CCFB President’s Column – December

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.