State Farm® Invests in Future Leaders

First Youth Advisory Board Established

Bloomington, IL., July 23, 2006 – In a move to develop a better understanding of business and stronger leadership skills in students, State Farm recently named 30 young adults to serve on its first Youth Advisory Board.

“This is our opportunity to partner with students to help improve their education. After all, today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders and workforce,” said Edward B. Rust Jr., Chairman and CEO of State Farm Insurance.

The new State Farm Youth Advisory Board is a diverse group of students ages 17 to 20, selected from nearly 650 national applications. They will play a leadership role in creating a $5 million-a-year State Farm funded initiative and in overseeing the awarding of grants to student-led service-learning projects, which will address issues like teen seatbelt use and disaster preparedness.

Service-learning is a teaching method that incorporates service to the community with classroom learning. State Farm believes that through service-learning, young people can have opportunities to make change in their communities while at the same time become better prepared for college, the workforce, and active community involvement.

“This investment in young people reflects State Farm’s sincere commitment to tapping the passion and expertise of our younger generation,” Rust added.

State Farm will award one-year board members $5,000 scholarships upon the successful completion of their board service. Two-year members will receive $3,000 scholarships for their first year and $5,000 scholarships for their second year. Board members may use the scholarships for post-secondary education at a four-year, two-year, or vocational training program.

Board members were chosen to represent each of the 12 U.S. State Farm zones and the one Canadian zone.

Chosen to State Farm’s inaugural Youth Advisory Board were:

At-Large Board Members:

State Farm® insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve over 74 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada. State Farm also offers financial services products through State Farm Bank®. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No.22 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca™.