Modified livestock show offers sense of ‘normalcy

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY NICOLE ZEMA

The world almost felt normal for a while as Virginia’s youth stepped into the ring with their animals.

While the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 State Fair of Virginia, 4-H and FFA members still had an opportunity to show their goats, sheep, cattle and swine the weekends of Sept. 24 and Oct. 3. Some participants and guests wore masks and were reminded to practice social distancing while watching the competitions at the 2020 “While a modified Modified Youth Livestock Shows at The Meadow Event youth livestock fair was Park in Caroline County. not ideal, we believe it

About 300 youth allowed our youth to participated in the events, which were supported by showcase the yearlong Virginia FFA state officers effort they’ve put into and a host of volunteers from Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Farm raising their animals, and enabled them to Bureau Federation. earn scholarship money Agriculture and youth are the foundation of the fair’s as well.” mission, “so our first priority — VFBF PRESIDENT was to find a way to honor WAYNE F. PRYOR our youth and allow them to be recognized for their dedication and hard work,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor. “While a modified youth livestock fair was not ideal, we believe it allowed our youth to showcase the yearlong effort they’ve put into raising their animals, and enabled them to earn scholarship money as well.”

Ashley Isaacson of Stafford County showed dairy and market goats both weekends. She has participated in 4-H livestock shows since elementary school. At age 19, she is not eligible to compete next year.

Isabella Dean, 16, of Madison County, shows her Hereford beef cow in the ring.

Ethan Walsh, 16, of Frederick County, with his Yorkshire purebred pig.

A cross-breed heifer is shown by Carrter Eavers, 11, of Augusta County. Youth participants were not required to wear a mask while competing in the ring, but the audience, volunteers and judges were asked to comply with pandemic safety regulations.

Ryann Bradshaw, 16, of Fauquier County, uses clippers to prepare her Hampshire-Suffolk cross sheep for the exhibition. “He’s getting a close clip so he’s show-ready,” she said.

“I just aged out of 4-H, so today was my final show after nine years,” she said. “It’s bittersweet. But I’m excited to move up to an adult volunteer position next year.”

Bethany Gentry, 17, of Rockingham County, has almost a decade of experience showing livestock. She kept her eyes on the judge as she showed her Boer goat.

“Always maintain eye contact, so the judge knows that you know where he is,” Gentry explained. “And it’s a respect thing. Also, you want to position your goat for the best presentation.”

Marlene Jolliffe, the State Fair’s executive director, said the show offered a sense of normalcy in uncertain times. “It was inspiring and uplifting to see our youth, their animals and families at our facility,” she said. “2020 has been a challenging year, so it felt good to have a live event and fulfill this very important mission!”

Olivia Coisman, 15, of Culpeper County, shows Nigerian Dwarf and Oberhasli dairy goats. She also makes and sells goat’s milk soaps. Regan Jackson, 16, of Clarke County, smiles for a photo with her blue-ribbon-winning Jersey dairy cow.

Trey Daubert, 9, of Rockingham County, reassures his Red and White Holstein during ring exhibition.

Hannah Biby, 12, of Shenandoah County, gets a drink for her Jersey dairy cow before heading to the ring.

Amber Hickman, 17, of Amelia County, prepares to show her Lamancha dairy goat. One of her goats born in March is named Demi—short for “Pandemic.”

BY ADAM CULLER

Equipped with autonomous braking systems, backup cameras and blind spot sensors that alert drivers to roadway hazards, modern vehicles are prioritizing passenger safety.

And as more automobiles with advanced technology enter the U.S. fleet, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is preparing to reward customers whose vehicles possess some of those safety features.

On new personal automobile insurance policies and future policy renewals effective on or after Oct. 15, 2020, VFBMIC will begin offering premium discounts to policyholders who drive vehicles with collision avoidance technology. Eligible technology includes forward collision warning—with and without autonomous braking, blind spot warning and rear automatic braking.

Premium discounts will apply only to customers of VFBMIC’s multivariate-rated personal auto policy, or AMV,

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Forward collision warning and other new safety features on cars means that some Virginia Farm Bureau auto policyholders are eligible for discounts.

line of business.

David Tenembaum, VFBMIC actuarial manager, said Highway Loss Data Institute findings are enabling the company to offer these new policy discounts, as research found collision avoidance technology can significantly reduce accidents and claims.

HLDI research from 2018 revealed forward collision warnings with autonomous braking reduced the frequency of property damage liability claims by 13% and collision claims by 2.3%.

Forward collision warnings use sensors or cameras that warn drivers with audible and visual alerts they are getting too close to the vehicle in front of them. With the addition of autonomous braking, a vehicle will apply the brakes if a driver fails to respond to a rapidly approaching object.

Rear automatic emergency braking applies a vehicle’s brakes if a driver doesn’t respond to an object behind them. This feature reduced the frequency of property damage claims by 29.9% and collision claims by 12%.

Blind spot warnings, which alert drivers to vehicles in their blind spots, contributed to a 6.8% decrease in the frequency of property damage claims and a 1.5% decrease in collisions claims.

When combined, collision avoidance safety features could prevent one-third of reported crashes each year, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Though cars with advanced safety technology represent just a fraction of all vehicles on U.S. roads, VFBMIC is eager to embrace the future with its new discount program.

“A limited number of companies are offering these types of discounts, and we want to get ahead of the pack by not only offering discounts for advanced safety features, but higherthan-average discounts compared to our competitors,” Tenembaum added.

Contact your Farm Bureau insurance agent to see if your AMV policy qualifies for a discount.

BY ADAM CULLER

Nobody is immune to the challenges brought on by Together, we’ll the COVID-19 pandemic, and now’s an opportune time to evaluate how changes to work and travel overcome the routines may have altered your insurance needs. opioid epidemic.

