Giving back to our communities is a core part of Farm Bureau’s Mission Statement.

 

At least once a year, the company and its employees carry out projects to benefit our communities. In 2018, the company unveiled the Farm Bureau Trail and donated $3.5 million dollars to the Portneuf Health Trust. Earlier this year, the Federation committed $100,000 to the University of Idaho’s agriculture research center, and the Home Office donated $3,000 to the Idaho Gold Star Families Memorial.

 

It was in this spirit of charity that on July 15, the Home Office's Personal Lines Underwriting department declared war.

 

The 2019 Penny War fundraiser pitted department against department to see who could raise the most money to benefit the Idaho Foodbank. Brownie bombs were lobbed by Personal Lines. A blitz of breakfast burritos was served up by the Ballroom. By the time the dust had settled at the conclusion of the six-week campaign, $4,247.79 had been raised.

 

The Ballroom emerged victorious, collecting a total of $1,187.80. Personal Lines was a close second, bringing in $1,109.28. A complete breakdown of how much each department raised follows.

 

• Ballroom: $1,187.80

• Personal Lines: $1,109.28

• Sales, Brokerage, Support: $511.19

• Commercial, Actuary: $387.40

• Claims: $376.88

• Management, Accounts Receivable, Accounting: $197.28

• Adam’s area: $183.28

• Legal, Finance, Subrogation: $121.51

• Agile Practice Office, Service Desk, Product Management: $83.21

• Federation: $63.58

• Human Resources, Mailroom, Megan, Lance: $26.38

 

The fundraising activities waged between the departments included the following:

 

• Sweet And Savory Breakfast: Product Support, Sales, Customer Service Center, Policy Services, and Brokerage

• Denim Days: Personal Lines

• Soup and Chili Lunch: Claims

• Potato Bar Bonanza: Ballroom, with the Federation donating the potatoes

• Ice Cream Sale: Personal Lines

• Breakfast Burrito Blitz: Ballroom

• Bake Sale: Personal Lines

 

According to Katie Mickelson, an Audit Underwriter and member of the Penny War Committee, the idea for the Penny War “sprouted from a Personal Lines Leadership [Principles] Lowdown meeting in May that focused on our commitment to give back to the community.”

 

The Penny War Committee members – Katie, Lacie Nielsen, Liz Francort, Jessica Housel, Melinda Rodriquez, Chantel Inskeep, and Shannon Simmons – joined Dana May, Vice President of Underwriting and Policy Administration, to deliver an oversized check for $4,247.79 to the Idaho Foodbank on October 1. “This was such a much-needed and much-appreciated gift,” says Janna Boote, Development Coordinator at the Idaho Foodbank. “A donation of this size will make a significant, positive impact in our community.”

 

The committee requested that the donation be divided between the Foodbank’s “My Brother’s Table” and “Valley Mission Food Pantry” programs. “My Brother’s Table,” explains Katie, “provides Sunday lunches to the public and hosts an after school program providing snacks and other food items to kids in need. The Valley Mission Food Pantry helps over 200 families in need weekly with meats, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and canned goods through a pantry set up much like a grocery store. Families can ‘shop’ for items they choose to take home.”

 

Katie attributes the booming course the Penny War took to the employees’ eagerness to answer the call. “The Penny War was a success thanks to the competitive spirit of giving from Home Office employees. The competition was fierce. Sabotages were carried off, often with great showmanship. Underwriting would like to express our deep gratitude to all who participated in such a successful event and for the generosity in giving back to our community.”

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