DATES TO REMEMBER

January 5-7Illinois Specialty Crops &Agritourism Conference,Springfield, ILJanuary 6Board of Directors, 7:30 p.m.January 7IFB Young Leaders Conf. HotelRegistration DueJanuary 9Young Farmers/FFA ChaptersBowling Night, St. CharlesBowl, 5 p.m.January 9-12AFBF Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GAJanuary 12Women’s Committee, 9:15 a.m.January 28-30IFB Young Leaders Conf.,Springfield

ChiliWarm your belly with a hot bowl of chili – this month’s

special at the Farm Bureau. This tasty recipe includes beef, pintobeans, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, peppercini and celery. It hasa blend of spices that makes it tasty, but not too hot – about a 4 ona scale of 1 to 10.

Thaw/cook in your microwave or thaw overnight, place thawedin a sauce pan and heat thoroughly until hot and you’ve got your-self a warm winter treat. Heat some up when the kids come in fromsledding or after you’ve finished shoveling the driveway. Chili isthe perfect party pleaser. Have a pot ready when your friends comeover to watch the game.

Each 2 pound microwaveable tub ispriced at $6.00 for Plus members and$6.50 for M or A members. It’s available at the Farm Bureau,Randall Rd. and Oak St. in St. Charles, only during the month ofJanuary or while supply lasts.

VOL. 76 NO. 1 JANUARY 2011

Kane County FarmerKane County Farmer

JANUARYSPECIAL

KCFB recognized at IFB Annual MeetingKane County Farm Bureau

was recognized for its achieve-ments during the 96th annualmeeting of the Illinois FarmBureau held at the RenaissanceGrand Hotel in St. Louis,December 4-7.

In program awards competi-tion among the largest countyFarm Bureaus in Illinois, KaneCounty was recognized for itsprogram efforts in MembershipQuota & Ag Literacy (GoldStar); Commodities &Marketing, Communication &Promotion, Legislative/Politi-cal Process, Local Affairs,Member Relations (SilverStar) and Development (BronzeStar). Kane County alsoreceived “Gold Star” recognitionfor its continuous growth in itstotal membership since 1997.

Illinois Farm Bureau judges

local program and committeeefforts annually and presentsawards in recognition of out-standing county Farm Bureauvolunteer efforts throughout theyear. Kane County’s Women’sCommittee received a “GoldStar” for their efforts in 2010.A “Silver Star” was awarded tothe KCFB Young FarmersCommittee, open to KCFBmembers age 18-35.

IFB also presented theKCFB Young FarmersCommittee with an award for itshunger relief efforts. The IFBYoung Leaders sponsor theHarvest for All Award that goesto the CFB in each district thatraises the most funds to benefitlocal food pantries. KaneCounty’s Harvest for ALL pro-gram generated over $17,000 incombined donations from crop

proceeds, cash and in-kinddonations.

KCFB received a “BronzeStar” in the Multi-County

Project area for its efforts tocooperate with other CountyFarm Bureaus to achieve sharedgoals and maximize the impactof programming and events.

Delegates representing KaneCounty at the meeting wereKCFB President Joe White ofElburn, Vice-President WayneSchneider of West Dundee,Secretary-Treasurer Alan Volppof Hampshire and Director BobGehrke of Elgin. They wereamong the 370 plus votingmembers of county FarmBureaus in Illinois who helpedset policy on local, state andnational issues for the state’slargest organization of farmers.KCFB Directors who attendedthe Annual Meeting as alternatedelegates were Beth Engel,Gene Feldott and FrankCarlson.

KCFB President Joe White (l) of Elburn accepts a plaque for programand committee achievement from IFB Vice-president RichardGuebbert at the Illinois Farm Bureau’s 96th Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Kane County earned a Gold Star for its program efforts inMembership & Ag Literacy.

St. Charles teacher AITC Top Teacher finalistLaura Rapach, fifth grade

teacher at Davis ElementarySchool in St Charles, wasnamed a finalist for the 2010Illinois Agriculture in theClassroom Teacher of the YearAward. Rapach has been a val-ued tour participant in KaneCounty Farm Bureau’s SummerAg Institute I and II and hastaken part in a number ofteacher workshops at the FarmBureau. Her desire to gatherknowledge about agriculture topass on to her students and herinquisitive, energetic natureprompted Ag LiteracyCoordinator Suzi Myers tonominate her for the award.

“Laura compliments her cur-riculum through the use of agri-culture in many creative ways,”said Myers. “She makes learn-ing both challenging and fun for

her students.” Myers added, “Itis always rewarding to see ateacher who works within cur-riculum boundaries to includeagriculture.”

Rapach said she was veryexcited to be considered for theaward and to be named one ofthe finalists.

“It is very important, to me

that students recognize theimportant contributions thatagriculture makes to their lives,”said Rapach. She added, “Fromputting food on their table tobeing a major player in explor-ing alternative energy sources,farming is at the crux of it all!I’ve really enjoyed in being inAg in the Classroom classes and

I am honored to be recognized.”Rapach expressed her

respect for the agricultural com-munity and says she hopes topass this appreciation on to allof her students.

Dr. Kammie Richter ofOakwood Junior High School inVermilion County received theTeacher of the Year honor thisyear. Dr. Richter will receive a

plaque and a trip to the 2011National Agriculture in theClassroom Conference in Ft.Lauderdale. She will also be theIllinois nominee for theNational Excellence inTeaching Agriculture Award.Runner Up was Bobbi Callmerof Kendall County, a secondgrade teacher at Lisbon GradeSchool in Newark.

St. Charles teacher Laura Rapach was named as one of the finalists forthe Illinois Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the YearAward. Rapach is shown here (at left) with fellow fifth grade teacherDonnanne Marvin on the 2008 KCFB Ag Literacy program’s SummerAg Institute Teacher Tour.

Delegates at the Illinois FarmBureau Annual Meetingapproved resolutions dealingwith the upcoming 2012 FarmBill and the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency at theBureaus 96th annual meetingDecember 4-7 in St. Louis.

In a resolution related to the2012 Farm Bill, delegates creat-ed a top tier of favored programsthat includes direct paymentsand enhancements to both theAverage Crop Revenue Election(ACRE) program and cropinsurance, in advance of theAmerican Farm BureauFederation annual meeting inAtlanta in January. The resolu-tion indicates the delegationssupport for a bill that is consis-tent with U.S. obligations underthe World Trade Organizationand maintains funding levels inthe 2008 Farm Bill.

Today’s action gives ourleaders the flexibility to partici-pate fully in the upcomingdebate in Atlanta and over thenext year, said Mark Gebhards,

IFB Executive Director ofGovernmental Affairs &Commodities.

Delegates approved new pol-icy language supporting arequirement for the U.S. EPA tocollaborate with the UnitedStates Department ofAgriculture (USDA) in thedevelopment of conservationand clean air and water regula-tions impacting agriculture.

Delegates also approved asense of the delegate body reso-lution urging Congress to hold aseries of oversight hearings onU.S. EPAs regulatory overreach,to pass legislation to strip theagency of its authority to regu-late greenhouse gases, and tocut the agency’s budget as aneffort to restore common senseto environmental regulation.

We believe EPA has greatlyoverstepped its authority andhas burdened the nation’s farm-ers over the past two years witha seemingly never-ending andoverwhelming onslaught of new

IFB Annual Meeting notes

Spring – Frozen Food OrdersWatch for details about our Spring Frozen Food Program

in next month’s issue – Pickup will be March 21st.

(continued on page 8)

EDITOR’S NOTE: In an effortto better inform members of thegovernance and policy activi-ties of the organization, anExecutive Summary of themonthly meeting of the Board ofDirectors is being published.