To identify any insurance gaps that may have surfaced during the pandemic, it’s important to speak with your Farm #FarmTownStrong Bureau insurance agent to review your policies. In-person, phone and video meetings can be arranged by calling your local Farm Bureau office.

“The pandemic continues to change the way we live and work, and it’s critical to understand that the insurance policies you previously established may need to be updated to reflect those changes,” said Gerald Gardner, director of sales for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “Whatever those changes may be, we want to make sure you’re properly covered.”

With more people and businesses gravitating toward remote work settings, customers may need to review their If someone you care about is suffering from opioid addiction, personal property coverage to ensure their home office please visit farmtownstrong.org. equipment is properly covered.

Without proper coverage in place, the full value of business property used in a residence may not be covered in the event of a loss. Also, unendorsed homeowner policies do not automatically provide coverage for on-premises business liability. Contacting your insurance agent can help you Real farmers, sharing real stories, on real farmsCS18_149 Farm Strong Qpg Ad_r.indd 1 11/15/18 10:13 AM determine which policies will best cover your business or home office. “While working remotely has allowed many businesses and their employees to navigate through difficult circumstances successfully, it also opens the possibility of coverage gaps,” REAL VIRGINIA Gardner said. “Obtaining the correct coverage under your homeowner or business owner policies will protect business assets wherever you’re working.”

Much like unendorsed homeowner policies, personal A weekly television program produced auto insurance policies will not cover vehicles being used by Virginia Farm Bureau for business purposes. To protect against additional liability risks, customers should discuss with their agent the need for a commercial auto policy. Additionally, if changes in vehicle usage or mileage are permanent, the policy needs to be properly rated. Agriculture touches your life every day! Meet the Virginia farmers who raise products for your table and your community. Learn how to prepare delicious Virginia foods and cultivate a lush landscape and edible garden.

“As we continue to realize the pandemic’s effects, we’re Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first encouraging customers to keep close contact with their Farm Bureau agents to make sure their interests are covered and Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV, and on many cable outlets—check local listings. they’re taking advantage of available discounts,” Gardner Watch anytime at vafb.com, and weekly on said. “With so much uncertainty going around, the last thing we want is for a customer to experience a loss they weren’t • WBRA Roanoke • WHRO Norfolk • WTKR Norfolk • WVVA Bluefield prepared for.”

It’s that time of year when drivers should prepare for the added dangers of sharing Virginia’s BY ADAM CULLER roadways with roaming deer.

Deer migration and mating season occurs from October through December, and the animals’ increased presence near roads often leads to an increase in collisions. When accidents occur, damage to vehicles can be substantial.

In 2019 Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. received 3,651 auto insurance claims involving collisions with deer, up nearly 25% from 2,923 in 2018. The claims amounted to $6.26 million in losses, an average loss of $1,715 per claim.

VFBMIC claims data also revealed collisions surged in the fall last year, with the highest number of accidents occurring in November. There were 448 collisions with deer in October, 668 in November and 657 in December, accounting for 48% of all deer-related claims and $4.8 million in losses.

“The increase in collisions is concerning, because these accidents can cause serious harm to drivers and can be very costly,” said Laurie Gannon, VFBMIC vice president of claims.

To minimize the risk of striking a deer, motorists are encouraged to drive slowly and be aware of their surroundings. Driving slowly can help increase reaction time and can potentially reduce vehicle damage caused by a collision.

Deer are most active during dawn and from dusk until midnight, and are often seen on roads that divide agricultural land and wooded areas. Deer crossing signs are posted in hightraffic areas to alert drivers to the presence of deer.

Drivers should focus their peripheral vision on the shoulders of roads, watching for movement that might indicate deer are nearby. Using highbeam headlights can help increase a driver’s range of vision at night.

If a deer runs or jumps across the road in front of you, slow down immediately as others may be following behind. Brake firmly, keep your vehicle straight, and do not swerve—swerving can cause collisions with other vehicles or cause drivers to lose control of their cars.

In the event of a collision, remove your car from the road if possible, and notify the police. Once safe, contact your insurance agent to report any damage.

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BY ADAM CULLER

Open enrollment periods for the Affordable Care Act and Medicare have started, and now’s the time for customers to weigh their health insurance options for 2021.

Medicare enrollment

The Medicare Annual Election Period, which began Oct. 15 and continues through Dec. 7, allows Medicare beneficiaries to change their Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage for the upcoming year.

During this time, subscribers can enroll in, withdraw from or switch Part D drug coverage or Medicare Advantage Plans, also known as Medicare Part C.

For most Medicare subscribers, the Annual Election Period is the only time to alter either plan for the upcoming year, and any policy changes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2021.

Gina Gentilini, senior individual account executive for Virginia Farm Bureau’s Health Insurance division, noted customers in Virginia will have access to several new Medicare Advantage plans in 2021.

“The Annual Election Period is a great time for people to evaluate if the plans they’re on are the plans they need to be on for the coming year,” Gentilini said. “If you’d like to see if a Medicare Advantage plan would be a good fit, contact your Farm Bureau office. Your agent will get you in touch with someone who can help compare those plans.”

ACA enrollment

Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act started Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 15. The Healthcare.gov Marketplace plans for under age 65 allow subscribers to purchase their own health, dental and vision coverage. ACA plans do not require medical underwriting, and those who enroll during the open enrollment period will have coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2021.

Coverage can benefit those who are uninsured or underinsured due to their employment status, as well as those who have experienced changes to their medical or financial conditions.

The open enrollment period is the time to evaluate if the coverage you’re currently on is still the right coverage for you.

“We want customers to know that Farm Bureau is here to help them through both open enrollment periods,” said Tracy Cornatzer, sales manager for VFB’s Health Insurance division.

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