By Andrew Burdock, CEO, Insure.ag
The last few months have been a reminder of something I’ve always believed about crop insurance: this industry works because the people in it actually show up for each other.
Our team recently got back from the Crop Insurance Professionals Association (CIPA) Annual Convention in Frisco, Texas, and it capped off a stretch that also included the Rural Crop Insurance Services (RCIS) National Agent Conference in Scottsdale and the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, both in April. Three events in quick succession, each with a different format and energy. However, they all reinforced the same thing: The relationships in this industry are the infrastructure.
Representatives from Crop Insurance at the RCIS Zurich Classic.
Crop insurance doesn’t work in isolation. A grower’s coverage only holds up because there’s a chain of people behind it: agents in the field who understand the operation, AIPs who underwrite and manage the risk, adjusters who show up after the storm, and the RMA who make the whole system financially viable. Everyone has a part to play in protecting growers from risk, and when you see all those people in the same room, you start to appreciate how intentionally this industry is built.
At the RCIS National Agent Conference in Scottsdale, that’s exactly what we experienced. Time with agent partners from across the country, conversations about the season ahead, and a chance to align with the RCIS team on how we can better serve growers together. These aren’t sales conferences; they’re working sessions where real partnership gets built. The people at RCIS genuinely invest in their agent relationships, and it shows in how they run these events.
The Zurich Classic in New Orleans was a different setting but the same spirit. Hosted by the Zurich and RCIS teams, it brought together agent partners for a few days that balanced big moments (Ron Howard’s keynote was a once-in-a-lifetime experience) with the quieter conversations that matter just as much. Time with Dalynn Hoch, Jeff Bahr, and the broader RCIS team, along with the chance to meet other agents doing this work across different regions. Those conversations about where the industry is headed are often where the best ideas come from.
And then CIPA in Frisco, Texas. If you want a snapshot of how collaborative this industry really is, CIPA is it. Agents, company partners, adjusters, and industry advocates all in one place, focused on the policy and operational questions that affect everyone. It’s the kind of event that reminds you this isn’t a zero-sum business. When one part of the system gets stronger, the whole thing gets stronger.
What strikes me across all three events is how willing people are to share insights, challenges and strategies. There’s a generosity in this industry that I don’t think gets talked about enough. Competitors sit at the same table and compare notes on how to serve growers better. Company partners invest real time and resources into building agent relationships that go beyond transactional. Industry associations create space for the conversations that move everyone forward.
As Insure.ag continues to grow, we’re building on that same foundation. Our partnerships with RCIS, Zurich, and the broader industry aren’t just business relationships, they’re what makes it possible for us to do our job well. Every grower we protect has a network of people behind them, most of whom they’ll never meet, all working to make sure the safety net holds when it’s needed.
That’s the part of this industry I’m most proud of. Not any single company or product, but the way it all fits together and the people who make it work.