Carroll County Farm Bureau

By Chastity Welch, Farm Bureau Manager

I would like to welcome onto the Carroll County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, Dan Lamoreux from Lanark. Dan has been participating in the Young Leaders the last few years. He is filling a vacancy created with the retirement of Ron Iske. Ron had served on the Carroll County Farm Bureau Board for eight years. Ron served as treasurer for the last six years of his tenure with the board. We welcome Dan to the board and thank Ron for his years of service.

The Women’s Committee is sponsoring a blood drive with the American Red Cross on Monday, February 18th from noon until 5 p.m. We are now scheduling appointments. In order to be eligible to give blood, you would have had to give blood prior to December 24th. If you do the double red, you can give at our drive if you gave prior to October 29. You may contact our office at 815-244-3001 to line up a time to give. The ladies will again be serving ham salad and cookies so we hope that helps in you deciding to give at our drive.

I wanted to clear up a rumor that is going around. I am not leaving the Carroll County Farm Bureau. Yes, I offered to help some of my friends and Young Leaders out as my time allowed in January, but no I am not leaving Farm Bureau. I suffer from a disease called “workaholic”. It has run in my family blood line for years. In fact, it is a disease that I fear our younger generation will never experience. It has given me the chance for some new scenery during the winter doldrums. I have mentioned before a number of times how winter months are no longer a meeting season for us. Our members are getting their information through other sources now with the internet and email. The summer is when we hit the road running (generally chasing my tail). This May I will have been here for seven years. As with every job, there are those days you throw your hands up in the air and wonder why! But I also cannot imagine working any where else at this time. So sorry Carroll County, you are stuck with me for a while longer!

The calls are already coming in on this year’s tractor drive. This past week I went out and drove a route. I feel like I keep deferring to routes of past years, but challenges continue to lead us that way. For instance, we have gotten to a point where we get so many riders that we struggle finding a take off spot that can house all the trucks and trailers for the day. As large as the Eastland High School parking area is, after you get 75 tractors there with nearly as many trucks and trailers, there was no room left. I would have never imagined that we could fill that lot. And thankfully some of those who are more local chose to just drive to the starting line.

On of our goals with lining up the tractor drive is setting up a time where we can be consistent and yet also try to miss other drives. For the time being, we are choosing the third Friday in July. While late June would be a good time too, it is when we have moved our Membership Appreciation Breakfast too. Between fairs, Summer Ag Institute, the breakfast, 4th of July, library programs, and more summer fills up quite quickly. So I will go out and say that this year, our tractor drive will be on Friday, July 19th. Let’s hope it is just a little cooler! But certainly not negative 2!

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: Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. 6 weeks old, 4 males and 3 females AKA/OFA Champion Hunting bloodlines, hand raised, all shots, dew claws, hips and eyes certification. $1,000. 815-273-5075

FS: 1990 Buick Lesabre. good condition and runs well $750. 815-499-1279

FS:  good used Proform 700S Elliptical workout machine with functional digital display.  $125 or best.  815-375-1135

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.