​Lamar – February 11th, 2026 — Golden Plains Insurance takes pride in unveiling its annual scholarship initiative for the academic year 2025-2026. This scholarship, valued at $2,000, aims to support a promising high school graduate from the class of 2026 who aspires to pursue higher education, be it in academic or vocational fields, with a particular emphasis on those intending to major in agriculture-related disciplines.
 
Prospective applicants can obtain application forms from any of our four offices located in Lamar at 311 S 5th Street, Springfield at 27925 US Hwy 287, Rocky Ford at 17500 Co Rd Y, and Walsh at 508 N Colorado Street. Additionally, the application is accessible on our website, www.goldenplainsinsurance.com. Completed applications may be submitted via e-mail to teresa.chamberlain@goldenplainsinsurance.com, mailed to our Lamar office, or in-person at any of our offices between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The deadline for submission is Friday, April 17, 2026.
 
As we eagerly anticipate receiving applications from local students, we are always interested to learn about their achievements and future aspirations. The competition for these scholarships is consistently strong, and we find great joy in supporting the educational endeavors of deserving students.
With four offices strategically located in southeast Colorado, Golden Plains Insurance operates as an Independent Insurance Agency. Leveraging an extensive portfolio of insurance products and working with multiple underwriters, we are committed to securing the best coverage at competitive rates for our clients, emphasizing our dedication to the community we serve.

​We are proud to announce that Golden Plains Insurance Agency has been officially recognized as the Best Insurance Agency in Lamar for 2025 by BusinessRate. This honor is based on verified Google review data and reflects the trust, satisfaction, and loyalty of the customers we serve every day.
BusinessRate’s BEST of 2025 Lamar Awards highlight top-performing local businesses that demonstrate excellence in service, brand reputation, and customer experience. Rankings are determined through certified analysis of publicly available Google Reviews, using BusinessRate’s comprehensive scoring system.
What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it was earned—not applied for, nominated, or voted on—but based purely on genuine customer feedback. Every review, rating, and shared experience contributed to this achievement, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
At Golden Plains Insurance Agency, our mission has always been to provide dependable service, personalized solutions, and peace of mind to families, individuals, and businesses throughout Lamar and surrounding communities. Receiving this award confirms that our commitment is making a difference.
To our customers—thank you for trusting us.
To our community—thank you for supporting local businesses.
And to our team—thank you for your dedication and integrity every step of the way.
We look forward to continuing to serve Lamar with excellence in 2026 and beyond.

As the summer sun heats up the trails, rattlesnakes become more active—especially in dry, rocky areas and grasslands. If you’re a hiker exploring these beautiful but potentially hazardous environments, it’s important to stay alert and prepared.

Rattlesnakes are generally not aggressive and prefer to avoid humans. However, when surprised or threatened, they may strike in self-defense. Most snake bites happen when someone accidentally steps on or too closely approaches a snake, so awareness is key.

Here are some tips to stay safe:

• Stay on designated trails. Avoid tall grass, brush, and rocky crevices where snakes may hide.
• Watch where you step and sit. Look carefully before placing your hands or feet on rocks or logs.
• Keep dogs leashed. Curious pets are more likely to get too close and be bitten.
• Listen for the warning. A rattlesnake’s distinctive rattle is your cue to stop and slowly back away.
• Don’t try to handle or kill a snake. This is when most bites occur.

If bitten, remain calm and seek medical help immediately. Avoid tourniquets, ice, or cutting the wound—just get to a hospital as quickly as possible.

Rattlesnakes are a vital part of the ecosystem, helping control rodent populations. With a little caution and respect, you can coexist safely—and continue enjoying the great outdoors with confidence.

