Someone asked me the other day how much longer I would be writing this article,
meaning how long will you be the president? I’m not sure what he was getting at…. is he
tired of what’s in this space and ready for a fresh look (understandable)? Did he think I was
wasting his time and got nothing from it (maybe/probably)? Or was he asking how long
till you step down and turn it over to someone else? We had officer elections at our annual
meeting recently, so you will all have to put up with me in this spot for 9 more issues (not
that anyone is counting or anything). Then he says “so, what’s next? You need time to do
some fishing and golfing right?” I don’t fish or golf. “You gonna go on a vacation for a
few weeks or something” No….that would drive me nuts. “Well, watcha gonna do with
all that “free time”. Interesting observation. I knew when I stepped in here to take my turn
that I didn’t have any spare time. It’s amazing how I’ve managed to “find that time” and I
imagine I’ll continue to “find the time”. It’s funny how that works. At a recent meeting I
sat with a former IFB vice president, and he said to me “you know the people who don’t
have time for these positions are often the ones who are needed the most and make the
best board members and volunteers”. We are getting ready to have a strategic planning
meeting of our board in a few days. The board tenure, terms and such are bound to come
up. I’m sure there are some of you who have been asked to serve, and you think you don’t
have the time. I am that guy. But when push comes to shove, the people who are vested in
the production of ag are the people who have to find the time. This is your livelihood and
there are becoming less and less of us out here. I’ve said it before in this column, please
consider stepping up and speaking up if asked.
Last month I noted that winter was almost behind us, and surely by time of this publi
cation I can say that with confidence. But today, we had a high of 68 degrees and tomorrow
the low is supposed to be 15, so I’m confident that as you read this the planters are ready.
Seed stacked and ready to drop. I’m currently unloading seed boxes and chemicals. It’s
almost time for another season that will have its challenges and, in some way, or another
be unlike any other that we have ever seen. At Illinois Farm Bureau, your legislative teams
will continue to press for the new farm bill which actually has a real chance of becoming
put into law as well as keeping you informed of what might be the next action call. At the
county office, summer programs and events are being developed and planned. It’s always
a busy time.
I’d be remiss to say take care of yourselves and those around you this planting season.
Safety and caution start with you. I was talking to a landlord today about the last time I
pulled an “all nighter” planting, and that happened to be in 2019, when it happened twice.
It’s a miracle that nothing got wrapped up in anything else that year, and the more I think
about it the more I can’t believe I was capable of pulling off 2 of those in the same week.
If you have to do something like that (it happens) let’s be realistic about what is safe and
reasonable. Take care of yourselves. Many depend on you.
Doug Downs
CCFB President

Thank You! to the 111 members who sent an email during IFB’s Action Request around the Family Farm Preservation Act (FFPA) to our adopted legislator Rep. Hoan Hyunh. This was far and away the most contacts of any county in the state and it is a fantastic reflection of the interest of our Champaign CFB members on this important topic.

CCFB President Doug Downs, Director Gerald Henry, and I were in Springfield this past week to meet with our state legislators during Ag Lobby Day at the capitol. We had some great discussions with elected officials and got the chance to network with CFB members, legislators, state employees, and other agriculture stakeholders during this impactful event. Whether it’s talking about passing the farm to the next generation, protecting landowner rights, or fighting back against overreaching environmental regulations, the CCFB is here to work with and for our members to be your voice at the local, state, and national level.

As a reminder, the CCFB office will be closed on 4/3 in observance of Good Friday.

As we celebrate Easter, we’re reminded that renewal and hope are at the heart of both our faith and the work our farmers do on the land. Just as this season brings new life to fields, it also offers us a chance to reflect on the blessings we’ve been given and the purpose behind our efforts. I wish you and your family a meaningful Easter filled with faith, gratitude, and the promise of a strong season ahead.

If there is anything the CCFB can do for you, please don’t hesitate to contact the CCFB office.

Bailey Conrady

CCFB Manager, 3/27/26

As the year ends, the season of winter meetings has kicked off with a big
bang. I’ve just returned home from the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting
in Chicago. As I reported last year, you will never be around such a fine
group of people as you are there. It’s an incredible experience. A few new
younger faces joined our delegate team in 2025, and it was great to get them
involved in such a historic event. This year, two Champaign County farmers
brought home the top awards. The Charles B. Schuman distinguished service
award and the young farmers achievement award. Among other county level
awards, your county farm bureau also won a fundraising auction for use of
the premier suite where we had a large legislative breakfast gathering with
state senators and representatives from around central Illinois and a huge
Sunday afternoon reception for our award winners. With guests attending
from every corner of the state, we hosted several gatherings with friends
and neighbors of Champaign County and all of Illinois. As we prepared for
the business at hand, we built long lasting, powerful relationships and made
connections that will benefit all of our members for years to come.
There is a new State President, and he is no stranger to the office. Philip
Nelson of LaSalle County will step back into the top spot and Evan Hultine
of Bureau County retained his vice president’s seat. Four new directors were
seated against incumbents, and one new director replaced a tenured director. Although there was excitement, anticipation, and anxiety around these
elections, one thing really stood out and that was the graciousness of those
who won as well as the respect and dignity shown to those who did not. It
was a civil event with results that expressed a desire for change. At the end
of the day (or maybe very early the next morning) I spoke with several who
supported opposing candidates and most were anxious to move forward,
repair images, work with other commodity groups and end the problems
we face elsewhere. It’s been a pleasure to have been able to make incredible
relationships with those people from across the state. I am reminded of a
statement made to me about a year ago by someone who said to me that the
“delegates always get it right”. Seems this year that may be more so than ever.
I’m happy to be back home delivering my winter grain contracts, pushing
snow, and getting final holiday plans together (well, actually I haven’t even
thought about the holidays, but we’ll set that aside for now.)
The new year is upon us. I remember quite some time ago when I was
a young boy and my grandfather was about my current age, he said with
disbelief, “I can’t believe it’s going to be 1980” …shows how old I am.
Well, I can’t believe it’s going to be 2026, but I can tell you that after this
past week and realizing that I am the older man in the crowd, that the future
is bright for IFB and your County Farm Bureau.
Doug Downs
CCFB President

I’d like to start this week with a few recognitions.

First a big CONGRATULATIONS to Daniel and Constance Herriott for their Top 10 Finish in the American Farm Bureau Federations Young Leader Achievement Award Competition. This is a massive accomplishment and the CCFB could not be more proud to see two incredibly deserving people be recognized at the national level for their impact on their community, on agriculture, and within the farm bureau.

I would also like to recognize Maynard Birkey, Chandler Janes, Mark Jones, and Jason Watson. They all just completed their tenures on the CCFB Board of Directors during the CCFB Annual Meeting last week. Every one of them were valuable board members whose service, thoughtfulness, and dedication to the CCFB should be commended. I personally have appreciated being able to learn from all of these board members and I have deeply valued their input.

Our newly elected board members are: Charlie Mitsdarfer – Crittenden Twp., Dirk Rice – Urbana Twp., Nate Bidner – Hensley Twp., and Chris Sommer – East Bend Twp. Jackson Craig has also been newly appointed as the Young Leader Committee Chair. If you see these folks out and about, please welcome these new board members and thanking them for their willingness to serve on the CCFB Board.

We have a lot going on this week. Governmental Affairs Committee and Farm Smarts on Tuesday, Breakfast at the Midwest Ag Expo at Gordyville on Wednesday, along with our normal presence in the booth at Gordyville both days. There is also an AgriLink meeting Thursday night for our Ag Business Professionals. All the details for those meetings can be found above and I hope that you will come join us at one or all of the upcoming events this week.

Finally, the CCFB office is going to be closed today in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We’ll be back in the office tomorrow, looking forward to serving our members.

Bailey Conrady

CCFB Manager, 1/19/26

For a full list of 2026 trips view the January 2026 CCFB newsletter.

Sessions begin January 20, 2026 –

The CCFB delegation just got back from the IAA Annual Meeting in Chicago and Champaign County has a lot to celebrate. John Reifsteck was awarded the Charles B. Shuman Distinguished Service Award. This is the highest award given by the IL Farm Bureau and it recognizes a lifetime of service to agriculture at the State, Local, and National level. If you know John and Nancy, I’m sure you know that he is the definition of a servant leader who more than deserves this award.

Daniel and Constance Herriott were awarded the Young Leader Achievement Award which recognizes Young Leaders who have already made a huge impact on agriculture, their community, and the farm bureau. Daniel and Constance definitely fit that definition and we look forward to them competing with winners from across the country at the AFBF Annual Meeting in January.

That wasn’t Daniel’s only accomplishment as he also made the Sweet Sixteen of the Young Leader Discussion Meet. Champaign County’s other competitor, Jacob Dickey, made it to the final four and ended up as the runner-up in the whole competition.

On the program side of things, the CCFB and CCFB Foundation earned 1 gold star for CFB Foundations and Fundraising and 3 Silver Stars in the areas of Health and Safety, Farm Income and Development, and Local Affairs. All in all it was a great few days in Chicago! A bunch of pictures from the weekend are below.

