations is critically important.
George Whitehead and his wife Lynda, small cattle farmers from Townsend, sought out the risk management session on farm succession in particular during Ag Week.
With a son, daughter-in-law and grandson involved in the family farm on a daily basis, Whitehead said he was keen to hear advice from experts on preserving his farm for future generations, specifically in the risk management and farm suc-
cession planning sessions.
“This session was very eye opening,” he said.
Referencing a session on estate planning, Whitehead learned an important distinction between the definition of “fair” and “equal” as they refer to matters of estate inheritance. “They’re not the same thing. This session tonight requires me to reevaluate my plan. We intend to proceed with what we learned here today,” he said.
Future sessions for the Succession Plan ning Education Se ries include Business Planning on March 16, 2016 from 7:009:00 p.m. at the Farm Bureau Office; Fi nancial Planning on May 5, 2016 from 7:00- 9:00 p.m. at University of Dela ware’s Paradee Cen ter in Dover; and a Farm Succession Webinar planned for November 2016. A presentation of case studies examples will take place at the 2017 Delaware Ag Week.
“Although case studies from farms
out west could be used to help families plan for the future, we’re hoping to build curriculum for Delaware using our own farm families. Seeing a familiar name, someone right here in our state might move a family to begin their own succession planning,” Dan Severson said.
Convention continued from pg 1 what it took to put on the Farm-toFork Dinner. They also spoke to many interested individuals who are thinking of recreating Kent County’s idea at home in their own community.
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its ninth annual “Book of the Year” award to Susan Grigsby for “First Peas to the Table.” In this lighthearted story, a little girl, Maya, and her classmates learn about gardens and peas, as well as Thomas Jefferson’s garden at Monticello. The Foundation works to help tell the story of agriculture through ag literacy projects including these books which teach school-aged kids where their food comes from.
Farm and ranch leaders from throughout the country were taught how to dispel the myths of corporate farming by “Shark Tank” investor Barbara Corcoran during General
Session on Monday morning. Corcoran turned a $1,000 loan into a $5 billion real estate business and has helped more than 30 entrepreneurs succeed in their industries.
“One of the most valuable lessons I learned early on in business is that perception creates reality,” Corcoran said. “It’s up to business owners to take a proactive approach to change their image and increase credibility with customers.”
Participants enjoyed the sounds of a capella band Home Free during the Foundation’s Night Out. After their performance, there was a live auction benefitting ag literacy. Former AFBF President Bob Stallman also agreed to sing at Foundation’s Night Out after challenging attendees to raise $30,000 through individual donations during the Convention.
The 2017 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention will be held in Phoenix, AZ.
Kent County Farm Bureau Women’s Comittee Chair proudly stands in the Farm-to-Fork Dinner booth at the IDEAg trade show. The Farm-to-Fork Dinner won AFBF’s County of Excellence award for 2015.
DFB Women’s Committee attend a conference at the Cultivation Center during the AFBF Convention.
Convention attendees visit the CAE display at the IDEAg trade show during AFBF Convention.
DFB President Kitty Holtz shakes hands with Former AFBF Vice President Barry Bushue after accepting awards at the Foundation’s Night Out.
DFB President Kitty Holtz walks the flag across the stage during the Opening Session of the AFBF Convention.
American Farm Bureau Elects New Leaders, Chart Course for 2016
Delegates from all 50 states and Puerto Rico elected new leaders and approved policies that will help determine the future of agriculture, during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 97th Annual Convention. Renewable fuels, governmental
Commodity Advisory Committees, the GFB Policy Development Committee and, as past chairman, the GFB Young Farmer Committee. He has represented Georgia as a voting delegate at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention since being elected to the state board and served on the AFBF Board of Directors in the 1980s as chairman of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. He also served as member of former Gov. Sonny Perdue’s Agricultural Advisory Council.
Scott and Michelle are active in their church and community. They have two sons, Kyle and Austin.
After elections were decided delegates got to work charting their course for 2016 outlining the following issues which Farm Bureau will focus on in the coming months.
Risk Management
Delegates approved new policies that covered a wide range of agricultural topics. Among other things, they:
• Supported the addition of cottonseed to the list of oilseed crops eligible for farm programs;
Biotechnology
Delegates reaffirmed their support for the use of genetically modified plant varieties and other innovative technologies. Delegates also called for a voluntary and uniform labeling system for products designated as genetically modified organisms. They denounced mandatory labeling of food products containing GMOs at the local, state and federal levels.
Law Enforcement
reform, farm policy, risk management and international trade were among the most important matters slated for action over the next 12 months.
