Bloomington, Ill. (September 28, 2022) – COUNTRY Financial® entered into an agreement today with GROWMARK, on the sale of the Financial Services Building, located at 1705 Towanda Ave in Bloomington, Illinois. The two organizations anticipate the sale to be finalized later this year.

GROWMARK and COUNTRY Financial both have rich histories with the Illinois Farm Bureau. The companies have worked alongside each other for more than 95 years to serve farmers and communities in Illinois and across the United States. Together, Illinois Farm Bureau (founded in 1916), COUNTRY Financial® (1925) and GROWMARK (1927) are committed to a strong, sustainable future in order to serve members and clients/customers into their second century of collaboration. ​

“Our companies maintain strong working relationships just as we have done since the inception of each organization,” said COUNTRY Financial CEO Jim Jacobs. “As we review our desired workplace culture and corresponding space needs in a post COVID-19 world, we’re excited that this transaction will allow us the opportunity to offer an enhanced in-person employee experience by bringing people together to collaborate and learn from each other on the IAA Building Campus (1701 Towanda Ave.).”

The opportunity also allows COUNTRY Financial to change its building footprint within the city of Bloomington while still maintaining a close working relationship with GROWMARK, as the agricultural cooperative takes ownership of the facility across the parking lot to serve as its new headquarters.

“GROWMARK remains committed to our relationship with the Illinois Farm Bureau to serve our customers and producers throughout Illinois and beyond. This opportunity with COUNTRY Financial allows us to retain a connection to the current shared campus, while also enhancing our space to provide employees with what they need to do their best work. We look forward to this transition and the benefits it will yield for our customers and employees,” said GROWMARK CEO Mark Orr.

COUNTRY Financial employees located in the Financial Services Building are anticipated to move to other office locations in Bloomington while GROWMARK begins renovations on their new headquarters. Following GROWMARK’s transition into the new headquarters, renovations will begin on its former location in the Illinois Farm Bureau building at 1701 Towanda Ave. before COUNTRY Financial employees move into that space.

About GROWMARK:

GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative serving almost 400,000 customers across North America, providing agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services. Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by member cooperatives. More information is available at growmark.com.

GROWMARK Media Contact:

Chris Grogan

Manager, Publications and Media Relations

GROWMARK, Inc.

309-557-6189

[email protected]

About COUNTRY Financial^®

COUNTRY Financial serves about one million households and businesses throughout the United States and offers a full range of financial products and services from auto, home, business, farm and life insurance to retirement planning services, investment management and annuities.

COUNTRY FINANCIAL Media Contact:

Chris Coplan

Public Relations Supervisor

309-821-5357

[email protected]