Photo by Duncan Sanchez on Unsplash

#HikingSafety #TrailTips #RattlesnakeAwareness #OutdoorSafety #StayOnTheTrail #HikeSmart #WildlifeAwareness

Golden Plains Insurance recently achieved a remarkable feat, securing over 500 votes to transform a $5,000 donation into a fantastic $10,000 for the Share the Spirit Foundation! This incredible boost comes through the Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance's 2025 Make More Happen™ Awards, a testament to the power of community support.
So, how did they do it? Golden Plains Insurance leveraged a dedicated online voting platform, encouraging individuals to cast their votes and leave comments in support of their partnership with the Share the Spirit Foundation. Their compelling story, highlighting the foundation's vital work in providing new shoes and socks to underserved children in the region, resonated deeply with the community.
The additional $5,000 will significantly impact Share the Spirit Foundation's "Shoes for Kids" event this fall, aiming to provide footwear to over 300 children across 14 Lamar-area schools. Golden Plains Insurance's dedication, combined with overwhelming public participation, truly exemplifies how local businesses can champion meaningful change and uplift their communities. This achievement is a shining example of collective effort making a tangible difference for those who need it most.

Congratulations to the 2025 Golden Plains Insurance Scholarship Recipient – Sadie Joy Buhr

​Golden Plains Insurance is thrilled to announce Sadie Joy Buhr as the recipient of the prestigious Golden Plains Insurance Scholarship for 2025. This annual scholarship, awarded by Golden Plains Insurance, recognizes outstanding dedication to community, education, faith, and academic excellence among graduating seniors.

Every year, the scholarship committee at Golden Plains Insurance carefully selects a deserving student from a pool of exceptional applicants. This year, Sadie Buhr stood out among over 24 deserving candidates for her exceptional commitment to community service, agriculture, academic pursuits, and leadership qualities. Hailing from La Junta, Colorado, Sadie has been awarded our 2025 educational scholarship worth $2,000.00 for her remarkable achievements.

Sadie Buhr demonstrated exemplary academic performance, boasting an impressive 4.06 Weighted GPA, as evidenced by her official high school transcript. Moreover, her application was supported by three outstanding letters of recommendation, highlighting her dedication to family, education, and agriculture.

With aspirations of majoring in veterinary medicine while working towards her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Sadie plans to pursue her education at West Texas A & M or Colorado State University Fort Collins. Her commitment to her educational journey and future career goals is evident in her autobiographical statement, where she emphasized the importance of preparation and determination. Sadie will continue her lifelong quest of making her dream of becoming a veterinarian a realty.

The Scholarship Committee at Golden Plains Insurance is confident that Sadie Buhr will utilize this scholarship to its fullest potential, driven by her passion for agriculture, education, and community service. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sadie and wish her all possible success in her future endeavors.

​​Golden Plains Insurance is excited to announce its $2,000 educational scholarship for the year 2025.

Lamar – February 10, 2025 — Golden Plains Insurance takes pride in unveiling its annual scholarship initiative for the academic year 2025-2026. This scholarship, valued at $2,000, aims to support a promising high school graduate from the class of 2025 who aspires to pursue higher education, be it in academic or vocational fields, with a particular emphasis on those intending to major in agriculture-related disciplines.

Prospective applicants can obtain application forms from any of our four offices located in Lamar at 311 S 5th Street, Springfield at 27925 US Hwy 287, Rocky Ford at 17500 Co Rd Y, and Walsh at 508 N Colorado Street. Additionally, the application is accessible on our website, www.goldenplainsinsurance.com. Completed applications may be submitted via mail to teresa.chamberlain@goldenplainsinsurance.com or in-person at any of our offices between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The deadline for submission is Friday, April 18, 2025.

As we eagerly anticipate receiving applications from local students, we are always interested to learn about their achievements and future aspirations. The competition for these scholarships is consistently strong, and we find great joy in supporting the educational endeavors of deserving students.

With four offices strategically located in southeast Colorado, Golden Plains Insurance operates as an Independent Insurance Agency. Leveraging an extensive portfolio of insurance products and working with multiple underwriters, we are committed to securing the best coverage at competitive values for our clients, emphasizing our dedication to the community we serve.

