Ruth Gerdes has never forgotten the years when massive droughts almost cost her and her husband their farm. Realizing that her family was paying thousands of dollars for an insurance policy that wasn't working, Gerdes began her career in crop insurance at an independent agency in Auburn, Nebraska. Today, she is one of the most knowledgeable and respected agents in the United States specializing in multiple-peril crop insurance and services policies.
Gerdes grew up on a combination ranch and farm in Western Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska, where she earned degrees in agricultural journalism and animal science. In 1979 she married husband Myron, and the couple moved to his family farm in Auburn where they began their own corn, soybean, and purebred angus farm. Gerdes' first job was at Excel Corp. (now Cargill), where she was the first woman in the country in their corporate sales division.
As a media spokesperson for the sugar industry, I talk to reporters a lot. And right now, they all seem to want to talk about one thing: sugar prices.
