This past week at the AFBF Annual Meeting, counties, members and Illinois Farm Bureau received several outstanding awards which are highlighted below. These awards are indicative of the great team work that is demonstrated throughout the counties, Regions and state. Thank you for your dedication, time and passion for everything that you do in your counties for the members of Farm Bureau.



AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Illinois Farm Bureau earned Awards for Excellence in each of the five program areas in Group 6, the largest state membership group. The five areas are: Ag Education/Promotion, Policy Implementation, Leadership Development, Member Services, Public Relations/Information



PRESIDENT’S AWARD

Illinois Farm Bureau also received the President’s Award in three of the five program areas in Membership Group 6. Achieving membership quota is a requirement. To determine winners for each program area, evaluators considered the three-page Award of Excellence report and an added fourth page describing innovation, uniqueness, and use of resources. The President’s Awards were in: Leadership Development, Member Services, Policy Implementation



PINNACLE AWARD

The Pinnacle Award is awarded to the one top state in each of the six membership groups and is based on the top total points earned in five program areas. Illinois was the first recipient of the Pinnacle Award in its membership group and received the Pinnacle Award again this year.



AFBF QUOTA

IFB attained AFBF membership quota and an all-time high in total membership with 426,043 members, a gain of 4,123. President Nelson proudly wore his AFBF Membership Quota jacket at the AFBF Annual Meeting.



COUNTY ACTIVITIES OF EXCELLENCE

Stephenson County’s project, “A Day in the Country,” was selected by AFBF in the Education & Ag Promotion category and displayed at AFBF Annual Meeting.



FARMER IDEA EXCHANGE

Two Illinois farmers’ ideas were selected for display at AFBF Annual Meeting. Rory Frick, Mercer County, showcased his Multi-Functional Ladder, chosen in the Safety/Health/Accessibility category. Richard Layden, Vermilion County, displayed his Vented Drip Free Pour Spout, chosen in the Conservation/Improved Efficiencies category.



YOUNG LEADER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Matt DeBlock, Mercer County, represented Illinois in this year's Achievement Award, which analyzes the participants’ current farming operation and strategic planning, and recognizes them for their exceptional efforts in farming and leadership achievements. Matt was one of the National Runner-ups. Matt received a Case IH Farmall tractor, courtesy of Case IH. The last time Illinois Farm Bureau had a National Winner in this category was in 1995.



YOUNG LEADER EXCELLENCE IN AG AWARD

Brian and Dacia Brown, Montgomery County, represented Illinois in this year's Excellence in Ag Award, which recognizes those whose primary interest is not production agriculture but have still excelled in their leadership and contributions to their community, Farm Bureau® and the agriculture industry. Brian and Dacia were one of the National Runner-ups. They received a $6,000 Savings Bond and a STIHL Farm Boss Chainsaw, courtesy of STIHL. Illinois Farm Bureau has never had a National Winner or National Runner-up in this category.



YOUNG LEADER DISCUSSION MEET

Grant Strom, Knox County, represented Illinois in this year’s Discussion Meet, which provides young leaders with the opportunity to develop their skills in basic discussion techniques, through an an exchange of ideas and information. Contestants must analyze problems and determine logical solutions. Grant did an outstanding job and made it to the Sweet 16 round. The last time Illinois Farm Bureau had a National Runner-up was in 2006 and a National Winner in 1998.



DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Dr. Bob Thompson, from Illinois, received the AFBF Distinguished Service Award. He was the only recipient this year. He received the award based on his tremendous outstanding service to agriculture in the state, nationally and internationally. As you know, Dr. Thompson has been the Endowed Chair in Ag Policy at the University of Illinois.



APEX AWARD

Illinois Farm Bureau achieved the APEX Award from the AFBF Foundation for Agriculture. The APEX Award is for states with a total donation to the AFBF Foundation for Agriculture that increased by 10% or more over the previous year.

More than 5,000 Farm Bureau members from across the country will gather in Atlanta Jan. 9-12 for the group's 92nd annual meeting. We have several directors that will soon be leaving for the Atlanta.

Discovery Channel star Mike Rowe will speak at the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual meeting in Atlanta. Rowe, creator of the Emmy-nominated series "Dirty Jobs," is scheduled to deliver the keynote address Jan. 10. Mike Rowe from the “Dirty Jobs” show will be the main speaker. Everyone is looking forward to meeting him in person.

Brian and Dacia Brown will be competing for the “Excellence in Ag Award”. Let’s wish them lots of luck and best wishes.

Everyone figures they will have to go to the big farm show that is taking place at the same time we are in Atlanta.

