At the Farmers Mutual annual meeting Feb. 17 in Ellinwood, a few changes were made to the Board of Directors. FMI had a very active Nomination Committee this past year. One director was replaced due to a retirement from the board, and seats were added to the board for future known needs.

Former Secretary/Treasurer Of The Board Ron Rugan asked that another be moved into that role as he is planning his future retirement from the board. Rugan will continue in an assistant secretary/treasurer role at this time. Replacing him as secretary/treasurer of the board will be Mindy Cure. Cure has served on FMI board as a director for the past two years and plans to continue in service. 

Retiring from the board at the annual meeting was Ed Schloctermeier. He began his service to the board in February 2004 and served consistently until his final meeting February 2022, totaling 18 years of service to the company on behalf of the policyholders. 

He assisted in leading the company through some of the most pivotal times of its history. In recognition of that dedication, a gracious donation was made to an entity of his choosing, St. Joseph Catholic School in Ellinwood. 

Two directors renewed their terms that were expiring; these were Ruth Teichman and Mark Rondeau.

Those newly elected directors joining the Board of Directors are Cari Ringwald, Curtis Wolf and Troy Moore. FMI looks forward to the experience and expertise these three bring from their own professions and organizational involvement. Their addition brings a greater diversity of knowledge and background to the board. 

• Mindy Cure is the manager and one of two insurance agents for the Hanston Insurance Agency Inc., of Hanston. She started in the agency in 2005, obtained her “Certified Insurance Counselor” designation in 2010 as well as her “Certified Insurance Service Representative” designation. 

• Cari Ringwald hails from Marysville and attended Kansas State University earning a B.S. in Marketing and International Business, minoring in Economics. She later completed a MLS in Leadership Studies from Fort Has State University. She worked as director of marketing for Barton Community College and learning coordinator for Adams Brown CPAs before making a change to full-time motherhood and part-time work in the family businesses, TriAg, RMACs Truck and Equipment, and Moeder Oil. 

• Curtis Wolf is the director at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Cheyenne Bottoms, seven miles northwest of Ellinwood. He joined KWEC in July 2009 after teaching biology at Barton Community College for four years.

The center is operated as a branch of Fort Hays State University and offers a museum to visitors and hundreds of environmental education programs. Wolf received a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and a M.S. in Biology at FHSU, studying freshwater mussels. 

• Troy Moore is a doctor of physical therapy at Ellinwood District Hospital. He joined EDH in 2021 after practicing in, developing and operating private practices in Great Bend and Wichita. He has been a Physical Therapist since 2006. Prior to practicing as a PT, he was a certified athletic trainer and certified strength and conditioning specialist, specializing in sports injuries and rehabilitation. He is a 1996 graduate of Belle Plaine High School and then earned a Bachelor of Science at Emporia State University while also playing basketball. He obtained a Masters of Physical Therapy from Wichita State University in 2006 and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Regis University in 2008.