When did you begin working at Farm Bureau?

I began working for Farm Bureau as an employee in December 2011. Prior to that I handled many legal matters for Farm Bureau while working as an attorney for Merrill & Merrill. I have worked for Farm Bureau for most of my legal career, either as corporate counsel or as an attorney in private practice. I have had the privilege of working with and for many great people and have enjoyed my time spent with the Farm Bureau family.

​

Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Fontana, California and spent my early days skiing in Big Bear Lake, CA. I have always loved the beaches of southern California and the skiing in northern California.

​

My wife, Cyndie, and I met at BYU and were married on February 10, 1990. We have five children: Jason, married to Cora, Chris, married to Mikelle, Meagan, married to Matthew, Rachel, and Natalie. We also have five grandchildren, with another one due in March 2024.

 

I graduated from BYU Law School in 1995 and began my career in Burley, Idaho working for Judge Granata. I joined Merrill & Merrill in May 1996 and the rest is history.

 

What were some highlights about working for Farm Bureau?

Some of my greatest highlights will always be the time spent with my coworkers, especially the planning meetings and golfing events. The review, development, and implementation of necessary changes has been both difficult and rewarding. I will miss the exhilaration I feel when working hard to achieve goals and seeing our plans working. My association with the great people of Farm Bureau has enriched my life and I will miss my daily interactions with everyone.

​

Any other memorable events come to mind about your Farm Bureau career?

Golf events, TEAMS and other bonus events, statewide claims and sales meetings, the veterans event, and generally all of the great things that we have done together to help make our community better.

 

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy golfing and spending time with my wife, kids, and grandkids. I also enjoy reading and watching sports.

​

What are your retirement plans?

I intend to focus on spoiling my grandkids and reducing my golf handicap. 

  

Anything else you'd like to add?

I am grateful for everyone that I have worked with here at Farm Bureau and for the great career that I have had here. I will always look back at my 12 years here with pride for the great things that we have accomplished together and for being part of such a great company.

​

Please join us in thanking Tom for his dedicated service and congratulating him on his well-deserved retirement. A retirement social for Tom will be held on Friday, December 1, at 2:00 PM in the Home Office's lunchroom.

 

NOTES FROM TOM'S COWORKERS

Working with Tom for the last twelve years has been anything but boring.  Professionally, Tom has served this company well with his extensive legal knowledge. He has been a valuable resource to our HR department as well as the entire organization. Personally, I will miss his infectious laugh and him walking in toting his Taco Bell breakfast. Tom has been a great co-worker, a great friend, and an “ok” golfer. He will be missed.

-David Acevedo, Vice President of Human Resources and Operations

 

While working for Farm Bureau, Tom Lyons has had many achievements.  Some may not know that among these achievements was the formation of an in-house litigation program. The objective of the program was to provide quality representation for our insureds and to support the claims department. Tom was the right person to begin this program. Tom is not only a top tier litigator but was well studied in other in-house legal departments of other companies. In pioneering Idaho Farm Bureau’s in-house program, Tom was determined to create a more responsive and cost-effective litigation team that would provide better results than other programs. Due to Tom’s vision and his efforts to support the program, we have had many successes. These include obtaining many large subrogation judgments including the largest subrogation recovery in Idaho Farm Bureau’s history. The claims litigation department has also been highly successful in representing our insureds obtaining defense jury verdicts, advantageous settlements and favorable judicial decisions. We are very grateful to Tom for his part in making Idaho Farm Bureau the best place to practice law.

 

In an attempt to memorialize the wonderful attorney and leader you have been these past many years, we hope you will enjoy this short limerick we wrote in your honor:

 

There is a great attorney named Tom

Who at trials was always the bomb

He led us with finesse

Then golfed to destress

Though retired, his legacy lives on.

 

To borrow a fitting line from Bob Hope, “Thanks for the memories.” You will be missed.

-The Claims Litigation Group - Ryan, Bill, DeVonne, and Kelsey

​

It has been a pleasure working with Tom over the years in legal and claims. Many thanks for his advice and belief in my abilities. He surely can make a girl feel important. I will miss his laugh in the office. It is one of the most joyful laughs and can make anyone who hears it laugh out loud, or at least smile. When in claims, I always thought legal was way more fun by the laughs over there. There will forever be a hole in the heart of claims and legal without his guidance.

 
I am so excited he will be able to enjoy time with his family and sleeping in. May hail and windstorms never haunt his dreams again. I wish the best for Tom and his family. Please don’t forget us and come back to visit!

-Lexcie DeGiulio, Claims Operations Manager

​

Tom Lyons retiring? How can that be?

 

I will miss your happy demeaner and especially your laugh. Your knowledge, input, and direction always helped me. I will miss your leadership, especially.

