By Brooke Foster

Community. 

Proven time and again by Alfa Insurance team members to be more than a core company value, this word encapsulates the driving force behind Alfa’s corporate philanthropy efforts. It’s also a word Alfa Agent Thomas Shelton has taken to heart. 

Renowned locally as the “Alfa-Man,” Shelton is known on the fishing circuit for his ability to reel in tournament wins. He also has a penchant for helping others. He’s mentored students at Oxford High School and sponsored various events but said he always felt called to do something that would tie his love for fishing with service. 

“When you give back to the community, the community gives back to you,” said Shelton, who joined the Alfa family in 2017. 

Shelton’s calling — and countless hours of preparation — yielded the inaugural Oxford Kids Fishing Rodeo at Choccolocco Lake in June. 

Kids and parents (flanked by four-legged friends) from across the region enjoyed spending time together as they grabbed fishing gear and plunked hooks in the water. Each hoped to catch some of the 2,000 pounds of catfish Shelton and his event partners placed in the lake prior to the rodeo.

Nearly 500 kids attended the event, and each one left with a rod and reel.

“As an agent, I’ve always tried to find a way to touch the lives of young people and teach them the value of hard work,” Shelton said. “Sixty-two percent of kids in Oxford City Schools live in the poverty rating, which means most of those kids live a tough life right now. I wanted to find a way to connect what I love to do with the community by holding a fishing rodeo, free of charge, for the kids in our community.”  

Thanks to Shelton’s support and sponsor donations, the event featured food and drinks, ice cream and kid-friendly entertainment. Shelton was even able to distribute Bibles to the kids, proving there was more to the fishing rodeo than just casting a line. 

“I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to be able to do something like this for the community,” Shelton said. “The kids were so grateful.”

Whether it’s providing exceptional customer service through claims or service center transactions, Alfa — and those who represent the brand — aims to be more than just an insurance company, he said. 

“I could spend money to promote my agency, but I’ve seen firsthand the value that investments can make within the community where I live, work and worship,” Shelton said. “I’m so grateful to have the chance to plant seeds in Oxford and watch them grow. After all, it’s not about serving myself. It’s about serving others.”