On April 2, 2024, a total of 12 tornadoes tore through five southern Indiana counties, causing widespread damage. One of the farms impacted was Kron Family Farms in rural Evansville, owned and operated by Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron, his wife Joyce and son Ben.
“I was in Indianapolis getting ready to head to a breakfast meeting when Joyce called and said, ‘Everything’s gone,’” Kron says.
Thankfully, Joyce and Ben were unharmed by the tornado, but their farm did not fare as well.
“The amount of devastation that occurred in 30 seconds was unbelievable,” Joyce recalls.
See more: Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Helps Rebuild After House Fire
“At 6:19 a.m., I received a text from Joyce about significant damage at the farm,” says Ryan Oeth, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance agent. “Soon after, claims adjusters from central and southern Indiana arrived to evaluate the damage.”
The community immediately pulled together to help with the cleanup. Oeth, along with other company employees, arrived before an insurance claim was even made to help others who’d been impacted by the storms.
“One of many things the Krons did well was to quickly begin mitigation efforts,” says Joey Davidson, property specialist. “Not only was this important for safety reasons, but it prevented further damage to property that was now vulnerable to continued deterioration and exposure to the elements.”
The tornado heavily damaged their son’s house, most of their farm structures including a toppled grain storage compartment, and destroyed barns and shops on the property.
“I was impressed by how calm the Krons were,” Davidson says. “Their primary concerns were their neighbors and friends.”
Several neighbors also were impacted by the tornadoes. The company had claims representatives providing help with emergency needs and assessing damages the following day, just hours after the tornadoes.
“Our management does a great job triaging the hardest-hit properties first,” Davidson says. “Like we do for all insureds, it is important to make sure they know the company is going to be there for them.”
“There were other Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance clients that got hit really hard, and they’ve talked about how good Farm Bureau treated them,” Joyce says.
“This experience underscored that the exceptional assistance Randy and Joyce received is not unique to their situation; it reflects our ingrained culture of servitude,” Oeth says. “Randy witnessed firsthand how our team comes together to lift our community. This commitment to service ensures that our insured clients receive the best support in times of need.”
The Krons, with the help of their close-knit community, managed to get their farm ready for spring planting, which started a few weeks later.
“Some things are already rebuilt, but it will probably take two years to get everything back to normal,” Kron says. “Indiana Farm Bureau pulled together to help us and our community. You can forget about insurance until tragedy strikes. But this company has its roots in agriculture, and it shows. They help our members when they need it most.”
See more: Are You Prepared If a Tornado Hits?
