Carroll County Farm Bureau

By Chastity Welch, Farm Bureau Manager

As I am typing this, it is only June 11th, and it already feels like June has been around too long. While it has been quite busy, it has been a great month so far. It started with the Women’s Committee touring the Klehm Arboretum in Rockford. What a hidden little treasure. We were able to ride the shuttle through the trees with a wonderful guide. They also have a few garden areas along with a great children’s garden with a maze and lookout tower for the parents. There are benches throughout the arboretum and places to enjoy a picnic lunch.

I also spent two days in Chicago for our Region Outing. While at first I wasn’t completely looking forward to the agenda I have to say it surprised me. We stayed at the Palmer House as that is where the IAA Annual Meeting is again this year. The committee lined up a tour of the kitchen. My first reaction was really what will we see? And I am someone who loves to cook, but the trooper I am, I was willing to make the best of it. I have to say it was really very fascinating. The Palmer House has 500 employees who are a part of their kitchen staff, servers, restaurant, etc. They have many different kitchens, all which make different courses. As the executive chef pointed out, you don’t want your raw foods mixing with your cooked foods. They take it very seriously to make sure that no food gets contaminated per say with bacteria that could make you ill. In fact in the meat kitchen, they have different freezers, fridges, and cutting boards for each type of meat. They have a soup kitchen, a pastry kitchen, their own meat locker, a salad kitchen, etc. And those are just the kitchens for the banquets and do not include the restaurant kitchen and room service. I am sure many of us do not think about all that goes into a commercial kitchen to keep our food prepared correctly and safely. In fact they were mentioning how they probe meat for the temperature as it comes in the door so they know how long ago it was in a truck and will not take meat that is too warm or has been warmed and froze again.

They also have a roof top garden. Now I am luck, well maybe unlucky, that weeds grow in our yard. I cannot keep a plant alive to save my life, but I could certainly try to garden with a view like we saw on the roof top. They obviously cannot grow all their produce on the roof top but they are growing their herbs.

Another bit of trivia we found out was the chocolate brownie was created by the chef of the Palmer House back in the late 1800’s for Bertha Palmer to take to her lady friends at the World’s Fair in Chicago. She was quite the socialite they say. Now as the Chef was telling us this story it would have been nice to enjoy one, however that did not happen but the hotel does still make them using the original recipe.

I have also spent a lot of June (April and May too) traveling to Tucker’s baseball games as he is playing travel ball for one of the Dixon Riverbandits teams. I love baseball which I think everyone knows by now and I love to watch Tuck play. For a first year team and our first year with travel ball, it has it days but I don’t think I would give it up either.

Speaking of baseball….if you haven’t gotten your tickets yet for the Cubs bus trip, we still have some available. We are going on Friday, July 13th. Cost is $70 for members and $75 for non-members. Contact our office today!

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: Will do custom combining for wheat or oats 815-541-5873

FS: Land Pride 72in 3. Finishing mower $500 630-688-2884

FS: 12hp Honda Power Mower can be pulled with ATV, swings side to side $500 630-688-2884

FS: Like new JD Backhoe with 2 buckets- 12in & 24in. Fits smaller utility tractor $6,000 or will trade for like new ATV 500cc or 600cc 630-688-2884

FS: Haban 36” SHP tow behind tiller $350 815-244-3969

FS: DELTA Tool Box for Pick-up 815-244-3969

FS: 4ftx8ft trailer with tilt box and 4.8-8 tires very good condition $400 OBO 815-684-5493

FS: Gas Stove, self-cleaning $150 OBO 815-291-5743

FS: 1 of each: New Anderson & Crest Line 71Wx40tall windows $175 each 815-291-5743

FS:1999 Dodge Dakota pick-up truck. 164,000 miles. 3.9L motor, standard cab, topper, class 2 trailer hitch, wiring harness, AM/FM/Cassette/12 disc CD player, cruise control, air conditioning, and spray-on bed liner. Routinely maintained. $3000. Call 815-499-7745 and leave a message.

FS:  14 inch Magnavox TV with remote.  Cable ready. Like new.  $25 OBO.  5’x5’ light wood colored entertainment center with glass shelves, 2 mood lights, 3 cabinet drawers.  Excellent condition. $75 OBO.  Moving and these items need to go ASAP.  Call Lanark 815-238-2158. 

FREE: Free to 1st caller. Nice selection of fireplace wood; better bring a chain saw to shorten some of the limbs. 815-493-2224

FS: 2 month old fainting goats. Females $80 wethers $70. 2 year old ling female $100 Ready July 1st 815-493-2693 or 815-622-8658

FS: Mini horses (all mares) in various colors & 1 full 815-590-3305

FS: Vrmeer 230 3. Disk Mower- 8ft 540rmp $2,950 815-493-2172 or 815-821-3397

FS: 7ft heavy duty woods pull type bush hog 815-493-2172 or 815-821-3397

FS: 200gallon 3. Hitch sprayer with PTO pump, 3 section 20ft boom 815-493-2171 or 815-821-3397

FS: Happy Hens Healthy Eggs, chicken & duck eggs. $1.50 a dozen, pick up only 815-275-2806