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Carroll County Farm BureauBy Chastity Welch, Farm Bureau ManagerI have received word that we have another winner in the county. The Young Leaders have again won the Harvest for All award for our membership group. The Young Leaders have won in our membership group each year since I believe the Harvest for All contest began. As always we want to thank all of those who donated. It is the generosity of the farmers that makes it possible for us to collect as much as we do. The Young Leaders will receive a plaque in Chicago at the IAA Annual Meeting in December. With Halloween just around the corner, did you know Illinois farmers grow more pumpkins that anywhere else in the world? In fact, Illinois farmers grow 90% of the pumpkins used for processing! Eating pumpkin is good for the body. It is rich in vitamin A and potassium. One of the reasons I love fall is I love pumpkin flavored food. In fact, I kind of have an addiction! I generally have an open can of pumpkin in the fridge to add to ice cream, protein shakes, coffee drinks, and more. I have pumpkin pie bagels and pumpkin puppy chow. The worst is when I make a pie and eat the whole thing by myself since no one in my house will eat it with me! As I was thinking of pumpkins, I got to thinking about carving pumpkins. Why do we carve pumpkins for Halloween? Pumpkins are vegetables that most people carve into lantern each year for Halloween. But why do people carve these pumpkins? Carving vegetables into scary faces then lighting them is an Irish tradition. Among those traditions are the people that celebrate Halloween. It is an odd kind of custom that just has some interesting roots. The Irish started it all, although this is still up for debate. The people of Ireland have a legend of a drunken farmer, whose dealings with the devil led to him being turned back at both the gates of heaven and hell upon his death. Forced to wander the darkness of purgatory, Jack made a lantern from a plant. Legend has it, Jack used the turnip with a lump of burning coal to guide his lost soul. Every Halloween, communities in Ireland would craft their own turnip lamps to scare him and other wayward spirits away. That legend still lives on today after several centuries. The tradition became pumpkin-ified when Irish immigrants found the orange veggie sprouting in abundance in North America. Today, pumpkins mean big business at Halloween. Farmers grow over a billion pounds a year, worth about $106 million. So if anyone were to ask you why we carve pumpkins this is the condensed version of what I found. Fruit, nut, and fruit basket order forms are out. If you would like to receive a form to order some Florida citrus, some nuts, or a fruit basket for that hard to buy for person, just give our office a call or print a form off of our website at www.carrollcfb.org. The order deadline is Wednesday, November 14 which will certainly be here before you know it. The Women’s Committee also have cookbooks available to buy for your gift giving. Farm Bureau ClassifiedsCarroll 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: 720 John Deere, gas, narrow front, in good condition, needs some TLC. 815-684-5622 FS: John Deere snow blower for 42in deck. 815-499-4635 FS: Single craftmatic adjustable bed, brand new. 815-499-4635 FS: 2003 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3V8 auto, posi, 80,000 miles, original owner. Lanark Area 815-529-6050 WANTED: Box road grinder & pony saddle 815-772-4238 FS: For sale due to moving. Computer step back desk with front drawers and slide out 59x24, $100 OBO, like new condition. Dozens of pieces of block optic depression glass. Buy it by the piece all the entire collection. Complete set of Currier and Ives dishes, make an offer. Lanark cell 815-238-2158 and ask for Curt or Marcia. FS: Round bales of alfalfa $225 per ton. Small square bales of alpha $8 Call after 6pm. 815-590-3992 or 815-499-4893 FS: Frigidaire white electric stove with smooth cooking surface. Used very little. 815-273-4164 Loading
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