Delegates elected Zippy Duvall to serve as the new president of AFBF and Scott VanderWal as vice president.
Vincent “Zippy” Duvall is a poultry, cattle and hay producer from Greene County, Georgia, and served as president of the Georgia Farm Bureau for 9 years. A Farm Bureau member since 1977, Duvall has held numerous leadership positions in the Greene County Farm Bureau, including president and vice president. Duvall has served on numerous GFB
Scott VanderWal is a third-generation family farmer from Volga, South Dakota, and has been president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau since 2004. On their farm, Scott and his wife, Michelle, raise corn soybeans and do custom cattle-feeding and some custom harvesting.
Scott has been a member of the South Dakota Farm Bureau board of directors since 1997, including three years as Vice President. He was elected president in 2004 and has held the office since.
Scott and Michelle are both graduates of South Dakota State University and served on the South Dakota Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers committee for several years, including one year as Chairs. The couple also served on the American Farm Bureau Federation YF&R committee from 1992-1994, where Scott was elected Second Vice Chairman.
• Supported voluntary risk management products for poultry growers that would provide assistance during disease outbreaks, and
• Reaffirmed support for programs that provide emergency assistance for livestock and tree producers not covered by federal crop insurance programs.
Regulatory Review and Reform
Delegates addressed recent malfeasance by establishing a new policy that opposes governmental attempts to sway public opinion regarding rules that are open for public comment, whether by social media or other means.
International Trade
Delegates reaffirmed support for fair and open world trade that benefits agriculture. In particular, AFBF voted to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which promises to expand opportunities for U.S. farm goods to some of the fastest-growing markets around the world.
Delegates approved new policy related to forfeiture reform that requires that individuals be convicted of a federal crime before their property is seized.
Immigration
Delegates reaffirmed support for flexibility in the H-2A program that would allow workers to seek employment from more than one farmer. They also called on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform to assist in solving the continuing shortage of agricultural workers.
Big Data
Delegates reaffirmed support for the protection of proprietary data collected from farmers, as well as fair compensation for farmers who choose to sell their data to third parties including other farmers.
Energy
The delegates maintained their strong support for biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard. They also called for continued tax incentives to benefit biodiesel and other advanced biofuels.
Newly elected AFBF President Zippy Duvall and Vice President Scott VanderWal
Foundation for Agriculture Names 2016 Book of the Year
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its ninth annual Book of the Year award to Susan Grigsby for “First Peas to the Table.” In this lighthearted story, a little girl, Maya, and her classmates learn about gardens and peas, as well as Thomas Jefferson’s garden at Monticello.
Grigsby, who lives in St. Louis, Missouri, is the author of three picture books, as well as poetry. She teaches creative writing in schools, museums and nature centers, often integrating the lessons with science, social studies and art.
“I am so happy that, thanks to this recognition from the American Farm Bureau Foundation For Agriculture, more children will have access to ‘First Peas to the Table,’” said Grigsby. “I sometimes help students set up their own school gardens and am always inspired by the sense of wonder that develops as the children discover the infinite number of variables involved in turning one tiny seed into a plant that can feed a family.”
“After reading the agricultural-related correspondence and journals of Thomas Jefferson, I was struck by the passion that he and others had in regards to experimenting to figure out which plants, previously grown on other continents, would grow best in each of the diverse
environments spread across the country,” she continued. “I wrote the book to celebrate how every gardener, young and old, learns through experimentation, through failures and success and with a joy for the wonders of nature.”
The Book of the Year award springs
from the Foundation’s effort to identify accurate ag books, a collection of nearly 500 books for children, teenagers and adults that accurately cover agricultural topics. Book of the Year selections are educational, help to create positive public perceptions about agriculture, inspire readers to learn more and touch their readers’ lives, as well as tell the farmer’s story. The accurate ag books database is available at: http://www.agfoundation.org/recommended-pubs.
To accompany the “First Peas to the Table” book, the Foundation has created an educator’s guide and a School Garden Ag Mag. Again this year, the Foundation is offering a Spanish text version of the Ag Mag.
In honor of Grigsby’s recognition and the host city of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 97th Annual Convention, the book’s publisher, Albert Whitman, has generously donated 100 copies of “First Peas to the Table” to the Orange County library system. In addition, the Foundation is donating $1,000 to the library system.
Federal Crop Insurance Sales Closing Dates Fast Approaching
In 2015, Delaware farmers purchased over 1,600 Federal crop insurance policies that covered over 346,000 acres and insured nearly $114 million in crop liability.
