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Vermilion County Farm Bureau finished the membership year number one in the state of Illinois for farmer member gain - 104.91%. We were also 3rd in total membership gain, with a gain of 102.62%.Thanks to everyone who worked on membership drives, contacted neighbors, and helped the organzation grow this year.
Local Young Leaders Compete in Discussion Meet
Four Vermilion County Farm Bureau Young Leaders participated in the IFB District 12 Discussion Meet. They were (clockwise from top left) Mike Marron, Alan Chesnut, Doug Kirk, and Curt Elmore.
Discussion Meet is an event that allows the Young Leaders to discuss issues that are or will have an impact on agriculture.
Mike Marron and Doug Kirk were selected finalists in the district meet, and they will compete in the Illinois Farm Bureau State Discussion Meet as part of the IFB Annual Meeting in December.
Ag in the Classroom Open House Coming
Vermilion County Farm Bureau will be holding its annual Ag in the Classroom Open House on Monday, August 29 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm and on Tuesday, August 30 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm. The Farm Bureau Auditorium will be filled with resources available to teachers this year - materials, lesson plans, make-and-takes and learning kits. Teachers will be able to sign up for classroom presentations. Everyone is invited to attend and learn more about Ag in the Classroom.
Click here for info on this year's classroom presentations.
Vermilion County Farmer Wins Excellence in Ag Award
Alan Chesnut, a farmer from Ridge Farm, was named the winner of the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders' Excellence in Ag Award. The announcement was made during Ag Day activities at the 2011 Illinois State Fair.
In addition his farming operation, Chesnut has a die-cast manufacturing company that provides detailed replicas to ag manufacturers for the promotion of their products.
Alan has been on the IFB State Young Leaders Committee, founded the Illini Farm Toy Show, and serves on the Vermilion County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Alan and his wife, Leesa, have three sons - Gavin, Blake, and Colin.
Alan will now go on to represent Illinois Farm Bureau at the AFBF Annual Meeting in Hawaii in January.
Couple Finalists in Achievement Award
Vermilion County Farm Bureau congratulates Steve & Dawn Huls of St. Joseph for being named Honorable Mention finalists in the IL Farm Bureau Young Leaders Achievement Award competition. The announcement was made during Ag Day events at the Illinois State Fair.
Steve and Dawn Huls were also finalists in last year's Achievement Award competition.
Steve farms in the Fithian / Armstrong area, growing corn and soybeans, along with a custom hay business. He also serves as our Young Leaders Committee Chairman. Dawn is a 5th grade teacher at St. Joseph Middle School. They have two daughers - Morgan and Madison.
Farm Bureau Peach DeliveryJust over 200 boxes of fresh Southern Illinois peaches were picked up by Vermilion County Farm Bureau members and others on Wednesday. Here's a video of the day's highlights.
Discount Theme Park Tickets Still Available
Vermilion County Farm Bureau members can save big money on tickets to many Midwest theme parks. Tickets are now available for purchase at the Farm Bureau office. New this year is Cedar Point roller coaster park in northern Ohio. Tickets will be available through Sept. 2. Click here for ticket prices and savings.
Danville Farmers Market Up and Running
The Downtown Danville Farmers Market has started its 2011 season in a new location. They are now set up on the grass and parking lot between the Danville Public Library and the Vermilion County War Museum, near the corner of Vermilion & Seminary Streets. Hours are Wednesday and Saturday, 7:00 am - 12:30 pm, although venders may sell out before the end time. There are also plans for a Farmers Market to set up at the VA on Thursdays. More details will follow.
Member Appreciation Night at Danville Stadium
Vermilion County Farm Bureau is again hosting a Member Appreciation Night at a Danville Dans game. This year's Farm Bureau Night will be this Friday, July 15, beginning at 6:30 pm. Free tickets for Farm Bureau members are available at the Farm Bureau office.Farm Bureau Sponsoring a Bus to Cards-Cubs Game in July
Vermilion County Farm Bureau is again sponsoring a bus trip to a Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals game this summer. The game will be Saturday, July 30, with a scheduled 3:10 pm first pitch. Reservations are now being taken, with seats at $82 for Vermilion County Farm Bureau members and $95 for non-member guests. Call the Farm Bureau at 442-8713 to make your reservation.
Farm Bureau Hosts Legislator Farm VisitVermilion County Farm Bureau Legislative Committee met with State Rep. Chad Hays and Kevin Johnson, Cong. Tim Johnson's ag staffer, to get an update on state and national issues. Some of the things discussed included budgets at both levels, truck regulations, EPA actions, and more. Our thanks to Gary Ludwig for hosting the meeting and giving the group a tour of his facilities, including the new cheese-making operation.
5K Run/Walk New AITC Fundraiser
The IAA Foundation is hosting its 1st 5K Grow & Go Run/Walk on Saturday, May 14 at the Illinois Farm Bureau state office in Bloomington. A $20 entry fee is due May 2. There is also a Cock-a-Doodle Dash for kids age 10 & under. And a hot breakfast and open hosue is included with registations, and open to others for $7. Click here for details and to register.
Farm Bureau Celebrated National Agriculture Week
!National Agriculture week is a time to celebrate all that America's farmers and food producers, processors and retails do to feed our country and the world. Below is a copy of the 2011 placemat that was distributed to nearly 40 restaurants across Vermilion County. This year's placemat - the 12th year of this project - was sponsored by 19 Vermilion County agribusinesses.
