Insuring Eastern Iowa Farms Since 1873

One-hundred fifty years ago – eight years after the Civil War – a group of Muscatine-County farmers came together to form one of Iowa’s first mutual insurance associations . These neighbors wanted to help each other protect their farm assets

Muscatine County Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company was established to help protect the property and farm operations of its members/policy holders . Known today as Muscatine Mutual Insurance Association, the company continues to serve farmers and families throughout 12 counties in Eastern Iowa . As a Mutual, the company is owned wholly by its members/policy holders

“There was great insight at the beginning on the part of those local farmers,” said Tom Norton, Manager for Muscatine Mutual Insurance Association

“It’s a remarkable achievement, not a singular, but a collective achievement over generations to set up an insurance company that would be helpful to people for 150 years ”

“It’s lasted It’s been tested . It’s survived those tests and it’s weathered the storms, both literally and figuratively,” adds Mr . Norton “Therefore, there’s a confidence that we bring to bear with the insurance products and resources our company offers to meet the needs of our Eastern Iowa farm clientele ”

To buy insurance 150 years ago meant traveling, usually by horse, to the county seat That was about as far as one would want to go . County Mutual insurance companies had no agents, so farmers would go to their township director to write and manage insurance coverage for their farm That’s simply how things got done .

That ‘localness’, still in place today, is what has always given Muscatine Mutual its unique advantage and ability to establish long-lasting relationships with its owner policy holders

“I’m pretty confident that some of insured families probably go all the way back 150 years, back when their greatgreat grandparents had insurance with us,” Mr Norton said about members of Muscatine Mutual

From 1873 until the 1960’s, Muscatine Mutual products were sold only by Directors, who in the early days were also those neighbors who founded the company . In the early 1960’s a Muscatine-county farmer, Don Lee, was hired by the company as its first agent . Mr . Lee was honest, local, and knew the farm business Mr Lee’s son Gary joined his dad in the business in the 1970s and by 1978, Gary Lee formalized the business into the Lee Agency This newly established insurance agency now offered the additional insurance product resources Muscatine Mutual farm clients needed to protect their farms, families, and assets Lee Agency continues today to be the exclusive agency for Muscatine Mutual Insurance Association

Mr Norton joined the company Lee Agency in 1986 as employee #3 . Like the Lees, he too, spent his early life on the farm In 1999 he purchased the agency from Gary Lee’s estate and as a legacy tribute to his friend and mentor, kept the Lee Agency name . Mr Norton also serves as Manager for Muscatine Mutual Insurance Association hired by its Board of Directors to manage the affairs of the insurance company .

“We’re an insurance company that can think like a farmer,” says Mr . Norton “I grew up on a farm, farmed for 10 years, and watched my dad and mom struggle to build equity … they pretty much dug it out of the dirt themselves ”

That farm background and local relationship piece is why the company has built a quality business with the unique ability to provide the best quality of service to its clients The trust established through those long-lasting client relationships is the foundation on which the company builds its business .

Tom Norton is first to give credit and thanks to the people who came before him, as well as to say thank you to his staff

“They do the bulk of the work,” he said about his team at Muscatine Mutual and Lee Agency . “I really want to say thanks to our company staff and agents . ”

Most importantly, Mr Norton feels great satisfaction that their business helps bring a peace of mind to its policy holders when they find themselves facing tough times

“There’s a real sense of satisfaction, and in my mind, a spiritual component to our business,” says Mr Norton “When you go out to see a farm client after they’ve had a fire or a huge windstorm, there’s a certain peace you can provide them by saying we’re a friend and here to help you . ”

“God has blessed us,” he said . “God is generous Generosity just oozes from our

Lord, and that’s what grace and mercy is all about … His generous spirit For us in the insurance business to approach our policy holders with that same kind of generous spirit is really quite rewarding . ”

Protecting farm operations and assets for 150 years is a proud history for the company . Now moving into the future, Muscatine Mutual Insurance Association continues to grow and strengthen its roots throughout its 12-County Eastern Iowa market territory .

“We’re bold on agriculture,” states Mr Norton “The world needs to be fed, and farmers in Eastern Iowa are feeding the world through grain products, hogs, and cattle As farms consolidate and progress, we will continue to develop products and resources that meet the needs of those farmers ” n

To learn more about MMIA products and services, reach out to us through our partners at Lee Agency by calling 800.225.9252, go to our website at muscatinemutual.com, or send an email to info@muscatinemutual.com

Where we typically highlight the Muscatine Art Center’s Permanent Collection, our focus here is on the facility’s ‘behind-the-scenes’ staff . The Muscatine Art Center is staffed by a total of 10 people (4 full-time and 6 part-time), including Muscatine native Steve Hammann and recently ‘retired’ Jennifer Kemper . Although they are recognized by many, not everyone knows of their histories & lifestyles . Both were kind enough to share some highlights of their experiences and ‘lessons learned’ with us .