| 1. |
How many farmers are included
in the panel? And how are they distributed by state? |
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There are 1915 active panel member. The
panel member are distributed as follows: 608 from Illinois, 525 from Iowa, 416 from
Wisconsin, and 366 from Indiana. |
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| 2. |
What is the longest time that a
farmer has been a panel member? |
|
FRI has the oldest ongoing agricultural
panel in the United States. We still have five active panel members that joined the panel
in 1947. The oldest member of the FRI panel is 95 years young and the youngest panel
member is 22. |
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| 3. |
How are farmers recruited to be
included in the panel? |
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As FRI grew the cost of door to door
recruiting could no longer continue. The recruiting then turned to referrals and general
farmer interest. Today, FRI recruits through word-of-mouth and via our website. |
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| 4. |
How were the farmers recruited
at the beginning of FRI? |
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In the beginning the panel was formed by
Dr. Sandage traveling throughout the Midwest from farmhouse to farmhouse. He would explain
how FRI operated and the many benefits a panel member could receive from the FRI family. |
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| 5. |
How many different surveys are
done each year by FRI? |
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FRI can actively send eight to ten
surveys per year to the panel. We consistently try to send at least two surveys per year
to the panel on an ongoing basis. |
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| 6. |
What types of survey
information does FRI collect? |
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FRI surveys members on their buying
habits, impressions of vendors, use of credit, technology adoption, etc. |
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| 7. |
How does the points system
work? |
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Panel members are given point for
completing each survey within the allotted time frame. At the end of each year premium
lists, of selected products, are mailed out to each panel member. Panel member may
exchange their accumulated point for product from this list or let their point roll-over
into the next year. |
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