In our ongoing Meet the Team feature, we put a name and a face on the amazing members of our team. Today we would like to introduce Silveus Insurance Group agent Kurt Kammerer.
Where is your hometown and did you grow up around farming?
I grew up in Leesburg, Indiana on a hog farm. We also had corn and soybeans. We still operate now with seed corn, corn, and beans. I wouldn’t trade growing up on a farm for anything. Farming has been a part of my life since birth and I still enjoy helping out during planting and harvest, to this today.
What are your clients asking you about today?
Farmers today are asking about managing their risk, especially given the fluctuations in the market and the recent double digit price drop in soybean prices. Last year was a good example of the benefits of Price Flex – it’s a private insurance product and gives farmers additional flexibility to manage price-risk challenges. Price Flex can be purchased 18 months before harvest with no out-of-pocket cost until next harvest. Farmers buy one or more alternative price discovery periods (intervals of 15 or 30-days throughout the year) and the highest is used to establish the revenue guarantee for loss purposes.
What is your approach to customer service?
I have farmers stretched across six different states. Staying in touch becomes increasingly necessary, whether by email, phone call, and/or exchanging text messages. Providing high-level customer service strengthens the trust and communication I have with customers. I make each of them a top priority because I know staying in the know and being prepared is vital in this industry.
How long have you been working at Silveus and what do you like best about your job?
I have worked at Silveus for almost five years. I truly enjoy working with farmers and arming them with information and tools that can help manage risk and provide peace of mind. Because I grew up on a farm, I understand and have seen first-hand the highs and lows of the market. Being a farmer often means that you have no control over certain elements, like weather for example, so I take pride in leveraging many years of ag experience to help farmers stay informed, while helping them manage risk throughout the growing season.
What are you most excited about?
I’m excited to learn about new and expanding private products hitting the market. Price Flex and Whole Farm Revenue have been game-changers for our customers in 2016 and we foresee them being great options as farmers prepare for crop year 2017. I’m excited to continue being a resource to customers as they navigate through crop insurance decisions, using Silveus’ proprietary software to provide a connected view of all the options available to them, which then leads to more informed decision making.
What is one fun fact about yourself your co-workers don’t know?
My family members are HUGE Cubs fans, and it all started with my grandpa. I remember as a kid, riding in the tractor listening to the Cubs with my dad and uncle. We try to go to 2-3 games a year at Wrigley Field. When my schedule doesn’t allow for an in-person viewing, I sometimes ask my wife to give me score updates throughout the game. With that said, we are all very excited that they are now World Series champs!!! My boys didn’t have to wait as long as some of us to see this happen! Go Cubs Go!