Garfield Farm Mutual Insurance Association

About Us

Vision Statement

Garfield Farm Mutual Insurance Association’s Vision is to be a recognized leader in supplying insurance products and services in a rural environment.

This vision statement is realistic and achievable. We are saying that in providing insurance coverage to consumers in rural Texas we will be known not just by our other farm mutual’s, but also by consumers for providing good products and services of value. This vision is a long term plan that requires a strong foundation. We have to build on a strong financial base. We have to grow, we have to provide quality service, we have to be responsive to our members needs, we have to provide value in the products we offer and we must have our members depend on us for their insurance needs.

Mission Statement

Garfield Farm Mutual has both a short term and long term business plan. These are being studied and revised as goals are met and changed. We are relying more and more on technology to analyze and improve our operations.

Our History

In the 1880’s farmers started buying land about 10 miles west of Yorktown and a few miles south of the old Indianola Trail. The Community that formed was named Garfield after former President John Garfield.

A school was built and in 1893 Garfield Shooting Club was organized. These settlers saw a need for insurance but the insurance companies would not insure in the rural areas of Texas.

On March 9, 1896 GARFIELD GEGENSEITIGE FEUR und STURM VERSICHERUNGS GESELSCHAFT was formed. Among the Charter members were: Fritz Rannefeld, John Richter, Charles Gaebler, Otto Borchers, Gus Radicke, Henry Hackfeld and John Schneider. The business of the Association was conducted in the German language and meetings were held in the school house.

The first officers of the Association were:

Henry Hackfeld President
John Schneider Vice-President
Fritz Rannefeld Secretary
Charles Gaebler Treasurer

The first book of records of the Association from its founding is lost. The second book which starts with the date July 25, 1903 and all other minutes of Association are intact. At that time the officers were:

John Richter President
Ben Meischen Vice-President
Fritz Rannefeld Secretary
Charles Gaebler Treasurer
Eilert Mueller Director
August Wagensehein Director
Otto Borchers Director

There were 409 members in the Association, $115,157.00 insurance in force and the rate for insurance was $1.00 per $100.00 worth of insurance. Houses could not be insured for more than $1,000.00, Outbuildings $500.00 and the minimum insurance was $25.00.

The oldest NEBEN=GESETZE or By-Laws of the Association are dated January 5, 1907. These are also in the German language.

On August 3, 1907 “Garfield Mutual Fire and Storm Insurance Association” was incorporated.

On April 26, 1924 the Constitution was adopted in the English language. Article XI Section 9 of this Constitution states: “From now on all Benefit-Certificates shall be issued in the English language, members who have Benefit-Certificates in the German language and desire to have them issued in the English language can get same free of charge, if they send their old Certificates to the Secretary.”

On April 15, 1939 the minutes of the Association were first recorded in the English language. Mr. Herman Gips had died and Mr. Romeo Korth was elected to replace him as Secretary of the Association. Mr. Korth provided 50 years of dedicated leadership to the Association until his death in 1989.

A special meeting of the Association was called on September 1, 1942: “As a result of the hurricane, the worst since the Garfield Mutual Ins. Assn’s organization…” This hurricane was devastating and hurt the Association for many years to come. Minutes of the 45th annual meeting held July 11, 1942 state that the Association had 1361 members and $2,231,590.00 insurance in force as of January 1, 1942. The 46th annual meeting held July 3, 1943 shows that membership had dropped to 532 with insurance in force of $812,188.50 as of January 1, 1943. Total losses due to the hurricane were $52,120.89 and payment was made on a 1/3 (one-third) basis in the amount of $17,373.63. Hurricane Carla and Buehla did not cause as much damage.

In 1981 the Association purchased the old Karnes County National Bank Building and moved its offices to that location. Business was conducted at that location until July 15, 2002 when the offices were move to a newly constructed office building just outside the city where business is conducted today.

In 1994 Garfield Farm Mutual merged with Texas Farm Mutual of Runnels County.

After 100 years of faithful service to our members as of January 1, 1996 Garfield Farm Mutual Insurance Association had 2,621 members and $120,213,172.37 insurance in force.

On January 1, 2010 the Association had 3,533 members and $443,468,389.00 insurance in force.

Presidents of the Association

Henry Hackfeld 1896 - 1902
John Richter 1902 - 1905
1914 - 1916
Eilert Mueller 1905 - 1914
Henry Buesing 1916 - 1934
Carl Gruetzmacher 1934 - 1944
Erwin Schendel 1944 - 1959
F. C. Adix 1959 - 1969
Robert Meischen 1969 - 1996
Billy Ray Novak 1996 - 1998
Louis Jarzombek 1998 - 2008
Robert Muschalek 2008 - Present

Secretaries of the Association

Fritz Rannefeld 1896 - 1907
Gustav Radicke 1907 - 1929
Herman G. Gips 1929 - 1939
Romeo Korth 1939 - 1988
Werner Hoffman 1988 - 1992
Fred Steves 1992 - Present

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