Farm Bureau welcomes Don Young to the Center for Agriculture.
Don Young feels right at home in his new office at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau Center for Agriculture. He relocated to the Farm Bureau building the first of the year.
“Being here allows me to be where farmers come to do business,” said Don. “It also is convenient for me and my customers being in close proximity to the Farm Service Agency office.”
Don, a crop specialist for COUNTRY Financial, provides federal crop insurance policies for area farmers. He specializes in writing policies to protect crops from loss of yield or revenue from weather-related disasters like drought and floods, wind and hail.
“I started working in an agent’s office as an assistant and helped with crop insurance,” explained Don. “Being a farmer, it was a good fit since I knew the products and could assist other farmers.” A few years later he became a crop specialist.
Don was in the inaugural group of crop specialists for the company beginning in 1999. He and 30 other crop specialists throughout the state concentrate on crop policies and interface with local COUNTRY insurance agents to accommodate clients. His farm customer base of nearly 200 is mainly located in the northeastern part of the state.
Assisting him at his new office in the Center for Agriculture is his daughter Elayne, who is working on her master’s degree in public health. Other family members include his wife, Beth, chief operating officer at Rock Valley College, and daughter, Abby, a senior at Rosary High School in Aurora. The Youngs reside in DeKalb.
Don farms in eastern DeKalb County and western Kane County growing corn and soybeans. Like other farmers, he is happy to see the 2019 farm year in his rear view mirror. It was a double whammy for him making his own decisions about crops and coverage and then helping others navigate their way through the “perfect storm.”
Don is no stranger to Farm Bureau. He has served on the county Farm Bureau board, was chairman of the state Farm Bureau Young Leaders, and currently is vice president of the Conserv FS board, an affiliated company of DeKalb County Farm Bureau.
“I’m pleased to be here and bring a COUNTRY presence to the building,” said Don. He is currently busy getting policies in place for this year with the crucial crop insurance deadline of March 15.
Don’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but appointments are recommended. He can be reached at these phone numbers: work – 630-365-2913 or cell – 630-514-8322.
COUNTRY Financial is an affiliated company of Farm Bureau.