Protecting Futures

Jennifer grew up on a dairy farm between Mayville and Buxton, North Dakota.  

Jennifer started her crop insurance career at Farm Credit Services of Grand Forks after working with agricultural loans and accounting in various roles for R.D. Offutt Company.  She worked at Farm Credit Services for 10 years before accepting the role as Insurance Department Manager for Alerus Insurance in Grand Forks.

Jennifer managed the Alerus Insurance Department for six years while achieving many team sales goals credited to a great team of agents.  The insurance department also receive the honorable Alerus "Newmie" Team Award that is only given once a year for someone throughout all of Alerus.

In January, 2011, Jennifer was given the opportunity to join Cornerstone Ag Services, Inc. and start her own separate sub-agency, located in Buxton, North Dakota, which has grown tremendously since its inception with three full-time agents.

On December 31, 2019, Countryside Insurance Agency, Inc. (Jennifer Otteson) purchased the Cornerstone Ag Services, Inc.-Buxton, ND office location and will continue strive to exceed their customer's expectations.

Jennifer was accepted into Crop Insurance Professionals Association (CIPA) in 2025.  CIPA is an elite group of independent agents whose goal  who are committed to maintaining and strengthening the safety net for the American farmer and rancher through strong Federal Crop Insurance.  They work closely together with political leaders in Washington to educate and help protect  our nation’s most fundamental pursuit, the production of food, fiber and energy for a growing and ever changing world. 

Jennifer has worked with farmers all over North Dakota and Minnesota and has expanded in Arizona putting together customized crop insurance packages that best fits their needs.  She is licensed in North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Arizona.

Jennifer lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota with her husband.

Customer service is Jennifer's number priority and always looking out for her customer's best interest.

Kayla Pederson grew up in the small town of Buxton, North Dakota.  Throughout her childhood, she spent lots of time at both her grandparent's farm near Mayville and Portland, North Dakota.  

After graduating from high school, she attended the University of North Dakota later transferring to Mayville State University.  While attending college, Kayla also worked as an intern at Cornerstone Ag Services, Inc.

Kayla graduated from Mayville State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Management and a minor in Computer Information Systems.  

After graduating from college, she accepted the manager position at Merry Maids, a large cleaning business, in Grand Forks and Fargo, North Dakota.  

Kayla was later offered an opportunity to rejoin Cornerstone Ag Services, Inc. full-time as an Office Manager/Crop Insurance Agent.

Since the purchase of the Cornerstone Ag Services, Inc.-Buxton, North Dakota office location by Countryside Insurance Agency, Inc., she will take a larger role in the operation of the agency along with serving her customers and pursuing new prospects.

Kayla currently lives in Fertile, Minnesota with her husband and two daughters.  Her family also farms in Minnesota.

Kayla is licensed in both North Dakota and Minnesota and eager to expand her book of business with customer service as her number one priority.

Michael grew up in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  He graduated from the University of Minnesota-Crookston with his Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy.  

Michael also has 10 years of farming experience, so he is very familiar with different aspects in agriculture.

Michael's hobbies include golfing, fishing and hunting.

Michael is married and a father of three children.

Michael is licensed in both North Dakota and Minnesota and eager to assist anyone with their crop insurance needs.