For the first time in more than three decades, Fayette will have a new State Farm Insurance agent on the Fayette square. Pat Phillips will retire at the end of the day June 30, and Landon Ball will take over July 1.

“It has been my pleasure to serve this community for over 34 years,” said Phillips. “I can still remember, when I first started, that the client information was mailed to me weekly on microfiche.”

Phillips began her career with State Farm on January 1, 1986, and has spent the last 20 in the historic storefront at 122 E. Morrison St.

“We have seen so many changes over all these years, however, the one constant has been the community and its people,” said Phillips. “Fayette is home to me, and I am so thankful that I was able to live in Fayette and be of service to all our policyholders. I sincerely thank you all for your confidence and trust … but I thank you most for the memories.”

Ball is a Fayette native who recently moved back from Minnesota. An alumnus of Fayette High School, he graduated from Central Methodist University in 2016.

He arrived in Minnesota expecting to enter the seminary, but ended up working for American Family Insurance. Later he joined State Farm. “I figured I can talk to people and I like to help people, so that’s how I got into the insurance business.”

Although just 25-years old, Ball has been a part of the insurance business for about four years. And insurance is in his blood. His older brother, Logan, is a State Farm agent in Moberly, Mo., and his uncle, Allen Garret, works in State Farm’s corporate office. Before that, his grandfather spent around 35 years as an underwriter.

“My whole family has worked for State Farm for around 80 years, combined,” Ball said.

Ball has been training with one of the company’s top agents the past two years. When the opportunity became available to return to Fayette, he jumped at it. He moved back to town in May. “I love Fayette. I felt this would be a really good sustainable business to help build inside of Fayette.”

Ball and his fiancé, Annie Lindahl, were supposed to have been married in June, but the COVID-19 pandemic put things on hold until later in July. With a background in videography and media production, she will run the office’s social media and marketing campaigns.

The office will remain on the square. Ball bought the circa 1870 building that will house the six-person staff, which includes a current CMU student and two alums. 

“This for me was a community move,” Ball said. “I’m really passionate about Fayette, so being able to be a part of a sustainable business on the square…I’m excited for that.”