Stay Informed

I learned a lot in 2020. I’ll bet the rest of you did, too.

I learned about COVID-19 – about masks and social distancing and virus transmission.

I learned how to make a Zoom call and how to participate in virtual meetings.

As our organization prepared to roll out our new Indiana Farm Bureau Health Plans, I learned how complex the health care issue is. And although we knew all along that it was really important, we found out that the need was even greater than we had realized.

But what I also learned was that even in the most difficult times, it’s possible to accomplish great things.

At Farm Bureau, the credit for this belongs to the resiliency of farmers and our staff. We will always find a way to adapt and bounce back – from bad weather, from trade barriers and even from a pandemic.

The state of Indiana locked down in mid-March, but despite that, Indiana Farm Bureau, county Farm Bureaus and individual members continued to get the job done. Here are some examples:

• County Farm Bureaus adapted by offering virtual or drive-through meetings so that members could stay involved safely and have input on important issues.
• Our political action committees, ELECT and AgELECT, stayed active throughout the primary and general election season, meeting with candidates virtually so that the endorsement process could continue.
• Several successful meetings, including the resolutions committee, delegate session and even state convention were held virtually this year.
• When food pantries were struggling due to increased demand, our members held food drives to deliver meat, eggs and milk directly to those in need. Many county Farm Bureaus donated money to food banks and food pantries, and INFB followed their lead and donated $5,000 to Gleaners.
• In the early days of the pandemic, when personal protective equipment was in short supply, many of our members made or donated masks and other PPE to area hospitals, nursing homes and to first responders.
• A lot of the heavy lifting on the health care plans occurred after lockdown, and as a result, INFB Health Plans rolled out on schedule on Sept. 1 and opened for enrollment Oct. 1. So far, the reception has been very positive, and it looks as though this new member benefit will help us grow our membership.

I have always said that farmers are resilient, and that no matter the difficulties, we will find a way to bounce back. If we ever want proof, 2020 provides all the proof we’ll ever need.

—Randy Kron, INFB President