Make sure you are keeping track of the announcements from the USDA around the Farmer Bridge Payments and the Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program. If you have any questions about either of those, feel free to call our office and we will get you to the correct office at the USDA.

As we move into 2026, the pace of CCFB events and programs will pick up. There are a bunch of opportunities presented above and I hope that we will see you in the New Year as we strive to provide meaningful opportunities for our members.

Bailey Conrady

CCFB Manager, 12/12/25

Farm Smarts: A Fresh Look at Farm Fundamentals Coming to Champaign County

This winter, the Champaign and Piatt County Farm Bureaus are bringing farmers a new, practical, and highly engaging educational series designed to sharpen decision-making and strengthen farm fundamentals.

Farm Smarts, running January through March 2026, offers straight forward insights, real
conversations, and the kind of information farmers can use the very next day.

All sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Champaign County Farm Bureau, and dinner is provided!

But this program isn’t just about learning. It is also about rewarding members who invest in themselves. Attend 4 of the 5 sessions and you’ll receive a Farm Bureau swag bag. Attend all 5 and you’ll be entered to win a $250 Milwaukee tool bundle. And for anyone who joins Farm Bureau as a new member or renews during the series, you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift card to the local restaurant of your choice. If gaining practical knowledge isn’t reason enough to attend, walking away with new gear certainly sweetens the deal.

A Closer Look at the 2026 Farm Smarts Lineup

1. Marketing Beyond the Scale Ticket — January 20
   Speaker: Greg Johnson, TGM
   A deeper dive into commodity marketing strategies that go well beyond selling across the scale.
   Takeaway: Learn how timing, tools, and market trends can turn a “good enough” year into a great one.
2. Finding Funds in Unexpected Places — January 27
   Speaker: Mark Hortin, Ag Finance Guru
   Explore traditional and alternative financing avenues you may be overlooking.
   Takeaway: Discover hidden financial tools and opportunities sitting right under your nose.
3. Crop Insurance: What Am I Paying For, Anyway? — February 5
   Speaker: Doug Yoder, COUNTRY Financial
   A practical breakdown of crop insurance coverage and how to get your money’s worth.
   Takeaway: Demystify your policy and learn how to make your coverage work smarter—not harder.
4. “We’re the Government, and We’re Here to Help” (Really!) — March 5
   Representatives from SWCD, NRCS, FSA, Rural Development, USFWS, and more deliver fast-paced TED-style updates, followed by a lively Q&A.
   Takeaway: Understand which agency to call when opportunity—or trouble—comes knocking.
5. Diseases, Deficiencies & Dirty Fields — March 10
   Speaker: Jill Henninger, Sunrise FS
   A field-tested refresher on agronomy fundamentals, soil health, and key questions to ask before theseason kicks off.
   Takeaway: Strengthen your agronomy IQ and boost yields while keeping your sanity intact.

With practical takeaways, expert speakers, great food, and chances to win useful gear, Farm Smarts is shaping up to be an incredibly valuable winter program. Farmers looking to sharpen their skills, stay informed, and connect with fellow members won’t want to miss it!

To register for the Farm Smart series, visit: https://form.jotform.com/champaignCFB/farm-smarts, call the Champaign County Farm Bureau office at 217-352-5235, the Piatt County Farm Bureau office at 217-762-2128, or email bailey@ccfarmbureau.com.

RSVP’s are due 3 days prior to the respective sessions.

It’s the holiday season. All the field work is done. My crops are in the
bins, fertilizers on, equipment cleaned and put away and there’s even a
chance to see a basketball game this late fall due to the incredible weather
we’ve been blessed with. The other day I had a non farming friend say to
me something like ‘about time to go to Florida and do nothing for the next
6 months eh.’ After a quick reflection on that statement I said something
like: Well, not really……I explained to him it’s winter meeting season. It’s
also year-end tax planning season, accounting and budget projection season.
Seed, chemical, and crop protection product decision making season
as well. It’s the beginning of shop season, preventative maintenance and
equipment servicing season, then sprinkle in a couple hundred loads of grain
to haul amongst all those jobs. With a few equipment rebuilds in there…
the next thing you know it’ll be a mad scramble to make sure planters are
ready to roll by April. Around here, as with most all of us, there is not much
“down time” but there certainly is less stress and more slow time and I’m
ready for that. The rat race is over for a short spell.
It’s an extremely busy time in the office. Whether it is in the farm office,
banker’s office, seed dealer’s office, or here at the farm bureau office, many
decisions regarding the future are being made. Field data and financials are
being analyzed and projections made for what we can and can’t do to be as
efficient and profitable as possible.
About the time you get this, the Champaign County Farm Bureau will
be in the final preparations phase for our annual meeting in Chicago. The
delegates are meeting to decipher many resolutions and bylaw amendments
about now. This year I’m happy to report we have a diverse age group representing our county. The older crowd for wisdom and the younger crowd
to carry on the values we hold dear. We are lucky to have two major award
winners and we look forward to hosting a wide variety of distinguished guests
from across the state in our suite that weekend for a formal reception after
that awards ceremony. Senator Chapin Rose will be hosting a legislative
reception in our suite as well. I’m anxious to share with you all the news,
photos and results from the annual meeting in next month’s edition.
I wish you all the best this holiday season. Have a very Merry Christmas
season and a prosperous new year.

It’s the best time of the year. By the time you read this, I’ll have about a hundred or more hours of seat time in my combine, my eyes will be watering, itchy, and crusty from bean dust. I’ll have been up and down the bin stairs who knows how many times, and the ‘kids’ will ask me “what are you doing here?” If I walk in the house before 9pm. But it’s still the best time of the year. When I was younger, I always awaited summer anxiously, but now it’s the late fall and slower pace of winter I await anxiously, and that’s right around the corner. As most know, a slower pace isn’t reality with me, although I’m hoping to get there in the next 20 years or so.

This time of year also brings the stories of people helping others. We’ve had some illness and injuries in my neighborhood, and without anyone asking, floods of folks have come to assist those who need and deserve it. We as farmers kind of take that thing for granted. We see a neighbor in need from an unforeseen circumstance, and we spring into action. It’s just what we do. I was lamenting with someone that I wonder what other industry has this type of family sensation. Maybe there are others who rush to aid but I’m pretty solid in my belief that no other profession does it the way we do. This is also an area where your local farm bureau office can help. We can step in and offer as much or as little assistance as a family in need wants. A phone call is all it takes.

As I write this, we just crossed over September 11th and our country is hurting from some horrific events. I’ve said I won’t use this platform political debates, but I sure will talk about them on “the tailgate of the truck”. Keeping silent about things that might bother you isn’t a good thing. If there’s something you think that the farm bureau can be doing for you, please bring it up to me or your local board member.

I’ve also been asked, once again, “Do you really write those newsletter articles?” Well, yes, but don’t blame the staff. They wouldn’t pay someone to submit this stuff. Sometimes it’s hard coming up with content on the last day and hour before a deadline and sometimes I feel like I’m going to spit out a bunch of rubbish just to fill a spot. But then, events unfold right in front of my eyes that shows yet another example of where your farm bureau membership provides value and I think it’s important that you are aware of them. If you haven’t, follow our Facebook page and make sure you sign up for the Monday morning email updates to keep informed of what’s going on.

Well, harvest is upon us. Probably faster than any of us expected or wanted but Fall is here. As we enter this new season, I want to take a moment to say Thank You for your CCFB membership. None of the recent successes of the CCFB would be possible without your continued support. From member appreciation events like the annual picnic and the burger bashes, to our educational events like marketing meetings and legislative meetings, to our development programs like the AgriLink Committee that is bringing together the ag professionals of Champaign County, none of this would be possible without you. Your membership is what fuels the CCFB. The CCFB accomplished a lot this summer thanks to you and to the amazing staff at the CCFB. Lucas, Emily, & Debbie worked hard this summer to bring you a wide-range of incredibly beneficial events and programs. As we have started working on planning and scheduling our winter meeting season, I encourage you to reach out with any program ideas that you might have so that we can best serve you as our members. Every renewal, every conversation, every idea, they all matter. You make sure that we have the resources and the credibility to make an impact. Thank you for believing in the mission of the CCFB and for standing together to benefit agriculture.

               On the legislative side of things, IFB continues to work hard in Washington DC on the issues that are most pressing for farmers and producers in Illinois. The farm  economic outlook and farm profitability are top of mind for the CCFB, IFB, and our legislators in Washington. Several ideas are being floated about how to provide economic assistance to farmers. Ideas range from using tariff income to fund an economic assistance package to trying to move the ARC/PLC payments up from Fall of 2026 to either late this year or early in 2026 to using the CCC  for an economic package like the Trump Administration did in President Trump’s first term. None of these ideas are easy or simple but work is being done to try and aid the farmers of Illinois.

               A “Leaders to Washington” trip just got back from Washington DC. This trip is truly an exclusive opportunity provided by IFB for farm bureau members to meet with the movers and shakers in Washington DC. The members on this trip met with Senators Durbin and Duckworth, along with their respective Representatives. They met with USDA officials, including the head of the FSA and members of the Trump Administration as well. I would encourage any member that has an interest in advocacy and legislative programs to consider going on a “Leaders to Washington” trip. It is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity, and to make it even better, IFB covers the costs of the trip.

