Farm Bureau at a glance

Go To The Carroll County Farm Bureau

By Stephanie Foltz, Carroll County Farm Bureau Intern

My name is Stephanie Foltz and I am this summer's Carroll County Farm Bureau Intern. Having the chance to work with and serve the agricultural community of the county that I was born and raised in is going to be a great experience and I'm thankful to be given this opportunity.

After graduating from Mt. Carroll High School I attended the University of Wisconsin Platteville where I majored in Agriculture Business. Growing up on a dairy farm just south of Mt. Carroll lead me to join UWP's Dairy Club where I held several officer positions and served on our annual Pioneer Classic sale committee. Upon completion of this internship I will receive my diploma and have hopes of starting a career in the agricultural lending field.

Throughout the summer I will be working on several projects. One of them which I look forward to the most is interviewing members who have the oldest Farm Bureau memberships. Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with Jacob Getz, 93 who has been a member of the Carroll County Farm Bureau since 1937.

Jacob's Grandfather George Getz settled in Carroll County when he came over to the United States from Germany in 1856. The farm where he settled is located on Jacobstown road between Savanna and Mt. Carroll just off of Highway 52/64. George had 9 children, one of them being Jakes father who was also named Jacob. Jacob moved to Missouri in 1908 to help one of his brothers run the family farm and grocery store. Jake was born in 1915 while the Getz family was still residing in Missouri. Shortly after Jake was born the family moved back to the original homestead in Carroll County to take over for George who was getting ready to retire from farming.

Jake continued farming the original 392 acres, along with the hogs, sheep, stock and dairy cows, until 1969 when he went to work for the Palisades Park District in Savanna. He stayed with the park district until his retirement at the age of 91.

The Getz farm is still in operation and is now run by Jacob's nephew, Leroy Getz and family who have a 90 cow dairy along with the original acres. The Getz farm has been honored as a sentinel farm and is over 150 years old.

Getting the chance to interview Jake was a great experience and hearing about the way things were makes me appreciate the way things are. Granted, it was a simpler time back then but I've milked cows by hand before and it's not something that I would want to do everyday. I look forward to sitting down with other long term members and having them tell their stories just as Jacob was nice enough to share his.

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.

Free cats to farmsalready spayed/neutered and current on shots. Please call 815-244-6543 or 815-273-3183 for more information.

FS: Fruit Jars, narrow mouth, 21 white quarts, 3 blue quarts, & 12 white pints. $2/dozen, 815-684-5216

FS: New queen size box spring still in plastic, $100. 815-684-5419

FS: Buckboard type horse rubber tired wagon. Team or single, $1200. 815-336-2018

FS: 2002 Featherweight steel 16 ft gooseneck stock trailer, good condition, $3500. 815-336-2018

FS: 3 year old haflinger gelding, broke single to drive. Saddle broke green $350. 815-336-2018

FS: Farm King 13 in x 71 ft auger with mechanical swing away, $5800. 815-493-2172

FS: 3-wheel mobility scooter, $500. 815-684-5470

FS: Ferguson 3 point 6 bar hay rake. 815-864-2572

FS: 40 sq yards of very good quality carpet padding. 815-864-2572

TO GIVE AWAY TO A GOOD COUNTRY HOME: 7 year old male pure bred German Shepard. Good companion & good temperament, not for breeding. Moving to town and can't take him along. 815-684-5493, please leave a message if there is no answer.

FS: Round bale feeder, excellent condition, $75. 815-684-5493, please leave a message if there is no answer.

FS: 506 John Deere 3 point rotary mower, $375. Quick attach hitch for IH equipment, $425. Ford 3.8 ft rear blade, $425. Set of steel tracks for 10 inch tires, New, $850. 815-443-9669, please leave a message if there is no answer.

FS: Wooden Swingset, $50. Jayco pop up truck camper, $150. 815-541-8220

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