We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 71
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we wanted to share how thankful we are for our members, our volunteers and the community who supports the Farm Bureau. We wouldn’t be as successful as we are without your support. From our Farm Bureau Family to yours we’d like to wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Our Carroll County office will be closed November 23-24 and reopen Monday, November 27. Our Stephenson County office will close at noon on November 22 and remain closed until Monday, Nov...
I am notorious for ruining almost every surprise I plan. I often get too excited and want to tell the gift or plan for an event or a special activity. An example of this was last year for Christmas I bought my husband some concert tickets. I had bought these in September and had told him about them by the end of November, which for me was a pretty decent run. The past month or so we have been working diligently on planning and organizing trips for 2024. We had planned on releasing this...
The Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) and COUNTRY Financial share a common interest in helping farmers and are partnering to host four “Emergency Planning on Your Farm” seminars in February, 2024. The keynote speaker will be Mike Pearson, host of RFD-TV’s “This Week in Agribusiness.” We need your help getting the conversation started with our members. Each seminar will: Provide current and prospective IFB members and COUNTRY clients with information and questions that are essential to being prepared...
This past week I traveled north to the Career Fair at UW-Platteville to talk about the many opportunities with Farm Bureau, such as internships and full-time positions. I will forever be grateful for my time as an intern with the McHenry County Farm Bureau. It ultimately, lead me to my career with Illinois Farm Bureau and the Stephenson and Carroll County Farm Bureaus. If you know someone looking for an internship or full-time position, I encourage you to have them check out...
My household ushered in the beginning of fall this past weekend by “watching” football, or maybe I was half watching and the other half folding laundry, checking my phone and snacking. I did not grow up with a football watching family and only started watching when I got in college because I had some friends who were pretty big football fans. Then when I met my husband, it became a regular fall event. Over the years I’ve begun to pick up on what was happening on the field and gain a bette...
National Farm Safety and Health Week is September 17-23, 2023. The theme for the NFSHW 2023 is “No One Can Take Your Place”. National Farm Safety and Health Week is an annual event that aims to raise awareness about the importance of safety and health practices in the agriculture industry. The goal is to reduce the number of accidents, injuries and fatalities that occur in the agriculture sector. It is in everyone’s best interest to prioritize the health and safety of those who work to provi...
As many of you may know, fall is my favorite season of all. A few of my favorite activities of fall are possible because of agriculture. First, I love visiting apple orchards and indulging in delicious apple flavored treats. A close second is visiting pumpkin patches in search of the perfect pumpkin. In honor of our first few days of fall I have included some apple and pumpkin facts below: - Apples are grown in every state. But only 36 states including Illinois grow apples to sell in large amoun...
One thing you may not know about me is I love lists! I am often sucked into reading lists about travel, food, famous people the topics are endless. But my favorite list to read each month is “How did Farm Bureau serve our members”? Below see the top 5 ways Farm Bureau served you our, members: - With a drought ongoing, Illinois Farm Bureau leaders met with members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation, discussing the importance of crop insurance in the next farm bill, a solution to Propo...
It’s hard to believe it’s August already. That means we are preparing for a busy fall with back-to-school spots for our Agriculture in the Classroom programs and harvest season. Speaking of Agriculture in the Classroom, let the Farm Bureau make your evening meals easier and support the Agriculture in the Classroom program in the process. Both Stephenson and Carroll County Farm Bureaus are offering freezer meals for pick up this fall. Orders are being accepted now. See details for each cou...
With July well underway, that means Stephenson and Carroll County Fairs will be here before we know it. With the Stephenson County Fair to take place July 25 through July 29 and Carroll County Fair to follow August 8 through 12. I encourage you to check out each fair’s individual page for event schedule and details. Below I will highlight some County Farm Bureau program specifics that will be happening at each county’s fairs. We hope to see you there! Peach Reminder: We wanted to remind our rea...
Did you know that July is National Ice Cream month, which I think is a pretty perfect idea since July is typically a hot month and ice cream is a great way to cool down. I love hearing what everyone’s favorite ice cream flavor is. I personally like most coffee flavored ice cream, but recently I’ve really been enjoying rhubarb crumble and blueberry waffle cone. I also enjoy the occasional root beer float or dipped cone. According to frozendessertsupplies.com the top 10 ice cream flavors inc...
June is dairy and I wanted to share a way for you to celebrate the dairy industry. A favorite Agriculture in the Classroom activity is to make your own butter. This is a great activity for summer. Enjoy the instructions and recipe below. Shake it Up ~ Butter Making Recipe Ingredients 1 empty baby food jar or large size pimiento jar with tight fitting lid Whipping cream Good music Smiling kids Directions 1. Take 1 jar and fill ½ with whipping cream 2. Add several kids dancing and shaking with...
June 1st marks the beginning of Dairy Month. This is one of my favorite times of the year. Growing up in Harvard, Illinois, the first weekend in June was typically our Milk Days Festival. This year's events look a little different, but the reason behind the celebration is still just as important. Milk Days began in 1942 when over 3,000 men, women and children gathered to honor the dairy farmers and their industry for their wartime contributions. That inaugural event included speeches, singing...
