Leonard Edwin (Eddie) Gilkison Jr.

Helping my Dad raise tobacco convinced me I needed a college education. We were primarily tobacco farmers but during the late 50’s early 60’s we had 300 ewes. Raising sheep will also 
send you to college. We farmed in Bourbon and Nicholas County’s moving full time to Nicholas
 County in 1962. I purchased a farm in Clark County in 1978 where my three children were
 raised and now we’ve started on the next generation living on the farm.

I have a degree in Agriculture from the University of Kentucky in Agriculture. I am a Certified Crop Advisor 
(CCA) through the American Society of Agronomy and a graduate of the Nebraska School of
 Agriculture Bankers. I have been a licensed insurance agent since 1976.

Co-Captain of the Nicholas County football team for two years, membership in Alpha Gamma
 Rho Fraternity at UK, graduate of the Kentucky Ag Leadership program are things I like to brag
 about after I’m finished talking about my nine Grands (eight girls).

Southern States 1970-1971
East Kentucky Power 1971-1976
Banking – Kentucky Group 1976-1988
Chemical Rep. (Retired from Bayer) 1988-2001

I started working with Federal Crop Insurance as an Agriculture Banker and was invited to
 participate as a commissioned agent in about 1978. I have focused on my insurance agency full 
time since 2001. I am fortunate to have some of the best farmers in the US as customers.

Contact Eddie: eddie@fedcrop.com

Julia Newman

Julia Newman is married to her husband of 19 years and has one daughter. She began her business career working in the facilities management/purchasing field with her previous employer of 14 years. The opportunity to change her business field came when Central Insurance Agency offered her a position. She has enjoyed working with them since the spring of 2009.

Julia really enjoys getting to know the customers, and she thinks nothing of the travel that comes with the crop insurance business. Meeting and greeting the clients in their element is a pleasure for her as it reminds her of growing up on the family farm.

The experience of being raised in the agricultural industry helped Julia realize that she belongs in the crop insurance field. It brings together the best of her former work environment and her current one. While challenging at times, it is also very rewarding to her.

Contact Julia: julia@fedcrop.com

John Tebbs

Agriculture has been a part of John’s life from the very beginning; as he was raised on the family farm, where he still lives today.   After completing school and entering  the business world, it didn’t take him long to realize that he needed to be back on the farm.  He had met and married his wife Mary while in school in Louisville, and they moved back to the farm with two small daughters.   John has either farmed, or been involved in the agriculture business ever since.

John began his crop insurance career in 1982 as a loss adjuster for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation working tobacco claims in Central Kentucky.   In 1984, he became a loss adjuster for National Ag underwriters; a crop insurance company that eventually became Rural Community Insurance Services, the company Central Insurance Agency places their business with today.  In 1985, he became the field representative for RCIS for Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and parts of Alabama, Virginia, and North Carolina.  As the crop Insurance business grew, he concentrated on fewer states, eventually ending his career with RCIS as the representative for the state of Ohio in 2009.

Since retiring from RCIS, John has been a full time agent for Central Insurance Agency with his business partner, Eddie Gilkison.  He very much enjoys being an agent, and all the personal contact with the clients it brings.

Contact John:  john@fedcrop.com

Susan Tebbs

Susan Tebbs joined the Central Insurance Agency team in January of 2011 after a successful career in the restaurant industry.  She held a variety of different positions in the restaurant industry that included server, trainer, office assistant, catering coordinator and manager.  Her experience in the restaurant industry has provided her with excellent organizational, management and customer service skills.  Susan earned a bachelor degree in business administration from Midway College in Midway, Kentucky.

Contact Susan:  susan@fedcrop.com

“Rotten Cotton” Gilkison

Cotton is the resident shop/farm dog.  She has enjoyed a successful career eradicating the grain bins and barns of various vermin.  When she is not engaged in a good old-fashioned rat race, she surveys the land for any suspicious vermin activity.  Cotton never gives up until she has contained the intruder.  The members of Central Insurance Agency appreciate Cotton’s years of dedicated service.