I wonder if next year when I plan the tractor drive, if we publicize it is for one day, but THEN hold it on another day if I can fake out Mother Nature! In the four years we have sponsored it, each year the storms get worse! The first year we had some rain the night before and sprinkles while we were doing sign up that morning. The second year, we had the huge storm late afternoon the day before which wiped out power to most of us in the Lanark/Milledgeville area. I know mine at home was off for 3 days. Last year, we had another good wind and rain storm the night before which took all the directional signs down! Luckily no one got lost. And low and behold this year certainly takes the cake with 6 inches of rain before we took off! Sign up was definitely in the rain and we were all wet!

However as soon as the tractors hit the road, things started to clear up! I am just very grateful the decision was made to go with it as Saturday there would have been no way we could have had it. Despite the weather we had 67 out of 97 tractors show up. Thank you to the following for making sure we had a great day: Marion Zemke served as our guide as the sheriff’s department was quite busy with all the water, Keith Schriner and Heidi Weber for going up and taking aerial photos, Susie Hill who I just met due to her wanting to help with the day (you have to love when someone just calls you up! Thanks Susie!), COUNTRY Financial Agents Ernie Bates and John Bickelhaupt for providing the water and pop for the very warm day, and Stu Stone and his wife Shelley, along with their friends for the great lunch! Also, a big thank you to the CCFB Directors who were able to help that day: Larry Alexander, Mike Behrens, Allen Derrer, Leroy Getz, Ron Iske, and Keith Rath. It is always helpful to have extra followers and “spotters” at intersections to help.

You shouldn’t be able to miss it, but this week is the Carroll County Fair! Today (Wednesday) we open up our Children’s Farm for the week. We will be open from 12:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and noon until 5 p.m. on Saturday. Kids will be able to do “chores” in our farm. We will also have the Sheep Rodeo on Thursday night at 6 p.m. in front of the grandstand. Then on Saturday, we will have a pedal pull at the hospitality tent. Sign in will start at 12:30 with the pull starting at 1 p.m.

If you have not ordered your peaches yet, we need your order ASAP! They will be coming in the third week of August. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members for a 25 lb box. They are cresthaven peaches from Southern Illinois.

All dues have been mailed. If you have not received yours, please give our office a call. They are due on August 31.

I am excited to announce we have a new Local Discount provider! The Plum Patch is offering 15% off all soap and lotion purchases. You may contact Melissa at for more information.