IFB Announces New
Discount with FordVermilion County Farm Bureau members can now receive a $500 discount on nearly every new Ford vehicle purchased from Jan. 4, 2011 to Jan. 3, 2012. You must be a member for 60 days. Click here for more details.
What's Going On In Illinois Government?
A good crowd was on hand for our March 7 panel discussion with retired State Rep. Bill Black, and former Ag Director Chuck Hartke. The program also featured IFB's Kevin Semlow talking about the Integrity Project cosponsored by Illinois Farm Bureau.
Marketing Specialty Crops
Vermilion County Farm Bureau hosted a workshop to provide farmers more information about reaching out to consumers and taking advantage of the push to use more local foods. "Marketing Specialty Crops" was held on March 8, with Cynthia Haskins of Illinois Farm Bureau. She and other speakers talked about helping farmers connect to consumers through farmers markets, selling directly to stores, and working with other food buyers.
Members Meet with Local Legislators
Vermilion County Farm Bureau members David Sadler, Mike Marron and Lynn Rohrscheib
met with State Reps. Chad Hays (right photo) and Jason Barickman (left photo) during the Illinois Farm Bureau's Legislature Reception. The reception is an annual event during the IFB Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference, when Farm Bureau members from across Illinois meet with their legislators - including their adopted legislators - to renew acquaintances and discuss issues important to the lawmakers and Farm Bureau. 
Food Check-Out Week Helps Local Pantries
Vermilion County Farm Bureau Marketing Committee joined with Farm Bureaus across the country to mark Food Check-Out Week as a time to celebrate our safe, abundant and affordable food supply in the world. Farm Bureau members bagged groceries and met consumers at both County Market stores in Danville. Farm Bureau collected donations for local food pantries and delivered around 40 pounds of food and a $50 donation to the St. James Community Food Pantry and the Danville Area Food Pantry. These donations will help those struggling to meet all their basic need during these distressed economic times.
Young Leaders Discuss Ag Advocacy, Farmer Image
Vermilion County Farm Bureau Young Leaders met in February to learn more about Ag Advocacy and the Farmer Image Campaign that IL Farm Bureau is a part of. The meeting featured Illinois Farm Bureau's Mary Ellen Fricke.Danville Area Community College Ag Club will sponsor their 23rd Annual Farm Toy Show in the Mary Miller Gym on Sunday, January 30, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The show will consist of farm toys in a variety of sizes of reproduction. You'll have the opportunity to buy, sell, or trade toys with area collectors and dealers. There will be door prize drawings approximately every half-hour and at 1:30 p.m. a kiddie tractor pull for kids ages 3 to 10 will be conducted. A concession stand will be available. Admission is $2.00 for adults and free for those 11 and under. Proceeds will go to the Ag Club Activity fund and the annual Ag Day fund. Following up on last year's successful event, the Oakwood FFA Alumni are hosting the Dairyland Donkey Basketball Show on Saturday, January 29 at Oakwood High School. The evening begins at 6:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased for $6 from FFA Alumni or at United Community Bank in Oakwood or Oakwood High School. If there are any remaining tickets, they'll be sold at the door. AITC Story in Commercial-News Board Re-elects Officers
Case IH Discount Program Expands
Vermilion County Farm Bureau members now have even more opportunities to save when purchasing from Case IH. That’s because IL Farm Bureau and Case IH have expanded their rebate partnership program for 2011 to include the Case IH Scout utility vehicle. Members will be able to redeem a $300 rebate on the Scout, in addition to the existing $500 rebates on 55-105 HP Farmall Utility Tractors and 110-139 HP Maxxum Series Tractors, and the $300 rebate on 31-60 HP Farmall A and Compact Tractors. Ask about the Farm Bureau discount at Birkey’s in Hoopeston, or any Case IH dealer.
Click here for more details.
National FFA Week
February 19-26 is National FFA Week, with the theme Infinite Potential. We salute the six FFA chapters in Vermilion County - Armstrong-Potomac, Catlin, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Jamaica, Northeast Vermilion, and Oakwood. These chapters will have a variety of school and public events throughout the week.
Mike Rowe of "Dirty Jobs" Speaks at AFBF Meeting
Mike Rowe, star of the popular "Dirty Jobs" program on the Discover cable network, was the keynote speaker at the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Atlanta. Click here to see video clips of his presentation and press conference.
DACC Ag Club Toy Show
Oakwood FFA Alumni Hosting Donkey Basketball Game
Successful Illini Farm Toy Show Held
The 7th annual Illini Farm Toy Show had a great run this past weekend in Urbana. Click here for highlights.
Vermilion County Ag Literacy Coordinator Staci Walker is featured in the cover story of the Jan. 3 Commercial-News.
Read about how she reaches out to Vermilion County schools.
The Vermilion County Farm Bureau Board held their reorganization meeting this month and re-elected the officers for the coming year. Shown from left to right are: Mark Willard, Rossville, Vice President; David Sadler, Fithian, President; Dennis Smith, Georgetown, Treasurer; and Bruce Darr, Fairmount, Secretary. This will be Sadler's fifth and final year as president.
