It’s that time of year again. June 1st kicks off Dairy month, which you may know is one of my favorite times of year. For the last 85 years the first weekend in June marks the annual Harvard Milk Days which as a Harvard native, Milk Days run deep in my blood. In my lifetime I’ve only missed the festivities two times. Some of my earliest memories of Milk Days were watching the parade from my grandparents and later my father’s porch. There were also a few years when I rode on a float or walked in the parade with various organizations such as church, 4-H, or the local hospital where my mother worked. Leading up to the Milk Day weekend there are several events such as the Milk Day Queen and Princess Pageant, golf outing, big wheel races, and the ever-popular Bed Races. You’re probably trying to figure out what this has to do with milk. Well, in 1942 Harvard Milk days began when 3,000 people gathered to honor the local dairy farmers and the dairy industry during wartime. The crowd listened to speeches, sang sounds and drank 500 gallons of milk. I hope you’ll join me in carrying on the tradition of celebrating those who bring us our favorite dairy products.
Membership Value Program Business Spotlights:
Tim’s Auto Care located at 504 West Stephenson Street, Freeport, IL offers a $5.00 discount on any full-service oil change to Stephenson County Farm Bureau members. To learn more visit www.timsautocare.com or call 815-235-9655.
Wendy’s located at 1689 Willard Drive, Freeport, IL offers Farm Bureau members as 10% discount off purchase not valid with other discounts. To learn more call 815-232-8938.
Stars, Stripes, and Charcuterie Boards: The Stephenson County Farm Bureau is excited to partner with Bur Oaks Grazing LLC to host a 4th of July themed charcuterie Board Class. This class is scheduled for July 2 from 6:00p.m.-7:30p.m. at the Farm Bureau office, 210 W Spring Street Freeport. The cost of the class is $40 for Farm Bureau members and $50 for non-Farm Bureau members. The Deadline to register is June 18th and payment is due at time of registration. The cost of the class includes a custom charcuterie board and charcuterie for 5-7 people. To learn more or to register please call 815-232-3186.
Travel Preview Meeting with Tri-State: Monday, June 15th at 5:00p.m. at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau office. We will host a travel preview meeting with Tri-State Travel. This event will highlight two upcoming trips.
Christmas on the Lake (Ohio) November 30th through December 4th, 2026 (flyers are available at the Farm Bureau or online)
The Best of Cape Cod June 18th through 26th, 2027 (flyers are available at the Farm Bureau or online)
Reservations are not required but appreciated. Please call 815-232-3186 or email [email protected] to reserve your spot. Stephenson County Discounted Fair Season Passes Now Available: Stephenson County Farm Bureau members are eligible to purchase season tickets for $25 which is a $5 savings when they purchase their tickets at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau. Tickets can be purchased during normal business hours 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. Season ticket purchase will have to be made with cash/check payment. Each membership is limited to two discounted tickets. For questions, please call 815-232-3186