“Please be careful on the roads and watch for deer,” she said.

In an instant, a deer bounded into the road and collided with their car, one of nearly 2 million crashes with animals every year.

“We weren’t going fast,” Rhodes Villa said. “It just happened so fast.”

It’s not an unusual occurrence, especially in October, November and December. U.S. drivers on average have a 1 in 116 chance of a collision with an animal, according to the State Farm^® annual study. There were over 1.9 million animal collision insurance claims in the U.S. between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.

Pennsylvania ranks third in the country with drivers having a 1-in-51 chance of an animal collision. West Virginia (1-in-37) again tops the list, followed by Montana (1-in-47). South Dakota and Michigan round out the top five, followed by Wisconsin, Iowa, Mississippi, Minnesota and Wyoming.

The large majority of animal collisions are with deer. For the year July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 there were estimated to be 1.5 million deer claims industry-wide.

“Claims after collisions with an animal range from small dents to totaled vehicles and injured drivers and passengers,” says Michael Braaten, director, Enterprise Research. “By sharing ways to help drivers be aware of the increased dangers this time of year – including inclement weather, shorter periods of daylight and students driving home after evening activities – State Farm hopes to help decrease the number of collisions and injuries.”

Hawaii (1-in-649), Nevada (1-in-551) and California (1-in-427) are the states where drivers have the least chance of an animal collision.

How Can You Avoid Deer in Your Headlights?

Growing deer and other animal populations combined with the displacement of animal habitats are making animal crashes more likely. There’s no real way to keep large animals like deer, moose, and elk off the road, but these safety tips can help you prevent animal-car collisions.

Stay alert. Pay attention to "deer crossing" and other signs and be cautious in areas near woods or water.

Use high beams. Flicking your high beams on a deer in the road may cause the animal to scurry away. High beams also help illuminate dark roads.

Don't swerve. If an animal-car crash is inevitable, maintain control of your vehicle and don't veer off the road.

Brake as necessary. If you can avoid hitting the animal, reduce your speed, honk your horn and tap your brakes to warn other drivers. If there are no drivers behind you, brake hard.

Remember peak season. Deer crashes happen most during October through December, which is hunting and mating season. Collisions are most likely to happen in West Virginia, Montana, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.

Remember meal time. Watch for animals in the road between dusk and dawn.

Watch for herds. If you see one deer, there are probably more nearby.

Don't rely on a whistle. No scientific evidence supports that car-mounted deer whistles work.

Wear seat belts. Always obey speed limits and wear seat belts.

In the News

• AccuWeather.com:  Ways to steer clear of deer this year (11/10/20)

“Current State Farm driving data and claims experience show a considerable decline in miles driven and fewer accidents,” said VPA Maggie Oleson. “As a result, we’re looking for ways to continue supporting our Wisconsin customers while we monitor and adjust to trends.”

In addition to the auto rate reduction, the discount for participating in Drive Safe & Save™ is increasing to 10%, and empowers drivers to save more on their auto premiums through driving behaviors.

Rate changes in Wisconsin are subject to regulatory approval. Customer rate reductions will vary based on their individual renewals. Customers are encouraged to visit with their State Farm agent about individual policies, coverage and any opportunities for discounts, including Drive Safe & Save.

State Farm agents throughout the state are providing nearly 54,000 vouchers for free milk, which can be redeemed at any Wisconsin Kwik Trip location through July 16. Together State Farm and Kwik Trip are pouring more than $120,000 into this dairy boost effort.

“Part of our mission at Kwik Trip is to make a difference in the lives of others. Teaming up with State Farm helps our communities and our local dairy farmers in a special way in these challenging times,” said John McHugh, Kwik Trip Director of Public Relations.

As food pantries have limited refrigeration, the availability of milk to families in need has been one of the many difficult challenges of COVID19. Supply chain disruptions have also impacted dairy prices at the stores.

Wisconsin-based State Farm Vice President of Agency Maggie Oleson said Wisconsin agents are proud to help the community in celebration of dairy month.

“June is dairy month, a special time in Wisconsin. It’s also a special month for State Farm as we celebrate our 98^th anniversary,” Oleson said. “Our agents wanted to do something impactful to celebrate, so we got together with Kwik Trip to help put milk on the tables of our friends, families and neighbors. And, given that both companies have over 300 storefronts in the state, the distribution of the vouchers across the state will have an expansive reach.”

