Sadler Named Ag Leader of Year
David Sadler, president of the Vermilion County Farm Bureau, received the Ag Leader of the Year award at the 2010 Vermilion Advantage Farm-City Gathering. The program, sponsored by the AgriBusiness / Natural Resources Council, annually brings together urban and farm communities to meet and discuss issues. David's shown on the right with Chris Poggendorf of Bunge, the award sponsor.
Sadler has served as president of Farm Bureau since December, 2006. He and his wife Linda live on the family farm northwest of Fithian. He is representing District 12 on the IFB Resolutions Committee this year. He is also president of the Indiana Whips and Wheels horse carriage driving club.
Other awards presented include:
Ag Educator - David Brown, owner and general manager of WITY
Ag Business - Bryant Industries
Special Award - given in memory of DL VanBuskirk, a longtime supporter of Georgetown Fair  

Urban Senator Visits Vermilion County Farms

Vermilion County Farm Bureau hosted their adopted legislator, Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) and his sons Nate (10) and Cooper (7), in a farm visit on Friday, August 13. The day began at Vermilion County Farm Bureau President David & Linda Sadler’s farm. They toured their horse barns, and Linda talked about the care of the horses. After a stop by a corn field, the senator and sons got a ride in Steve Huls combine. Steve told the senator about how GPS is used to track yields, and then apply the needed inputs to maximize yields while protecting the environment. Steve extended the invitation to come back for a combine ride during harvest. Following lunch, the group went to the Dwight Bohlen hog farm. The senator went through the barn where Dwight and Jake were able to talk about the care of the animals – food, water, ventilation and cooling systems. The group also had the opportunity to visit with senator and ask him about concerns in his district. He talked about some of the issues that he was involved with in the General Assembly this past year. In all, fourteen Vermilion County Farm Bureau members had the opportunity to interact with Sen. Kotowski and his family that day.

The Illinois Farm Bureau’s Adopt A Legislator Program pairs urban legislators with county Farm Bureau to facilitate an exchange program that allows the lawmakers to learn more about the state’s number one industry. The first-hand knowledge the legislators gain help them when considering bills in the General Assembly.

 

Vermilion County Farm Bureau's Staci Walker was honored during an Ag Day luncheon on the Directors Lawn at the Illinois State Fair "for contributions improving and expanding Illinois Agricultural Education." The Perry Schneider Special Award was given by the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education. Staci gave over 230 classroom presentations and delivered more than 160 educational units to Vermilion County classrooms during the last school year. Congratulations to Staci for the statewide recognition of her efforts to reach 67% of Vermilion County students with the Ag in the Classroom story.