               If you have any questions about how the CCFB and IFB advocate for you as members, please feel free to reach out to the CCFB office. I would be more than happy to chat.

Bailey Conrady

Manager, CCFB

9/19/25

The Illinois Farm Bureau is pleased to share that the IAA Board of Directors has once again committed $200,000 to the Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program and $30,000 to the Pollinator Conservation Grant Program as part of the IFB Environmental Stewardship Grant Programs. These funds are intended to support County Farm Bureau and farmer-led nutrient loss reduction or pollinator conservation projects in the areas of education and outreach, best management practice implementation, research and monitoring, or documenting progress.

Applications are now open for both the Nutrient Stewardship Grant and the Pollinator Conservation Grant. The deadline for submission is Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Only County Farm Bureau Managers or Presidents are eligible to apply, though they may collaborate with project partners or individuals in preparing applications. Submissions from other entities will not be considered. Funding decisions will be communicated to County Farm Bureau managers on Monday, December 15, 2025.

Members are encouraged to reach out to schedule time to brainstorm, discuss, and refine project ideas. The IFB Environmental Team looks forward to helping County Farm Bureaus develop successful projects.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. –Recognizing years of hard work and agricultural advocacy, Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders named Daniel and Constance Herriott winners of the prestigious 2025 Young Leader Achievement award.

The Young Leader Achievement Award recognizes Illinois Farm Bureau members between the ages 18 and 35 for their efforts in production agriculture, leadership abilities and involvement in Young Leaders and other organizations. Winners must earn their primary income from production agriculture.

“We’re thrilled to recognize Daniel and Constance Herriott for their outstanding contributions to Illinois agriculture,” said Perry W. Harlow, IFB Young Leader program coordinator. “The Herriotts exemplify the dedication and passion we see in our young agriculture leaders.”

Daniel Herriot farms alongside his brother, Matt, and his father, Steve, near Sidney in southeastern Champaign County, where they grow corn, sweet corn and soybeans. He is also well known as a CropWatcher for FarmWeek, where he keeps readers informed with crop progress reports from Champaign County throughout the planting, growing and harvest season.

In addition to farming, Daniel and Constance Herriot are advocates for agriculture and have championed events such as meet-the-farmer dinners, kiddie tractor pulls, and hosting touch-a-truck experiences for local homeschooled children. They are involved in numerous agriculture organizations and programs, including Champaign County Farm Bureau Young Leaders,the Illinois Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow program, Young Leader Discussion Meet competitions, Champaign County Farmland Assessment Review Committee, their local Grain Cooperative Advisory Committee, their local FFA Alumni Association, and more.

About Illinois Farm Bureau

Founded in 1916, Illinois Farm Bureau – originally known as the Illinois Agricultural Association – is a nonprofit, grassroots membership organization. Illinois Farm Bureau and a statewide network of county Farm Bureaus give members an advantage through impactful advocacy, trusted information, and meaningful development to support their careers and Illinois farm families.

Learn more about Illinois agriculture at www.ilfb.org. Connect with Illinois Farm Bureau on Facebook: Illinois Farm Bureau | Facebook, Instagram @ilfarmbureau, X @ILFarmBureau, or on TikTok @illinoisfarmbureau.

Illinois Farm Bureau is looking for members to attend the 2025 Agricultural Marketing Summit Nov. 12-14 in Indianapolis, IN. The summit, which IFB is a sponsor and partner, offers opportunities for networking and learning about new business strategies that can improve the performance of farms and businesses. Participants will find resources for direct marketing for farmers and food businesses, agribusinesses with value-added products and technical assistance providers.

Farm Bureau members interested in attending this year should apply online before Oct. 14. All applications will be reviewed, and chosen participants will be contacted. IFB will pay for in-person conference registration, lodging and travel. 

For more information, please reach out to Jolene Neuhauser at 309.557.3286 or jneuhauser@ilfb.org.

Thursday, September 25, 2025 – Matinee
Stand By Your Man – The Tammy Wynette Story – The Beef
House Dinner Theatre – Covington, IN

Tammy Wynette – the woman behind the legend and the incredible
songs that made her the First Lady of country music – leaps off the
stage and into your heart. Through her eyes, the audience relives her
journey from the cotton fields of Itawamba, Mississippi, to international
superstar. With comic flare and dramatic impact, Stand by Your Man counts triumphs and tragedies and explores Tammy’s relationships with the five husbands she stood
by. Among the twenty-six songs
are “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” “’Til I Can
Make It on My Own,” and “Golden
Ring.”
Price per person: $125 Deadline to Register or cancel reservation: Tuesday, September 2

August newsletter

I guess it’s the time of year when everyone is supposed to be enjoying nice summer evenings on the porch with a glass of lemonade and some watermelon while smelling the corn pollinating and watching fireflies skirt across the top of the soybeans…or some other storybook fantasy about farming. That’s not the way my world works and probably not many of yours either. I don’t know how it’s happened but over my career the seasons have all merged together, one running right into another. Equipment and myself don’t seem to see much of a break as it seems used to. Quite honestly it’s pretty much overtime season most of the time anymore. Farms are getting larger, there’s a lot more grain to handle, and more crop enhancement and protection operations going on than ever before. We are just plain busy and a lot of us stretched thin.

In addition to everything else, your county farm bureau board president (Me) is also preparing for the annual presidents conference, which from the time of this writing, is one week away. I could pack my bag next Monday morning, head to Bloomington and listen to some updates from staff, chit chat with friends, eat a decent meal or 2 , and listen to a guest speaker at the conclusion. Then I could come home Tuesday evening with some tidbits to bring back to our board about what’s going on in Bloomington and not deal with anything else for quite some time. But this year is probably a little different. It’s an election year, there’s quite a bit of talk, and quite a bit of action in the house that needs attention. Those things will get addressed and we will move forward best we can. There’s no question the county farm bureau of old will look different in the future. How exactly is anyone’s guess but we are certainly facing a changing dynamic in our membership and a decline in rural populations. There simply aren’t as many farmers as there used to be and that’s no different across every other county in Illinois. Farm Bureau has and will continue to service the unique needs facing rural America but it’s got to be a group effort by those of us at the grass roots level and your input is vital.

Our forefathers set this organization up for success over 100 years ago in numerous ways. From the unique ways we finance ourselves to the unique ways we can finance the future. Our predecessors were pretty savvy for the times. With not much for communication compared to today, they still managed to get together and discuss, hash things around and thoroughly think things through as a group at events such as this president’s conference. They planned for success and there was no room for complacency. Settling for mediocrity and just getting by wasn’t an option. When it comes to this year’s conference, that’s the message I’ll be taking, that there is no room for complacency and we must look to the future.

Complacency might be ‘easy’ but that won’t set us up for the future. I was approached 5 years ago by a neighbor to take their place on this farm bureau board, and it was an honor for me to be considered for it. I’m going to bring to our board the idea that we need to always be looking forward to the next group of leaders who take our place. Not to look at it as just “serving your time and rubber stamping the bills” but to carry on, protect and enhance what our forefathers and predecessors put together. We may have to change our structure in subtle ways over the years to come but your local farm bureau will be there for the next generations as it’s always been there for you and I. If you ever get approached by someone to serve on a board, take it as a compliment and consider doing it as someone thought highly enough of you to be a voice for agriculture in the future. You can make a difference.

CCFB President Doug Downs –

The crop is well established and for the most part appears to be in about as good of shape as one could reasonably expect for mid June. I wish I’d of replanted a few beans here and there, but a very few thin bean stands, with plenty of waterhemp poking though my non-gmo beans, is my worst problem. So I will be grateful and hope for the best the rest of the year.

It’s also the weekend after the big Gala the Foundation puts on and this year was a roaring success. Thanks to all of you who attended, donated a desert or auction item, or bought a desert or auction item. I feel sorry for those who bought my desert, although I’m grateful for their overwhelming generosity, because there was an unfortunate accident with the desert I baked. It had to get substituted 30 minutes before the gala with the help of a local bakery and our astute assistant manager. Talk about a stressful situation! I had the privilege of hosting 4 other local county farm bureau presidents at my table and it was good to share our thoughts with each other and had a great night of fun and fellowship.

The calendar at the farm bureau office is absolutely packed with events for the summer. I encourage you to look through that calendar of events and try to maximize your membership. There are several “social” events as well as value based events with celebrity speakers that give presentations where you can literally take home information that most people pay for, then put that information straight to use. Recently some of us spent an evening with one of our bright local attorneys regarding easements and such and later this month, we will have a marketing meeting in the office with as good of advice as you could pay for anywhere. We are fortunate to be in an area where some of the best of the best work and provide services to farmers all across the country, and here at the Champaign County Farm Bureau, are happy to bring those insights straight to you to keep that constant value chain flowing.

Enjoy your summer.

