Living The Good Life With Alfa Insurance

By Debra Davis

Most farmers know a good investment when they see it. Fertile land, quality seeds, good equipment and genetically superior livestock all contribute to future success.

Eighty-six-year-old Philip Martin practiced all those things during his career, and his Coffee County farm near Enterprise was successful. But an investment made off the farm generates dividends that are especially meaningful, he said.

“I remember my local agent, (the late) Ed Donaldson, told Mr. Ed Lowder (Alfa’s first executive vice president) if he’d let him sell the first new life policy, he would support the plan to sell life insurance,” Martin said. “Mr. Donaldson sold that $25,000-policy to me, and I’ve never regretted it. I get a dividend check from it every year.”

Alfa previously sold life insurance policies for other companies but began selling its own life policies in 1971. Martin’s policy, Number L 001, is among 299,115 policies issued by Alfa Life Co., totaling nearly $30.8 billion in force.

Martin was 37 on Dec. 2, 1971, when he bought the Alfa life policy. He said he didn’t realize the significance of the decision for several decades, joking that he’s in no hurry to collect on the policy.

The purchase of that first life insurance policy is special to Martin and his wife, Charlene. It represents hundreds of fond memories and experiences they’ve had with Alfa and the Alabama Farmers Federation.

“I got involved in the Alabama Farmers Federation right after I returned home from college,” said Martin, who lives a quarter mile from his childhood home south of Enterprise. “It wasn’t long before folks on the county board of directors asked me to join. I knew it was an organization with a strong group of dairymen who were politically active. They could get things done, not to mention the organization represented all the other farmers, too. This organization helped give me and all the farmers a voice.” Martin has been a leader in the organization for years, serving as Coffee County Farmers Federation president from 1967 to 1998.

He served two terms as a state board member for Alabama Farm Bureau, which eventually became the Alabama Farmers Federation. His first term was 1969-1971; his second was 1998-2003.

Martin retired in 2004 after more than 30 years as a dairyman, where he milked cows by hand and later with modern machinery. He’s seen a lot of changes in agriculture and in the insurance industry.

“Alfa is still a great company today because of the great agents and employees it has and because of the farmers who run the company,” Martin said. “It is still a company that is run by people who live in our communities, who worship and raise their families in Alabama. That makes Alfa special.”

The Martins still live on their farm on the outskirts of Enterprise with their son, Edwin. Their nephew raises beef cattle in the fields near their home. Daughter Anne Marie Bliss and her husband live in Texas with the Martins’ four grandchildren.

Alfa President Jimmy Parnell said when he joined the Federation as a young man, it was men like Martin who encouraged him to take a leadership role.

“For 100 years, the Alabama Farmers Federation has been led by hardworking men and women committed to improving life for people in their communities,” Parnell said. “Philip Martin embodies our core values of faith, family, community and integrity. As we celebrate our centennial and Alfa’s 75th anniversary, it’s only fitting that our first life insurance policy be held by a farmer like Mr. Martin.”

For information about Alfa life insurance or to find a local agent, visit AlfaInsurance.com.

ALABAMA FARM BUREAU ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION

1 9 2 1 2 0 2 1 Philip Martin was 37 when bought the first Alfa Life Insurance policy in 1971. Now 86, Martin said he didn’t realize the significance of the decision for several decades, joking that he’s in no hurry to collect on the policy. Philip and Charlene Martin have been married 62 years and have been actively involved in the Alabama Farmers Federation nearly seven decades.

We Finance

Champions Of Service: Alfa Insurance Covers All The Bases

By Brooke Foster

community and integrity. “It’s always rewarding to hear that

When it comes to customer service, one of our agents has truly taken the Alabama High School Athletic additional step in providing exceptional Association (AHSAA) Assistant Director customer service to our members,” Denise Ainsworth knows Alfa Insurance Allen said. “It’s about providing more “If the situation was reversed, I know I’d covers all the bases. than just insurance. It’s about being want to have an agent I could trust no

She joined Alfa as a young educator there every step of the way and matter what storms life throws our way.” taking advantage of the company’s making sure that we not only provide Scoring big, beating the competition teacher discounts. Ainsworth has built exceptional service but also develop a and teamwork. It’s all a part of the on that relationship through AHSAA, relationship with our customers. Ryan is process to becoming a champion — on which Alfa proudly supports as a one of many agents who takes it to the the field or at Alfa, he added. corporate sponsor. Alfa’s investment next level when it comes to customer Alfa’s goal is to be champions funds programs that grow, guide and service. For that, we are proud to have of service to customers and the instill leadership in students across the him on our team.” community, Allen said. state. Several years ago, the Ainsworths Ainsworth knows what it takes to be

“Alfa not only cares about ALABAMA FARM BUREAU INSURANCE were glued to the TV as a champion. From coaching her own high school athletics, but it tornadoes and damaging teams to state championship titles, also care about the lessons winds barreled toward leading athletic programs at a local taught through athletics,” their Wetumpka home. River Region school, and promoting she said. “They are invested in students and 75 75 75 ALFA INSURANCE® Stubblefield was simultaneously watching one of the state’s interscholastic athletic programs within public, private and their futures.” the news and noticed a storm parochial institutions, she said knowing

Over the years, Ainsworth and headed the Ainsworths’ way their insurance agent was thinking her husband, Ralph, have curated around 11 p.m. He reached for about them in the middle of a storm a deep-seated relationship with his phone, scrolled to Ainsworth’s confirmed her family’s faith in Alfa. Alfa Agent Ryan Stubblefield. The name and made sure the couple was “Since then, I’ve known we can relationship has paid dividends — and weather-aware. always count on Ryan and Alfa to watch shows how Alfa cares for its customers. “Having worked at Alfa for more than out for us. We trust the values Alfa

Alfa District Manager Steve Allen 10 years, I’ve learned that one thing our Insurance operates on,” she said. said going the extra mile is essential to customers truly appreciate is the great Ask your local Alfa agent about auto Alfa — and its core values of faith, family, service Alfa provides,” Stubblefield said. insurance discounts for teachers.

Alfa Agent Ryan Stubblefield visited with longtime Alfa customer Denise Ainsworth after storms rolled through the River Region last spring. Ainsworth also is the assistant director for the Alabama High School Athletic Association.