Good Neighbor Stories

State Farm® announces sponsorship of Amateur Golfer Brandon Holtz ahead of two major events

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:42:00 -0500

Update (June 18, 2026): Brandon Holtz is set to tee off in his second major this year, golf’s national championship, June 18-21 in Southampton, N.Y. The State Farm red thread will continue to pull through as Brandon will have his brother Brent, a State Farm agent, on his bag as his caddie. Be on the lookout for the three ovals and catch all of the action on NBC, USA Network and Peacock.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (April 3, 2026) - State Farm today announced its sponsorship of amateur golfer and Bloomington, Illinois native Brandon Holtz as he competes on two of golf’s biggest stages: The first major tournament of the golf calendar in April, and its national championship in June. This sponsorship underscores the commitment State Farm has to being a Good Neighbor by showing up for people in defining moments and helping them build a better future as they pursue their dreams.

"What Brandon has accomplished to earn a place on two of golf’s biggest stages this year is extraordinary, and we're proud to support him as he competes at the highest level," said Alyson Griffin, Head of Marketing at State Farm. “It’s exactly the kind of moment that reflects what we stand for, made even more meaningful by someone so deeply connected to the State Farm family. That’s what being a Good Neighbor is all about, backing people as they chase their dreams and making sure support is there when the moment arrives.”

For Holtz, the State Farm connection runs deep. His father – who also serves as his caddie – is a longtime former State Farm employee, while his brother Brent and sister-in-law Robyn are current State Farm agents who have both appeared as themselves in State Farm commercials. Alongside several other relatives with ties to the company, these family roots create an authentic link to the brand’s people-first mission.

Holtz earned his invitations to two of this year’s majors after winning a qualifying amateur championship in Scottsdale, Arizona last fall. He is one of only seven amateurs who received the coveted invite to compete in Augusta, Ga., April 6-12. Following that event, Holtz will then make his first start in the sport’s national championship, June 18-21 in Southampton, New York.

Holtz, not of a traditional golf background, was first a basketball player and a member of the Illinois State men’s basketball team from 2005 to 2009 before trying his hand at professional golf, playing in a variety of mini tour events.

“Having State Farm as a sponsor on this journey is huge,” said Holtz. “I’m a local guy who grew up in and around the State Farm community, and I’ve seen firsthand what ‘Like a good neighbor’ looks like through the way they show up and support people. Golf was always a secondary sport for me, but I put in the work, and to be 39 years old and headed to Augusta with State Farm sponsoring me is something I’m incredibly proud of.”

The brand’s sponsorship of Holtz will bring the Good Neighbor message to life through storytelling and community engagement, with a focus on the preparation behind major life moments and the support systems that help people pursue what’s next, whether in sport or in everyday life.

State Farm Sponsors SkillsUSA To Support Workforce Development, Close Skills Gap

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 09:58:00 -0500

State Farm Insurance Companies has announced support for SkillsUSA, a national nonprofit focused on workforce development. The 2019 grant will support the mission of SkillsUSA and several national programs that help SkillsUSA instructors and their students become world class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.

Thanks to the support of State Farm, SkillsUSA will focus on instructor training that helps grow its local chapters. Instructors will receive the latest information and tools in employability skills training, leadership development and teaching strategies.

State Farm is supporting:

SkillsUSA’s Engage training for teachers at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in June 2019
Ongoing workshops on educational resources including the SkillsUSA Career Essentials suite, SkillsUSA’s flagship curriculum for middle school, high school, college/postsecondary and adult learners
Materials and instruction at the 2019 Call to Action session, held exclusively for over 600 SkillsUSA instructors at the NLSC
A teacher track during the Washington Leadership Training Institute in Washington, D.C., attended by SkillsUSA instructors from 28 states, in September 2019

In addition, SkillsUSA Championships supported by State Farm will include the 2019 Auto Refinishing, Collision Repair and Collision Damage Appraisal competitions, in which national competitors will test their skills against other students and the clock to industry standards for entry-level employees in these fields. State Farm support also includes a Prize Equity Fund for leadership events and a sector sponsorship for the transportation cluster at the national championships.

State Farm Insurance Companies, headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., has been a SkillsUSA supporter for 20 years with a total investment of over $2.8 million.

“SkillsUSA salutes State Farm for supporting our nation’s top career and technical education programs as we work to prepare career-ready students,” says SkillsUSA’s executive director, Timothy Lawrence. “SkillsUSA is a verified talent pipeline and skills gap solution that graduates 100,000 career-ready SkillsUSA students each year. Our organization lifts up and recognizes students and provides much-needed support for their teachers to ensure America has a future skilled workforce. We could not deliver our crucial mission without companies like State Farm working alongside us.”

“It is extremely important to have highly skilled technicians in body shops across the nation writing collision damage appraisals, repairing the vehicles and refinishing them,” says State Farm Senior Vice President, Property and Casualty Claims, Robert Yi. “The SkillsUSA Championships set industry standards for students and educators and help to ensure that students graduating into these professions possess the knowledge and skills to be successful in their craft.”

For more about the 2019 SkillsUSA Championships, visit: https://www.skillsusa.org/competitions/skillsusa-championships/.

For more information about SkillsUSA, contact:

Jane A. DeShong Short, Program Manager, Public Relations/Communications, Phone: 703-737-0612
Karen Kitzel, Program Manager, Public Relations/Communications, Phone: 703-737-0607

State Farm™ Renews Collaboration With Warrior Dash

Mon, 13 Mar 2017 17:03:44 -0500

Warrior Dash, the 5K obstacle course race that more than 3 million people have completed since 2009, today announced the return of State Farm as part of the 2017 Warrior Dash season.

State Farm will continue their presence in Warrior Dash’s one-of-kind, post-race festival. Here to help before and after competitors get down and dirty on the course, State Farm will have branded duct tape to secure shoes and laces along with floor mats and seat covers to protect vehicles from the mud. The large festival display will also feature yoga mats, agility ladders, jump ropes and more.

“We are thrilled for State Farm to continue their support of the Warrior Dash,” said Ryan Kunkel, co-CEO of Red Frog Events, the producers of Warrior Dash. “State Farm and their highly interactive and creative brand will continue to add an exciting festival element to the Warrior Dash experience.”

"State Farm is proud to collaborate with the Warrior Dash," said State Farm Marketing Manager Mandy Laux. "We are here to help support this event and its over three million participants."

In addition to State Farm’s festival display, the Warrior Hangout offers something for everyone. Participants and spectators alike can enjoy a live DJ, more photo opportunities, lawn games and a full lineup of contests like tug-o-war, dancing, best beard, costume, and more. With more shade and seating options available, the festival remains free of charge and open to the public.

Visit WarriorDash.com to secure a spot in a competitive, preferred, or standard wave at one of Warrior Dash’s 2017 locations.

2017 Warrior Dash Locations:

California, April 8
Georgia, April 15
Tennessee, April 22
Kansas City, April 29
Oklahoma, May 6
Wisconsin, May 13
New York, May 20
Ontario, Can., May 27
North Carolina, June 3
Minnesota, July 8
Nebraska, July 15
Ohio, July 22 & 23
Michigan, July 29
Maryland, August 5
Illinois, August 12
New England, August 19
Pennsylvania, August 26
Indiana, September 9
Colorado, September 16
Washington, September 23
Oregon, October 7
Louisiana, October 21