Nationwide Claims offers Unique Training to Benefit Members
I am On Your Side®
_________________________________________________________________________
Steve Uhlman | Sponsor Relations Sales Manager
Nationwide Insurance
614-332-4945
[email protected]
A school supply list usually consists of pencils, pens
and a backpack. For several Nationwiders, their school
supplies consisted of an iPad and — manure boots.
Over the summer, Nationwide’s new Commercial
Farm and Agribusiness School made its debut to help
claims associates develop technical expertise, as well as
better establish relationships and the business confidence
to drive improved outcomes for farm and agribusiness
members.
The school was developed in partnership with The
Ohio State University College of Food, Agriculture,
and Environmental Sciences. Claims adjusters from
Nationwide’s Claims operation and those from
Nationwide Agribusiness Claims attended the sessions.
“The new farm technical school was enlightening,
but the experience was somewhat surreal as we trekked
through barns filled with animals at different stages of
their productive lives,” said Barbara Davies, commercial
property claims manager. “We saw the industry from
the farmer’s eyes. It certainly changed my perception of
what a farmer is today as well as what the farmer needs
from a claims perspective.”
Part of the training includes a “Farm to Fork” dinner.
Each dish is brought to the attendees separately and all
the ingredients are labeled. Before the diners are allowed
to eat, they are presented with the location where the
ingredient was grown, the distance it took to ship the
item to Central Ohio to prepare, and the cost break down
of each food item including how much a farmer earns
per dish.
At the conclusion of the dinner a local farmer
participates in the panel discussion with agricultural
experts and local chefs to discuss the decisions and
challenges involved in meeting consumer demand for
6 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
safe and affordable food. Leah Dorman, the Director
of Food and Animal issues for the Ohio Farm Bureau
presented to one of the classes. Nationwide has
benefitted from the expertise brought to the partnership
by local farmers, the Farm Bureau and Ohio State.
“Agribusiness is really an important component for
Nationwide. We are a company founded by farmers
looking to solve their own problems. And that’s what
we still do — we solve people’s problems,” says Dave
Bano, Chief Claims Officer. “This is an extension of that
concept. This program and education is all part of the
evolution of our helping others.”
Technology often found in use by farmers has
been integrated in to the school. Student activities are
completed on iPads loaded with the participant guides
and applications routinely used by farming operations.
The topics the school covers are:
• Farm terminology
• Farm machinery
• Grain and livestock identification
• Metal coverings
• Farm structures
• Commodity market
• Grain bins
• Grain handling equipment
• Confinement structures
“This school is about where the rubber meets the road
— at every level,” said Shannon Hagan, commercial
claims manager. “Equipment cost, food cost, food
production, equipment maintenance, farm life, farm
smells, farm animals bundled up and presented to you
by people who love to teach it, work with it, and live in
it every day. It was an awesome experience and a well
orchestrated school from start to finish.”
Contact your local Nationwide agent, call
1-877-OnYourSide, or visit nationwide.com/WVFB.