KCFB Vice President WayneSchneider called the DecemberKCFB Board Meeting to orderon December 2 at 7:35 p.m. inthe absence of President JoeWhite. Roll call was taken withWhite and Director DorothyMilnamow not present.Women’s Committee Chair,Louise Johnson of St. Charlesand KCFB Manager, SteveArnold were in attendance.

Manager Steve Arnoldupdated directors on KCFBmembership activity and dis-tributed copies of the monthlymembership newsletter sent toCOUNTRY Financial agentsand representatives as well asKCFB calendars of events forDecember and January.

Arnold also reported on thefollowing: The Annual Meeting

of the KCFB Foundation was setfor December 13 and severalapplications had been submittedfor Foundation internshipsoffered during winter break 2010and spring break 2011; themonthly Illinois Farm Bureaumagazine Partners featuredKCFB member Natasha Lehrerof Big Rock and her shopEsther’s Place Fibers on thecover of their latest issue; theKane County “Fit for Kids” ini-tiative Food Systems workinggroup preview from theNovember 18 meeting of all ninework groups; although KCFBhas no state-registered lobbyists,the organization will be requiredto submit reports to the Secretaryof State every two weeks undernew State of Illinois lobbyistreporting requirements.

The Board reviewed a letterfrom the Illinois Department ofTransportation seeking a repre-sentative from KCFB to serveon a corridor study workinggroup for improvements to ILRoute 47. The Board voted on

and approved Mike Kenyon’snomination to appoint KCFBPresident Joe White to as theorganization’s representative.

Louise Johnson reported thatthe Women’s Committee willcontinue its traditional pro-gramming for 2011 includingflu shot clinics, blood drives,Farm Safety Week “safety treat”reminders for area farmers andassistance with Ag Days expo atMooseheart, Ag in the Class-room Summer Ag Institutes forarea teachers and activities atthe Kane County Fair, .

Wayne Schneider gave thePresident’s Report and distrib-uted program and committeeawards notifications from theIllinois Farm Bureau for whichKCFB would receive recogni-tion at the IFB Annual Meetingin December. Schneider alsoannounced details for the KCFBcitrus sale distribution inDecember and for the Board’sannual Christmas Party.

Treasurer Alan Volpp deliv-ered the Treasurer’s Report andthe Board discussed invest-ments decision responsibilitiesof the KCFB FinanceCommittee.

Director Mike Kenyon deliv-ered reports on Kane CountyBoard and IFB Board activities.In IFB news, Kenyon sharedthat the District 1 resolutionsreview meeting had been heldon November 23 at the DeKalbCounty Farm Bureau, that limit-ed discussion had been held onproposed bylaw amendmentsfor delegate consideration at the

IFB Annual Meeting, and thatthree new district directorswould be elected at that AnnualMeeting in St. Louis.

The Board reviewed the sta-tus of the KCFB Harvest forALL hunger relief effort. Withthe help of many generousdonations, including a $2,300check from the ElburnCooperative Co., contributionsfrom members to local foodpantries are expected to exceed$20,000 this year.

Director Gene Feldott volun-teered to represent KCFB at ameeting with the proprietor ofNelson Media and representa-tives from several other CountyFarm Bureaus on December 15 todiscuss the company’s area radiostation programming for farmers.

Each director received tick-ets to sell for the KCFBFoundation’s 2011 Winner’sChoice Tractor Raffle. The raf-fle features a restored 1950Farmall Cub antique tractor, aJohn Deere zero-turn mower, or$2,500 cash as the grand prize.In keeping with the Farm, Foodand Fuel theme, second prize is$1,000 in groceries and thirdprize is $500 in gas. The winnerwill be drawn Sunday, April 10at Touch-A-Tractor.

Feedback reports from theIFB Program Evaluating andReporting System were circu-lated along with a book of pro-gram ideas for County FarmBureaus.

After entering the meetingand assuming the chair, JoeWhite reported that the IFB’sGovernmental AffairsLeadership Conference wouldbe held February 23-24 inSpringfield. An agenda was cir-

culated for the Illinois SpecialtyCrops, Agritourism andOrganics Conference, to be heldJanuary 5-7, 2011.

After meeting briefly inexecutive session, the Boardadjourned at 9:10 p.m., with thenext Board meeting scheduledfor January 6, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

PAGE 2 KANE COUNTY FARMER JANUARY 2011

You receive the Kane CountyFarmer because you are a FarmBureau member. If you are afarm operator or owner, you ben-efit from a local, state andnational organization committedto agriculture and your way of life.

If you do not have direct tiesto farming, your membershiphelps promote local farms andfarming, encourage wise use ofour limited natural resources andpreserve farmland and our agri-cultural heritage while allowingyou to enjoy COUNTRY insur-ance and the many other benefitsof one of Illinois’ premier mem-bership organizations.

We appreciate your member-ship and continued support andwe welcome your comments onthe content of the Farmer. Weencourage you to make recom-mendations about farm, home,food, natural resource, renewableenergy or agricultural heritageand history related topics forinclusion in future issues of theFarmer.

Kane County FarmerKANE COUNTY FARM BUREAU

PUBLISHED MONTHLYSteven J. Arnold, Editor

Suzi Myers, Ag Literacy CoordinatorElizabeth Dawson, Membership Secretary

Audre Pack, Training SpecialistRyan Klassy, Information Director

OFFICE: Randall Rd. between Routes 64 & 38Address: 2N710 Randall Rd., St. Charles

PHONE: 630-584-8660info@kanecfb.com www.kanecfb.com

OFFICE HOURS: 8:30-5:00 Monday though Friday(USPS No. 289700)

POSTMASTER: Mail form 3579 to2N710 Randall Rd., St. Charles, IL 60174

Periodical Postage • Paid to St. Charles, IL 60174Year Subscription: $2.00

n DISTRICT 1Aurora, Sugar Grove,Big Rock Twnshp.Gene Feldott8S696 Barnes Rd.Aurora, IL 60506630-892-2197Jeff Bornemann4S985 Dugan Rd.Sugar Grove, IL 60554630-466-1626Donna Lehrer7S027 Jericho Rd.Big Rock, IL 60511630-556-3476n DISTRICT 2Kaneville, Blackberry,Gen./Bat. Twnshp.Bill Collins1125 Lewis Rd.Geneva, IL 60134630-232-2043Dorothy Milnamow722 N. Third St.Elburn, IL 60119630-365-1373

Joe WhitePresident47W727 Main St. Rd.Elburn, IL 60119630-557-2517n DISTRICT 3Virgil, Campton,St. Charles Twnshp.Frank Carlson104 Sumac CourtSt. Charles, IL 60174630-513-9980Chris Collins1143 AndersonElburn, IL 60119630-934-4642Al Lenkaitis, Jr.6N352 Fair Oaks Dr.St. Charles, IL 60174630-561-9514n DISTRICT 4Burlington, PlatoElgin Twnshp.Alan VolppSecretary/Treasurer9N728 Peplow Rd.Hampshire, IL 60140847-683-3681

Mike Kenyon1250 E. Main St.South Elgin, IL 60177847-741-1818Robert Gehrke12N860 Route 20Elgin, IL 60123847-697-2538n DISTRICT 5Hampshire, Rutland,Dundee Twnshp.Beth Engel15N638 Walker RoadHampshire, IL 60140847-683-3482Gerald Gaitsch10613 Brittany Ave.Huntley, IL 60142847-669-2003Wayne SchneiderVice President721 Lindsay LaneWest Dundee, IL 60118847-428-3350

KANE COUNTY FARM BUREAU BOARD ATTENDANCEOCTOBER 2010 THRU SEPTEMBER 2011

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JLY AUG SEPT

J. BORNEMANN X X XF. CARLSON X X XB. COLLINS X X XC. COLLINS X X XB. ENGEL X X XG. FELDOTT X X XG. GAITSCH X X XR. GEHRKE X XM. KENYON X X XD. LEHRER X XA. LENKAITIS JR. X X XD. MILNAMOW XW. SCHNEIDER X X XA. VOLPP X X XJ. WHITE X X X

Beef store is now open! Sat. 9-4 or by appointment

100% hormone free beef.Selling individual cuts. Buy as little or as much as you want.