MCFB wil close Thursday at noon and will be closed all day Friday December 31th. The office will reopen Monday Morning January 3, 2011 at 8:00 a.m.

Due date of March 1, 2011 has past.

The 2010 IAA Annual Meeting will be held December 4th-7th in St. Louis.

I want to thank everyone that attended our 93rd Annual Meeting Wednesday November 10th at the KC Hall in Taylor Springs.

I was told that no one had ever seen a crowd that big in the KC Hall. We had well over 420 people attend. As usually we had our Directors and wives, FFA Student helpers from Litchfield and our Women’s Committee and husbands eat early so we would have enough room for our all members.

We had 400 chairs set up, and during the meal it was very difficult to find any empty chairs.

Thank You goes to the Mid-Illinois Pork Producers Association for cooking the butterfly pork chops, Milanos’ Catering for doing the rest of the meal and the KC’s for allowing us to use their building.

A BIG THANK YOU goes to the Women’s Committee for decorating the tables, for helping the cater get set up to serve the meal, to greet members and for helping clean up after the meeting.
We served all our members in less than an hour.

The business portion of the meeting started just a little after 7:00 p.m. We were fortunate to have our newly elected State Senator Sam McCann and our newly elected State Representative Wayne Rosenthal in attendance. They each spoke and thanked everyone for their support.

Allen Hopper from Paris Frozen Food thanked the crowd for their letter writing effort to help stop the federal government from implementing more costly regulations on his business.

Gift cards from Ace Hardware, Paris Frozen Foods, Rural King and Tractor Supply were given to four lucky members in the audience.

Again, Thanks everyone for making 2009-2010 MCFB another successful year!

Bob

I’d like to remind everyone that we will be celebrating our 93rd Annual Meeting Wednesday November 10 down at the KC HALL in Traylor Springs. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with our meal will starting at 6:00 p.m. After the meal, we will hold our business portion of the meeting. This should start at approximately 7:00 p.m. or a little after seven.

The Central Illinois Pork Producers will be cooking the meat with Jason Milanos Catering doing the rest of the meal. The Litchfield FFA will help serve during the meal.

The Farm Bureau Director asked the Women’s Committee for their help in helping more people learn about Farm Bureau. The women decided to host a Halloween Party for area students; it was held right after the city’s Halloween Parade. Six women and the Farm Bureau Manager met that afternoon and decorated the room and set up the games and snacks.

The women bought prizes, snacks, treats, and made games for the party. All the games and snacks and treats had a farm theme: one game was a wheel where the children could spin and win a prize or candy; before they could spin the wheel, they had to answer a farm related question. Another game was a farm animal bean bag toss; another was a duck pond; finally, one at one station, the children had to toss corncobs into a basket. The prizes were small farm stuffed animals, miniature pig and cow soft balls, farm animal bracelets, and farm animal tattoos. Small bags of microwave popcorn were given out as treats. The Farm Bureau Manager had made 75 flyers; these were handed out to the parents of children who marched in the parade.

Thus, here was another chance to promote Farm Bureau to the community at large.

Checks out the Photos in the Gallery Section of our website!

Philip Nelson
President, Illinois Farm Bureau

November 2 is Election Day - Please make sure you vote!

We are less than one week away from one of the most important mid-term elections in recent memory. Many statewide and local races are expected to be very close. It is vital that Farm Bureau members make the effort to vote.

Voter turnout for mid-term elections is usually low. But this year, Illinois is electing a Governor and a U.S. Senator, as well as various other state and local officials, all of whom will impact our future. Whatever your party affiliation, find a candidate who not only supports positions you find important, but find one you think can get the job done.

“But what can I do?” you might ask yourself. “My vote won’t matter anyway.”

Too long in Illinois and across the nation, that kind of voter apathy has resulted in people getting elected to office whose interests are not solely based on what’s best for the people.

Your vote doesn’t count? I would point to the closely contested 2000 Presidential election, in which five states were decided by less than one percentage point. Florida, a state which had a population of about 16 million in 2000, was decided by 537 votes, or an astonishing .0092%. More recently, this year’s Illinois primaries were pretty close, too. Governor Pat Quinn won his Democratic primary by 8,087 votes, or .8%, while Republican nominee Bill Brady won by 420 votes, or .1%. The third-place republican was even within one percentage point in that party’s primary.

Said another way, the 2000 Florida vote was decided by about eight votes per county, and the 2010 Illinois Republican Primary was decided by about four votes per county.

Still think your vote doesn’t count?

If you look back a little farther in your history books, you’ll find that American and world history were both made by a difference of just one vote.

One vote kept Aaron Burr from becoming President. Thomas Jefferson was elected instead.