Illinois Farm Bureau Family of Companies and Illinois State University Announce Jersey Patch Partnership Celebrating Shared Hometown Roots

NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois Farm Bureau® (IFB) Family of Companies and Illinois State University (ISU) today announced a new partnership that will place the Illinois Farm Bureau, COUNTRY Financial®, Prairie Farms, GROWMARK and IAA Credit Union marks on Redbird student-athlete jerseys as well as other branding elements beginning with the 2026-27 season. The jerseys will be worn for the first time on October 30, when Illinois State Volleyball takes on Valparaiso at 6:00 p.m. at CEFCU Arena.

The partnership represents much more than a logo on a jersey. It brings together organizations with deep roots in Bloomington-Normal and generations of shared connections and community engagement among employees, alumni, students and families. The relationship will extend beyond athletics. The organizations will create opportunities for employees and student athletes to partner on community service projects, help students learn about careers close to home and strengthen connections between the University and some of the region's largest employers.

Many employees across the IFB Family of Companies are ISU alumni, while many more have personal and family ties to the University. The organizations have also been longtime supporters of ISU and the Bloomington-Normal community.

"ISU is part of the fabric of our hometown, and it's part of the story of our family of companies as well," said Nikki Johnson, vice president, marketing at COUNTRY. "So many of our employees walked these halls, cheered for these teams and built relationships here that continue today. COUNTRY's connection to ISU runs deep, from the many alumni who work here, to our longstanding relationship with the ISU Department of Agriculture and the Katie School of Insurance and Risk Management."

"Illinois Farm Bureau is proud to bring our family of companies together to collaborate with ISU," Matt Wettersten, executive director, marketing and communications at Illinois Farm Bureau said. "Not only will we have an opportunity to showcase the value of our organizations, but collaborating on philanthropic activities is important to IFB and our members as well."

Illinois State Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs said the partnership reflects the longstanding relationship between Illinois State and the local business community.

"This is a special opportunity for Illinois State Athletics to partner with a family of companies that has supported our university and this community for generations," Beggs stated. "When this process started and the jersey patch became an opportunity that we could pursue, our focus was to partner with an organization that shared our values as a university and supports the surrounding communities. The Illinois Farm Bureau Family of Companies not only have a longstanding relationship with Illinois State Athletics and the Bloomington-Normal community, but it also employs many Illinois State alumni who have built meaningful careers. I want to thank Redbird Sports Properties General Manager Matt Moran and his staff for working diligently to make this partnership happen, and we look forward to representing the Illinois Farm Bureau Family of Companies well when our student-athletes begin competition soon with the new patches proudly displayed."

The partnership builds on the IFB Family of Companies' longstanding presence in Bloomington-Normal and throughout Illinois. For the Family of Companies, those deep local ties are what make partnerships between community organizations like this one so meaningful.

"FS and GROWMARK have deep roots in Illinois and as a nearly 100-year-old organization, we understand the hard work and commitment required to achieve success," said Heather Thompson, GROWMARK executive director of enterprise marketing. "We're excited to join the Family of Companies in supporting and celebrating Illinois State student-athletes as they work hard to represent their University, pursue success, and bring together the local community."

"For 75 years, IAA Credit Union has been proud to be part of the Illinois Farm Bureau family of companies, so when the opportunity came to join together in support of Illinois State University and Redbird Athletics, it was an easy yes," said Nick Brooks, president and CEO of IAA Credit Union. "Illinois State is an important part of our community, and we're proud to be part of a partnership that brings these organizations together to support the university and its athletic program."

"This partnership is an incredible story of the businesses and people of our community coming together to support the advancement of Illinois State University, Redbird Athletics, and the student-athletes that represent our institution," said Matt Moran, general manager of Redbird Sports Properties. "We're proud to wear the Illinois Farm Bureau Family of Companies patches on our competition uniforms and look forward to them being a part of every Redbird game day."

The partnership between the Family of Companies and ISU Athletics that brought the department-wide jersey patch collaboration to life was facilitated by Redbird Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield and exclusive multimedia holder for the Redbirds.

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Media Contacts:
Sierra Henry, Illinois Farm Bureau
Sr. Media Relations Specialist
309-557-2083 (office); 309-808-9673 (cell)
[email protected]

Mike Williams, Illinois State University Athletics
Associate AD/Communications
309-438-7748 (office); 309-825-8828 (cell)
[email protected]

About the Illinois Farm Bureau Family of Companies
Founded in 1916, Illinois Farm Bureau - originally known as the Illinois Agricultural Association - is a nonprofit, grassroots membership organization. Illinois Farm Bureau and a statewide network of county Farm Bureaus give members an advantage through impactful advocacy, trusted information, and meaningful development to support their careers and Illinois farm families.

About the Illinois State University
Established in 1857, Illinois State University is Illinois' oldest public university and located in Normal, Illinois. Founded as the first public institution of higher education in the state, the University was initially established as a teacher education institution and developed into a multipurpose university with degree programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Illinois State is one of 12 public universities in Illinois. Its 37 academic departments and schools offer 210 bachelor's degree programs in the colleges of Applied Science and Technology, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, the Mennonite College of Nursing, and Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts. The Graduate School coordinates 110 master's, 42 certificate/specialist, and 20 doctoral programs. The University's academic programs are supported by the services and collections of Milner Library. The University enrolls students from throughout Illinois, 45 states and territories, and 73 countries. Students are mentored by faculty members dedicated to superior teaching, including numerous teacher-scholars recognized at national and international levels for their research and contributions to their field.

About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative revenue generation solutions, student-athlete marketing initiatives, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

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