Total premiums amounted to nearly $10 million and premium subsidies totaled over $6 million; paid indemnities for 2015 (to date) are close to $2 million.
While it’s easy to get lost in these large numbers, remember that the coverage and indemnities benefitted many individual Delaware producers. These beneficiaries include many people that you may call friends or neighbors. In fact, the $2 million in 2015 indemnities (to date) were paid to 307 policy holders, amounting to an average indemnity of over $6,400 per indemnified policy. These producers no doubt appreciate the safety net provided by crop insurance.
Every year, it seems some producers are surprised to discover, upon
filing a claim, that their crop insurance policy did not perform exactly as expected. The primary cause of this confusion and frustration is simple. In nearly all cases, the policy options chosen at time of enrollment were not well matched to the producer’s needs and performance expectations. To avoid such surprises, producers must first consider what they want and expect from their crop insurance coverage. Then they must work closely with their crop insurance agent to evaluate exactly how the different insurance plans, coverage levels, prevented planting coverage and insurance unit structure choices will perform in different loss situations.
In Delaware, Federal crop insurance coverage is available for the following commodities: barley; processing beans (spring snap and lima); corn; cucumbers; dairy cattle margins (Livestock Gross Margin – LGM); grain sorghum; nursery (field grown & container); pasture, rangeland & forage production (PRF - rainfall index); green peas; potatoes; soybeans; sweet corn; toma-
toes; and wheat. Producers of crops without a formal program may still be eligible to request crop insurance through a “written agreement.” The written agreement is a document designed to provide crop insurance in counties without an established program for a given crop or for an uncovered organic crop. In addition, the Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) program can also be used to insure a wide variety of crops (even those for which no direct program is available) under the umbrella of whole farm revenue coverage. Producers seeking more information about written agreements or WFRP should contact their local crop insurance agent. Finally, most crops that are not insurable through a Federal crop insurance program can still be protected using the Non-insurable crop Assistance Program (NAP) that is available from your county FSA/ USDA office prior to the March 15th deadline.
The March 15, 2016, sales closing date is fast approaching for most Delaware Federal crop insurance programs (including WFRP). Produc-
ers interested in coverage for these, or any other crops, should contact a crop insurance agent for more information and full program details. A crop insurance agent locator is available on the RMA website at www. rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html. The RMA website also provides premium calculators and additional details and tools to facilitate participation in Federal crop insurance programs. AgRAEIS works with the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) to educate Delaware producers about Risk Management and Federal Crop Insurance Programs. These institutions are equal opportunity providers. To locate a crop insurance agent or obtain information about risk management and RMA’s Federal Crop Insurance Programs, please visit www.RMA.USDA.gov. To receive additional information, please contact AgRAEIS at Info@ AgRAEIS.com and/or follow Twitter for upcoming event details @ DelawareAgRisk.
Scenes from Delaware Ag Week
FARM VEHICLE TAGS 7 & 8 TO BE AUCTIONED OFF!
March 19, 2016 9 a.m.
Mid-Atlan c Spring Equipment Auc on Delaware State Fairgrounds 18500 S. DuPont Highway Harrington, DE 19952 (Green Lot)
Sussex County Farm Bureau Director and Delaware Soybean Board Chairman Jay Baxter addresses the crowd at Delaware Ag Week during the Agronomy and Soybean Sessions.
DFB Public Relations Coordinator Caroline Foltz and Nationwide Senior Consultant Margie Chase were on hand at the DFB booth at AG week.
Robert Thompson accepts the Century Farm award at the 2016 Ag Week, pictured with (L) Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee and (R) Governor Jack Markell.
Smoke Alarms Save Lives
Smoke alarms play a vital role in saving lives, and when properly installed, can reduce the risk of fire injury in half.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends smoke alarms be installed in every bedroom, outside all sleeping quarters and on every level of the house. Business owners should consult the local Fire Marshall to ensure specific building codes and smoke detector requirements are met.
Smoke alarms work best when paired with a fire escape plan. A plan allows your family, employees or clients to escape quickly and safely in an emergency situation.
Review the following tips regarding smoke detector installation and maintenance. For more on emergency preparedness, contact your local SERVPRO Franchise Professionals.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Smoke alarms should be in-
stalled away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms. Generally, they should be at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps,” the battery is low and should be replaced right away.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
JUST THE FACTS: Smoke Alarms
• Three out of five fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or when the alarms are not working.
• Smoke alarm failures usually result from missing, disconnected, or dead batteries.
• 37% of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
• The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.