With some graduations already taking place and others just around the corner, the Stephenson County Farm Bureau would like to congratulate all graduates. Whether it is high school or college graduation we want to wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. We would like to share a special congratulations to Andrew Kempel who was the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from the Stephenson County Farm Bureau Foundation. Andrew is a Lena-Winslow graduate. To learn more about the Stephenson Co...
It certainly feels like spring and that means farmers are planting or preparing to plant. Farmers are masters of adjusting. They often adjust plans on the farm because of weather, equipment breakdowns and even the occasional loose animal. Farmers remind us to be flexible and to adjust as needed. With planting season upon us farmers will begin to plant, meaning there will be more equipment on the roadways while moving from field to field. If you see these “Slow Moving Vehicles” or SMV’s pleas...
I am excited to announce that the Stephenson County Farm Bureau Foundation is now accepting applications for our “Roots and Shoots Apprentice/Internship Grants”. While Bruce Johnson was the Manager of the Stephenson County Farm Bureau, he established the Roots and Shoots Program. The goal of Roots and Shoots is to encourage Stephenson County youth to explore job opportunities within our community and the agriculture industry. As part of this we are offering a matching grant for Agriculture-relat...
I love spring and the warmth, sunshine, and longer days it brings. It is also the prefect time to plan summer activities. This summer there are many things I am looking forward to and I hope you’ll join us for a few. June 5-7: Shipshewana Amish Country Bus Trip (this trip is full but we are accepting a wait list) June 13 and 14: Summer Agriculture Institute for teachers/educators June 21 and 22: Summer Agriculture Institute for teachers/educators June 29: Lavender Farm and Baraboo Bus Trip July...
Thank you doesn’t seem like a strong enough phrase to share how appreciative the Stephenson County Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee and Bruce Johnson Memorial Farm To Farm 5K/10K Run organizers feel. We are beyond blown away with the support from the community for the 6th Annual Bruce Johnson Memorial Farm To Farm 5K/10K Run that took place on April 1. We had over 220 runners and raised over $11,500 for Agriculture In The Classroom of Stephenson County. To see photos from this event, visit the...
For the last few weeks, I’ve had the phrase “run, run, Rudolph” stuck in my head. Nearly every time I was thinking about the Bruce Johnson Memorial Farm To Farm 5K/10K run, I would hear “run, run, Rudolph” in my head. Unfortunately, Rudolph won’t be joining us on Saturday, April 1 for the 6th Annual Bruce Johnson Memorial Farm To Farm 5K/10K Run, but we hope you will. This event raises money for Ag In The Classroom efforts in our county. A few highlights of this event include farm animals, Ag...
On behalf of the Stephenson County Farm Bureau, I would like to invite you to our 2023 Legislative Dinner on Monday, March 20 at 6:30p.m. at our office, 210 West Spring Street, Freeport, IL. The evening will include an opportunity to hear from our elected officials and network with other Farm Bureau members. Dinner will be provided. This event is open to any Stephenson County Farm Bureau member in good standing. Reservations are required and can be made by calling our office at 815-232-3186 or...
It is hard to believe that January has come and gone and we are into February, with the Super Bowl right around the corner. Likely the first thing you think about when you hear someone mention the Super Bowl is just about anything but agriculture. Well, in my family we love any reason to get together, especially when we have the opportunity to join together for a meal. Superbowl is just that. My husband and I host this fun Sunday afternoon. Each family member brings their signature snack to...
When I started my time with Stephenson County Farm Bureau one of the first major events I was a part of was the Bruce Johnson Memorial Farm To Farm 5K/10K run. During these last few years, it has become one of my favorite days of the year. I am always in awe of how hard our Young Leader committee works to organize this event year after year. I also love watching participants walking around in run shirts. The back of the shirts are my favorite as that is where we highlight our run sponsors, who...
I am sure we all have those days, weeks or even months where we are just so busy and deciding what to make for dinner is just one more thing to add to our plate. The Stephenson County Farm Bureau and Agriculture In The Classroom program wants to help make your life easier with our Prep, Freeze, Cook fundraiser. Proceeds of this fundraises helps support the Agriculture In The Classroom program in our County. Agriculture In The Classroom teaches students about where their food comes from and the...
It is hard to believe that schools are back in session, and that we are only about four and a half months away from graduation season. Throughout the holiday season while visiting family, it was brought up several times, with our future and current college students, how important it is to apply for scholarships. The Stephenson County Farm Bureau is excited to announce that scholarship applications are now available for pick up at our office 210 West Spring Street Freeport, IL 61032 or for...
Illinois Milk Producers Association during its 2022 annual awards program recognized two farmers who showcased leadership, stewardship, and excellence in the dairy industry. David Ruppert of Montgomery County is the recipient of the 2022 Dairy Industry Service Award. This award recognizes an Illinois individual who has shown exemplary service and benefit to the state’s dairy industry. Ruppert grew up on his family’s dairy farm and first began farming with his parents in 1974. Ruppert served on...