Participating State Farm agents will distribute free milk vouchers this month throughout their local communities and at food pantries throughout the state. The vouchers can be redeemed for a free gallon of milk at any Wisconsin Kwik Trip location or Kwik Trip affiliate, through July 16. If you or someone you know is in need of milk please contact a Wisconsin-based State Farm agent to request a voucher. Vouchers will be provided on a first come first serve basis. To find an agent near you, visit: www.statefarm.com

To locate a Kwik Trip location near you: visit www.kwiktrip.com.

Rodgers (Green Bay Packers quarterback) remains the target of the one-sided rivalry between his on-screen sports agent Gabe Gabriel and real-life State Farm Agent Patrick Minnis. This season, Gabe introduces his new client Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs quarterback) in an attempt to one-up his rival agent.

“I’ve been involved in a few different campaigns over the years with State Farm, but this latest is one of my favorites," Rodgers said. "It’s been fun to see how these agents of mine try and out do each other. And, having Patrick (Mahomes) making a few cameos will be a nice surprise for the fans.”

Gabe's attempt to make Aaron jealous by bringing on last year’s MVP is futile. Throughout the various ads, Gabe tries to show his value. Instead, he sets up the State Farm agent who demonstrates how helpful and understanding State Farm can be.

“I’m pumped to be working with State Farm and Aaron," Mahomes said. "I’ve been a big fan of their ads for years, so it’s really exciting to be joining the team.”

The ads will run on broadcast, social media, radio, and elsewhere until the conference championship games which start Jan. 19, 2020.

DDB Chicago created the “Agent vs. Agent” campaign. It shows how State Farm is Here to help life go right®. It offers the care of an agent who knows you, matched with technology that makes doing business easier.

In the News:

• Forbes - Exclusive: Aaron Rodgers has new MVP 'Mahomie' in State Farm ads (09/05/19)

This is the second consecutive year State Farm has decreased auto rates in Wisconsin by 2.9 percent. The auto rate decrease last year went into effect in August. In July 2018, State Farm announced a 10 percent boat rate decrease in Wisconsin.

“We’re always evaluating how we can best serve our customers and are very pleased to be able to offer this rate decrease in Wisconsin,” said State Farm Agency Vice President Maggie Oleson. “Lower than expected expenses and losses were important factors, among many, that supported our decision to make this rate change.”

Overall changes in premiums for individual motorists will vary depending on the specific details of an individual customer’s policy and chosen coverages. The effective date for new and renewal business is Feb. 25, 2019. Wisconsin customers with questions can contact their local State Farm agent to discuss their individual situation.

In addition to this rate reduction, State Farm agents are able to review with new and existing customers the many opportunities for additional discounts that may apply to an individual’s unique circumstances. A rate decrease, combined with discounts, offers exceptional long-term value to State Farm customers.

Agent Dick Soens, Kenosha, Wis., proposed a unique way to mark this momentous occasion to a group of fellow Wisconsin agents.

“We contacted American Motors Corporation (AMC) that operated out of Kenosha at the time,” says Agent Joe Werwie, Kenosha. “We asked if we could spark enough interest to purchase a special order vehicle, could they create an exterior design for the car that would represent both the Bicentennial, and State Farm^®.”

Eleven agents and the group’s district manager, John Reindl, placed their orders for the car of choice, a 1976 AMC Pacer. The red, white and blue car would sport a Bicentennial emblem motif on the hood, and each agent’s name and State Farm logo on the side.

“We received them a few weeks before the Fourth of July which was perfect timing for our local parade,” says Joe. “Three of us were from Kenosha, including my father, Agent Joe Werwie Sr. The other agents were from neighboring cities, but all of the agents participated in the parade.”

Joe drove the plucky Pacer up until 2005. “It was fun when all of us would drive our cars to district meetings,” he adds. “We would draw a lot of attention.”

After deciding it was time for he and his Pacer to part ways, Joe had to decide whether to give it to one of his three children or sell it.

