Andrew Westendorf, AgriBusiness Solutions Advisor, is our resident farm and commercial ag expert. He specializes in insuring farm property and equipment, commercial ag vehicles, and even works on some small group health plans for farms. However, that’s not all he does. He is a fourth-generation farmer on his family farm outside of Readlyn, IA, carrying forward his family’s legacy with passion and dedication. This unique blend of expertise allows Andrew to help local farmers grow and protect their operations, all while preserving the foundation his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents built. As a farmer himself, Andrew knows the policies needed to adequately insure an agricultural operation like the back of his hand. We had a chance to sit down with him and chat about all things farming, insurance, and more.
How did you get started in insurance?
After I graduated from Loras College, I had a few connections who were getting into insurance. I started in personal lines at a different company with only a few farm clients, but that was where my real passion was with my farming background. When I started at The Accel Group, we didn’t have many ag clients yet. It has been incredibly rewarding to build a client base I care about from the ground up and see steady growth while building relationships with our clients.
What is your favorite part of being an AgriBusiness Solutions Advisor?
Staying organized and solving problems are two of my favorite things, which helps my clients know that they are taken care of. I know farmers are busy, so I also enjoy taking that weight and burden off their plate so they have one less thing to worry about. I truly do aim to be an advisor and advocate for them. Another one of my favorite parts of my role here is that I have the flexibility to still farm myself, which allows me to stay up-to-date on trends and fuels my daily work.
Speaking of your own farm, how does your experience as a farmer influence your approach to advising clients?
Everything I do for my clients, I would do for myself in their situation. Knowledge from my farm helps me decide why and how to insure their operation. I know the intricacies of many farmer’s equipment because I own the same equipment myself! I want my clients to know that I am creating insurance plans that benefit them rather than just writing more policies to get more business. Their well-being and success are my top priorities.
Is there a particular experience or lesson from your farming life that you carry into every insurance consultation?
I’ve seen many different types of farms throughout my years, whether it be the size of the farm or the mode of operation. I have seen a lot of significant losses on farms before, which has dictated how I organize my policies going forward. While losses happen and can be big and expensive, I always think, “How can we do the best we can to protect it and be proactive?” When your farm is your home and your business, I realize there are a lot of dollars on those properties, so having proper policies is absolutely crucial.
What is the most important thing for people to understand about agribusiness insurance?
My best piece of advice here is pretty simple and practical. Don’t skimp on liability coverage! It’s often the least expensive part of the policy and can make a huge difference. You can weather a property loss, but you don’t want to pay for a huge liability claim.
Andrew encourages our current AgriBusiness clients to check their policies and equipment list going into the fall season. You can call anytime if you have questions; we are always here to help! He also knows how loyal farmers are to their communities and values the time spent visiting them on their properties, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you want him to come out and take a look at your operation. Give us a call at 319.352.2880 to chat with Andrew!