This past Saturday I got up bright and early armed with a travel mug of coffee and headed out to Winslow, Illinois for the 8th Annual Bruce Johnson Memorial Farm to Farm 5K/10K Run. This event is hosted by the Stephenson County Farm Bureau in honor of past Stephenson County Farm Bureau Manager and avid runner, Bruce Johnson. All funds raised for this event are donated to the Agriculture in the Classroom Program in Stephenson County. This year we had over 220 registrations. This event raised over $10,000 for Ag in the Classroom!
A big thank you to our sponsors who made this event possible.
Gold Level Sponsors: Adkins Energy, Brewster Cheese, Citizens State Bank, Compeer Financial, Community Bank, High Plains Pork, Johnson Tractor, Mahon Pioneer Seeds, Nutrien Ag Solutions, State Bank, Stateline Solar, Stephenson Service Company, and Stephenson County Pork Producers; Silver Level Sponsors: COUNTRY Financial- Tom Edler, Durand Garage Door Inc, Elliot, Trainor & Weller. P.C., FHN, Kent Farms, Orangeville Animal Health Service LLC, Pro-Source Electric and Automation, Saunders Oil and Propane, Stateline/ Insurance Services, Inc., The Bruce Johnson Family, True Vine Landscaping and Lawn Care LLC; Bronze Level Sponsors: COUNTRY Financial- Stacey Block, Eastland Feed and Grain Inc., Firehouse Seed & Service Inc, Freeport Industrial Roofing Inc, Hulsebus-Gehlsen Chiropractic Clinic, IAA Credit Union, John Marean, Kurt & Tammy Baldauf, Lena Brewing, Lena Vet Clinic, New Hope Veterinary Clinic, Nite Equipment, Pearl City Elevator, Inc., Plager, Krug, Bauer, Rudolph and Stodden, Ltd, and Mau Farms.
If you’d like to see photos of this event visit the Bruce Johnson Memorial Farm to Farm 5K/10K Run on Facebook.
Holiday Office Hours: Stephenson County Farm Bureau will be closed on Friday, April 18th. Please plan accordingly for any Easter needs.
Trip Spotlight Michigan & More: County Farm Bureaus in Northwest Illinois are partnering with Tri State Travel to host a four-day trip to Michigan. This trip will take place Saturday, August 9 through August Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Trip will include stops in Holland, Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, Mackinac Island and More. Trip cost varies based on the number of individuals staying in your room. Prices start at $2,409 and decrease from there. This trip has been very popular and has a limited number of seats left. To learn more or to register visit www.stephensoncfb.org under trips or call 815-232-3186.
2024 CROP MARKETING PROGRAM – June 18th: The Lee, Carroll, Ogle and Whiteside County Farm Bureaus along with COUNTRY Financial will host a crop marketing outlook on the evening of June 18; at the Days Inn, Rock Falls, IL. “Managing Crop Revenue and Market Price Risks” is a two-hour seminar designed specifically for producers to help them manage risk associated with the current commodity markets and identify market conditions to capture profit margins through this year into next.
Dr. Steve Johnson, Iowa State University Extension Farm Management Specialist, will facilitate the program. Steve has served as the Farm & Ag Business Management Specialist in Central Iowa for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach since 1999. He specializes in topics related to government farm programs, crop insurance, crop marketing, grain contracts, farmland leasing and other crop risk management strategies. In the past year, he has conducted more than 120 meetings, workshops, seminars and conferences across the Corn Belt with nearly 15,000 in attendance. Steve uses web sites such as ISU Ag Decision Maker and Polk County Extension Farm Management along with various print and electronic media. Annually he reaches more than 200,000 producers, landowners and other agribusiness professionals.
During the two-hour program producers will examine the following topics:
Global Supply/Demand & Crop Price Outlook
Crop Insurance Coverage Review
Impact of Tariffs on US Trade
Developing & Implementing a Marketing Plan
Understanding Summer Weather Forecasts
Pre-Harvest Marketing Strategies & Tools
This presentation will assist producers in designing and implementing a marketing plan that is specific to their own operation. It will present producers with various options they can effectively utilize to capture market profits, manage market risks in this volatile market, minimize cost increases and make informed decisions on input pricing, storage options and position their marketing plan for profit protection. Market, global and recent economic factors will be examined, and producers will learn to identify where profit opportunities and pitfalls lie for their farm operations. Pre-registration is required. To register for the program, call 815-732-2231 or email [email protected] Program begins at 7:00 p.m. on June 18th; Days Inn, Rock Falls, IL.
Rural Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Applications Available: We are pleased to announce that the Illinois Farm Bureau® Rural Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Program is now open for applications. This program offers 15 scholarships, each valued at $4,000, to support nurse practitioners committed to serving rural communities in Illinois.For over 33 years, this scholarship initiative has been instrumental in fostering a robust network of rural health practitioners, addressing the primary healthcare needs in Illinois' rural areas. Scholarship recipients are expected to practice in an approved rural area within the state for a minimum of two years.Eligibility criteria include being a resident of Illinois and either accepted into or currently enrolled in an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program as a Registered Nurse. The Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program (RIMSAP) proudly funds this initiative. Interested applicants can obtain application forms from county Farm Bureaus® throughout the state, the RIMSAP website at RIMSAP.com, or by reaching out to Donna Gallivan, Program Manager, at the Illinois Farm Bureau, 1701 Towanda Avenue, Bloomington, IL 61701. Please note that the application deadline is May 1. For additional information or inquiries, please contact Donna Gallivan at 309-557-2350 or via email at [email protected].