King family donates to Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation

The four daughters of Catherine and Reese King, founders of King Crop Insurance in Georgetown, donated $1,500 to the Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation from the Catherine D. King and Edwin Reese King Fund, part of the Delaware Community Foundation.

Donna, Bonny, Nancy and Jackie King presented the check to Kitty Holtz, foundation chair, and Laura Simpson, foundation manager. The funds will be used to help stage the Mad Bull Mud Run, a fundraiser for the farm bureau foundation set for Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. The fun event includes live music and food vendors and will challenge runners with mud and other obstacles on a course less than 5K long. The first full-time college student across the finish line will win a $500 scholarship.

The Kings opened their crop insurance company at their farm in Laurel in 1967, and Catherine continued the business after her husband died in 1972. Daughter Jackie entered the family business in 1987, and with her mother expanded it to include all of Delaware and several counties in Maryland. Her sister Nancy joined the firm in 2006, and Donna became part of the business in 2011.

Catherine retired in 2003 after 36 years in the crop insurance company but maintained part ownership of the company until her passing in October 2015. She was also active in many organizations including the Delaware Farm Bureau.

"We appreciate this donation," Simpson said. "The King family always has been and continues to be a blessing to this organization. It is families like theirs that ensure our success."

The Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that started in 2013 and aims to build awareness, understanding and positive public perception about Delaware's farm operations; promote fresh, local food; and sponsor the Ag Education Mobile Classroom.