Sec Form 5 Filing - RIFE JOHN A @ UNITED FIRE GROUP INC - 2015-12-31

FORM 5 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person RIFE JOHN A 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol UNITED FIRE GROUP INC [ UFCS] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) X __ Other (specify below) Former Director (Last) (First) (Middle) 118 2ND AVE SE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 12/31/2015 (Street) CEDAR RAPIDS, IA52401-1212 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 8,569 ( 1 ) I See footnote #1 Common Stock 21,047 D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Phantom Stock ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Common Stock 2,094.3231 2,094.3231 D Stock Option (right to buy) $ 39.13 ( 3 ) 02/17/2016 Common Stock 20,000 20,000 D Stock Option (right to buy) $ 28.925 ( 3 ) 05/15/2023 Common Stock 1,755 1,755 D Stock Option (right to buy) $ 34.39 ( 3 ) 02/15/2018 Common Stock 3,000 3,000 D Stock Option (right to buy) $ 21.095 ( 3 ) 05/16/2022 Common Stock 2,145 2,145 D Stock Option (right to buy) $ 35.23 ( 3 ) 02/16/2017 Common Stock 20,000 20,000 D Stock Option (right to buy) $ 22.46 ( 3 ) 05/19/2020 Common Stock 2,727 2,727 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other RIFE JOHN A 118 2ND AVE SE CEDAR RAPIDS, IA52401-1212 Former Director Signatures /s/ John A. Rife by Michael T. Wilkins, Attorney-in-Fact 02/12/2016 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )The number of shares (excluding frationals) beneficially held indirectly by the Reporting Person includes: 6723 shares held in an individual retirement account for Mr. Rife's benefit; 1405 shares heldindividually by Mr. Rife's spouse; and 441 shares held in a SEP individual retirement account for Mr. Rife's benefit. ( 2 )Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of the Issuer's common stock. The shares of phantom stock become payable, in cash, in one lump sum or prorated over five years, at the election of the Reporting Person, upon the Reporting Person's termination of service as a director. ( 3 )All options currently exercisable.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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