In agriculture, no one succeeds alone.  

That belief sits at the center of Devin Fuhrman’s work as Chief Agriculture & Sponsor Relations Officer at Nationwide. In his role, Devin helps build partnerships across the agriculture industry with organizations like Farm Bureau, FFA, 4-H, AFA, MANRRS and others. 

But for Devin, strong partnerships are not built around logos, transactions or one-time projects. They are built around trust, shared values and solving real problems together. 

“We’re just so much stronger together than we could possibly be on our own,” Devin shared, quoting Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker. 

Building Partnerships with Purpose 

For Devin, building a strong partnership starts with clarity. He focuses on understanding who Nationwide should connect with, why the connection matters and where the two organizations align. That alignment might come from shared values, shared objectives or a common audience. 

“Being relevant in that space and understanding why each organization is trying to partner is really important,” he said. 

From there, Devin identifies the problem both organizations want to solve. He believes partnerships become meaningful when both sides can clearly name the challenge, bring the right people to the table and work toward a mutually beneficial outcome. 

Partnerships in Action 

One example of building a partnership that matters is the Land As Your Legacy program in partnership with Farm Credit, which helps farm families plan for succession and transition land to the next generation. Devin noted that farmers may not want to sell the land to retire, but many do not know how to begin the transition process.  

Through partnerships with trusted organizations like Farm Credit, Nationwide can bring this resource to farm families in a way that feels credible and useful. 

“At the end of the day, we’re all more successful if farmers and ranchers and farm families can find a way to pass that farm on to the next generation,” Devin said. 

Partnership Lessons for Beginners 

For early-career professionals, Devin’s message is clear: great partnerships require more than good intentions. They require listening, alignment, follow-through and a willingness to build trust over time. 

The same is true for leadership. Whether you are working with a national organization, serving on a local board or collaborating with a teammate, the best partnerships begin with a simple question: What can we do better together than we could ever do alone? 

Catch the Full Conversation 

Devin’s story is a practical look at how trust, shared values and people-first leadership can turn partnerships into lasting impact. His examples show what is possible when organizations come together to solve real challenges for agriculture, rural communities and the next generation of leaders. 

Listen to the full episode of The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to hear more of Devin’s insights on servant leadership, building meaningful partnerships, creating a caring culture and why agriculture is strongest when we work together.