Carroll County Farm Bureau

By Chastity Welch, Farm Bureau Manager

Do you enjoy social time? How about touring local businesses that you know little or nothing about? The Carroll County Country Couples (4C’s) formed back in 1953 and since then they have enjoyed fellowship, tours, speakers, and games. They have discovered Carroll County’s hidden treasures, they have learned about places of the world through others’ eyes, and they have enjoyed great food.

Since they began in 1953, the group has transformed and are no longer necessarily from the country or couples. They are a group of people who enjoy having fun and are looking for new members to join. They meet monthly on the first Friday of the month in the Naaman Diehl Auditorium at the Carroll County Farm Bureau or a local tour location. All ages are welcome and you do not need to be a Farm Bureau member, a couple, or from the country to join. For more information, please contact me at 815-244-3001 or email at carrollcfb@grics.net.

Discover Cuba with Chamber Explorations (a division of Premier World Discovery) and area Farm Bureaus as we journey to Cuba to discover this country’s delightful people, island culture, unique history, and beautiful landscapes. Become part of a privileged few and legally travel to the island nation.  Lying just 90 miles from the Florida coastline, this long mysterious nation is now becoming a popular destination for American travelers. The Discover Cuba program is fully inclusive and features Old Havana (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Cathedral de la Havana, the Museo Fine Arts, Pinar Del Rio/Vinales, the Partagas Cigar Factory, Playa, Hemingway’s Farm, a visit to Vinales Valley (one of the most beautiful landscapes in Cuba), Tobacco Farm & Family Farmhouse Visit, Francisco Donatien Cigar, an evening at the Famous Tropicana Cabaret Show, and much more!  This extensive program is designed to allow guests to have meaningful interactions with locals through “Cultural Connections,” and people to people interactions.  This trip is planned for September 8-15, 2013 and we’ve planned a preview program with Mike Campbell on Tuesday January 29 at 7 p.m. at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau, 210 W. Spring Street in Freeport.  For more information, please contact me at (815) 244-3001.

The Young Leaders will be hosting this year’s Harvest for All on Saturday, January 26th. Yes, you read me right, it is in January this year and not June. Summer continues to get busier and busier along with grain seems to be sold by then. The Young Leaders will be making their calls here in the next few days if you have not received yours already.

The Harvest for All is a part of a national program through the American Farm Bureau Federation to create a hunger free nation through farmers donating grain, cash, or man power. Each County Farm Bureau comes up with their own program as their way of participating. Back in 2005, the Carroll County Farm Bureau Young Leaders chose to do a grain/cash collection. Since that time, they have raised over $123,286 of which every penny of that has been donated to the four food pantries that serve Carroll County: Chadwick/Milledgeville, Eastland (Shannon/Lanark), Savanna/Mt. Carroll and Thomson/Fulton.

If you would like to make a grain or cash donation to the Harvest for All and have not received a call from one of the Young Leaders, feel free to contact me at 815-244-3001.

Farm Bureau Classifieds

Carroll County Farm Bureau members can place up to two (2) free classified ads per week, with a limit of 250 characters per ad (not including spaces). Ads are limited to personal or farm items for sale/wanted to buy, or farm labor or services available or wanted. No ads for the sale or rental of real estate, garage sales, or commercial businesses will be accepted. To place an ad, call the Farm Bureau office at 815- 244-3001 by noon Friday to get your ad in the following week’s paper.

FS: Washer and gas dryer in very good condition $175. 815-757-3778

FS:2005 Buick Lesabre Limited. New battery and rear tires, white in color. Loaded and clean, 79,500 miles. $9,500 located in Mount Carroll. 815-762-1654 and leave a message.

FS: 1966 Plymouth Barracuda in excellent condition, will trade for Road King-Ultra Harley. 815-493-6241

FS: Five black crossbred heifers and young cows for sale.  Bred for March/April calves - $1,700 for choice.  815-541 – 8431.

WANTED: Looking to buy round bales of hay or straw 815-499-4175

WANTED: Wanting to rent pasture ground for 2013 and beyond. Will pay top dollar, have references, insurance and can repair fences. 815-499-4175

FS: Large square bales of wheat straw 3x3x8, small square wheat straw bales. 815-499-0463

FS: 1994 Chevy Suburban 2nd owner, new tires and runs great. 200,000 miles. 815-291-6298 or 815-493-6080

FS: Electric stove in good condition $60. 815-757-3778