State Update: The spring legislative session brought several developments that impact Illinois agriculture, including both successes and ongoing challenges. One of the most notable efforts was the Family Farm Preservation Act, which received an overwhelming response from grassroots members—over 1,200 calls were made to legislators and adopted legislators across the state. While this surge of advocacy showed the strength and unity of the ag community, the act ultimately did not advance, due in large part to the state’s significant budget deficit and reluctance among lawmakers to decrease revenue at this time. On a positive note, Senate Bill 710, addressing nuisance deer, passed with unanimous support in both the House and Senate. This bipartisan success demonstrates a shared understanding of the impact deer have on crop production. Efforts to modernize and simplify wetlands regulations did not move forward this session. However, conversations remain active, and Farm Bureau continues to advocate for landowner rights in this effort. There was also broad support and ongoing discussion regarding continuing education credits for applicator licenses that should produce results soon. A proposal for transit reform, which included the elimination of the biodiesel sales tax credit, failed to advance. Farm Bureau opposed this portion of the bill, and we remain committed to protecting incentives that support renewable fuels and Illinois-grown commodities. To help close the state’s budget gap, legislators approved targeted tax increases, including hikes on sports betting revenues and short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb. While these taxes are not directly tied to agriculture, they reflect the broader fiscal pressure that shaped the session’s outcomes. Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan recently traveled to Washington, D.C., where he met with nine legislators to advocate for key issues impacting Illinois agriculture. These visits are part of IFB’s continued effort to ensure that our lawmakers understand the real-world implications of federal policy on farmers and rural communities. While IFB supports the agricultural provisions in the current federal spending bill, we continue to emphasize the need for a comprehensive, long-term Farm Bill that provides certainty and stability for producers. Discussions in Congress remain fractured, with the House narrowly passing a reconciliation bill by just one vote. The Senate is now working from that version, but concerns are mounting due to concerns about tax structure, which appears to place a greater burden on lower-income Americans while offering more favorable treatment to higher-income individuals. Additionally, changes to the SNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) could have major financial consequences for Illinois and other states, potentially adding $800 million to the illinois’ budget. IFB is advocating for a “skinny” Farm Bill to go along with the spending package—a more limited legislative package that could not have any financial impacts but would still address urgent regulatory concerns. This approach could allow Congress to act on issues like fixing Prop 12 implementation and improving administrative rules for existing programs. On the trade front, IFB is calling attention to a long-term concern: China’s crushing of U.S. corn and soybeans has dropped by 1 million tons each since the trade war began. This decline threatens market stability, and IFB continues to push for a permanent resolution that restores trade relations. Another issue on IFB’s radar is the recent “Make America Healthy Again” report released by Secretary Kennedy. The report contains several recommendations that shed a negative light on agriculture, and IFB is working with lawmakers to ensure that agricultural groups have a seat at the table and that sound science guides the process. Lastly, the Trump administration has sent a rescission package to Congress, aiming to reclaim previously allocated but unspent funds. IFB is monitoring this closely for any potential impacts on agriculture-related programs. -Lucas StarkCCFB Assistant Manager6/13/25

June newsletter

When I was a young man, a 14-year-old freshman in high school I believe, I had to deliver some hard-hitting news to my mom. I got off the bus, walked in the house and had to tell her I had flunked a biology test. She was crushed and I’m pretty sure she was convinced I had no future. She immediately went to the shed and told my dad who then proceeded to get a hold of me and “set me straight”. He sat me down on the front tire of a 4020 and started with the lecture. And it was one of the most humiliating lectures ever. “What are you going to do with your life?” he asked. The thought I had to myself as he asked that was: ‘that’s the dumbest question I’ve ever heard’.  I sure didn’t tell him that, but I did immediately reply: “well I’m going to be a farmer of course”. “You are not going to be a farmer” he insisted immediately. He then went on to give me the long dreadful talk about the less than glamorous aspects of the current situation as it was in 1984 related to the business side of farming. He also warned me of the dirty, hard, smelly, and maybe less than glamorous jobs associated with ag that didn’t pay very well that were a perfect spot for students who flunked biology tests. There was a lot more to that seemingly endless and awful lecture that I’ll spare you the details of, but it has lingered with me for 40 more years. As I usually do, I bucked the trend and found a way to get into farming, and it wasn’t exactly any way he had in mind. It all worked out in the end, I think, but I took the long hard road as usual.

Today’s world is better. Kids don’t need to take the long hard road. Unlike 1984, today’s “farm crisis” as some put it, has a silver lining for our youth. We don’t have enough people available to work in our industry. Ag related jobs are hard to fill. And there are a lot of really good jobs that aren’t dirty and humiliating like 1984. Sales, research, legal, skilled operator, and agronomy jobs that were rare or nearly impossible to find 40 years ago are abundant today. There are a lot of great FFA programs and such out there, but the city schools have nothing for these kids as far as a curriculum to learn about ag. They literally live next door to the greatest agricultural lands on earth, one of the best agricultural colleges in the world, and have no idea what it’s all about or that there could be an enjoyable and rewarding career waiting for them. Think of the pool of sharp young minds that may be untapped. But some of these kids need a nudge, and some encouragement to take that step towards our industry. To foster or encourage an interest. This is where our Foundation steps in and delivers. Sending teachers into the classrooms and connecting college and high school age kids to scholarships to help encourage an ag related career in hopes of keeping them right here at home so we can fill those needs from locals.

Our foundation staffers and board have thought “out of the box” for ways to raise the funds to finance these programs. The biggest fundraiser of all, the annual gala, is just a few weeks away. As I write this it’s sold out. But the annual golf cart raffle tickets will be available all summer. I also think the best way for you to be financially involved with the Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation, as a farmer is a newer initiative called the Foundation Farmers. Essentially donating an acre’s worth of crop on an annual basis by simply writing the check or donating the grain. Easy and effective. Many of us who have joined this group look at it as a way to positively affect the future of rural ag programming and education here in Champaign County for generations to come. I hope you will consider doing the same. Call the office for more information or to get involved.

The phone rang the other day from a member who had just returned from an
extended layover in Florida. He said he was catching up on all the farm bureau papers and wondered why I hadn’t said anything about the tariffs. Since he’s enjoyed
raising fancy chickens, the first thing I did was thank him for not taking the paper
straight to the coop for bedding. He assured me he only did that after he’d gathered
all the news. But when it came to the tariff question, I said it would be useless to
address that because the tariff “rules” or “talk” would change before I got done
typing the article. And then, they would change 10 more times before you actually
got to read it. On top of all that, my personal beliefs on the topic may or may not
align with others personal beliefs so the best thing for me to do is to sit back and
not overreact to every tweet or knee jerk reaction like the news commentators in
the media do. That’s pretty much what Farm Bureau management has done as
well. Try not to overreact and let the noise settle out. American and Illinois farm
bureau leaders have both been in meetings with Secretary Rollins on the subject
to express concern and worry about the consequences we might face. Personally,
I know it’s going to take just as much pain to get out of the financial crisis we are
in as it did recklessness that put us there. It’s certainly going to be a bumpy ride so
we all better keep our buckles tight, but let’s not jump overboard is my opinion.

It’s been mentioned that a rural broadband project should be underway. It’s
behind schedule, and part of that delay is due to easement failures. If you get anything from a utility company in the mail, and it looks the slightest bit suspicious,
please call our office. It’s been said that some utilities are trying to skirt the easement process by claiming that no response is granting permission to the utility.
Please be vigilant.

There is a lot going on in the background at the state and federal levels, and
it’s hard to keep up on all the events and even harder to report about. Enjoy the
rest of the spring everyone and be safe.
Doug Downs
CCFB President

Kenny & Dolly Christmas – December 1^st – Starved Rock Lodge – Oglesby, IL

Back for a repeat performance are Dave Karl (Kenny Rogers) & Wendy Engler (Dolly Parton) for all of the top songs, mannerisms and humor of the real Kenny and Dolly. This tribute has it all, the best of Kenny, Dolly and of course many of their famous duets. There will be the perfect mix of Christmas music sprinkled in this show.

Price per person: $150.00             Deadline to Register or cancel reservation: Monday, November 10

CCFB President, Doug Downs
Spring is upon us and I’m sure you’re all ready for longer days and warmer temperatures. As I write this, we just have had a real nice early March. I got anhydrous on, newly installed tile lines got worked down, and I’m installing what seems like 100 boxes worth of new parts on a “not new” planter and sprayer, trying to keep them “in the game” for a good while longer.
When I was thinking about spring and the upcoming growing season, I was also thinking about making my spray sheets and field seed diagrams and such…you know…laying out the best plan for the upcoming growing season. Since I was doing that, I also said a little prayer for 72–73-degree average days beginning April 15th, then increasing to an average of 78-80 starting May 5. And let’s just take 82 from June 1 to September 15. A nice gentle 8 tenths of an inch of soaking rain every Sunday morning with maybe another extra inch mid-July and mid-August. No windstorms or hail or anything silly like that was suggested in said prayer. There was also the subtle thought for a little western corn belt weather scare late May and I’d just go ahead and hedge a lot of $5.50 corn and some $12 beans when that happened. I didn’t think that was too much to ask, and it would make life a little less stressful. Since I plan for everything, I figured I’ll just plan on that and make my season go extra smooth. This farming thing isn’t so hard after all, right?
You all know that planning for a perfect growing season is completely bogus. I had the opportunity to explain this recently to an NPR reporter who contacted me about gulf hypoxia and asked why don’t all Illinois farm fields get cover crops. I explained the best I could that not all farming operations are the same, not all growing seasons are the same, nor can everyone plan on what it takes to handle said practices. Without getting into all the details of that lengthy conversation, I will say he admitted that our conversation led him to think differently about what we are doing. He didn’t realize there was a difference in corn varieties, differences in soil types, differences in chemical tolerances, as well as all the other variables we all deal with on a daily basis. It was an eye-opening experience for him to learn that there are real reasons why we don’t all do things exactly the same way and that we all don’t just start planting corn one specific day, put the same seed in the ground, and wait for it to mature in the fall. I’ve learned that very few around us truly have any clue how diverse and independent all of our operations locally can be.
So, I don’t expect you all to have a smooth spring, a perfect growing season, and an easy harvest. But I hope you do make the most of what you have so that you can have a good seedbed, even emergence, and a good stand….no matter what it took to get it. There might be a few more days to spend an extra couple hours staring at that planter to make sure everything looks perfect. The rest of the season will go a lot better given the best start possible.
Sincerely,
Doug Downs

 A lot has happened in my world since I last wrote in this space. I bet I could preface just about every article I’ve written here that way. This past month was no exception. But before I get going with this edition, I’d like to thank the dozens of you who have told me you actually read and enjoy this column. It means a lot knowing it’s not going straight to the bottom of the bird cage or litter box.

