Crop Insurance Today June 2018 - 36

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Steve Harms Receives
Lifetime Achievement Award
Steve Harms, who retired in 2012 after spending nearly 40 years in the crop insurance industry,
received the Crop Insurance Industry Lifetime
Achievement Award during the 2018 Crop Insurance Industry Annual Convention in February.
Steve was born and raised in Sumner, Iowa. He
graduated from Upper Iowa University in 1973
and taught high school biology and coached in
Grinnell, Iowa, and officiated basketball games at
the high school and college level.
Cal Harms, Steve's father who sold crop insurance in Sumner, suggested that he might consider
working as an independent crop adjuster for Rain
and Hail during the summer months. Thus, in
1973, Steve began his long association with Rain
and Hail. In 1976, Rain and Hail's former President, Bill Classen, traveled to Grinnell to interview
Steve and the meeting concluded with an offer to
join the company as a full-time Field Supervisor,
which he promptly accepted.
Steve developed many trusted relationships
with crop insurance agents in his territory and
across Iowa, and in 1979, was promoted to Assistant Manager of Rain and Hail's Midwest Division
serving Iowa and Missouri. Steve's work ethic
and beaming personality ascended him quickly
on a path into senior management. He held various positions involving every aspect of insurance
operations including Multi-Peril Crop Insurance
Coordinator (1984); Vice President and Division
Manager of the Midwest Division (1987); Vice
President, National Claims/Compliance Coordinator (1990); Senior Vice President (1991); and,
Executive Vice President (1992).
Upon Rain and Hail launching its international operations, Steve was elected President of
Rain and Hail Insurance Service International,
Inc. and led efforts to expand into Mexico, Brazil, and Canada. In March of 2001, he was elected
36

JUNE2018

Presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Steve Harms (center) was Tom Zacharias (left),
President, National Crop Insurance Services, and Mike Day (right), Chairman of the National Crop
Insurance Services Board of Directors.

President of Rain and Hail, L.L.C. marking his
25th year of service to Rain and Hail. The very
next year, Steve was named President of Rain
and Hail Insurance Service, Inc. and President
of Rain and Hail Insurance Service, Ltd. Finally,
in 2005, he was elected President and Chairman
of the Board of Rain and Hail L.L.C., Rain and
Hail Insurance Service, Inc., and Agri-General
Insurance Company; positions he held until his
retirement in 2012.
Steve's influence extended beyond Rain and
Hail as a proven leader within the agricultural insurance industry. He served as Chairman of both
the National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS)
(2009-2011) and American Association of Crop
Insurers (AACI) (2006-2008). He also testified
before Congress on the importance of Federal
crop insurance and led efforts through many Farm
Bills to ensure a vibrant crop insurance safety net
to protect America's farmers.

Through his years of service, Steve also served
on several community organizations and boards,
namely the Advisory Board of Bankers Trust
Company and Upper Iowa University (2001-Present). He and his wife, Diane, are strong supporters of Upper Iowa University through service and
philanthropy in their efforts to give back to their
alma mater.
While Steve devoted an extraordinary amount
of his life to the insurance industry, U.S. agriculture, Rain and Hail policyholders, agents, adjusters, and employees, he also found time to help his
wife of 40 years raise their five children and they
are now enjoying their eight grandchildren. For
those who know Steve, he has never had a bad
day and always has a smile and word of encouragement for those he interacts with. That special
gift of making those around him feel comfortable
and important is a quality that has served him well
throughout his insurance career and beyond.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crop Insurance Today June 2018