Mark & Linda Schramer, Owners8N840 Lakin Road, Maple Park

815.895.4691 • 1-877-FOR-FDBASample Packs make great gifts!

December 2010 KCFB board meeting review

Eldon, Sandy and Chris Gould were recently named the 2010 Ag in theClassroom Volunteers of the Year in recognition of over three decadesof contributing to ag literacy efforts in Kane County. Chris and hismom Sandy are pictured here at an awards ceremony at the IFBAnnual Meeting in St. Louis in December. The Goulds, who operate afarrow-to-wean hog operation and grain farm in Maple Park, have pro-vided their facilities and expertise to many KCFB Ag Literacy programsincluding SPROUTS, Ag Days and Summer Ag Institute.

Special thanksThe Kane County Farm

Bureau would like to thank JaySchrock and his staff at HeinzBrothers Greenhouse in St.Charles for the use of theirgreenhouse and their assistancewith the KCFB annual citrussale distribution on December15. We appreciate your gen-erosity in helping to providethis service to Kane CountyFarm Bureau members.

Farm Bureau’s nationalmembership rose to 6,279,813member families in 2010, mark-ing 50 consecutive years ofmembership growth. State Farm

Bureaus overall reported a total2,149 more member familiesthis year than in 2009.

American Farm BureauPresident Bob Stallman creditedstrong agricultural advocacyprograms at the local, state andnational levels and the growingportfolio of services offered bystate Farm Bureaus for the orga-nization’s 50th straight year ofmembership growth.

Kentucky Farm Bureau hadthe single largest gain of 16,964members, bringing its member-ship to 500,316. Other statesorganizations with significantgrowth included Texas, whichgrew by 15,414 members to454,674; North Carolina, whichgrew by 11,637 members to520,063; Tennessee, whichgained 8,887 members to reach655,127; and Illinois whichgrew by 4,124 members to426,043. Tennessee FarmBureau is the largest in thenation.

Kane County Farm Bureau’s6th Annual Touch-A-Tractorevent brings a little bit of thefarm to the city on Saturday andSunday, April 9 & 10 at theKane CountyFarm Bureau,Randall Road atOak Street, in St.Charles.

This event isfun and educa-tional for peopleof all ages andmakes a greatfamily outing.Kids can partici-pate in hands-onactivities, ridepedal tractors, shell corn, seefarm animals, explore a kiddy-pool full of corn, sit in the seatof a real tractor or combine, andenter for a FREE chance to wintheir very own pedal tractor.

At the conclusion of the

events on Sunday, April 10 thewinning ticket will be drawn inthe KCFB Foundation Winner’sChoice Tractor Raffle. The first-prize winner will choose from a

1950 FarmallCub antique trac-tor, a John DeereZ245 EZtrak rid-ing lawn mower,or $2,500 in cash.Second prize is$1,000 in gro-ceries and thirdprize is $500 infuel. Tickets are$10 each or 3 for$25 and are avail-able at the Farm

Bureau or by phone at 630-584-8660. The Winners ChoiceTractor Raffle is the primaryfundraiser for KCFB Foundationcollege scholarships.

This is an event you will notwant to miss!

JANUARY 2011 KANE COUNTY FARMER PAGE 3

Touch-A-Tractorcoming soon

Help make Touch-a-Tractor a success.___ Contact me about volunteer opportunities ___ I would like to bring the following farm equipment to display.Please provide a brief description of the equipment. For tractors,include year, make, and model.

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Name ________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________

City_______________________ State______ Zip _____________

Phone (________) ______________________________________Clip and return to Kane County Farm Bureau,2N710 Randall Road, St. Charles, IL 60174

Young Farmers get Harvest for All honorsFor the seventh year in a row,

the Kane County Farm BureauYoung Farmers Committeeearned top honors in the area ofhunger relief. The Illinois FarmBureau’s Young Leaders pro-gram recognized Kane Countyat the IFB Annual Meeting for

raising more funds than all otherCounty Farm Bureaus in itsmembership group through thecombined contributions frommembers of crop proceeds, cashand in-kind donations. A recentcontribution from the ElburnCoop of $2,300 put this year’s

Harvest for ALL effort on paceto exceed $20,000, which willput the total of combined laborhours and donations to localfood pantries over $37,000since KCFB initiated its hungerrelief effort in April of 2009.

Lenkaitis competes in Discussion MeetKCFB Young Farmers

Committee member AndyLenkaitis of St. Charles compet-ed in the Young LeaderDiscussion Meet at the IllinoisFarm Bureau Annual Meeting inSt. Louis in December.

The IFB discussion meetjudges a contestants ability tomanage a small group discus-sion. Each contestant gives anopening statement. Participantsexchange facts and insights on apre-determined topic. Judgesaward points based on basedupon how well participantswork with one another; howwell they express themselves;

and on their knowledge of thetopic.

Topics for 2010 includedunified governmental involve-ment in agriculture, thefoodie/locavore movements,and consumer attitudes towardfood. Twenty people participat-ed in discussion meets at thestate level at the IFB annualmeeting. The eventual winner ofthe competition, Grant Strom ofKnox County, will representIllinois at the nationalDiscussion Meet at theAmerican Farm BureauFederation annual meeting inAtlanta in January.

In grateful appreciation for voluntary participation in hunger relief effortsto benefit local food pantries through contributions to Harvest for ALL,

the Kane County Farm Bureau thanks the following:AnonymousBob & Carol BronskiChris & Hope CollinsElburn Cooperative Co.Francis GeisenGehrke FarmsJames & Beverly GillettMary GrommesAl Hintt & Sons TruckingBeverley “Sue” JacobsonJaynes Family & Lenkaitis

HolsteinsGlenn & Louise JohnsonKarl Kettelkamp & Paul

“Grizz” StoverKeifer Brothers

Kenyon Bros. CompanyBruce & Judy KrogLenkaitis HolsteinsMary Ann Mings-TennantNorton FarmLeon PhelpsRichard & Mary Lee PitstickSteve & Merry PitstickRamm Farms Inc.Robert Swanson Joe & Bonnie WhiteDouglas & Mary DickeyKen & Nancy MeyerC&C Mulch, Bill & Karen

CollinsDennis & Beth Engel

Michael & Lisa DienstFollman FarmsGould FarmsFeldott Farms, Gene & RayScott & Michele Horton Kane County Inmate GardenKaneland FFATim & Sue Metz FamilyTara ScharlauEmily SchmidtWayne SchneiderSt. Charles Mothers ClubSteve ArnoldStojan Vegetables, Phil &

Karen StojanAlan & Gayle Volpp

FB celebrates 50 years ofmembership growth

Andy Lenkaitis of St. Charles(left) was one of 20 people tocompete in discussion meets atthe IFB Annual Meeting.

HappyNew Yearfrom the Kane CountyFarm Bureau

Farm, Food & Fuel briefsAg Export Record Expected for2011

The U.S. Department ofAgriculture estimated agexports for fiscal year 2011 tobe record-setting at a total$126.5 billion, up $17.8 billionfrom 2010 numbers. Thisincludes a sizable increase inthe value of exported corn, fromjust over $9 billion in 2010 to aforecast of $12.3 billion, basedon higher grain costs.