I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the American Farm Bureau Federation convention and annual meeting in San Antonio Texas in late January. Late last fall, I thought I had been through enough the last part of 2024 and almost didn’t go. Am I ever glad I made the trip. I was able to meet several state presidents, numerous members from other states, and fill in the time gaps visiting with dozens of people from Illinois who also made the trip. Anytime I would turn around, there would be someone from another part of the country ready to engage in a conversation, and when that person could see that I was a county president from Illinois, the conversation usually got deeper. I spoke with state presidents from Washington to Delaware and many other members from Idaho to Florida. There’s usually a common denominator in all these people and that is they value the rural way of life and value the influence an organization at the county level can have that can get that influence all the way to the national level. Last year, AFBF president Zippy Duvall proclaimed 2024 the “year of the county president” to stress the importance of such a position. He hosted a “County presidents’ reception” one afternoon this year at the convention. The event gave county presidents from across the nation a chance to be together, network, and share stories with others. It’s interesting to hear what specific problems have been dealt with in other areas of the country versus what we deal with here in Champaign County. I’ll never forget the impression it’s made on me.

I’ll leave you all with one more observation. About a year ago I wrote here that I hoped we could all outyield these low market prices and fortunately I think most of us did. When I was finding a place last October to deliver my “overage corn bushels”, I never imagined those bushels could have been worth what they are as I write this. Even though I overstuffed the bins, I still “gave away” many bushels thinking we will never recover from this glut of corn. What are the odds we will outyield the storm 2 years in a row? Maybe it’s our turn to have the “off year” while neighboring states outyield the storm. Who knows. Regardless, there are more insurance coverage options this year and a decent opportunity to forward price some grain and lock in a profit and not a loss. By the time you read this, price levels should be set and I’m betting they are way better than any of us thought they could be 3 months ago. I’m not an insurance salesman but it’s worth the time to inquire about enhanced coverage levels this year and explore those options.

Doug Downs, CCFB President

Governmental Affairs Update

by Bailey Conrady, CCFB Manager

Well, it’s been an interesting few weeks in the governmental affairs space to say the least. Champaign County Farm Bureau staff and volunteers were in Springfield on Feb. 18th for IL Farm Bureau’s Governmental Affairs and Leadership Conference. This conference brings together farm bureau members from across the state to learn about issues at the local, state, and national level and to interact with legislators at the annual legislator reception held that evening. Thank you to Sen. Chapin Rose, Sen. Paul Faraci, Rep. Brandun Schweizer, Rep. Chris Miller, and Rep. Adam Niemerg for stopping by to visit with our members in attendance. A big shout-out also goes to our adopted legislator from Chicago, Rep. Hoan Hyunh for stopping by. It is always nice to catch up with our legislators and discuss the topics of interest to the farm bureau. This is a great conference every year, and I would encourage any member interested in ag advocacy to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

At the state level, the Family Farm Preservation Act, which would make changes to the IL estate tax to benefit family farms remains the top priority for IL Farm Bureau. I would encourage CCFB members to discuss this issue with any state legislators that you may see out and about at community events. Sen. Paul Faraci is a co-sponsor on the Senate Bill, and we thank him for taking a leadership role on this issue for the farm bureau. More information on the Family Farm Preservation Act can be found at: https://ilfb.org/ifb-in-action/what-were-working-on/family-farm-preservation-act/.

At the federal level, upheaval is still the theme. The CCFB and IFB are working to understand the impacts of the changes at the federal level on our farmer and agribusiness members. Illinois Farm Bureau is committed to responding to the issues in a measured and thoughtful way and not just reacting to the breaking news of the moment. If you have any concrete examples of funding being frozen for farmers or have been impacted in a direct way, please reach out to bailey@ccfarmbureau.com. We are working to provide defined examples of issues faced by our members to our federal legislators and we need your help in identifying these issues.

Locally, the broadband project, Connect Champaign County, is running full speed ahead. If you are a landowner on the proposed Phase 1 backbone project, you should be receiving information from Volo Internet + Tech in the mail shortly. This information will include the scope of the project and the proposed easement. If you have any questions about this project, please feel free to reach out to the CCFB office.

There are a lot of great CCFB programs coming up on a variety of issues, but if you have a topic or idea that you think the CCFB should be working on, please reach out to either bailey@ccfarmbureau.com or lucas@ccfarmbureau.com. We are always happy to talk to members about ideas!

On Tuesday, Jan. 21st, the CCFB Governmental Affairs committee held a fascinating meeting on the topic of carbon capture and storage. Bill Bodine, IL Farm Bureau Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs, led off the meeting with a discussion of where current IFB policy stands and the current regulatory environment at the state and federal level. Representatives of One Earth Energy, an ethanol plant located in Gibson City, then discussed their carbon capture and storage project which proposes to sequester carbon in eastern McLean County. Finally, IL State Senator Paul Faraci discussed his point of view with regards to carbon capture and storage technology and the bill that he has proposed in Springfield on the issue. To no surprise the hot topic of the day was the potential for carbon capture and storage projects within the confines of the Mahomet Aquifer. It was a great discussion with varying viewpoints and everyone, including myself, learned a lot about the issues surrounding carbon sequestration and storage that morning.

On the federal level, the rules around the 45Z interim rule, which will dictate the practices that will qualify for carbon reduction and sustainable aviation fuel, have been announced. Currently the industry response to the interim rule has been positive. Illinois Farm Bureau will be commenting on the interim rule, which will be finalized after a 60 day comment period.

At the state level, the general assembly has just kicked off the new session. It stands to be a busy year and IL Farm Bureau has announced their state legislative priorities. Those priorities include: passage of the Family Farm Preservation Act, protecting the LMFA, working to maintain adequate funding for key IDOA programs, working to provide farmers and landowners with adequate tools needed to manage deer populations on their properties, and many other important issues.

I would invite everyone to come out to the to the next Governmental Affairs Committee meeting on Feb. 25th at 7:30 am in the CCFB Auditorium.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 – Matinee

Jersey Boys – Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre – Indianapolis, IN

Discover the fascinating secret of a 40-year friendship that led Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons to work their way from the streets of New Jersey to the heights of stardom! This Tony Award winner for Best Musical includes: “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, “Dawn”, “My Eyes Adored You” and more. Jersey Boys is presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW). www.theatricalrights.com

Price per person: $125.00 Deadline to Register or cancel reservation: Wednesday, March 12

Thursday, June 5-6, 2025 – Overnight Trip

Oak Ridge Boys Farewell Tour – June 5th – Blue Gate Theatre – Shipshewana, IN

Theirs is one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds in the music industry. The four-part harmonies and upbeat songs of The Oak Ridge Boys have spawned dozens of Country hits and a Number One Pop smash, earned them Grammy, Dove, CMA, and ACM awards and garnered a host of other industry and fan accolades. Every time they step before an audience, the Oaks bring three decades of charted singles, and 50 years of tradition, to bear on a stage show widely acknowledged as among the most exciting anywhere. And each remains as enthusiastic about the process as they have ever been.

Ned & Nancy See America – June 6th – Blue Gate Music Hall – Shipshewana, IN

To celebrate his retirement and 40th wedding anniversary, Ned Richards surprises his wife Nancy with a cross-country road trip in his shiny brand-spankin’ new RV! As good as his intentions are, this “vacation of a lifetime” quickly turns into one hilarious disaster after another. An encounter with a biker gang, a hot air balloon ride gone wrong, an Amish stowaway, a mugging in DC (a real one, not taxes) – and many other twists and turns down the road. Ned and Nancy end up seeing way more of America than any postcards could ever begin to describe. Through it all new memories are made, old ones relived, and vacation frustrations melt away in

the beauty that is America. Add to that a poignant moment at a military memorial, stunning Americana Travelog scenery, and some cruising “Golden Oldies” on the radio, and a surprise ending – this is a show that’ll have the audience singing along, and laughing their bobby socks off!

