Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/734304
National Catholic Forester 28 Driving through Grant County Wisconsin, you will find fertile fields, rolling hills, and breathtaking bluffs along the Mississippi River – truly a land showcasing the variety of God's green earth. Insurance Producer John Hill grew up in this enchanted county in the southwest corner of Wisconsin, on a dairy farm near Livingston, about 15 to 20 minutes away from where he lives now – Platteville, Wisconsin. Like most young farm boys, John wanted to be a farmer too. "I liked it!" John says, and in fact he did farm for 24 years. But he also became a teacher and coach. At UW Platteville, John majored in biology and minored in American history, world history, and physical education. "Those were long days," recalls John, "working as teacher and farmer." For 12 years his son helped on the farm. His lovely wife Cara also grew up on a farm in Livingston and worked on the farm with John. In his role as teacher, John taught general science, biology, and history for 7 to 10th grade. He was fair and believed in discipline – a trait that earned him the nickname "The General" from his fellow teachers. "Please, thank you, and excuse me are all free," said John with a grin, "They don't cost anything." The respect John bestowed was also expected from his students. In his long career John also taught parochial school, where he enjoyed the team effort of working with students and their parents. Another career for John was in the feed business as salesman and trainer. It "was a natural departure from farming." It was also a natural departure from teaching, "Teaching is an excellent preparation to selling" said John. Whether it was a student or young trainee, "If they do not understand it, they won't buy it." John understood and felt connected to his clients, he knew their needs. "That breaks down a lot of barriers in [any] business – a lot of walls." A CAREER IN INSURANCE. Sixteen years ago, John saw an ad from National Catholic Society of Foresters in the local diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Herald. NCSF was looking for insurance agents. John felt being an insurance agent just might be a good fit! "I always believed in insurance, and if you sell something you HAVE to believe in it. [Life] insurance is a great thing; you are selling peace of mind." "So many people are underinsured," lamented John. He assured that he himself had basic life insurance coverage for his family, then term life insurance to help cover investments or debts during certain periods of his family's life. "I understood the importance of life insurance protection for my own family. This all led to me looking at the field of insurance as a career." John saw life insurance as an opportunity, "a way to help people." Agent Spotlight Introducing John Hill John and wife Cara posed for professional photos, to celebrate 60 years of marriage!