USDA increased its exportestimate for 2011 by $13.5 bil-lion from its August forecast asexport demand for a range ofcrops increased, including corn,soybeans and wheat. The 2011figure, if reached, would sur-pass the prior export record setin fiscal year 2008 of $114.9billion by $11.6 billion.Fuel for Football Fans’ Fun

The Philadelphia Eaglesfootball team has installed a

generator that runs on biodieseland natural gas so that LincolnFinancial Field, the Eagles’home, will be the first stadiumcapable of generating all its ownelectricity. More than 10,000gallons of grease and usedkitchen oil last year were sent toprocessors that converted it intobiodiesel. These and othermeasures have helped the teamsave more than $3 million since2005.

Happy New Year! Winter hasset in with the cold and snowydays. Days full of outdoor whitebeauty and indoor projects. Idecided to do a bit of researchon the month of January...here’ssome of what I found out.

Did you know that there issomething called a JanuaryThaw? It usually lasts for abouta week; temperatures rise about10 degrees from the previousweek, and then drop down againby February.

Each tribe of Indians had

names for the moons. Back inthose days, nature was of utmostimportance in their lives. I’velisted some of the namesassigned to the moon equatingto our January. As you readthrough them, it will becomeevident that even back then,January was a hard month. Tribe:

ALGONQUIN: Sun Has NotStrength to Thaw

APACHE: When the SnowBlows Like Spirits in the Wind.

CHEYENNE: Moon of the

Strong ColdHOPI: Month of Stay InsideMOHAWK: The Big ColdOMAHA: Moon When Snow

Drifts into TipisPA S S A M A Q U O D D Y:

Whirling Wind MonthPOTAWATOMI: Month of

the BearSHAWNEE: Severe MoonPIMA: The Weight Loss

Month (when animals lose theirfat)

CENTRAL SHOSHONI:Freezing Moon

SIOUX: Moon of StrongCold

YUCHI: Frozen GroundZUNI: Moon When Limbs of

Trees are Broken by Snow OMHINCHOLI: Ice Lasts

All Day I hope no snow drifts into

your home this January.

Both of these books are pho-tographic fantasies of winter.Stranger in the Woods was pub-lished in 2000. It is a “heart-warming winter wonderlandadventure with enchantingimages and endearing text.” Thestory tells of the woodland ani-mals discovering a snowman intheir woods that was built bychildren. The children put seedsand corn kernels in the snow-man’s hat, as well as the carrotnose on the snowman. When thechildren came back, they sawthat all the food was gone anddecided that they would contin-ue putting out food for the hun-gry animals until spring.

First Snow in the Woods waspublished in 2007. Again, full ofengaging photographs and text,it tells thestory of ani-mals gettingready for win-ter. Although

simplistic, the story gives manyfacts for the child about the ani-mals’ preparation for the sea-sonal change.

Each book begins with theinscription: “For those who pro-tect wild places and love wildthings.” They use photographyas a window into the animalworld that we seldom see. Theyare noteworthy just for the pho-tographs, let alone the messagethey deliver.

These books and many othersare available in our Ag LiteracyLibrary. Thanks to a requestyears ago by Bob Konen andDean Dunn that Kane CountyFarm Bureau start a library ofagriculturally themed books forpublic use, we have an evergrowing selection of titles.

PAGE 4 KANE COUNTY FARMER JANUARY 2011

AG LITERACY CORNERBy Suzi Myers

Book of the Month

First Snow inthe Woods

and Strangerin the Woods

by Carl R.Samms II andJean Stoick

Volunteers needed for Ag DaysThe Ag Literacy Program is asking for your help

Over 1,500 Kane County 4thgrade students will visitMooseheart, March 16-18, aspart of the Farm Bureau’s 27thannual Ag Days program. TheFarm Bureau is seeking volun-teers to help with this Ag in theClassroom event.

During their visit toMooseheart, students willhear a score of presenta-tions on agricultural topics,

see livestock and farm machineryand receive gift bags with farm-related lessons and activities.This program requires dozens ofvolunteers to help it go smoothly.

Please consider being a partof this great tradition by volun-teering your time, and perhapsin the process, learn something

you did not know about agricul-ture. You need not volunteerevery day, all day, but wheneveryou may be available. Contactthe Kane County Farm Bureautoday at 630-584-8660 for spe-cific dates and times when vol-unteers are most needed.

Did you know the besttemperature for a babychick is around 90-95degrees during its firstweek of life? Consider vol-unteering at the Ag DaysExpo in March and you’lllearn all sorts of interest-ing animal facts. Morethan a dozen commoditygroups and ag businesseswill be on hand.

Your help is needed during the following times:Stuffing bags for Ag Days at the Farm Bureau

(pizza will be provided)Thursday, March 10th 4:00 pm-approx. 7:00 pm

Leading groups of students through exhibitsat Mooseheart Fieldhouse

Tuesday, March 15th 8:30 am-approx. 2:00 pmWednesday, March 16th 8:30 am-approx. 2:00 pmThursday, March 17th 8:30 am-approx. 2:00 pm

KCFB winter internThe Kane County Farm

Bureau Foundation has offeredtheir 2010-11 Winter Internshipto Jillian Braun of St. Charles.Jillian graduated from St.Charles East High School in2008 and is currently a senior atEastern Illinois University inCharleston, Illinois. She willgraduate in June with a degreein public relations witha minor in health com-munications. She hopesto work for non-for-profit organizations inthe future, especially inthe area of promotionsand fundraising.

Jillian worked as thesummer intern at KCFBin the summer of 2009.During that time shesays she was givenmany unforgettableexperiences whichenhanced her knowl-edge about agricultureincluding the SummerAg Institute and Tourfor Teachers, activitiesat the Kane County Fair,and the Harvest for ALL

hunger relief effort. She’s look-ing forward to learning more dur-ing her winter break.

When Jillian is not busyworking or attending classes,she loves to hang out with herfriends and family. Her favoritepastimes include traveling,playing sports, kayaking andother outdoor activities.

Eastern Illinois University senior Jillian Braun(left) assisted with a number of KCFB programsincluding hunger relief efforts during the sum-mer of 2009. Here she is shown accepting anin-kind donation of vegetable plants for localfood pantries from Harvest for ALL participantJay Shrock of Heinz Bros Greenhouse. Braunwill learn more about public relations and ag lit-eracy activities at the Farm Bureau during herwinter break this year through an internshipoffered by the KCFB Foundation.

8 oz. graham cracker crumbs1-cup chunky peanut butter2 sticks melted butter1-pound powder sugar

Mix together and roll intosmall balls. Melt together:1 12 oz package chocolate chipsand a small piece of paraffin(optional).

Dip balls into chocolate andcool.

• Cavemen were the first to eatcandy, which was honey frombeehives

• Egyptians combined fruits andnuts with honey to makecandy 3,500 years ago

• During the middle ages thewealthy were the only oneswho could afford candy

• By the mid-1800s more then380 American factories weremaking “penny candy”

• By 1850 candy making shiftedfrom simple hard candies tofudges and chocolate coatedpieces

• Candy has been a symboliccomponent of special occa-sions, courting and holidays

• Candy products helped feedthe masses during the depres-sion and was peddled as asatisfying healthy meal substi-tute

• The average person con-sumes 12 pounds of sugarcandy products each year

• 1947 Joseph Fry created apaste that could be pressedinto a mold, resulting in acandy bar

• Ancient China hard candy wasmade by boiling barley andwater to a hard consistencyand spinning into sticks, thenrolling them in sesame seeds

• Marzipan, a thick paste madewith ground almonds, sugar,

and egg whites, is consideredto have originated in Egypt

• Production of Hershey kisseshas only been stopped once,between 1942 and 1949.During the war, the silver foilused was rationed. Therefore,the machines used to makekisses were used to temperchocolate for military rationcandy bars.