 

Thank you for always being a friend. Hope all goes well for you and yours.  You will be missed!

-Cristina Degn, Fast Track OCR

​

Tom and I started our careers at Farm Bureau around the same time. One of the first times we ever worked together, we travelled out to Arco for him to complete an Examination Under Oath on a potential fraud claim I was handling. I remember being so nervous about the entire experience. I was a baby adjuster at the time and still trying to find my sea legs. His confidence and intelligence throughout the exam quickly resolved those anxieties. That day spurred my love for the investigation process, and I became a better adjuster as a result. That is just one example of the many experiences I’ve had under his guidance and leadership that have molded me into the person I am today.

 

I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. His trust, faith, and support has allowed me to accomplish great things that I can look back on with pride. Whenever I would have a sliver of self-doubt telling me I couldn’t do something, I always had a voice in the back of my mind saying, “If Tom believes that I can do it, then of course I can!” Even though I won’t be able to work with him every day anymore, that voice will remain in my mind because I know he’ll still be cheering us on, even in retirement. We’re going to miss you Tom!

-Teresa Durrant, Director of Claims

 

Tom’s tenure at Farm Bureau Insurance has been nothing short of exemplary. His commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity has set a benchmark for all of us.

 

Beyond his professional achievements, Tom’s leadership style – a perfect blend of wisdom and humility – has been an inspiration to all of us fortunate enough to work alongside him.

 

You will be missed Tom. Best wishes for happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead.

-Chuck McDaniel, Vice President of Sales and Marketing

​

Tom has a great legal mind and I've always enjoyed his sense of humor. The Casualty Group and I have been fortunate to have held regular Thursday Reserve meetings with Tom discussing multiple legal topics. Some meetings were straightforward and to the point while others are a little more memorable with double shots of laughter. Thank you, Tom, for your lasting, positive impact on the whole Farm Bureau Family.

-James Mower, Casualty Claims Manager

​

Tom, you are a great guy. It has been my pleasure to know and work with you this past decade plus. Enjoy spending more time with your family and on the golf course, you deserve it!

-Brandon Peterson, Director of Accounting

 

Tom has been the single most important person to me in my professional life. He was there when I did my first deposition. He argued appeals for which I researched and wrote the briefs. And he taught me the ropes as an in-house insurance attorney. I hope that Farm Bureau appreciates what it had in Tom Lyons.

 

He is an advocate. As the person who has likely argued with Tom more than anyone on Earth not related to him by blood or marriage, I can tell you that he is an excellent advocate. He is a person you would always want to have on your side. He’s intelligent, articulate, and, to be honest, a little stubborn! That is a lethal combination.

 

He is loyal. Tom is one of the most loyal people I know. He is loyal to his wife, loyal to his kids, loyal to Farm Bureau, and I will forever be grateful that he has always been loyal to me.  

 

He is intelligent. I refuse to concede that Tom is smarter than I am, but I am supremely confident he would not (and should not) concede that I am smarter than he is. This business can be complex and Tom understood it well from a number of different perspectives. I will greatly miss being able to run ideas and decisions past him. He always understood the issues and was always a great counselor to me. 

 

He is kind. It might be a surprise to someone who has been on the wrong end of a Tom Lyons deposition, but Tom is a very kind and generous person. He was so willing to do anything for me that I had to be careful what I asked for. I know his kids, neighbors, and friends must all feel the same way. He buys more Girl Scout cookies from my daughters every year than my whole family combined. He would say it’s just because he loves cookies. But it’s not true!

 

Tom has been my boss for my entire career except for three confusing years. I will never be able to express my gratitude to him sufficiently. Tom, happy retirement! And thank you for everything!

-Jared Steadman, Director of Legal

​

Congratulations Tom! I am excited for your next adventure, and I hope it is even more fun than this has been. Whether it was walking about 74 miles in the Nashville heat for some crazy hot fried chicken, long conferences, or even a 12-hour flight delay, you always made it fun.

 

Also, thanks for all the fancy lawyering you have done for me over the years, and regardless of what David says, you are a real lawyer.

 

All kidding aside, I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me and the company. I wish you the best, my friend.

-Josh Stuart, Director of Human Resources

​

I have really enjoyed working with Tom over the last 12 years. Tom was always willing to listen to any questions brought to him and provided insightful and thoughtful advice. He conducted himself in an ethical and professional manner but was always ready for a good laugh. I could always tell when he was walking down the hall because I could hear his distinctive laugh.

 

Tom - we are going to miss your quick wit and contagious laugh here at the office. I’m excited for you and Cyndie to enjoy more time together with maybe a little less stress in your life. Thanks for your service and for all the support you provided to me personally over the years. 

-Jason Williams, Treasurer

​

EMPLOYEE NEWS