“I was speaking with a man I knew who had worked for AMC and built Pacers,” says Joe. “I mentioned I was getting rid of the car, and he ended up buying it from me. He loved that it was in the original condition and had been so well taken care of.”

The car’s new owner found out the Kenosha History Center was going to create an exhibit featuring red, white and blue cars. He promptly contacted the Center to get the Pacer its rightful place in the exhibit.

The custom Pacer is the only branded car Joe has owned. And the Chevrolet Suburban he drives today is a lot more car than the petite Pacer.

“It was an unusual style of car but it was fun to own,” says Joe. “I received a lot of calls from AMC workers who saw my car and appreciated the fact I supported their employer.”

State Farm sponsored assist patrols in 18 states help keep the nation’s highest-trafficked roadways safe and clear. They reduce congestion, help stranded motorists, and provide traffic control and safety at incident scenes.

Safety patrols are operated by state departments of transportation and toll road authorities. They are known by a variety of names in 40 states. Their free services include changing flat tires, providing a jump-start or small amount of gasoline, and minor safety repairs.

“The safety patrols embody our ‘good neighbor’ philosophy and underscore our commitment to auto safety,” said Ed Gold, advertising director. “They help people recover from the unexpected, which is the heart of the State Farm mission.”

State Farm sponsorship helps increase coverage areas and raises awareness about the patrols. This helps the motoring public feel more secure when traveling the nation’s interstate system. Sponsored highway signs mark coverage areas. The bright red State Farm reflective markings also improve patrol vehicle visibility.

State Farm sponsors the safety patrols in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

State Farm has been committed to roadway safety since its founding in 1922. The company seeks to increase the safety of all drivers and passengers from infancy to the driver’s seat.

*Safety Service Patrol Priorities and Best Practices: USDOT Federal Highway Federal Highway Administration, April 2017

This was Melissa Blue Muhammad’s life. She struggled with transportation issues for years. A college grad with a great family and an amazing job at Pearls for Teen Girls, she helps young women build a strong self-image and leadership skills every day.

The one thing Melissa didn't have was a reliable car. It was an older vehicle with a lot of problems. Melissa and her husband started to share the other vehicle in their household. She had difficulty making it to work and often relied on public transit or coworkers to help her get around.

Then, she remembered her mom went through a program to help her get a better car. She reached out to the YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin, which is supported by State Farm, to learn more about the Auto Loan Access program. Melissa was afraid her credit was too low and worried she could not get a car note.

But, she decided to tackle the issue and enrolled in the program. She attended several financial education workshops about saving and budgeting. She also learned about what can impact a person's credit score. She spent time reviewing her own credit score and found ways to improve it.

When it came to credit cards, Shanice was like a lot of high school juniors: “scared.”

“I didn’t know anything about credit cards. Money in general wasn’t something we talked a lot about at home, or even at school,” said Shanice, a student at Milwaukee’s Washington High School.

A new financial literacy program called Money Coach introduced at the school not only gave Shanice peace of mind when it came to money, but also gave her resume tools which she was able to share with her mother in what turned out to be a successful job search.

Money Coach is administered by volunteers with a financial background – for Shanice’s class, it was run by a Washington H.S. alum – and centers on real-world instances of budgets, credit, bank accounts and financial best practices. Nonprofit financial literacy organization Make A Difference – Wisconsin operates the Money Coach program, which is supported in part by generous funding from State Farm.

Make A Difference programs like Money Coach aim to fill gaps in education and personal backgrounds when it comes to a healthy relationship with expenses and income. Make A Difference – Wisconsin has reached thousands of high school students during its decade of service, though financial realities have pushed the nonprofit to evolve its lessons and outreach into new programs like Money Coach.

Investing in Your Alma Mater

Ranell Washington is now in his second year as a “Coach” for the Money Coach Program at Washington High School, from where he graduated 15 years ago. Ranell went on to college and a successful career at a large international bank. Looking back at his teenage years, Ranell said he realized he was tasked with finding out information and resources on finances, something made more difficult by the range of advice and the lure of dicey money outlets like check cashing stores.

Make A Difference – Wisconsin connected with Ranell and put him in classrooms he knows quite well at his alma mater, where he’s in been a money mentor for Shanice and her peers.