JANUARY 2011 KANE COUNTY FARMER PAGE 5

Name ______________________________________________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip __________________________________ Telephone (_____)_______________________

Please complete and return to the Farm Bureau, 2N710 Randall Road, St. Charles, IL 60174by January 15, 2011 for your chance to win a basket brimming with treats

including candy favorites, dried fruit and nuts.

N G C Q S F S C Z S E R S C Q

A R I H U D A D T O E R O A W

P U E D O D U A R H A Y U N S

A F G E B C R D C E E E R D R

R E M U S B O N K H N N P Y E

A W R E U E A L S L I O A B K

R Y A R N R S R A I I H T A C

R F S E Y T E P X T R M C R I

E T M L V H O X I B E L H A N

F S L T O O T S I E R O L L S

A O M A R Z I P A N C R O L O

J S P U C B P S E S E E R X K

L I F E S A V E R S J V S K Z

Y D N A C S R A B S R A M X V

Y C O G A C I H C K I T K A T

What is candy?Candy refers to numerous confections, both soft and hard,

that are made of sugar that has been cooked.Did you know to determine the type of candy you need to look at

the heating and cooling levels?• Hot temperatures make hard candy• Medium heat makes soft candy • Cooler temperatures make chewy candy

1854 – The packaged box ofWhitman’s chocolates debuted

1868 – Richard Cadbury intro-duced the first Valentine’s Daybox of chocolates

1880 – Wunderie CandyCompany created candy corn

1893 – Wiliam Wrigley Jr. intro-duced Juicy Fruit andSpearmint Chewing Gum

1896 – Tootsie Rolls were intro-duced by Leo Hirshfield

1900 – Milton Hershey intro-duced the first Hershey milkchocolate bar

1901 – Multicolored candy diskscalled NECCO wafers wereintroduced

1906 – Hershey Milk Chocolatekisses appeared

1912 – LifeSavers were intro-

duced in peppermint flavor; itwas not until 22 years later thepopular five roll colors wereintroduced

1912 – Whitmans sampler wasthe first box of chocolates toinclude an index

1920 – Fannie May Candiesopens in Chicago

1932 – Ferrara Pan CandyCompany introduces Red Hots

1941 – M&Ms were introduced1949 – Smarties were intro-

duced1960 – Starburst Fruit Chews

were introduced in an effort tocreate a healthier candy

1980 – Herman Goelitz Companyintroduces the first American-made gummi bears

A timeline of candy

Candy

Compiled by Beth Dawson and Suzi Myers

CADBURYCANDYCANDYBARCHICAGOCHOCOLATEFERRARAPANFUDGEHERSHEYHONEYJOLLYRANCHERKITKATLIFESAVERSMARSBARSMARZIPANMENTOSMILKDUDSNERDSREESESPBCUPSREESESPIECESSNICKERSSOURPATCHSTARBURSTTOOTSIEROLLSROLO

Congratulations!Beverly Ratajczak of

St. Charles. Beverly’s namewas chosen from the entriesreceived for correctly com-pleting last month’s WordSearch Puzzle. For her partici-pation, Beverly received adelicious holiday ham. Thankyou Beverly, for reading theKane County Farmer, andcontinue to watch each monthfor more great opportunitiesfrom the Kane County FarmBureau.

• The largest butterscotch candy was made in Nidar, Norway. Itweighed 3,527 lbs.

• The longest candy was a strawberry sour belt made by Candy Castlein the Netherlands, measuring 6,574 ft. It was unrolled in the mar-

ket place to celebrate the towns’ 625 yearanniversary• The largest gummy candy weighed 37lbs., 15 oz, made by Hans Van denDriessche of Belgium.• The longest cotton candy measured4,593 ft 2 in.• The largest lollipop weighed 4,759lbs. and was made by Franssons ofSweden

Candy record breakers

Candy facts ...

Myth: Candy is a leadingcause of hyperactivity in children

Truth: Recent studies havefound no evidence that sugarhas an adverse effect on chil-dren’s behavior.

Myth: There is no such thing

as healthy candyTruth: Many treats such as

lollipops, candy cans, gummiitems, do not contain fat or cho-lesterol making them healthierthen people realize. A cup ofcandy corn has fewer caloriesthen a cup of raisins thus making them in moderation ahealthy snack.

Myth: Chocolate is not one ofthe four major food groups

Truth: Chocolate is derivedfrom cacao beans and beans areclassified as a vegetable. Sugaris derived from either sugar caneor sugar beets, both are classi-fied as plants, and this wouldplace them in the vegetable family.

The truth about candy

Peanut butterbon-bons

Candy HumorWhat is a leopard’s

favorite candy?Dots

What’s a southern farmer’sfavorite treat?Cotton candy

What do you call a cowthat can’t moo?

A milk dud

January is ... HCE newsThe January meeting of the

Plato Center Unit of Home andCommunity Education (HCE)will be held on Friday, January 21at 1:00 pm at the Plato CenterVillage Hall, 10N934 RippburgerRd. The Edgewater Ladies will bethere at 12:30 pm to sell thegreeting cards that benefit theCrisis Center.

The hostesses are JackieAnderson and Nancy Haire. TheLesson for Living is OrganicFoods by Joan Rossi andBarbara Lee. Guests are morethan welcome, call Joan at 847-931-8120.

The unit featured this month isMarywood Jrs. The unit meets onthe first Tuesday of the month inthe evening. The unit takes inNorth Aurora, Aurora, Maple Park,Batavia and the surrounding com-munities. Guests are welcome.

NationalCandy MonthEgg MonthHot Tea MonthMeat MonthOatmeal Month

January 4 – Spaghetti DayJanuary 11 – Milk DayJanuary 19 – Popcorn DayJanuary 27 – Chocolate Cake DayJanuary 30 – Croissant Day

The 2011 Illinois RegionalTillage Seminar series willfocus on technology and envi-ronmental stewardship aboveand below the soil line.Certified Crop Advisors need-ing CEU credits, especially insoil and water management, areencouraged to attend – 5.0CEU’s in soil & water manage-ment have been applied for.

The regional seminars arescheduled for January 25, 27and 28, 2011 in Champaign,Milan and Joliet, respectively.Registration with exhibitorsbegins at 8:15 am and the pro-gram will run from 8:30 am to3:15 pm. The theme this year is“Tillage & Technology: At theCrossroads”. Last year, there

was one statewide conference,but this year the format returnsto multiple regional sessions asin previous years. The programcontent is the same for eachlocation.

National and state recog-nized agronomists, environmen-tal leaders and researchers fromIllinois and Indiana will be fea-tured speakers at the seminar.

Speakers and topics willinclude: Dr. Fabian Fernandez,U. of I. Agronomist,Conservation Tillage andNutrient Placement; Dr. JoelGruver, Western IL Universityand Dave Bishop, SWCD,Cover Crops and Soils; MarciaWillhite, IEPA Water BureauChief, Conservation Tillage andWater Quality; Barry Fisher,State Agronomist, IndianaNRCS, Economics andPrescription Management inConservation Tillage; DanSchaefer, Manager, Illini FS,Applied Research in NutrientPlacement in ConservationTillage. There will also be pro-

ducer panels regarding on-sitetillage management.

Co-sponsors for the programare University of IllinoisExtension, Soil and WaterConservation Districts, NRCS,AISWCD, IL EPA and theIllinois Department ofAgriculture.

Pre-registration is necessaryand the deadline is January18th. Seating is limited, so reg-istration will be taken on a first-come basis. A $25 per personfee will be charged. For moreinformation or to register eitherby mail or on-line, go to thewebsites: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaigncenter forthe Champaign program or goto http://webextension.uiuc.edu/boone for the Milan andJoliet programs.