Lamar— May 2, 2024 —Golden Plains Insurance is thrilled to announce Elaine Shannon as the recipient of the prestigious Golden Plains Insurance Scholarship for 2024. This annual scholarship, awarded by Golden Plains Insurance, recognizes outstanding dedication to community, education, faith, and academic excellence among graduating seniors.

Every year, Golden Plains Insurance carefully selects a deserving student from a pool of exceptional applicants. This year, Elaine Shannon stood out among over 37 deserving candidates for her exceptional commitment to community service, academic pursuits, and leadership qualities. Hailing from Kim, Colorado, Elaine Shannon has been awarded the educational scholarship worth $2000.00 for her remarkable achievements.

Elaine Shannon demonstrated exemplary academic performance, boasting an impressive 4.159 Weighted GPA, as evidenced by her official high school transcript. Moreover, her application was supported by three exceptional letters of recommendation, highlighting her dedication to family, school, and the environment.

With aspirations in Rangeland Management, Elaine Shannon plans to pursue her associate degree in Soil and Crop Science at Otero Junior College before transferring to the University of Wyoming to earn her bachelor’s degree in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management. Her commitment to her educational journey and future career goals is evident in her autobiographical statement, where she emphasized the importance of preparation and determination.

The Scholarship Committee at Golden Plains Insurance is confident that Elaine Shannon will utilize this scholarship to its fullest potential, driven by her passion for education and community service. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Elaine and wish her all possible success in her future endeavors.

​Thanks to an unusual convergence of market trends, ushered in by the pandemic and followed by other disruptive events, you may see a bigger change to the cost of your home and auto insurance than usual when it comes time to renew your policies this year.

Insurance rates are based on what an insurer thinks it will cost to make you whole in the event of a loss – whether it’s roof damage during a windstorm or a vehicle totaled during a traffic accident. As you’ve likely noticed, pretty much everything costs more than it did even a few years ago.

If you’ve shopped at Home Depot or Lowe’s lately, you’ve certainly seen that the price tags on building materials have gotten pretty expensive. Last year, the cost of building materials rose 4.7%, reflecting a particularly strong uptick in prices on things like asphalt shingles (16.2%), concrete blocks (18.5%) and drywall (20.4%).

To make matters worse, the home-building industry is facing a shortfall of more than 300,000 skilled laborers, which is driving up construction-related labor costs. Combined with the high cost of construction materials and historically low housing inventory, this has been making home claims much more expensive for insurance companies.

Ongoing supply chain issues are driving a shortage of car parts and equipment, which were 22.3% more expensive at the end of 2022 than they were two years earlier. The overall cost of maintaining and repairing vehicles increased 18.4 % over the same timeframe – exacerbated by a growing shortage of car repair technicians.

The same issues depleted the supply of new and used cars during the COVID-19 pandemic, and inventories have not yet recovered. As a result, the average price of new cars has risen 20% since 2020, while used car prices have skyrocketed 37%.

Rising medical costs are another key factor. While the number of injuries and fatalities from car accidents has somewhat declined from its peak in 2021, the rising cost of medical care continues to drive higher claims costs. Between 2020 and 2022, the overall cost of medical care in the U.S. increased 6.8%

​Keep in mind that savings come in many forms. The value of the coverage you choose today may save you more in the long run than the lowest possible premium.

Contact Golden Plains Insurance to review your current coverage. We’ll help you explore opportunities for discounts that could offset higher rates when it comes time to renew.

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Home Builders Institute, CoreLogic, Consumer Price Index, TechForce Foundation

Welcome to our new insurance agency blog!
 
This is our very first post. We're not quite sure what we're going to write about here, but the plan is to create helpful content for customers and prospective clients about information that is relevant to you.
 
We hope you'll come to view this as a top resource for keeping your family and your finances safe.
 
Here are a few of the topics we may be writing about:

• Answers to clients' frequently asked questions.
• Helpful information about insurance shopping.
• Safety and Health Tips and Ideas.
• Local Community Information.

 
Stay Tuned!

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