If you stop by the office on a Friday, especially in March, you’ll often find me sporting my favorite Big Ten Men’s Basketball team gear. If there is a game on you may also hear it planning in the background of my office. March is my favorite months for sports and the reason is simple “March Madness”. It all begins with the Big Ten tournament and then just rolls into the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. But did you know that the Tournament isn’t just fun in games. It’s actually a way for the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee to raise money for the Harvest for All program. Each year they host a bracket contest, Hoops for Hunger. If you’d like to participate and help raise money for reduce food insecurity across Illinois, please visit the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader’s Facebook page.
Spring Rawleigh Product Order: Kick off spring by ordering Rawleigh Products. The Stephenson County Farm Bureau is now accepting orders for Rawleigh products. Orders will be accepted until Monday, April 21 at noon, with an estimated delivery of May 7th just in time for Mother’s Day. To make this program even sweater all proceeds from his order will be donated to the Stephenson County Farm Bureau Foundation to fund Agriculture in the Classroom and scholarships. Order forms are available on our website www.stephensoncfb.org or by calling 815-232-3186.
Trip Feature Fair Oaks Farm: The Stephenson and Carroll County Farm Bureaus are excited to announce we will be traveling to Fair Oaks, Indiana to explore their Dairy, Pig and Crop Adventure. We will enjoy a guided tour then have time for you to explore on your own. This trip will take place on Friday, June 20th.
Days agenda:
6:30a.m.: Depart Carroll County Farm Bureau
7:00a.m.: Depart Freeport Walmart
10:30a.m.: Arrive at Fair Oaks Dairy Farm
4:00p.m.: Depart for Home
6:00p.m. Dinner on the way home
8:00p.m.: Tentatively arrive at Freeport Walmart
8:30p.m.: Tentatively arrive at Carroll County Farm Bureau
Trip cost includes tour admissions, transportation, all tips and gratuities, water on the bus. Dinner and lunch are at your own expense. Farm Bureau member price is $85 and non-member price $105. To register please call the Farm Bureau where you’d like to be picked up at: Carroll 815-244-3001 and Stephenson 815-232-3186. A little more about fair oaks from their website: The founders of Fair Oaks Farms, Mike and Sue McCloskey, opened their doors in 2004 with the purpose to showcase the practices and innovation of their original dairy farms. The practices at these farms are what we, at Fair Oaks Farms, communicate to our guests. The McCloskey farms have given us the ability to share with our guests displays of modern farming practices. All dairy practices referred to at Fair Oaks Farms are the practices performed at the McCloskey-owned dairy farms we partner with. Since then, we’ve seen a vibrant dairy and agricultural community grow around our area with other farm families supporting the mission of Fair Oaks Farms. As we’ve grown, we have added several other businesses to our existing Dairy Adventure and farm tour such as the Pig Adventure, Crop Adventure, Mooville (an outdoor play area), the Orchard, a hotel, a cafe and restaurant, a gas/convenience store and the production of our own farm fresh products. We continue to develop other projects such as pollinators, the farmer’s garden, flower field, pumpkin patch, vegetable garden, vertical farming, aquaculture and the role that science, technology, engineering and math play in the story of modern agriculture.
Farm Bureau members save on facility rentals: It might seem early to think about graduations, but they will be here before we know it. Don’t wait to book your event at the Carroll or Stephenson County Farm Bureau buildings. Rooms start as low as $100. Call the Farm Bureau of your choice for availability and to learn more about the rental process. Carroll County Farm Bureau 815-244-3001 or Stephenson County Farm Bureau at 815-232-3186.