For more information or ifspecial accommodations areneeded to attend, contact JohnChurch, U of I NaturalResources Educator, phone815-544-3710 or churchj@illinois.edu.

Each month, Kane CountyFarm Bureau honors the personor persons who sign the mostmembers into our organization.This month we would like tocongratulate Eddie Jackson.Eddie has signed ten new mem-bers to be named top recruiter.

Eddie has been an agent withCOUNTRY’s Aurora Agencysince August 2009. Eddie’soffice is located 1363 WindEnergy Pass, Batavia, 60510.You may reach Eddie at 630-406-8558.

As a token of our apprecia-tion, Eddie will receive two tick-ets to the Charlestowne MovieTheater. Thank you, Eddie foryour continued support of theKane CountyFarm Bureauand congratu-lations onyour success.

“We have to tell our story toconsumers!” This has been thebattle cry of the farming com-munity for decades. Thedeclining farm popula-tion and the growingdesire to be protectedfrom attacks havecreated a one-twopunch to most efforts.Something haschanged, though. Socialnetworks like Facebook andYouTube have opened new,exciting ways to communicate.Illinois Farm Bureau created awebsite to help farmers tap intothis new power: www.ilfb.org/social.

“You are the expert for yourfarm,” said IFB’s Mary EllenFricke. “There are six billion

people in the world and noneof them know more

about your farm thanyou do. That alsomeans that no one –but you – can honest-ly tell your story.”

Websites, likeFacebook, help farmers

connect to consumers, voters,and legislators. These socialnetworks are fun and free. Bestof all, they fit your lifestyle.Using your cell phone, you cansend a photograph from yourtractor. You can write two or

three sentences at midnight. Youcan even share pro-farm videoswhile you watch the big game.These websites are easy to getstarted and maintain, but IFBmembers looking for a littlemore know-how before they getstarted can visit www.ilfb.org/social.

“This site includes videosand downloads that will helpyou make the most fromFacebook, Twitter, andYouTube. The site is designedto jump around, letting you dis-cover only the things that inter-est you.”

Fricke added a suggestion,“If you’re not comfortable with

a computer, invite your grand-son or a neighbor kid to getinvolved. It’s a great way toshow another generation howessential advocacy is to today’sfarming community.”

Social networking is just oneof the many ways Illinois FarmBureau talks to non-farmers. Tolearn more, call the KaneCounty Farm Bureau at 630-584-8660.

Happy 2011! Hope yourholidays were ‘bright.’

There was an Illinois FarmBureau Annual Meeting in St.Louis in December. What a con-trast to downtown Chicago:almost no traffic in the middleof the city during the day! St.Charles has more traffic thandowntown St. Louis! The meet-ing itself was very nice: goodspeakers, great seminars, andwonderful contacts with ourmembers from other counties.

After all the ’goodies’ youreceived for Christmas, remem-ber to recycle the items you nolonger need. Clothing, kitchenitems, furniture, toys, books,and many more items can all geta new home.

The reason firehouses havecircular stairways is from thedays when the engines werepulled by horses. The horseswere stabled on the ground floorand figured out how to walk upstraight staircases! Firehousepoles were invented around1880 to help firemen get to theirequipment faster than using thestairs. The poles are beingremoved in some stations to pre-vent sprains and other injuries. Iwonder if there will be anyfewer injuries with firemen rac-ing down stairs.

Keep an old toothbrush withyour laundry detergent to brushsome of your measured deter-gent directly onto a stain beforepouring the rest into the wash-ing machine. This often worksjust as well as treating the stainwith a stain remover. Rememberthat if an item comes out of thewash with a stain still on it,never dry it in the dryer.

Here is a recipe that a friend,Donna, gave me for an easywinter meal. It was given to herat a wedding shower from herfuture mother-in-law, who’smother was the creator.

Great-Mimi’s Parmesan Chicken

4 chicken breasts, (boneless &skinless)Mayonnaise2/3 c. bread crumbs – plain orItalian1/4 tsp. basil1/4 tsp black pepper1/4 tsp. garlic powder1 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Combine the 5 dry ingredi-ents. Rub the chicken breastswith mayonnaise. Then roll themin the dry mix. Bake uncovered at350° for around 45 minutes, untilthe chicken is done.

Serve as is with noodles orpotatoes, or put them in spaghet-ti sauce and serve with spaghetti.

PAGE 6 KANE COUNTY FARMER JANUARY 2011

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Since 1984 Celebrating 26 Years

Women’s CornerBy Louise Johnson

Women’s Committee Chair

What’s new in the COUNTRY® agencies?St. Charles/Elgin Agency, Bob Effner, Agency Manager

Congratulations to TedSchuster, who has been namedRepresentative of the Month forNovember 2010 in the St.Charles/Elgin Agency, asannounced by Agency Manager,Robert J. Effner, Sr. Ted haspositively impacted his clientsthrough auto, farm, home, life,business and investments.

Ted has been a FinancialRepresentative with COUN-TRY® Financial since April

2005. He services his clientsfrom his office at 32 W. CrossSt., Sugar Grove, 60554. Youmay reach Ted at 630-466-9600,or email ted.schuster@countryfinancial.com or at hiswebsite: http://www.countryfinancial.com/ted.schuster.Aurora Agency, Kevin Gomes,Agency Manager

Greg LeBeau, FinancialRepresentative with the AuroraAgency, is our Career Agent ofthe Month for November 2010.He began his career with

COUNTRY® Financial October1987 and services his clients outof his office located at: 1921Wilson Street, Batavia, 60510,(630) 406-6900.

Eddie Jackson, FinancialRepresentative with the AuroraAgency, is our Employee Finan-cial Representative of the Monthfor November 2010. He beganhis career with COUNTRY®

Financial August 2009 and serv-ices clients out of his office locat-ed at: 1367 Wind Energy Pass,Batavia, 60510, (630) 406-8558.

Recruiter ofthe Month

EddieJackson

Farmers connect with consumers, one byte at a time

Newwebsite showshow to share

your storythrough

social media

Soil and water CCA credits offered at Illinois tillage seminars

It’s no secret that farmerswork long hours to plant and

harvest crops, care for their live-stock, and maintain their equip-ment and facilities. Most of uspicture that work being donewhen the grass is green and day-light hours are plentiful. Butwhen the first winter snow hasset in and it’s dark by 4:30, theshow must go on. I caught upwith a few farmers and ag busi-nesses recently to get a glimpseof what goes on during the win-ter months.

Clayton Feldott of Aurorafarms with his dad and uncle,growing corn, soybeans andalfalfa on about 1,200 acres, in

addition to raising hogs. Feldottsays that when it comes to winterwork, there’s plenty to be done.

Since the Feldotts raise live-stock, there is a part of the busi-ness that is in full swing year-round. “With the hogs there arethings that are a little more workduring the winter because ofsnow and the chance of waterfreezing, pipes bursting and thatkind of thing,” said Feldott.

He said that the cold weatherdoesn’t make maintenance ontractors and combines any easiereither, so while lots of farmerswork in their shops a little, manywait until the mercury rises justa bit to tear into prepping the

equipment so it’s ready to rollwhen planting time comes.

And when it comes to plan-ning for the next crop season,there is lots to be done.“Selecting hybrids for corn,looking at different varieties ofsoybeans, meeting with seeddealers to decide what’s goingto work best, locking in fertiliz-er prices up to a year or two inadvance, determining cashflows, and maybe looking atlocking in the price on thefutures market for your corn orbeans – there’s definitely plentyto keep you busy.”