Price Person: $375 per person – Double $425 – Single

Cost includes: Motor coach transportation, hotel, tickets for two shows, meals include: 1 – breakfast, 1 – lunch and 1 – dinner and gratuity.

Deadline to Register or cancel reservation is: Friday, May 2

Wednesday, August 6, 2025 – Matinee

Oklahoma – Myers Dinner Theatre – Hillsboro, IN

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s first collaboration remains, in many ways, their most innovative, setting the standards and rules of modern musical theatre. In a Western territory just after the turn of the 20th century, a high-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cowboys provides a colorful background for Curly, a charming cowboy, and Laurey, a feisty farm girl, to play out their love story. Their romantic journey, as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road, contrasts with the comic exploits of brazen Ado Annie and hapless Will Parker in a musical adventure embracing hope, determination and the promise of a new land.

Price per person: $125 Deadline to Register or cancel reservation: Monday, July 14

Thursday, September 25, 2025 – Matinee

Stand By Your Man – The Tammy Wynette Story – The Beef House Dinner Theatre – Covington, IN

Tammy Wynette – the woman behind the legend and the incredible songs that made her the First Lady of country music – leaps off the stage and into your heart. Through her eyes, the audience relives her journey from the cotton fields of Itawamba, Mississippi, to international superstar. With comic flare and dramatic impact, Stand by Your Man recounts triumphs and tragedies and explores Tammy’s relationships with the five husbands she stood by. Among the twenty-six songs are “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” “’Til I Can Make It on My Own,” and “Golden Ring.”

Price per person: $125 Deadline to Register or cancel reservation: Tuesday, September 2

Sunday, December 15, 2024, at CCFB’s Auditorium from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CCFB is coming together to support farmers impacted by the recent hurricanes. We are accepting hay donations.

Cinnamon Salad

Ingredients

• Large can crushed pineapple, drained
• 1/3 cup Red Hots
• Let stand overnight or several hours.
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 8 oz container Cool Whip
  Directions
  Mix all together

The Women’s Committee will have a COLLECTION BOX in the Lobby of
the Farm Bureau building outside the office, for those who would like to be
a part of their charitable drive for Veteran’s housed on the VA llliana Health Care Campus in Danville, IL.
We are collecting the following
NEW items:

• Gloves – size Large & X-Large
• Socks – fits size 10 and up
• Men’s Winter Caps or Hats
• Kleenex
• Men’s Deodorant
• Men’s Soap
• Pump Hand Soap
• Small Tabletop Christmas decorations to brighten their rooms.
  The collection will run from now until December 9, 2024. Any questions
  please contact Marilyn Whalen at 217-369-3309.

Notice is hereby given that
the 114th Annual Meeting of
the Champaign County Farm
Bureau is called for Thursday, January 16th, 2025, at the
Champaign County Farm Bureau, 801 N. Country Fair Dr,
Champaign, IL.
The business meeting will
begin at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of consideration of any
business which may be properly
presented.
Directors from the following townships will be elected:

• Compromise
• Ludlow
• Newcomb
• Philo
• Raymond
• Sadorus
• St. Joseph
• Scott
• Somer
  Minutes of the 2024 CCFB
  Annual Meeting will be printed
  in the December edition of the
  CCFB newsletter

Fall has arrived! We all know the signs. Vegetation has changed, combines are whirring
through the fields, and animals are scurrying away from the impending doom of the combine. Semi drivers are roaring down our roads with goals of efficiency and a rapid return to
the field. All of nature is changing around us, and we begin to think of how we are going to
manage all the engagements and challenges that come during the season ahead. As a committee, we have decided to share our upcoming scheduled events, so you are “in the know”
and you can mark your calendars accordingly. We want all women to feel welcome at the
events described below. You will not feel alone, even if you arrive alone, as our committee
members are friendly and embracing. New friendships are made and nurtured, we engage
in learning, serving, and enjoying restaurant lunches together. We meet on the second
Monday of each month at 9:30AM at the Farm Bureau Auditorium.

• On November 11th we will welcome Erin Watson as our speaker. She is working
  with Young Life, specifically engaging young moms in a mentoring experience
  through demonstrated love.
• On December 2nd at 1:30PM we will again be going to Rural Rose in Fisher, and
  under Shanna Hortin’s leadership, we will create a Christmas pinecone arrangement. You must sign up and pay for this event in advance by calling Debbie at
  the Farm Bureau office at 217-352- 5235. The deadline is November 18th which
  will allow Shanna adequate time to purchase supplies. The cost is $40.00. The
  arrangement is pictured below.
• On December 9th our committee will enjoy a relaxed morning. A specialist in
  antiques will be on hand to challenge us
  to identify various antiques he will bring.
  We will celebrate the upcoming Christmas
  holiday by contributing a monetary gift
  to an agency that serves members of our
  community.
• On December 15th, The Women’s
  Committee will help serve in the broader
  Farm Bureau’s initiative to offer an opportunity for children to have a photo with
  Santa and enjoy some craft activities upon
  their arrival. An opportunity to meet some
  of the needs for the children at Cunningham
  Children’s Home will intersect with this
  event. This newsletter will provide more
  information about this event to serve both
  our young families of the Farm Bureau, and
  other children who may wish to attend.
• When winter comes, and the frozen
  tundra greets us, we will have a potluck
  soup luncheon to warm us at our regular
  meeting in January.
  Please consider joining us. Watch the
  box in the monthly newsletter to double
  check planned activities. Please do protect
  and prioritize your attendance!

Earlier in the spring, I unknowingly predicted it would be wise to be
patient for optimal planting conditions because we will need to “out yield”
the storm we are experiencing in the markets. I’ve never been much of
prophet, but boy did we need to outyield the market and I think we all have.
Waiting to plant in good conditions once again proved to be the right thing
to do. With the exception of one really wet farm with heavy water damage,
all my yields have been amongst the best ever. I hope yours have been too.
By the time you read this, I imagine most of the countryside will be bare
and harvest pressure will be behind us.
The season that is upon most of us now is fall tillage and fall ammonia
season. The last few years, economics have made me shift from a “sidedress ammonia sort of guy” to a “fall ammonia kind of guy”. I don’t care
what kind of guy anyone is; just make sure you don’t do it too early in the
fall. To me, Veterans Day has always been my day to wait to begin any fall
nitrogen, and I’d encourage everyone to think about that as we are facing
a lot of pressure from some outside groups that may not be as friendly to
ag as we like. We may face a lot more pressure depending on who the next
President is. I’ve had the opportunity to speak recently with some self
proclaimed “ignorant” members of the media who are legitimately trying
to learn about such topics as nutrient runoff, cover crops, and why farmers
do what they do…. among other things. Most usually end up asking me the
question: “why don’t all you farmers just plant cover crops and apply your
fertilizer when the crop is growing?” I explain the reality and logistics most
of us face, most claim they understand, but some still think we aren’t very
responsible. That we should do better. Maybe we can, or maybe we can at
least take a step back and ask ourselves that question.
So, in closing this month’s message, I’d encourage everyone to be patient
with your fall nitrogen needs. Just as being patient for optimal planting conditions proved to be a good thing to do this year, waiting for optimal conditions
for applying fall nitrogen will probably be the right thing as well. Everyone
has unique situations, but think about the time of year it is, the temperature,
soil temperature, and what the forecast looks like before doing so.
Doug Downs
CCFB President

by Joanie Stiers

Drones Take Off in Agriculture

Most have seen those cool, little drones that hover like hummingbirds to capture bird’s-eye images at festivals, weddings and sporting events. In agriculture, these unmanned aerial vehicles survey cattle, monitor plant health, locate wind-damaged crops and define field boundaries.

But check out the big brother: A drone with a footprint the size of a small SUV and the weight-holding capacity that could (but shouldn’t) carry a small adult. These high-tech, spider-like pieces of technology rank among the must-see items at farm shows, where companies like my husband’s deliver first-hand accounts of the drone’s ability to use next-level technology to apply liquid products of herbicides, fungicides and biologicals and dry products of cover crop seeds and granular fertilizers.

As drones start to grow in the agricultural space, they are gleaning second glances from a generation with thumbs skilled enough to message on phones without auto-correction and power game controllers with precision. Their minds carry a keen desire to use technology to make jobs better, easier and more accurate while bringing excitement and new-age thinking to age-old farm tasks.

Drones are attracting young people who love technology to an industry that they misinterpreted as just for farmers. Meanwhile, these large-capacity drones are giving next-generation farm kids a way to generate income to support the family farm’s growth with a sideline gig as a licensed, for-hire drone application business. It’s another exciting example of innovation in agriculture.

The capacity currently does not match that of its rubber-tired counterpart but drones can still operate when field conditions are muddy. It needs more fill-ups, requires frequent battery swaps and licensing may overwhelm newbies, though it’s attainable. The future holds promise for larger storage capacity, longer battery life and swarm technology that allows multiple drones to work in concert to complete a task. The devices seem a prime candidate to deliver see-and-spray technology for weed control, and the potential is untapped in field boundary generation, crop indexing and thermal imaging.

