Carroll County Farm Bureau

By Chastity Welch, Farm Bureau Manager

Don’t forget to go register for the “America’s Farmers Grow Communities” at www.growcommunities.com. The program is sponsored by Monsanto and allows farmers to give back to a nonprofit in their county. One farmer in Carroll County will be picked to give $2500 to their favorite nonprofit organization. All you have to do is fill out a short survey. You do have to be 21 years of age or older, and actively farming a minimum of 250 acres of corn, soybeans, and/or cotton, or 40 acres of open-field vegetables, or at least 10 acres of vegetables in protected culture. If you are trying to decide what nonprofit to use, consider the Carroll County Farm Bureau Foundation. The foundation supports ag education from wee little ones all the way up to college students.

If you have not signed up for the Blue Man Group bus trip, you have until November 15th to get your tickets. The trip is planned for Saturday, January 7th, 2012. The bus will leave Carroll County at 9:15 a.m. and return approximately 7 p.m. that evening. Cost is $70 for the ticket and transportation. I have heard many great things about the Blue Man Group’s performance. We are very excited to offer this to our membership and hope you will join us!

Illinois Farm Bureau encourages members to apply for involvement in ACTION TEAMs, a unique leadership opportunity. Brochure applications are available on the IFB website at www.ilfb.org / Get Involved / Grow Committee Success / ACTION TEAMs and at your local county Farm Bureau. Apply by December 9, 2011.

Applicants can select the TEAM that matches their interests and skills: Public Relations, Education, Membership, and Quality of Life.

Each TEAM is comprised of 10-15 men and women with a variety of leadership and life experiences. TEAMs meet twice a year in Bloomington to develop and launch new, innovative statewide Farm Bureau programs that address the needs of agriculture and farm families.

Recent ACTION TEAM accomplishments include the Public Relations Team’s pro livestock radio ads in Stephenson, DeKalb, Clinton, and Jo Daviess counties, and the Education Team’s educational commodities signs to use at fairs, festivals, and other venues around the state.

The Quality of Life Team promoted the importance of farm succession planning with two mini seminars at the IAA Annual Meeting while the Membership Team distributed memory sticks pre-loaded with membership information for various groups.

For more information on the Action Teams give our office a call at .

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 Prairie Advocate.