DownwindAn “Associate Member” calling contest”
On the farm, hog calling was a “thing” for us. We used “the call” when feeding and checking on the pasture hogs. I would yell out “Suey, Suey… Here pig, here pig, here pig”. Those pigs would come running across the fields. I’m pretty sure it was not my melodic voice that drew them in because there was pig food involved.
Hog Calling competitions at State Fairs became popular and soon after, the “Husband Calling Contest” appeared starring some wives with really loud voices and unique styles. Husbands come running across the fields because there is food involved?
I was thinking about these concepts as we consider the retention of associate members in the year 2025.
I’m not sure what an “Associate Member Calling Contest” would look like but I’m willing to give it a try!
If I had a blow horn, I would shout this call…
YOU ARE AWESOME
YOU ARE AWESOME
STAY WITH US
Please - STAY WITH US!
There is food involved! Associate members help us support our mission by supporting great farmers and quality food, fiber, fuel and fun. Cook County Farm Bureau associate members support great food by being members. Our associate members surround us…
• teachers
• small business owners
• students
• mechanics
• salespersons
• truck drivers
• moms and dads
• waiters and bartenders
• construction workers
• lawyers
• office workers
• friends and neighbors
• People with a fondness and appreciation for farming and food
• Those individuals seeking the benefits and services
An associate member is Everyone (except a farmer)! We know that people join the Cook County Farm Bureau as an associate member for a multitude of reasons including:
• To support the work that farmers do every day by putting food on the table.
• To know more about this great industry called agriculture, locally and in the United States
• To access our wonderful IAA Credit Union for financial services
• For discount pricing on soil tests, entertainment tickets, farm connected experiences
• For programming focused on the needs people have today… Financial, social, entertainment, resource
A large number of our associate members have joined Cook County Farm Bureau due to interest in accessing our wonderful affiliated insurance company, Country Financial. The demand for access to the Company by non- farmers has expanded exponentially throughout the 100 years of Country Financials’ existence. The result: Cook County Farm Bureau is the largest County Farm Bureau in the country by virtue of the sizable number of associate members that have joined us.
However, change is a constant. The latest membership change may impact some of our associate members. Effective January 1, 2025, the underwriting requirement for an associate member to access the preferred property-casualty companies of Country Financial has been discontinued. This gives Country Financial clients the opportunity to decide about continuing as an associate membership in Cook County Farm Bureau moving forward. We know that many, if not most, associate members will continue their membership, and we thank you!
My ask (or “Associate Member Call”): Please stay with us… Please renew your membership when you receive your renewal notice in 2025 for all of the reasons previously mentioned. If you are interested in renewing at this very moment (while you are thinking about it), use the QR code below.
And, I am confident there is no other County Farm Bureau in the universe that has created an Associate Member “Call”. Please know, if you renew your membership, we won’t have to use it on you!
