It is amazing how the phone rings when you schedule a Cub’s game or two! And let me tell you I love it! So now that I have all the details finalized, here is the information on the two games. Our first trip will be on Friday, July 2. I personally can’t think of a better way to kick off Fourth of July weekend! It is a 1:20 game and we will be leaving at 9 a.m. Cost is $60 for members and $65 for non-members. We will be sitting in the Terrace Reserved Infield behind home plate! This is where we were last year and they were great seats.

The second trip is on a Saturday night, September 11. It is a 6:10 p.m. game, so plan for a late night. We will be going to Milwaukee to see the Cubs and Brewers. I have yet to be to Miller Park. I hear it is a great place to see a game and luckily we don’t have to run the risk of cold or a rainout! We will leave the office at 2 and the cost is $70 for members and $75 for non-members. We are sitting in section 206 of the Loge Outfield. Be sure to contact our office as soon as you are sure you are going, as seats will fill up quickly.

Don’t forget the Carroll County Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarship Application deadline is quickly approaching. In fact it is Wednesday, March 24. There are two applications; one for the Carroll County Farm Bureau Foundation General and Harold Schmidt Memorial Scholarship and one for the Viola Rath Scholarship. For the Viola Rath Scholarships, you do not have to be a Farm Bureau member. Applications are available at our office and on our website at www.carrollcfb.org.

Recently, there’s a lot of talk about government funding, but do you ever feel like your community doesn’t get its fair share? There is a simple step you can take to ensure that tax dollars stay local – complete the upcoming U.S. Census. Every year, the federal government can allocate more than $400 billion to states and communities based, in part, on census data.

There’s another simple step you can take to protect rural funding – get to know your Illinois Farm Bureau policy and make sure it works for you. Check out part of policy #100, Rural Development:

We will:

Urge the federal government to fully fund Rural Partners and similar projects. Additional federal funds should be provided to these types of projects which use volunteers instead of government agencies to solve rural problems.

Support additional USDA Rural Development funding and targeting a greater portion of all funds towards stimulating commerce in rural areas.

Support efforts to develop a program and support funding for low-interest loans to assist small business owners in locating and training a successor who would then purchase the business and continue its operation.

Be counted! When the census report arrives in your mailbox, be sure to complete it.