A major addition to Farm Bureau came in 1959 with the founding of the Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company. Two years later, Blue Cross/Blue Shield hospital-medical coverage was made available to members. In 1964, farm record management services were offered and the marketing association was formed to assist farmers with the buying and selling of agricultural products.
The Young Farmer program began in 1972, with the purpose of surfacing and developing Farm Bureau leadership. The state Young Farmer chairman serves as an ex-officio member of the GFB board of directors.
In 1987, ground was broken for what is now the current headquarters of the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. Dedicated on Sept. 14, 1988, the five-story, 171,000-square-foot building is home to approximately 500 “home office” employees, in addition to over 600 insurance agents located throughout the state to serve its members.
The Effingham Farm Bureau office has three insurance agents: R. Carter Boyd, agency manager; W. Kirk Rahn and Jonathan Hathaway. Becky W. Fields is office manager and Cheryl Tyre is secretary. They offer farm, home, life and auto insurance from a variety of companies. Farm Bureau members can access many benefits of membership, including investments in certificates of deposit, estate planning, identity theft resolution, many discounts on purchases and travel and much more. All agents have won the President’s Club contest for the past two years.
Effingham County past presidents pictured include: L. Iseman Wright, 1976; Thomas Kessler, 1977-78; Henry Wilkins, 1979; H.E. “Gene” Hart Jr., 1980-88; Albert H. Allen Jr., 1989-99; and Stuart P. Exley, 2000 to the present.
Historic Effingham Society wishes each of you a safe and happy New Year. Please keep membership and financial support of Historic Effingham Society in your 2015 plans so that we can keep Effingham Museum and the Living History Site open serving our citizens.
This was written by Susan Exley of Historic Effingham Society. If you have photos, comments or information to share, contact her at 754-6681 or email her at hesheraldexley@aol.com.