In our farm’s wheat fields this spring, a drone corrected a ground rig’s mis-applied batch of dry fertilizer. Using a satellite-guided prescription written to deliver fertilizer only on the field’s under-nourished areas, the drone’s fully autonomous application noticeably improved the plant health within the week. So, we hired the drone to spray fungicide. It applied the product without leaving a track in the wheat as our own sprayer would have. The result: a fantastic grain yield and a barn full of bright yellow straw bales.

About the author: Joanie Stiers farms with her family in west-central Illinois, where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and cover crops and raise beef cattle, backyard chickens and farm kids.

A new program offered by the Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation has gained support in a very special way.

The Farm Bureau Foundation’s FUEL Grant program encourages the expansion of essential agricultural career pathways. Career-driven students pursing associates degrees, certificates, or accreditations in various technical or “agricultural trade” programs are eligible for FUEL Grants.

After 3 years, the Foundation has funded nearly 30 students in their pursuit of career training. These students are studying to be Advanced Applicator Technicians, Case New Holland Technicians, John Deere Technicians, and Diesel Power Equipment Mechanics, in addition to many other hands-on curricula.

A recent gift to the CCFB Foundation expands funding to these FUEL Grants while remembering a young man who represented everything that’s good about our agricultural community.

Ross Booker was a 2020 graduate a St Joseph-Ogden High School where he was a member of the football team. He was also a member and officer of the St. Joseph-Ogden FFA Chapter receiving the American FFA Degree, the organizations highest recognition.

On March 5th, 2022, while operating a tow-truck at the scene of an accident, Booker was struck and killed by a passing vehicle.

In the days and weeks following his passing, Ross Booker was remembered fondly by friends as caring, outgoing, funny, and a friend to anyone he came in contact with. A hard worker, Booker held various jobs and volunteer positions. He was a volunteer in his community serving the St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Department. He had just completed Diesel Mechanics training at Parkland College. The College would ultimately honor Ross by awarding his degree posthumously.

It’s Ross’s passion for impacting others, and a hope to encourage others to follow in Ross’s footsteps that led to the gift to the Farm Bureau Foundation. Ross’s Parents Dave and Marita Booker, and older brother Anthony, hope their gift will encourage others to pursue their dreams and receive hands-on education that will impact the community Ross Booker loved.

The Ross Booker Endowment will fund a FUEL Grant to do just that. While the Farm Bureau Foundation hold various endowments for the traditional scholarship funds, this is the first endowment specifically for hands-on training in production agriculture.

The first recipient of the Ross Booker Memorial FUEL Grant is 2024 St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduate, Cole Pruitt. Cole will be attending Parkland College next fall where he will be pursing training as an Advanced Applicator Technician. The Farm Bureau Foundation, and the Booker family, are pleased to recognize Cole’s commitment to agriculture, and his service to his school and community through this award.

To learn more about the Farm Bureau Foundation, FUEL Grant’s, or the Ross
Booker Memorial Endowment, please contact the CCFB Foundation at 217-
352-5235 or www.ccfbfoundation.com.

1. Wear Sunglasses
   Protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays by wearing sunglasses whenever you’re outside. Look for sunglasses that have UVA and UVB protection.
2. Apply Sunscreen
   Make sure to apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to all exposed skin. Reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
3. Check the UV Index
   The UV Index is a measure of the strength of the sun’s UV radiation at a particular location. Check the index before heading out and if it’s high, take extra precautions.
4. Wear Protective Clothing
   Cover up with protective clothing such as wide brimmed hats, loose fitting long sleeve shirts, and pants when possible. Tightly woven fabrics are best at blocking UV rays.

Why UV Safety Awareness Month is Important

• UV rays can be damaging
  Exposure to the sun’s UV rays can have serious long-term effects, including premature aging of the skin and a higher risk of skin cancer. It’s important to be aware of these dangers so we can take steps to protect ourselves from excessive sun exposure.
• Protection is necessary
  It’s important to wear protective clothing and sunscreen when out and about in the sun, even on cloudy days. Make sure you read labels to check that your sunscreen offers broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays!
• Limit sun exposure when possible
  Try to stay in the shade as much as possible during peak UV radiation hours (i.e. 10 am – 4 pm). Wear a wide brimmed hat if you are going to be outdoors for an extended period of time and remember to reapply sunscreen often!

by Joanie Stiers

Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine:
Illinois Inventor Responsible for Everyday Luxury

On the occasion that the dishwasher is full before supper, we will dine on paper plates. I avoid generating dirty dishes that exceed the dishwasher’s capacity like I avoid snakes. I have a phobia for both.

We run our dishwasher daily. Sometimes twice a day when our daughter has a big job for her home-based bakery business. The appliance brings order to life. The machine spares our family excessive time and water at the kitchen sink. It sanitizes forks and spoons, dries glasses without spots and handles greasy cookware better than humans.

Some people find hand-washing dishes therapeutic. I find it dreadful and rather gain immense satisfaction from strategically filling the dishwasher as full as possible, starting it every night and emptying it every morning. A single night of forgetting to start the dishwasher disrupts the kitchen’s flow and my mental state the next day.

Thank you, Josephine Cochrane, who invented an appliance I can’t live without. Through Illinois Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program, I learned that this female entrepreneur from Shelbyville, Illinois, invented and marketed the first commercially successful dishwashing machine. The children’s book “Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine” by Kate Hannigan tells the story of Josephine, who wanted a way to wash her fine china for entertaining guests while avoiding the time and chipping that came with handwashing.

Her dishwashing machine was patented in 1886 and won an award for design and durability at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Restaurants and hotels were early customers, but she died before the appliance gained ground at the consumer level in the 1950s when homes could supply the hot water that the machine demanded.

Nearly 140 years since her patent, my husband has installed several dishwashers, and I prioritize the dishwasher-safe symbol on any new cookware purchase. Cake-decorating tips exit spotless from the top rack. Skillets and stockpots fit well in the bottom, and the capacity has only improved. Two racks of our three-rack model fit 6-quart bowls from stand mixers.

Unfortunately, not all items rate dishwasher safe. Aluminum baking sheets discolor in the dishwasher. Food processor containers melt and misshapen. And rain gauges lose their numbers (I just wanted the grime out of the bottom). But the appliance earns an A+ for removing filth rings from flower vases and preparing label-less peanut butter jars for recycling.

About the author: Joanie Stiers farms with her family in west-central Illinois, where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and cover crops and raise beef cattle, backyard chickens and farm kids.

A local pioneering deep-tech company named DigiFarmz helps the agricultural industry through a multifaceted approach. Their mission is to enhance yield, profitability, and farm longevity by leveraging advanced data generation and predictive modeling.

DigiFarmz integrates various systems and sensors, consolidating data to increase decision accuracy. They partner with other technological solutions in the market, building an ecosystem that facilitates use for the end customer and improves productivity and profitability. Soil sensors, drone imagery, canopy cameras, yield maps, and other data types are all integrated to provide a complete and efficient solution.

Their digital ecosystem helps combine application technology, biotechnology, plantability, chemicals, and fertilizers, optimizing all these elements for each agricultural reality. The focus is on increasing yield, profitability, sustainability, and connecting farmers with the new agricultural market.

With offices in Peoria and Champaign and pilots and field trials in Indiana and Tennessee, DigiFarmz utilizes science, data, and practical field experience to tackle the challenge of increasing yield in low-margin scenarios.

Alex Chequim describes the three waves that Digifarmz is looking to grow and assist farmers.

1. Smart Agronomic Recommendations: We provide cutting-edge decision support for farmers, focusing on plant health, genetics, and nutritional management. We consider fifty-two parameters, including diseases, pests, insects, nematodes, irrigation, and fertilizers. Our robust SaaS platform uses over twenty years of proprietary data and integrates data from various other sources, offering precise guidance to optimize cultivation practices.
2. Risk Mitigation Scores: We are developing advanced risk mitigation scores that allow users to obtain favorable credit and insurance conditions, as well as sustainability-related bonuses. This innovative layer helps mitigate risks associated with agricultural decisions and operations, providing cashback and lower rates through strategic partnerships.
3. Market Access Facilitation: DigiFarmz aims to bridge the gap between growers and qualified consumer markets (CPGs), meeting specific demands such as high-protein soybeans. Our guidance ensures farmers meet stringent market requirements, backed by comprehensive guidance and traceability, and through integration with other technologies.

DigiFarmz has generated data and constructed predictive models to assist in decision-making in row crops, operating in the United States, Brazil, and Paraguay. These efforts have helped increase yield, profitability, and sustainability in the field as well as providing the farmer with a tool to assist them with making on farm decisions.

DigiFarmz offers Smart Agronomic Recommendations, assisting farmers, farm managers,
cooperatives, and distributors in positioning products and resources in an increasingly complex market. They use robust modeling to optimize decision-making, integrating data from various sources such as soil sensors, weather satellites and stations, drone imagery, and yield maps.

A key differentiator is their preventive and predictive disease management, as diseases cause pre-symptomatic damage that cannot be managed by scouting. Effective management requires understanding the best combination of elements based on genetics, climate, planting dates, and other factors.