Feldott says that trying todetermine inputs and what he’llbe paid for his crop can makethings a lot easier. But then thecrop has to be grown, and theweather is one thing he can’tguarantee. Feldott says though,that no matter what MotherNature throws their way, gettinga good price for the commodityis the toughest part.

“Marketing is really whereit’s at,” said Feldott. “Marketsare so volatile, they can changea lot in just a day. It’s a hit ormiss kind of thing, and it reallymakes marketing in agriculturala gamble.”

John Biddle also worksalongside family members. Hefarms with his dad, uncle andcousins on a grain farm inElburn. Biddle makes use of aless hectic work schedule on thefarm once the fall harvest isdone and supplements hisincome by driving a truck.

“Many farmers need to havetheir own semi to haul grainanyway,” said Biddle, whohauls things like ham and frozenvegetables in refrigerated trail-ers owned by the trucking com-pany he works for. “I’ve foundthat this is a good way to keepboth me and our truck busy dur-ing the winter,” added Biddle.

Biddle says other winteractivities include cleaning out

trees from fence lines (whichcan interfere with planting andharvesting crops if they growout into the field), equipmentmaintenence and installingdrain tile in fields.

Finally, I spoke with HeatherPierson of Elburn, who works fora company that uses airplanes toapply chemicals and fertilizer onfarm fields. Aerial applicatorsoften have a period of intenseactivity during certain periods ofthe growing season when thecrop is at peak readiness forthose products, but then havedown time during the winter.

“We’re a little differentbecause we market the productwe use as well,” said Pierson.She added, “So after harvest, weare meeting with farmers andretailers to show them what newproducts are on the market andto try to help them determinewhat they’ll be using next year.”

Those are just a few perspec-tives, but hopefully it givessome insight into what farm lifeis like once that white blanket ispulled over the fields.

JANUARY 2011 KANE COUNTY FARMER PAGE 7

WINTER WORKBy Ryan Klassy, Information Director

CLASSIFIED AD RATESClassified advertising rates: 20cents per word/$10 minimum (50word max). DISCOUNTS for mem-bers: Associate members, 20%;Voting members, 30%; PLUSmembers, 40%. Advance paymentrequested. Ads due by the 15th ofevery month for the next issue. Noadvertising (classified or display)for financial or insurance serviceswill be accepted.

Mail to: Kane County Farm Bureau,or fax to (630) 584-0023. Non-member ad rate: payable with ad,$10.00 – 20 word maximum per ad.

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Applications are now avail-able for the “At The Heart Of AGrowing America” scholarshipprogram, provided by 1st FarmCredit Services.

A total of 24 individual$1,000 scholarships are avail-able for graduating high schoolseniors who have been acceptedinto an agriculture curriculumor a career area that contributes

to the quality of rural life at auniversity, college or communi-ty college and either reside orattend high school within 1stFarm Credit Services’ serviceterritory.

Selection will be based on acombination of academicachievement, community andagricultural youth organizationinvolvement and a brief essay.

Applications will be judged by apanel of independent agribusi-ness, education, youth and farmorganization leaders.

Completed applications,with typed essays, high schooltranscripts and a recent photo(to be used in publication of theprogram), can be sent to a local1st Farm Credit Services office,or mail directly to: 1st Farm

Credit Services ScholarshipProgram, Attn: Karen Blatter,2000 Jacobssen Drive, Normal,Il, 61761.

Applications are due byFebruary 15, 2011. For applica-tions, or more information, visityour local 1st Farm CreditServices office, or online atwww.1stfarmcredit.com, underthe “About Us” Tab.

‘At the Heart of a Growing America’ scholarships

Cargill will award $350,000in scholarships to high-schoolseniors who live in communitieswhere Cargill has operationsand plan to enroll in post-secondary education next fall.

The national program willaward 350 scholarships of$1,000. In addition, each recipi-ent’s high school will receive a$200 grant. National FFA willprocess the applications andselect the scholarship recipients,although students do not need tobe FFA members to be eligiblefor Cargill’s program. Studentsare chosen based on academicachievement and leadership inextracurricular and communityactivities.

“We are pleased to join FFAin recognizing outstanding stu-

dents and supporting their edu-cational goals,” said SteveHeiden, Northern Illinois FSGLeader for Cargill. “We recog-nize that our continued successdepends on the growth andhealth of our communities andpartners, including our localschools and young people.”

“FFA prepares young peopleto lead, grow and achieve futuresuccess in more than 300diverse careers through agricul-tural education,” said Dr. LarryD. Case, chief executive officerof the National FFAOrganization. “FFA scholar-ships are paving the way forfuture industry leaders to get theeducation they deserve.”

Scholarship guidelines andthe application are available at

www.cargill.com, keywordscholarship, and www.ffa.org.The application requires the sig-nature of a local Cargill

employee. Applications are dueat 5 p.m. EST on Feb. 15, 2011.Scholarships will be awarded inMay 2011.

Cargill to award 350 scholarships for class of 2011

SERVICESNew horse barns with under-ground utilities and earthwork(grading, electric & water),drainage tiles, pasture clipping,mowing, spraying, new seeding,renovation seeding & fenceinstallation. We follow UofIExtension best management rec-ommendations. 5% discount forFarm Bureau members. GalushaFarms: Tom Berning 630-330-9970, BerningEarthWorks@comcast.net; Steve Berning, 630-878-6350, steve@GalushaFarm.com Call: 630-330-9970

WANTEDSeeking land to farm hay nextyear. Call: 630-514-2155 or 630-514-2153

Farmland to rent – Ask for TimCall: 708-284-2593

Old barn boards – 847-305-9144FOR SALELarge hay and straw 3x3x8 bales,and feed oats. Call: 847-436-2538

Hay – First Cutting – smallsquares, big squares, & roundbales – ask for Tim, call: 708-284-2593

CCLLAASSSSIIFFIIEEDD AADDSS

WANTEDINDOOR STORAGE

FOR SMALLFISHING BOAT

IN NORTHERNKANE COUNTY

CONTACT BARB AT630/513-0717

f f f f Happy new year! f f f f

PAGE 8 KANE COUNTY FARMER JANUARY 2011

FFA Chapter seeks land for test plot

Members of the FFA Chapterat Central High School inBurlington are interested instarting a corn test plot in 2011.To do so, they are seeking alandowner who would be will-ing to donate part of a farm fieldfor their project.

“The students are definitelyexcited to start a test plot,” saidRyan Robinson, FFA ChapterAdvisor at Central. Robinsonsaid the students would be able tolearn about the planting process,try various types of seeds to seewhich produces the best yield,and examine the plants for desir-able characteristics.

The KCFB Young FarmersCommittee hopes to assist FFAmembers with their test plots inconjunction with their annualAcquaintance Day activities.

The Acquaintance Programhelps high school studentsbecome familiar with the FarmBureau and the leadership andprofessional developmentopportunities it offers.

“If a landowner in the areawould be able to let us use partof their field we would be verygrateful,” added Robinson. “Itwould add a lot to their agricul-tural education and give them aproject they could really calltheir own.”

Farmers or landowners in theBurlington area who have ques-tions, would like to offer land,or in any way participate or con-tribute to the project, areencouraged to contact RyanRobinson at 847-464-6030, orcall the Kane County FarmBureau at 630-584-8660.

Members of the Kaneland H.S. FFA learned about corn hybrids beforelocal farmer Mike Dienst planted the corn for their test plot in thespring of 2010. The FFA Chapter at Central High in Burlington wouldlike to conduct a test plot as well, and is hoping a farmer or landown-er can provide them with a small plot of land to do so.

