Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless others across America join together to recognize agriculture’s contributions to our way of life. Ag Day was celebrated on March 14, 2019. National Ag Day falls during National Ag Week, March 10-16, 2019. This is an important time to recognize those whose life’s work is dedicated to the continuation and advancement of the agricultural industry.
Jim Craig is one such person. From early years working on his grandfather’s farm to becoming the driving force behind James Allen Insurance, agriculture and the well-being of farmers have always been of utmost importance to Jim.
Born at Methodist Hospital and raised on the east side of Indianapolis, Jim attended college at the Cincinnati Christian University and credits his father with suggesting he consider a career in insurance.
Jim became an insurance agent in 1974. While he started out selling health insurance, he found he was drawn to property and casualty insurance. He worked for various companies through the years, rising to the level of regional vice president, and became increasingly interested in agribusiness insurance. In 1995, James Allen Insurance opened its doors, offering both retail and agribusiness insurance.
JAI is a family owned and operated business. Carol, Jim’s wife of almost 50 years, is president of accounting and billing services. Jim’s role has changed over the years, and he currently serves as CFO and board chairman.
Through the years, James Allen Insurance has progressively trained its focus on providing protections for the agribusiness industry. Besides Jim’s background in farming, what sets James Allen Insurance apart is the agency’s vast knowledge of the agricultural industry and its dedication to providing specialized proprietary products for farmers and ranchers seeking to protect their operations.
Over more than 50 years, Jim has witnessed many changes to the agricultural industry. James Allen Insurance has been able to help agribusiness operations weather those changes while it continues to look for opportunities to improve protections in areas of need. While National Ag Week is once a year, Jim Craig and James Allen Insurance work year-round to earn the confidence of those they insure.