The 1930s marked a dark chapter in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. As drought gripped the region, fierce winds swept away fragile topsoil, creating massive dust storms that blackened the sky and forced most families off their land. For the few who stayed, survival demanded every ounce of grit, resourcefulness, and faith they had.
Brent Wilhelm’s grandfather was among those who endured in Dalhart, Texas. That legacy of perseverance helped shape Brent’s own passion for keeping agricultural families afloat. Today, as an agent for Redd Summit Advisors — an industry leader in Pasture, Rangeland and Forage, or PRF, insurance — he carries that mission forward.
“Agriculture is hard,” he says. “There are very few industries where you have to put so much faith into yourself and at the same time, put so much faith into God to provide.”
Brent’s mother’s family ran sheep and cattle operations that traced back generations, while his father’s side was rooted in farming. That mix of production agriculture, coupled with managing his family’s ranch today, gives him a deep appreciation for the challenges producers face each season.
“Whether it’s raising crops or animals, you’re putting your investments out there into Mother Nature, crop insurance is one of the few things that can help mitigate that risk,” he says.
That perspective, combined with his degree in risk management and finance, as well as more than 20 years of experience in corporate consulting and leadership, makes Brent a strong advocate for PRF insurance. And he doesn’t just recommend the product — he relies on it in his own family’s operation near Paris, Texas. From setting aside funds for hay to weathering dry years, Brent has seen his PRF coverage from Redd Summit work as designed.
“At Redd Summit, we don't guess at what coverage works the best,” he explains. “We’re using analytical software to dig in and see what has happened in historical data, try to find patterns, and build from that.”
That data-driven approach stood out to one of his clients, who had previously worked with another insurer. The customer felt PRF was hit or miss. Some years it paid indemnities, others it didn’t, and overall, it didn’t seem worthwhile. Brent sat down with him, ran the historical numbers through Redd Summit’s proprietary software, and compared them to the client’s old policy. The difference was clear. With Redd Summit’s analysis and recommendations, the 20-year profile looked drastically stronger. Seeing the data side by side gave the customer confidence.
Stories like that reinforce why Brent is proud to be part of Redd Summit Advisors. He values the company’s investment in technology and its commitment to transparency. With tools like Redd Summit’s customer portal and Ranch Pro software, clients aren’t left waiting weeks for answers. They can see performance in real time, run comparisons, and know their policy is built specifically for their land and goals.
As Brent looks to the future of his operation and the ranching community at large, he sees PRF as a reliable part of the puzzle. “Everything we do comes back to helping people stay profitable and making it worthwhile for families to stay in agriculture, stay on the land and stay in ranching,” he says. It’s the same lesson his grandfather gleaned during the Dust Bowl: survival in agriculture takes resilience, faith, and the right tools to endure whatever challenges come next.
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