Member Spotlight- Farmer’s Alliance Mutual Insurance
Founded in 1888 in the small farming community of McPherson, Farmers Alliance Mutual Insurance Company (FAMI) began as a fire insurance company created to share risk among local farmers. Today, the company has grown into a regional presence spanning eight Midwestern states, represented by more than 1,000 independent insurance agencies and supported by three regional companies: Farmers Alliance Mutual Insurance Company, Alliance Insurance Company, Inc., and Alliance Indemnity Company. Headquartered at 1122 N. Main, FAMI provides property and casualty coverage for homes, autos, businesses, and farms, with a strong focus on rural communities. In fact, 70 percent of its portfolio now serves farmers and ranchers — a strategic increase from 50 percent just eight years ago. As President and CEO Brian Lopata explained, “If somebody says, ‘You guys sell insurance’, I say, ‘No, we don’t sell insurance; we take care of people for a living.’ That’s what we do. We protect their most valued assets.”
That people-first philosophy is evident in the company’s recently remodeled facility. When COVID disrupted normal office life, leadership saw opportunity. According to Lopata, “I didn’t believe that employees didn’t want to return to the office, what I believed is they didn’t want to come back to the same office that they left.” Leadership carefully observed how employees adapted to working from home — whether in basements or outdoor decks — and reimagined a workspace that reflected those new habits. Instead of simply rebuilding, the company invited staff into the process. “We’re going to redo some really cool spots in the building. What would you like to see us build? It wasn’t ‘build it and they will come’. I think we were able to incorporate 24 out of the 26 ideas.” The result is a welcoming, flexible environment featuring comfortable gathering spots and meeting areas, a remodeled lobby, and unique spaces like Keith’s Kafe — honoring longtime leader L. Keith Birkhead — complete with state-of-the-art streaming technology connecting employees across 13 states. There’s also the lighthearted “Bored Room” with a ping pong table, pool table, and games; Chris’s Corner with a fireplace and lounge seating; and even a wellness center across the street offering workout facilities and additional meeting space.