Carroll County Farm Bureau

By Chastity Welch, Farm Bureau Manager

Before I start in on the last half of 2012, I first want to let everyone know that we will be having a trip preview meeting for a trip to Mackinac Island and Agawa Canyon Rail Adventure. The preview meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 16th at our office at 6:30 p.m. The trip itself will take place on August 19-25, 2013. The trip is with Tri-State Travel and other County Farm Bureaus. The trip will visit the Lake Michigan Sand Dunes, Dutch Village, Ontario Canada, and the “Very Bavarian City” of Frankenmuth, Michigan. Please RSVP for the trip preview meeting by giving our office a call at 815-244-3001.

Now back to 2012. In July, we raised $1950 for our Ag Literacy Coalition with our Annual Tractor Drive. For the first time in the history of the drive, we did not get wet. I know I disappointed a lot of people that day with breaking the streak. I still cannot thank the Brookville United Methodist Church enough for their support at the stop there. They out did themselves and went above and beyond anything we could have asked for. We also did our bus trip to see the Chicago Cubs play and for the first time did not fill the bus. Another first happened as I experienced my first ever rain delay, in the middle of a monsoon I do believe. It was the only rain I saw all summer!

The end of July must have been about the time I started waiving the white flag of defeat. Summer caught up with me and left me drained for the rest of it. August brought the fair which did get a little bit of rain. The Young Leaders and the 4-H held their second annual Ag Olympics. The rain fell before the event and during, but not one person complained! It was also when membership dues were due and audit preparation had begun. So maybe that is why I can’t seem to remember August too well.

I was very fortunate to have Renee Deuth in as a trainee twice this summer. Renee is a local girl from Polo and was just recently named the Mason and Menard County Farm Bureau manager. I had a sense of pride when she got the job. It was kind of like watching your first born go off to college. I know she will succeed in her career as a Farm Bureau manager.

September and October brought a quick harvest. I was asked to serve as a “judge” by a few for the National Corn Grower’s Yield Contest. I hope I get asked again last year as it was great to get out of the office for a few hours and ride in the combine with members. In fact, if I don’t get asked, I think I better put it on my things to just go do! Nothing beats some combine conversations. It also was the kick off of the Membership Advisory Committee. We are working harder and harder to educate our non-farm members on who Farm Bureau is, what we do, and why to belong.

November was still quiet here at the office so I used up some of my time and took off a number of days. It helped rejuvenate me as December was coming.

December brings fruits and nuts, and Farm Show, and the IAA Annual Meeting. Everything flowed smoothly as always. Holiday fruit and nuts arrived and were able to be distributed without any bad weather. The Women’s Committee made 90 fruit baskets. The shipments continue to be a great quality citrus. I know many of you miss the peaches but the quality was just to inconsistent for us to be able to continue the program.

So now we have come to the New Year. What will it bring? There are a few programs up our sleeves and some new things to try.

Farm Bureau Classifieds

Carroll County Farm Bureau members can place up to two (2) free classified ads per week, with a limit of 250 characters per ad (not including spaces). Ads are limited to personal or farm items for sale/wanted to buy, or farm labor or services available or wanted. No ads for the sale or rental of real estate, garage sales, or commercial businesses will be accepted. To place an ad, call the Farm Bureau office at 815- 244-3001 by noon Friday to get your ad in the following week’s paper.

For sale John Deere 48” snow blade.  Fits GT series lawn & garden tractor. $300.00 OBO.  815-225-5622 after 5:00 p.m.

FS: Large capacity hotpoint refrigerator/freezer, energy efficient, glass spill proof shelves, upfront temp controls, coil free back $250 OBO 815-213-1097

FS: Outback 360 GPS Mapping System, never used. Make an offer 815-259-2315

FS: Hound Hunter electronic dog collar by Sport Dog, 2 mile range $225 815-244-9610

FS: Cub Cadet 1024 lawn tractor, 50in cut 320 hours. $400 815-244-9610

FREE: 7 ft long, 3 piece entertainment center, light wood. 815-244-1883

WANTED: Twin Mattress. 815-244-1883

WANTED: Looking for antique hand noodle cutter. 815-499-2884

FS: S and I 20ft hay feeder wagon $1,000. 815-259-2315

FS: Butternut squash and walnuts by the pint. 815-493-2364