Midland Agency in Columbia, SC

All information about Midland Agency in Columbia, SC

About Midland Agency

Midland Agency Insurance was founded by Ray Flemming in 1987 when the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation discontinued the delivery of crop insurance through the Farm Service Agency and decided instead to use private sector delivery. The company was founded on the principles of integrity, hard work, attention to detail and a high priority on personal relationships. We are proud to say that many of the farmers that started with the Midland Agency in 1987 are still with us today. We pride ourselves on understanding the agriculture industry as well as life on the farm. Where many crop and agribusiness agents manage their accounts from their desks, we believe in doing business face to face on the farm. Sometimes that means signing documents on the tailgate of the truck, but it's worth it to us to know what's happening in the lives of our customers. Although our roots run deep in agriculture, we have also expanded our services over the years. Matthew Flemming, Ray's grandson, came to work at the Midland Agency in 1998, taking over the business in 2003. Over the years, he was approached by friends and family struggling to make sense of their insurance needs. With the same emphasis on relationships that has been our hallmark, he expanded the scope of the company to include both commercial and personal lines of insurance as well. This side of our business has grown considerably over the last seven years as our customers have grown to appreciate the personal way we do business. Whether you've been with us from the beginning or you're considering our company for your insurance needs, we hope you'll enjoy getting to know a little bit more . We take pride in the way we do things and hope that we can continue to grow our business, one relationship at a time, as we have for almost 25 years. Ray Flemming is the founder and patriarch of Midland Agency Insurance. He was raised on the farm near Gable, SC where integrity and work ethic were instilled in him at a young age. Ray graduated from Clemson University in 1948 after having his education interrupted by 4 years of proud service in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Upon graduation, Ray become an Assistant County Agent with the Clemson Extension Service. A few months later, Ray was promoted as a State Extension Marketing Specialist with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables. In 1956, he stepped into the private sector as a sales agent, working with farmers from Florida to Pennsylvania. In 1962, he opened his own company in Columbia, with a winter office in Florida which specialized in international produce brokerage as well as the production and importation of vegetables from the Caribbean. In 1980, Ray joined the Federal Crop Insurance Regional Office in Columbia where he worked with farmers all over South Carolina working in all phases of crop insurance as the Quality Control Coordinator. In 1987, at the insistence of many of Ray's farming friends, he was licensed to sell insurance and the Midland Agency was born shortly thereafter. Ray has three children, four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. Ray has taught Sunday School and served as a deacon. He is a member of Shandon Baptist Church. Ray began his career working with farmers over 62 years ago and is still going strong. He can be found in our office or on the phone checking on farmers and friends throughout the state. He built this business on hard work, honesty, and the personal relationships that have always meant so much to him. Almost 25 years later, we are still doing business the same way. He is now approaching 63 years on working with and serving the farming community with great enthusiasm and joy. He still has a little time for golf, bird hunting and Clemson football and baseball. Matthew Flemming, Ray's grandson, began working with Ray in 1998 and is now the owner and president of Midland Agency Insurance. He was raised in northeast Columbia, SC where he graduated from Spring Valley High and later The Colleg