Privatewell testing

program offeredin February

The Kane County Farm Bureau andKane/DuPage Soil and Water ConservationDistrict are cooperating again to offer a watertesting program in February 2011. A high

quality water supply is vital for families, and this program helps provide peace of mind and identifies potential problem areas forhomeowners of Kane County.The program works simply as follows:Step 1. Monday, February 14 – Friday, February 25, 2011Pick up water test kits from the Kane County Farm Bureau, 8:30-5:00p.m. or from the Kane/DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District,8:00-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Payment is due for eachtest kit upon pickup.Step 2. Sunday, February 27, 2011Collect the water sample.Step 3. Monday, February 28, 2011Return the water sample to the Farm Bureau or Kane/DuPage Soiland Water Conservation District.Costs vary for the program depending on which tests you wish tohave performed on your water. Four different kits are available:A. Basic Package (Nitrate Package) – $45.00

The basic package tests for nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, chloride,sulfate, soluble phosphorus, silica and specific conductivity.

B. Pesticide Screen – $70.00A pesticide screen will indicate the presence of triazine herbi-cides, lasso, dual or harness.

C. Volatile Organic Chemicals – $75.00The third kit tests for 46 different volatile organic chemicals.

D. Metals – $90.00The fourth kit tests for 23 different metals.More detailed sampling instructions will be included in each kit,

and additional information on how each test can help you is provid-ed at the Farm Bureau or Kane/DuPage Soil and WaterConservation’s District offices. Testing will be performed byHeidelburg College Water Quality Laboratory in Tiffin, Ohio, a certi-fied lab that has been nationally recognized for its work in testingrivers and lakes, and results are mailed directly to your home. Weare able to provide these deeply discounted testing fees because weare providing the laboratory a bulk number to be tested.

Please call the Kane County Farm Bureau at 630-584-8660 if youwould like additional information or have any questions.

Webinars guide direct farmbusinesses through legal maze

University of Illinois countyExtension offices will host theupcoming webinar, “ManagingLegal Risks in the Direct FarmBusiness,” on Tuesday, January25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with afollow-up webinar on Thursday,March 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. A.Bryan Endres, associate profes-sor of agricultural law at theUniversity of Illinois, and attor-ney Nicholas R. Johnson havedeveloped the webinar to clarifysome of the unique legal issuespertaining to direct farm busi-nesses and to guide direct farmbusiness owners through themaze of laws.

The webinars will be held at20 locations throughout Illinois.Visit https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/default.cfm?RegistrationID=5162 for acomplete list of locations and toregister.

“In today’s food market-place, more health-consciousconsumers are seeking out local

sources of food, and they areincreasingly turning to directfarm businesses such as farm-ers’ markets, roadside stands,and U-pick operations to filltheir needs,” Endres said.

“The farmers who run thesebusinesses stand to benefitgreatly from the increaseddemand, but in order to managea successful direct farm busi-nesses, owners need to navigatea labyrinth of laws and regula-tions. These laws are imple-mented and enforced by morethan a dozen local, state, andfederal government authoritiesthat each have their own (some-times overlapping) require-ments. Just figuring out who tocontact about a particular law orregulation can sometimes be adaunting task. This webinar willhelp guide farmers through it.”

The webinar will look atgeneral business topics such astaxation, labor and employment,business planning and setup,

rules and regulations that applyto specific direct farm businessproducts (such as dairy, eggs,grains, honey, livestock andpoultry, fruits and vegetables,and organic produce), and otherlegal issues that may arise in thecontext of establishing andoperating a direct farm business.

The follow-up webinar onMarch 3 will address questionson issues that came up in thefirst webinar and provide anopportunity for participants toask additional questions. Forcomplete information aboutlocations and to register, visitthe website or contact DeborahCavanaugh-Grant at cvngh-grn@illinois.edu or 217-968-5583.

The webinars are sponsoredby the Illinois Council on Foodand Agricultural Research(CFAR), North Central RiskManagement Center, andUniversity of Illinois Extension.

New year, prizes in Foundation raffleYou may give up on that new

piece of exercise equipment orthat fad diet by February – so whynot make your resolution one thatwill last all year? The KCFBFoundation Raffle is the answer!Win the grand prize and you’ll getyour choice of a beautifullyrestored antique tractor, a zero-turn riding lawn mower, or $2,500in cash – any of which will makeyour new year more enjoyable.

The best thing is that yourdonation to the KCFBFoundation helps fund KCFBagricultural literacy programsand college scholarships for areastudents pursuing degrees inagriculture. Last year, the

Foundation provided over$25,000 in college scholarshipsto area students to pursue careersin Illinois’ largest industry, agri-culture. The KCFB Ag LiteracyProgram each year teaches thou-sands of Kane County youth andhundreds of teachers about theimportance of agriculture andhow it affects their daily lives.

So get your chance to wintoday! The drawing will takeplace at Touch-A-Tractor on

Sunday April 10, 2011 at theFarm Bureau on the corner ofRandall Rd. and Oak St. in St.Charles. No more than 3,000tickets will be sold. Tickets are$10 each and 3 for $25. Fill outthe order form below and wewill send you your ticket stubsby mail. If you have questionsabout the raffle, or to purchasetickets by phone with VISA andMasterCard, call the FarmBureau Office at 630-584-8660.

This year’s KCFBFoundation Raffle has

these great prizes!Grand prize:

Winner’s choice of a 1950Farmall Cub antique tractor, aJD Z 245 EZtrak riding lawn

mower, or $2,500 cashSecond prize:

$1,000 in groceriesThird prize:

$500 in fuel

KCFB Foundation Winner’sChoice Tractor Raffle

Please send me _________ tickets

Total $____________________________

Name_____________________________

Address ______________________________________________

City, State, Zip _________________________________________

Phone (_____) ________________ Email _____________________

Return with check made payable to Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation, 2N710 Randall Road,

St. Charles, IL 60174 OR charge my:

nn Visa nn MC #__________________________ Exp. ____ / ____

Signature______________________________Date ___________

and proposed regulations, saidPhilip Nelson, IFB President.

These new and proposed reg-ulations ignore our contribu-tions to the environment andaffect virtually every aspect of afarming operation. They threat-en to take valuable tools out ofthe hands of American farmers,

drive up production costs, and,in many cases, defy logic,Nelson said.

The delegate voting was theculmination of the IFB’s resolu-tions process which began overthe summer, during which coun-ty farm bureaus and their indi-vidual members can offer reso-lutions for consideration first bya resolutions committee and,ultimately, by the Bureaus vot-

ing delegates. Three new members were

elected to the IFB Board.Beginning two-year terms areBrad Temple of Serena inLaSalle County, District 4;Randy J. Poskin of Ashkum inIroquois County, District 6; andDavid L. Severn of St.Augustine in Knox County,District 8.

IFB Wrap-up(continued from page 1)

Applications for 2011 KaneCounty Farm Bureau Foundationscholarships are available on ourwebsite at www.kanecfb.com.Several scholarships are avail-able to members or dependentsof members who wish to pursuehigher education in an agricultur-al related field. You’ll also find ascholarship requirements and abrochure to help in identifyingcareers and areas of study. Lastyear, the Foundation awardedover $25,000 in scholarships and

internships to area students. Theapplication deadline is February15, 2011.

Applications for IllinoisAgricultural Association Foun-dation Scholarships for the 2011-12 school year are also availableat www.iaafoundation.org. Thesescholarships provide assistanceto Illinois Farm Bureau mem-bers, spouses, or their childrenwho major in agriculture,agribusiness, or an ag-relatedcourse of study. Applications are

available at www.iaafounda-tion.org along with a completelisting of eligibility requirementsand general scholarship guide-lines. For questions, email yourrequest to charmsgarman@ilfb.org, or call the IAAFoundation office at 309-557-2230. Applications and allsupporting documents must bemailed to the IAA Foundationand postmarked by February 1,2011.

Scholarship info available online

Tickets are$10 ea. or3 / $25