“These are life lessons, stuff the kids will need as they become adults,” said Ranell, who regularly shares an anecdote with students on his eye-opening first experience with buying a car. “It was important for me to give back what I’ve learned as a professional in a way that really benefits our entire community.”

In its second year, the program has reached 100 kids. The results from the one-on-one guidance from Money Coach? Nearly all students who participated now have a bank account (up from 55%), four-times as many begun to track their expenses, and 80% have crafted a budget (up from 10%). And you can count Shanice among those who have increased their cash consciousness.

An additional bonus of the program comes from a scholarship Money Coach students earn by hitting benchmarks on savings, investment and budgeting. In turn, that scholarship money goes to the student at the end of the program for college or career spending after completion.

“We showed the kids the power of saving and interest, and made it clear they were accountable for this cash. Immediately, things became real for them,” he said.

It was also real fun, Shanice said.

A Decade of Difference

Money Coach is an extension of Make A Difference – Wisconsin’s core classroom program, called Money Sense. Money Coach takes some of the financial fundamentals from the Money Sense program and dives deeper into a long-range plan for savings, with volunteers dedicated to instruction and advice in small groups and one-on-one. Bringing financial experts from the community into Wisconsin classrooms was the brainchild of Lloyd Levin, a financial and real estate executive who was inspired by a close friend’s public plea to contribute to the education of the state’s students. Since 2006, with generous backing from State Farm and others, Make A Difference – Wisconsin has established core financial lessons as well as emerging programs like Money Coach to reach thousands of students annually in school districts which may not have the drive or resources to offer fiscal fundamentals.

Jorian Giorno wanted to support his local Milwaukee community by empowering people to live a healthier lifestyle. “I give people the ability to do what I enjoy most, be on their bicycles, out cruising around,” Giorno said.

Giorno works for Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (LBWN), which developed an idea for a mobile bike hub that serves as a traveling repair shop, riding around town fixing bikes and promoting bike safety.

During 2013, its first year, the mobile bike hub serviced 270 bikes. The service vehicle, an adult tricycle designed with bins full of tools and supplies, engages community members and promotes a healthy and active lifestyle for local youth.

LBWN’s initiative then started to incorporate mentoring and volunteering, allowing local kids to give back, learn and develop new skills. In the summer of 2014, two interns joined the inventive LBWN mobile bike hub. These interns not only learned about bicycle mechanics and became equipped to repair/replace parts, but also learned administrative skills such as customer service and time management.

This program provides a unique opportunity to empower the youth of the community, while helping them master new skills. Jezamil Vega-Skeels, neighborhood planner at LBWN, notes, “It’s always good to maintain that relationship because they’re going to be the future leaders of the neighborhood.”

The interns were selected from seven students representing two neighborhood high schools after completing a nine week training class on bike repairs and maintenance this past winter. The two interns worked 15 hours per week and were compensated through the Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation and State Farm.

Giorno provided each of the participants with a reference letter to better equip them for their professional endeavors. “I want to do as much for you and your future outside of this program as I can,” Giorno told his young participants.

LBWN builds strong and healthy communities in the Milwaukee neighborhoods of Silver City, Burnham Park and Layton Park. It is a diverse community where neighbors come together with LBWN to contribute to the neighborhoods’ continued growth. With 33% of the population under the age of 18, the Mobile Bike Hub serves as a model for how youth can invest their talents and service to the community.

This program exemplifies how a community can make role models of citizens young and old. “They’re becoming an example for those other young adults who are coming to get their bikes repaired,” Vega-Skeels said.

Because of the tremendous efforts of Layton Boulevard Mobile Bike Hub it was selected as the 2014 Mayor’s Design Award. This award has recognized design excellence throughout the city of Milwaukee since 1997. Projects are selected for contributing to the character of their surroundings, adding value to their neighborhood and positively influencing the urban fabric.

The Mayor’s Design Award was presented to Layton Boulevard Mobile Bike Hub on May 21, 2014 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning. Additionally, the mobile bike hub is a finalist for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development and Innovation (MANDI), commonly referred to as the “Oscars” of community development in Milwaukee.

This program hopes to spur economic development and infuse the community with vibrant life. Find more information about the Mobile Bike Hub.