Nationwide, partners launch third annual safety contest
DES MOINES, Iowa – Nationwide, the No. 1 farm insurer , is collaborating with industry leaders and agricultural professionals to launch our third annual safety contest as part of this year’s Grain Bin Safety Week.
The Nominate Your Fire Department Contest runs from Jan. 1 through May 31. It will award grain rescue tubes and hands-on training to help first responders save lives, thanks to the support of KC Supply Co., the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety and our other partners.
“Grain bin accidents can tragically impact individuals, families and entire communities,” said Brad Liggett, president of Nationwide Agribusiness. “Accident prevention means everyone working together, and Grain Bin Safety Week provides a forum for the agricultural community to help keep people safe.”
During the last two years, the national contest awarded tubes and training to 13 fire departments in 12 states. One of those winners — The Westphalia Fire Department in Kansas — used their new skills in
2015 to rescue a man who became entrapped in some grain.
In 2014, 38 documented entrapments resulted in 17 deaths, according to Purdue University. It was the highest numbers since 2010 — when at least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain engulfments.
“That’s where Grain Bin Safety Week can help,” Liggett said. “This program brings attention to life-saving extraction methods and procedures, which can improve responder and victim safety.”
For more information about the program, purpose or nomination process, visit www.grainbinsafetyweek.com.
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www. nationwide.com.
Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2015 Nationwide.
Margie Chase, Nationwide Senior Consultant, Business Development
DFB’s Thompson Family Awarded Century Farm
The Thompson Family has been involved with the Kent County Farm Bureau for as long as anyone can remember. Robert Thompson, a thirdgeneration farmer once served as a Board Member and his son Jonathan currently serves at the Kent County Farm Bureau President.
But the whole Thompson Family’s long-term commitment to agriculture was recognized last month during Delaware Ag Week as they were recognized as the latest Century Farm in Delaware.
The farm has been in the Thompson family since 1911. Howard Thompson, Robert Thompson’s grandfather, bought the land for $4,600 from Thomas Marvel. Mr. Thompson credited hard work and perseverance as the key to sustaining the family’s 77-acre farm near Hartly.
“Being around this long is due to our commitment to having a family farm and trying to keep it surviving throughout all of the different economic times,” said Barbara Thompson, Robert’s wife.
Robert cited that times weren’t always easy, and recalled being a young child when his father’s health issues meant much of the farm work fell on his mother. “Had it not been for my mother’s resolve to stay and work hard and keep the farm we wouldn’t be a Century Farm today,” he said.
Governor Markell and Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Kee presented The Thompson Family with their Century Farm sign which will be placed as a historic marker. Both Markell and Kee commended the family for the efforts in keeping the family farm in operation.
“Hard-working families are the bedrock of Delaware’s agricultural
prosperity,” Gov. Jack Markell said.
“Multiple generations of farm families, such as the Thompsons, make our state and industry stronger and improve our quality of life, while keeping alive a strong tradition of excellence.”
“The Thompsons are wonderful people. They’ve been leaders in the Farm Bureau and leaders in other organizations for many, many years. Its families like this that keeps our farms going.” Secretary Kee stated.
The Thompsons raise poultry and grow grain. They’ve previously raised dairy cows, laying hens, tomatoes, peaches, apples and wheat. Robert Thompson said there have been many hands involved in making the family farm a success.
“The only thing I do want to say is I’m so grateful for my whole family,” he said. “The Lord has blessed us with children and grandchildren, and every one of them has helped on the farm.”
Delaware has 130 Century farms, which must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years and must include at least 10 acres of the parcel or gross more than $10,000 annually in agricultural sales. The Century Farm Awards have been presented annually since 1987.
“Delaware’s $1.3 billion agricultural economy is strengthened daily by our families, which own 99 percent of our state’s farms,” said Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee. “As new generations step up and carry on our agricultural heritage, we look forward to having more farms inducted into this program in the years to come.”
Wilkins continued from pg. 1 to serve a second term in the same position.
Rotating off the ASA governing committee is outgoing chairman Ray Gaesser of Corning, Iowa, who will remain on the ASA board for the remainder of his term as director.
“Helping to guide this organization has been a real joy for me, and I am proud of how far we’ve come,” said Gaesser, during whose presidency ASA successfully advocated the passage of the 2014 farm bill.
“Ray deserves a great deal of credit for the strong advocacy ASA has provided for soybean farmers over the last three years, and we’re a better organization for it,” said Wilkins.
