INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance announced the eXceL Awards round one winners on the company’s Web site at www.infarmbureau.com. The company received 3,800 entries for competition this year.

High school students throughout Indiana are competing in six categories for artistic expression: writing, music, two-dimensional art, three-dimensional art, video, and performance. Secrets is the topic for this year’s competition.

“As an Indiana-based company, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance believes strongly in our responsibility to give back to the communities in which our employees and agents live and work,” says Patty Poehler, senior vice president, marketing. “The eXceL Awards program allows us to encourage and highlight the talent of young people in every community of our state. We are thrilled with the positive response we continue to receive from students, parents, and educators.”

Round two winners will be announced on March 14, 2008, and round three winners (state finalists) will be announced on March 21, 2008. The eXceL Awards State Finals will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2008, at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center on the University of Indianapolis campus. The public is invited to attend and admission is free.

Winners are awarded college scholarships. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance has sponsored the competition since its inception in 1989. Last year $73,000 in scholarship prizes was awarded to Hoosier students.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, organized by Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc., in 1934, has grown to include insurance products for auto, life, home, business, and farm. Banking and other financial services and products also are available through our offices. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance serves Hoosiers through an extensive network of more than 450 agents and 1,200 employees living and working throughout the state. With a home office in downtown Indianapolis and local offices in all 92 counties, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance is the largest writer of farm insurance and the second largest writer of personal lines insurance in the state.