Crop Insurance Today - 1

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First Stop--
Kansas City
Tom Zacharias, NCIS President

Several NCIS staff, including yours truly, recently had the privilege and opportunity to be in the
audience for a Town Hall meeting with newly confirmed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
The Town Hall event was sponsored by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City. It was held
on Friday, April 28, with a crowd of approximately 400 people on hand to welcome Secretary Perdue
to Kansas City. The previous day, he visited U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offices in the area.

The Setting
"It's in the Heartland,"
Perdue said of his decision
to come to Kansas City.
"It's right on the border
of two ag states. I like
Kansas City."

As reported in the Iowa Farmer Today, (http://bit.ly/2qATpAT) Kansas City was the first official
stop for the new USDA head. Along with agribusiness leaders from the area, Secretary Perdue was
welcomed to the Town Hall session by Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and Missouri Lieutenant Governor
Peter Kinder.
The meeting was held at the American Royal Complex. For those readers unfamiliar with Kansas
City, the American Royal began in 1899 as the National Herford Show, the first nationwide show
for the exposition and sale of purebred cattle. Over the years, The Royal added a horse show, youth
educational programs, a rodeo and barbeque contest. All of these fundraising events allow The Royal
to offer opportunities for scholarships, education and competition to youth and adults from around
the country.
"It's in the Heartland," Perdue said of his decision to come to Kansas City. "It's right on the border
of two ag states. I like Kansas City."
Our newly appointed Secretary spoke briefly before he graciously welcomed questions from the
audience. From his prepared remarks, I walked away with the following alliterative takeaways: First,
the importance of our Oath to our constituents and those we serve. Second, the importance of our
perseverance in overcoming the Obstacles that are before us. And lastly, the importance of Optimism.

The Oath

The Secretary began his remarks by reflecting upon his recent confirmation process. He made
special reference to his oath of office ceremony, where he was sworn in by Supreme Court
Justice Clarence Thomas, a fellow Georgian. Perdue spoke of days gone by, when a handshake was a
sufficient bond to secure an agreement. The newly confirmed Secretary also spoke of the obligation he
felt during his swearing in, and has undertaken in his new position.
We, too, in crop insurance have taken an "oath" of sorts. We have promised to deliver risk management
Continued on page 30

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