Richard is a long-time Kent County and Delaware Farm Bureau Director. Presently serving as Kent County’s Vice President and Treasurer; he was awarded the 2014 Delaware Farm Bureau’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. Richard is also a member of the DE Council of Farm Organizations; Vice Chair of the Kent County Cooperative Extension Service Advisory Committee; member of the Delaware Vegetables Growers Association; member of the Animal Agriculture Coalition; member of the Delaware Crop Improvement Association Task Force and a member of the AFBF Soybean Advisory Committee.
KENT COUNTY
Charles Conley 35 Commerce Street Harrington, DE 19952 (302) 398-3276
Glenn Deaton 905-A N. Dupont Highway Dover, DE 19901 (302) 734-3700
David Fetterman 200 North Rehoboth Boulevard Milford, DE 19963 (302) 422-3079
Michael Frankos
375 W. North Street, Suite A Dover, DE 19904 (302) 531-0831
Jay Rouse 1252 Forrest Avenue Dover, DE 19904 (302) 678-2223
Michael Wilkinson
223 S. DuPont Blvd, Ste 2 Smyrna, DE 19977 (302) 653-5580
NEW CASTLE COUNTY
Michael Alpaugh 94 E. Main Street Newark, DE 19711 (302) 453-9871
C. Lori Blackwell 248 E. Chestnut Hill Road Newark, DE 19713 (302) 738-5030
Rick Broadbent 3510 Silverside Road, Suite 2 Wilmington, DE 19810 (302) 479-7777
Lisa Broadbent-Diossi 20 Polly Drummond Hill Road Newark, DE 19711 (302) 731-0044
Shawn Coen 296 Bear-Christiana Road Bear, DE 19701 (302) 322-2022
Roy Crow 106 S. Broad Street Middletown, DE 19709 (302) 378-9592
Steven Dewberry 5700 Kirkwood Hwy Ste 103 Wilmington, DE 19808 (302) 995-9550
Steve Disabatino 478 Middletown Warwick Road Middletown, DE 19709 (302) 449-5556
A. Barbara Dorsey 3510 Silverside Road, Suite 2 Wilmington, DE 19810 (302) 479-7777
James Dorsey 1521 Concord Pike, Ste 301 Wilmington, DE 19803 (302) 472-3200
Richard Finney 3510 Silverside Road, Suite 2 Wilmington, DE 19810 (302) 479-5560
Terry Gouert 824 Philadelphia Pike Wilmington, DE 19809 (302) 478-6400
Harry “T.” Insley 4633 Ogletown-Stanton Road Newark, DE 19713 (302) 286-0777
John Koziol 724 Yorklyn Road, Water Wheel Building, Suite 200 Hockessin, DE 19707 (302) 234-5430
Raymond Maniscalco 117 Kirkwood Square Wilmington, DE 19808 (302) 999-8211
Kenneth Marconi 813 E. Newport Pike Wilmington, DE 19804 (302) 992-9772
Henry E. Nickle 119 Washington Street Delaware City, DE 19706 (302) 834-9700
Calvin Sheets
254 Fox Hunt Drive Fox Run Plaza Bear, DE 19701 (302) 832-0441
Robert Steinebach 296 Bear-Christiana Road Bear, DE 19701 (302) 328-1212
Maureen Varone 1816 W. Fourth Street Wilmington, DE 19805 (302) 655-3331
Charles Wallace 1906 Newport Gap Pike Wilmington, DE 19808 (302) 998-1412
Peter Wolff
520 Peoples Plaza Newark, DE 19702 (302) 283-1880
SUSSEX COUNTY
Scott Carey Insurance 30618 DuPont Boulevard, Suite 1 Dagsboro, DE 19939 (302) 934-8383
Elmer Hearn 310 High Street Seaford, DE 19973 (302) 629-9493
Cynthia C. Hoban 18 Hickory Street Frankford, DE 19945 (302) 732-9505
Marvin Muncie 1011 Norman Eskridge Highway Seaford, DE 19973 (302) 629-9414
Cliff Short 606 E. Market Street Georgetown, DE 19947 (302) 856-7773
Richard Small 1130 S. Central Avenue Laurel, DE 19956 (302) 875-3333
Thad Truitt 1143 Savannah Road, Suite 2 Lewes, DE 19958 (302) 645-6459
MARYLAND
Susan Wilgus-Murphy 1203 Pemberton Drive Salisbury, MD 21801 (410) 742-8240
William Staples 1410 S. Salisbury Boulevard Salisbury, MD 21801 (410) 546-3999
Greg Whitten 317 Crusader Rd Cambridge, MD 21613 (410) 228-7484