DigiFarmz has extensive experience in this area. For example, in Brazil, fungicide applications increased from one to an average of six. In the U.S., fungicide applications have also increased and have shown important results, with up to three applications providing ROI and higher yields. Our integrated management approach considers the impact of genetics and correlates various factors to optimize solutions.

There is no one-size-fits-all pesticide; the best results come from combining available products based on genetics, locations (altitude, latitude, and longitude), market factors, climate changes, and operational challenges. This comprehensive approach is essential for effective disease management and increased yield.

One of its products is DigiFarmz Linkage, which was designed to revolutionize relationships between ag distributors, cooperatives, and farmers. The platform provides numerous benefits, including strategic decision-making, business intelligence tools, real-time application monitoring, and precise product utilization data. These features enable ag distributors and cooperatives to generate additional revenue, reduce sales team turnover, increase business volume, and empower sales representatives with technical and agronomic support. Additionally, the platform offers tailored and customized agronomic recommendations, improving the reach and accuracy of services provided to farmers and building stronger trust relationships through reliable data and enhanced support.

Another relevant solution is the DRMS (DigiFarmz Risk Mitigation Score), which allows their clients and partners to obtain credit and crop insurance with more favorable conditions. This business model is already in operation in Brazil and ready to be implemented in the United States, offering benefits such as cashback and lower interest rates. They are seeking partners who share this vision of innovation and wish to collaborate in developing this additional risk mitigation layer.

In the third phase of their growth, DigiFarmz will act as a connection layer between the producer market and the qualified consumer market (specialty row crops), meeting specific demands such as soybeans with higher protein content. The platform provides the necessary guidance for users to be eligible for new revenue streams and specific offers, ensuring traceability through integrations and satellite imagery. The guidance provided by DigiFarmz helps to define the best combination of elements, such as genetics, inputs, and management, to optimize cultivation and meet market requirements.

They consider sustainable and productive agriculture an essential part of our mission. This includes carbon credits and other opportunities that farmers, dealerships, and farm managers should explore. They offer solutions that help integrate these new concepts into daily agricultural operations, contributing to sustainability and efficiency.

Learn more about DigiFarmz and how they can help transform agricultural operations with advanced technology and integrated solutions. They are also constantly searching for strategic partnerships that can contribute to their mission of transforming agriculture with cutting-edge technology.

by Joanie Stiers

Ag for Every Classroom:
Free Resources Use Agriculture to Teach Core Subjects

Last summer, a Chicago teacher told me how excited she was to soil her undies for her students when the new school year started. The second-grade teacher and her students buried cotton underwear in the school courtyard as a “Soil Your Undies” science experiment through Illinois Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program. Periodically, they dug up the undies to observe and record decomposition to measure the soil’s health and microbial activity.

The teacher used agriculture as an avenue to teach science after her attendance at a Summer Agricultural Institute hosted by the Illinois Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program. This summer, 40 institutes will take place across the state, providing pre-K-to-12 teachers an enjoyable, well-spent way to earn required Professional Development Units while they gain hands-on experiences, receive free teaching materials and take adult field trips to local farms.

The raving reviews of the institutes are no surprise given the nationally recognized success of Illinois Ag in the Classroom, which provides agriculture-based curriculum resources for free to teachers year-round. Topics of Illinois-grown pumpkins, apples, corn, soybeans, dairy, pork, pollinators and more serve as the vehicle to teach science, literature, math, STEM and social studies. In each topic area, students learn about agricultural careers, increasing awareness of the state’s top employer and the overlooked job opportunities within the industry. The available curricular resources are relevant to student life and correlate to Illinois Learning Standards with various delivery options.

My favorites are the two dozen magazines called “Ag Mags” that highlight a single ag topic with vibrant images and graphics that benefit readers of any age. Double-sided classroom posters turn from themes of apples to agriculture’s part in football. Lesson plans have students making ice cream in a bag and grinding wheat to make flour. Digital resources work well with Chromebooks or smart boards. Translations in Spanish and French allow materials to reach more students.

Accessibility to resources gives Illinois Ag in the Classroom its edge. Materials are free online and through local county Farm Bureaus, which employ county coordinators to manage distribution of materials and even provide no-cost, in-classroom presentations. This valuable classroom resource is a concept to embrace: Let’s use Illinois’ No. 1 industry of agriculture to understand the food, fiber and energy products that impact our lives, explore careers that surround us and teach core subjects in engaging ways – whether through pumpkins, pollinators, corn, cows or underwear.

On the farm, soybeans collaborate well with conservation-minded practices of no-till and cover crops. They add benefits to the soil in a corn-soybean planting rotation and provide our farm a double-cropping option after July-harvested wheat within a single growing season. They are pretty cool beans.

About the author: Joanie Stiers farms with her family in west-central Illinois, where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and cover crops and raise beef cattle, backyard chickens and farm kids.

Events

The 17th Annual Farm Bureau Foundation Gala will be held on Thursday, June 13th at Pear Tree Estate. This fundraising event supports the CCFB Foundation and its programming like Ag in the Classroom and Scholarships. This is a ticketed event which sells out quickly. Call the office, or visit the www.ccfbfoundation.com/gala to see if tickets are still available.

Burger Bashes are an event hosted around Champaign County in various townships. This is an event that allows for communities to come together and talk about all thing agriculture. For the Farm Bureau, we use these meetings to better understand the needs of our members. We will be hosting three this year throughout the county.

Every year, CCFB host Toolshed Meetings in the community. This year they will be on July 24th, but the place and time are still to be determined. Kevin Semlow (Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities) will be presenting and answering question regarding what is happening in Springfield.

Mental Health and Mocktails will be an event from our Women Rooted in Ag group. Come enjoy tasty mocktails as Adriene Desutter talks about all things mental wellness. This event will take place on June 18th at 6:30pm in the CCFB auditorium.

On July 9th, delve into the intricacies of contracts, grain marketing, and soil quality concerns at our informative gathering designed for both novice and seasoned landowners. This will be in the CCFB auditorium at 5:30pm.

As solar and wind farms become more prevalent, the need for educated discussion around solar is important. Therefore, CCFB will host Bill Bodine (Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs), Noelle Neff (Assistant Director of Energy), and Garret Thalgott (Assistant General Council) from Illinois Farm Bureau to talk about what they have seen around the state and what to look out for. This meeting will take place on July 15th at 6:30PM in the CCFB Auditorium.

Come see CCFB staff at the Sunflower Celebrations put on by Clearview Farms. We will be hosting a “Whatever Floats your Goat” themed celebration for the event. There will be goats, root beer floats, and trivia for all ages. The festival doesn’t have a date yet as it is dependent on when the sunflowers bloom but it will be in late July/August.

We are also working to put together a meeting for carbon markets. As we see more and more programs designed around carbon, we want to make sure our members have the information they need to help them capture all of the possible programs that are out there. Look for this meeting to happen in mid August.

The Farm Bureau Foundation’s Golf Outing – Golf FORE Agriculture – will be held on Thursday, August 1st at the Illini Orange and Blue Golf Course in Savoy. Golfers of all skill levels are encouraged to participate for a fun-filled day on the golf course! All proceeds support the Foundation’s programs. Registration will open soon on the Foundation’s website.

To round off the Summer, we will again be having the Annual Membership Appreciation Picnic. This year is will be at Hudson Farms on August 11th from 4-7pm. We will be having inflatables, outdoor activities, and more for families of the farm bureau.

Committees

Governmental Affairs meets the Tuesday After CCFB’s month board meeting. This summer, those dates are June 25th, July 23rd, and August 20th at 7:30am. Governmental Affairs committee is a great place for members to engage with local, state, and federal government. We hope to see you there and to hear your concerns about what is happening around Champaign County.

Marketing Meetings will be held on June 27th and August 6th at 6:30pm at the Champaign County Farm Bureau Auditorium. These meetings are organized with the intent of bringing local experts and our farmers together to discuss the outlook of the farm inputs and crop prices to come.

Women’s Committee meets every month on the second Monday. This summer those dates are June 10th, July 8th, and August 12th at 9:30 am. This is a group of women that come together to stay engaged and give back to the community. Through community events, monthly meetings, and charitable efforts, the women of the Women’s committee continue to be a shining star for the Farm Bureau.

Primetimers is a group of people aged 55+ that come together every month in the CCFB auditorium. They enjoy a presentation, a nice meal, and entertainment from local groups. Primetimers will meet June 13th, July 11th, and August 8th at 10am.

New to CCFB is a group called AgriLink. This is a business group that is meeting periodically throughout the year to connect Agribusinesses in and around Champaign County. Our first meeting occurred on May 9th at Papa Dells. We are in the process of putting together more events for our agribusinesses.

Women Rooted in Ag is a newer group formed by the need of a women’s group that is able to come together outside of the typical 9-5. The goal with the group will remain a community of women rooted in agriculture, offering connection, learning opportunities and a platform to grow and share experiences. Women across farms, households, and boardrooms, are paving the way for a better future for farm families and we want to help them connect with each other.

Young Leaders will be meeting every month throughout the summer as well. This is a group of people below age 35 that meets for networking, career growth, and comradery.

Mark your calendars for these events and more to come.

Please reach out to lucas@ccfarmbureau.com for more information on any events that we have coming this summer or if you would like to hear about any other topics.