Obenland & Low open Dayton office

DAYTON-Hail, fire, and drought are all words that make farmers shudder. Thankfully, farmers in the Touchet Valley can have a little more peace of mind, thanks to Obenland and Low.

Pomeroy residents Tara and Adam Hodges are the owners of Obenland and Low Agency, offering small and large farm insurance, equine insurance, and home and auto insurance. The original company was founded in 1921 by C.E Obenland and became Obenland and Low in 1981. The couple purchased the agency in 2013 and has recently expanded with the addition of an office in Dayton, Wash.

Farm insurance has become a major contributor to agricultural business security. Finding the right coverage can be a bit of a wild game. It is a service farmers pay with the hope they never need it. Tara Hodges said that federally regulated crop insurance was first developed in response to the Great Depression after numerous families lost their farms and communities went hungry.

Obenland and Low agents can write Multi-Peril Crop Insurance policies (MPCI) and fire and hail policies, Hodges said. Fire and hail can have devastating effects on fragile grains like wheat.

Hail protection, Hodges explained, may not be used each year though damaging hailstorms seem to strike the area every couple of years, and the policy comes in handy when they do hit.

Farm liability, equipment insurance, and other policies are available and can be written to the individual's needs. Big or small, you can find insurance from a wide selection of providers through the agency.

The company also offers equine liability insurance, available to owners, trainers, riding clubs, horse shows, and other horse-related functions. The equine insurance was big for former company owner Bert Obenland, whose daughter used to show world-class Arabians. Hodges said that some parades and events, including the Lilac Parade in Spokane, require equine liability insurance to participate.

The small company has five knowledgeable agents, Hodges said, but she will be the primary agent in Dayton. She said that their goal is to hire someone from Dayton if things go well.

"We are super excited to join Dayton," Hodges said. "We can't wait to get involved with the community."

Obenland and Low, located at 303 Main Street, is open Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. If you stop in with your policies for a quote, Obenland and Low is giving out $10 coffee cards through February.