By Madelyn Haasken
Published 2:11 pm on August 26, 2026
While the cheers at Chet Anderson Stadium are always loud, the community’s support for Beaver Athletics is deafening. And even before Bemidji State University’s student-athletes returned to campus for the new school year, that support was on full display.
Unveiled in mid-July, the Chet boasts a brand-new, state-of-the-art synthetic turf field — a renovation made possible by the generous donations of Federated Insurance, First National Bank of Bemidji, and Jan Lueken.
For BSU Athletics, the change is transformative.
“The first time I walked on this turf, I cried,” Bemidji State director of athletics Britt Lauritsen said. "It was just a relief for us to have for our student-athletes. It’s one step in making sure that we’re providing really good facilities.”
BSU is just the second NCAA Division II school to install this type of turf, which is fully 3D printed and one of the few turf systems approved by the NFL for concussion protocol. Rolled out by Mammoth Construction and Shaw Sports Turf, the field’s design showcases BSU’s North Woods roots with pine tree silhouettes in both end zones and an all-white Beaver logo at midfield.
On Monday, Aug. 24, Federated Insurance and First National Bank employees were invited to the Chet to check out the new turf and meet with student-athletes who benefit directly from their generosity.
From the moment junior Dayna Stocke stepped onto the field, the excitement was undeniable. As she put it: “Having a nice field to play on is every soccer player’s dream.”
Zach Ott, a football captain and First National Bank representative, noted that competing on a top-tier field instills a sense of pride within his team that will keep them motivated all season long.
“Having this turf brings a new form of excitement when you come out to practice and get ready for game day,” he said. “You have something brand new, something shiny, something you’re ready to show off and compete on.”
That enthusiasm extends well beyond the teams themselves. Upgrades like the new turf also have the power to elevate the game-day experience for fans, said Dominic Fairbanks, a First National Bank representative and current BSU men's basketball player.
As the season kicks off this week with football on Thursday and soccer on Friday, he hopes the anticipation sparked by the new turf project will result in crowded stands at the Chet.
“Facility upgrades are always going to draw people,” Fairbanks said. “First game of the season might be packed — I'd want to come see the new field if I hadn’t seen it yet. Having newly renovated facilities brings more fans and more excitement.”
And for student-athletes like senior soccer player Megan Ko, who use the field on a near-daily basis, the generosity of the project’s donors serves as a powerful reminder of the strong support surrounding her team.
“It’s really nice to know that the community of Bemidji is supportive of the athletic programs,” she said. "Knowing that the donors were nice enough to help us reach our goals and improve our program is really meaningful to us.”
The folks behind the field
The donors behind the project believe that backing Bemidji State’s student-athletes is a vital investment in both their futures and their safety.
As a former BSU football player, Federated Insurance representative Mike Anderson knows firsthand the importance of a high-quality playing surface and cites player safety as a primary focus of the field upgrade.
“I feel great that this turf is way safer for student-athletes to be on,” he said. “It makes me feel good that Federated helped, and it might prevent someone from getting a career-ending injury, which is a big deal.”
Federated Insurance representative Drew Fisher, a former BSU hockey player, noted the organization’s steadfast commitment to supporting his alma mater.
“We have hundreds of alumni who work for Federated,” he said, “so it feels awesome to give back and have our name on the field.”
Ott and Fairbanks also emphasized the strong ties between First National Bank and Bemidji State, highlighting the partnership’s profound impact on students like themselves.
“When the bank is showing an investment in the athletes, and the athletes show an investment in the community, it creates a healthy relationship between both and it helps out the community altogether,” Ott said.
For Jan Lueken, contributing to the turf project served as a way to honor the memory of her late husband, Joe, who was a longtime supporter of Bemidji State.
"Joe recognized the importance of the athletic programs at BSU and was instrumental in getting the first artificial turf into the stadium,” she said. “In his memory, I wanted to carry on his legacy by helping to replace that turf."
As the new school year begins and anticipation builds for fall sports, Lauritsen voiced a heartfelt appreciation to the donors who brought the project to life.
“The impact donors have on our department is immeasurably valuable,” she said. “We have donors in our corner who not only trust our vision and mission, but who also hit the accelerator to move the vision and mission forward.”
