{"id":35587,"date":"2025-08-08T14:59:33","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T14:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/grand-forks-softball\/?p=35587"},"modified":"2025-08-08T14:59:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T14:59:33","slug":"farmers-union-insurance-named-presenting-sponsor-of-grand-forks-softball-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/grand-forks-spitfires\/2025\/08\/08\/farmers-union-insurance-named-presenting-sponsor-of-grand-forks-softball-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmers Union Insurance Named Presenting Sponsor of Grand Forks Softball Team"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1655.68px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Grand Forks\u2019 newest sports team is proud to announce a presenting sponsorship agreement with Farmers Union Insurance (FUI), marking a major milestone as the team prepares for the launch of its Northwoods League Softball franchise in 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI\u2019ve had the opportunity to work with John Bollinger and his team for years\u2014and they are the real deal,\u201d said <\/span><b>Kevin Ressler<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Chief Branding and Sales Officer at Farmers Union Insurance. \u201cThey put on affordable, out-of-the-box family entertainment and always do it in a way that connects families, businesses, and the community to celebrate and give back. We\u2019re proud to support them in this next chapter and can\u2019t wait to help show Grand Forks what their <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fun Done Differently<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> experience is all about.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As part of the partnership, FUI will receive logo placement as the Presenting Sponsor on each season\u2019s unique logo, naming rights to the official Team Name Contest, jersey patches on all home uniforms, in-game advertising during Northwoods League broadcasts, and title rights to one of the team\u2019s premier promotions: the Team Jersey Giveaway.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But this isn\u2019t your typical giveaway. Powered by the community, the event blends exclusive fan experiences with meaningful impact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First launched in Bismarck in 2018, this unique spin on a giveaway promotion invites fans to line up as early as 8:00 AM on the designated day. The first 500 people who donate at least three canned goods receive an exclusive, limited-edition team jersey\u2014unavailable anywhere else. Once they\u2019re gone, they\u2019re gone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Bismarck and Minot, these collectible jerseys are typically claimed by noon, making the event one of the largest single-day food drives in support of the Great Plains Food Bank each year. The promotion\u2019s success has been so impactful that Farmers Union Insurance has expanded it across multiple sports partnerships throughout the states they serve.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2025, despite heavy rain, Larks fans in Bismarck set a new record\u2014donating over 3,300 pounds of food in a single morning. In 2024, the event collected 3,150 pounds, reinforcing its status as the largest single-day food drive in North Dakota. Since launching the initiative in 2018, more than 24,000 pounds of food have been donated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThis is one of my favorite days of the year,\u201d Ressler added. \u201cYou can\u2019t always count on the weather in North Dakota, but you can count on North Dakotans showing up for each other. We\u2019re proud to serve a community that tirelessly serves others.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alongside Larks players and staff, more than 20 Farmers Union Insurance agents volunteered at this year\u2019s food drive, helping distribute jerseys and collect donations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cIt\u2019s amazing when you can do something so fun for the fans\u2014leveraging the power of our team brand and players\u2014and at the same time give back to a great cause while showcasing a sponsor\u2019s commitment to community,\u201d said <\/span><b>John Bollinger<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, team owner. \u201cI just want to thank Farmers Union Insurance. They truly live their mission of being <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">simply different<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. They\u2019ve always believed in our vision that <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fun Done Differently<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> creates core memories, a stronger community, and lifelong fans. We can\u2019t wait to bring that same energy to Grand Forks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The official team name, logo, and full schedule will be unveiled later this year. Fans can vote in the FUI Team Name Contest at<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/grandforkssoftball.com\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">grandforkssoftball.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><b>About Farmers Union Insurance<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With over 70 years of experience, Farmers Union Insurance meets the needs of North Dakotans through a statewide network of 114 agents across 70 locations, committed to being <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Simply Different<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><b>About Northwoods League Softball<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Northwoods League Softball is the nation\u2019s first for-profit women\u2019s summer collegiate softball league. The Grand Forks team will be one of the founding franchises in its 2026 inaugural season.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><b>About the Great Plains Food Bank<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Great Plains Food Bank is North Dakota\u2019s only food bank, supporting a partner network of 196 food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, and feeding programs across the state and in Clay County, MN.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":35591,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.5 (Yoast SEO v26.5) - 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