Carroll County Farm Bureau

The Women's Committee cookbook is currently being printed and set to be shipped to us on 12/1. There are 393 recipes in the cookbook thanks to the many members who submitted recipes. We are currently taking preorders for the cookbook. The cost will be $12. We have personalized the cookbook with photos from Carroll County. Order forms can be printed off of our website at www.carrollcfb.org.

November is Child Safety and Protection Month. We are urging all parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to make wise decisions with your children on the farm. It seems like in today's day and age society has accepted an "if they are not bothering me, I am not worried about them" attitude. There is also the urge to get our children to grow up faster. This sometimes means we are putting them in harms way. While we are not intentionally trying to hurt them, we may be by putting them into a situation in which they are not ready for. Look at your child and look at the task at hand. Are they really old enough and more importantly mature enough to be driving a tractor? What about the chemicals they are being exposed to? Can they handle an emergency situation? Those are just some things to think about as we face a very uniquely late harvest season and we all press to get more done.

FCAE, Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education, just sent out their accomplishments for 2009. FCAE is an organization that works towards improving and expanding agricultural education pre-kindergarten through adult. They work very closely with the FFA and high school ag teachers.

FCAE has seen an increase of students enrolled in FFA. 90% of those students are non-farm residents, and 35% are female. Of the senior class of FFA, last year 62% went on to a post-secondary institution. In Illinois there are 319 high school ag programs with an average of 21 students per class. The student average per FFA chapter is 57. I know we are fortunate here in Carroll County to have ag programs in all of our high schools. We also have great FFA programs in the three schools.

As we sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, we see juicy turkey that'll lead to a nap later in the day. But sometimes, we may see a little more, like the challenges in the packing industry. From monopolies to slaughter capacity, Illinois Farm Bureau's policy has you covered. For example, take a look at a section of policy #70, Packers and Stockyards Act:

"We urge: The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, with the support of the Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), to more aggressively enforce current anti-trust laws pertaining to packer mergers, market concentrations, packer feeding, and contracting. Open, competitive markets which include access to slaughter space and the number of contracted slaughter days should be monitored and enforced if necessary."

Please don't think about Illinois Farm Bureau policy on Thanksgiving. Enjoy your holiday. But maybe just maybe.when you're picking that bird up from the store you can give some thought to the many grassroots policies IFB members have developed to protect livestock producers. To learn more about policies that you can sink your teeth into, call our office or visit www.ilfb.org.

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: Handmade barn board dog house for large dog, well built. 815-757-6996.

FS: 2 bottom 3pt. plow, $200. 815-864-2572.

FS: 600 bu. steel hog feeder, $15. 815-864-2572.

FS: Stationary hd. spot welder, $250. 815-864-2572.

FS: 14 ft. cattle feed bunk, $35. 815-864-2572.

FS: Hay rack on running gear, 6ft x 10ft, newer treated wood deck, $200 obo. 815-244-7173

FS: 5 ­ 6 bred heifers, black, bred to low BW Angus bull, due for mid-March to early April, $1,075 each. 815-541-8431.

FS: Receiver hitch cargo carrier, fits in 2" receiver hitch, dimensions are 48" x 27", very heavy built, excellent condition, $75. 815-493-6815.

FS: Small chest freezer, 4 years old, $100. 815-493-6210.

FS: Simmons baby crib with Sealy baby soft ultra mattress and matching dresser. Excellent condition, $175 each or $325 for the set. 815-493-2128, please leave message if no answer.

FS: Little kids folding Spiderman table and 2 chairs $5, kid's school desk with attached seat $5. 815-291-6816.

FS: HP Photosmart C6280 printer, only 2 years old, works great, $50 obo. 815-291-6816.

FS: Black 2 door Chevy Cobalt LT, 23,500 miles, power windows, door locks, sun roof, $9,100.00 obo. Serious inquires only. 815-541-0310.

Wanted To Buy: Used Troy-bilt Rototiller. 815-225-7045.

FS: 4 tires, aluminum rims, size 32X11.5X15, 5 hole, fits Ford $200 obo, 815-499-1279

FS: Pecan colored dining room table and 6 chairs, 2 leaves, $50 obo 815-632-9702

FS: New stationary bike $20, 815-238-2158

FS: 2001 Olds Aurora, 1 owner, exc. Cond, 87K miles, leather, loaded, asking $6000 obo, 815-493-6348

FS: 1973 Smokercraft boat and trailer. 16 ft deep hull, $800. 815-684-5419.

FS: Black entertainment center, like new. Matching 6 shelf book case. $80 for pair. Will split up. 815-684-5419.

FS: Red prom dress, laces up back. Very pretty. $175. 815-684-5419.

Wanted: 6 inch double wall stainless steel pipe and 8 inch stainless T-section for stove pipe. 815-273-7078