Dave Schuler Receives Crop Insurance Friend of the Industry Award

Dave Schuler is the recipient of the 2026 Crop Insurance Friend of the Industry Award, which was presented during the 2026 Crop Insurance Industry Annual Convention in Indian Wells, Calif. The Friend of the Industry award recognizes an individual who provides exceptional and notable contributions to the crop insurance industry.

Dave Schuler currently serves as Executive Vice President Field Services for Rain and Hail and has been a key member of its senior management for many years. His keen analytical skills coupled with his deep sense of curiosity have greatly benefited the crop insurance program and helped strengthen the farmer safety net!

Dave has served the crop insurance industry in many roles over his more than 30 years in the industry. Beginning in 1990, Dave was instrumental in bringing GIS mapping to the industry, which began with 4-wheelers running through and around fields all over the United States. A concept that seemed crazy to most at the time led to widespread adoption of GIS mapping for the entire industry.

During his career, Dave has always been on the leading edge of technology and innovation. With Dave’s leadership during his time there, Fireman’s Fund was the industry leader in providing web-based sales and processing software to agents. While with John Deere, he led the initiative to begin populating acreage and production reports with data directly from the field equipment. Now, with Rain and Hail, he works collaboratively with agents and developers to create best-in class systems from point of sale to acreage and production reporting, to billing and claims processing.

In addition to his innovative leadership, Dave has spent countless hours working through the National Crop Insurance Services Committee structure and directly with RMA to improve the crop insurance program for farmers, ranchers, agents and Approved Insurance Providers. From his roots on his Montana family farm, Dave knew the importance of the crop insurance program to farmers and ranchers everywhere and has invested his entire career to a cause he believed in deeply.

PHOTO: Dave Schuler was presented with the 2026 Crop Insurance Friend of the Industry award by Tom Zacharias (left), President of National Crop Insurance Services, and Andy Caruso (right), Chair of the National Crop Insurance Services Board of Directors.