Jamestown   (NDFU)  – Farmers Union Insurance (FUI) recently reached an agreement with the Central Cass School Board to secure the 15-year naming rights to a new turf field that will be built this summer in Casselton.

Morgan Forness, superintendent of Central Cass School, said the generous “matching gift challenge” in the amount of $175,000 was pledged to the school by FUI. The field will be known as Farmers Union Insurance Field, she said, and will not only serve the school district of 950 students, but also the city of Casselton (population 2,800) and the entire region of eastern North Dakota.

 

The gift has been designated for Phase II of the Athletics Complex project consisting of the new turf football field and an eight-lane synthetic track.

 

Kevin Ressler, chief sales, marketing & brand officer for FUI, says, “This sponsorship fits perfectly with our ‘Simply Different’ brand.” It doubles down on our belief of supporting rural communities and the folks who live there. Because the facility is important to the community of Casselton and rural Cass County, it’s also important to us.”

 

Ressler adds, “I hope we can continue our commitment in the future,” because that’s what really separates us from other insurance companies. Most major brands have moved away from having a presence in rural communities. We’ve actually increased the number of agencies we have in small towns to serve the population that meets our mission of building stronger communities.”

 

FUI is also the premier sponsor of the North Dakota High School Activities Association and the BEK Broadcasting Network which televises high school athletic competitions throughout North Dakota. The company sponsors numerous other sports organizations and activities. Last year, FUI purchased the naming rights to a hockey arena in Northwood, as well as an expansion rink – the Farmers Union Insurance Center – attached to the Scheels Arena in Fargo, home of Fargo Force hockey.

 

“The support of Farmers Union Insurance is greatly appreciated and solidifies our belief that our collaborative vision for Central Cass School and the city of Casselton is on target,” said Forness. “The matched gift, dollar for dollar, will secure $350,000 to the school project, which will cover the entire cost of the new turf field being built. It brings the total raised since October of 2016 to $7.3 million and gets us ever closer to our goal of $8 million.

 

“The passion and giving spirit behind individuals and the business community toward the project is impressive and should be commended, as they invest in the future of the educational and recreational opportunities of our young people. The school district and city are poised for growth and it’s a privilege to experience the investment in this project.”

 

Central Cass will complete construction on the school and Phase II of the Athletics Complex in the fall of 2018.

 

Forness adds, “This is an exciting time for us at Central Cass and I hope others will continue to come forward to help meet our end goal for all aspects of the school; from academics, arts, and athletics as it all benefits our students and community when we invest in our youth.”