Tickets are now available forthe 2009 KCFB Foundation’sTruck Raffle. Buy your chance towin a new Chevrolet SilveradoE85 Extended Cab 4x4 WT. Allproceeds benefit college scholar-ship and agricultural literacy pro-grams. The drawing will takeplace at Touch-a-Tractor onMarch 29, 2009 at the Farm

Bureau on the corner of RandallRd. and Oak St. in St. Charles.

Tickets are $30 each, 2 for$50, or 5 for $100. Second prizeis winner’s choice of a new JohnDeere or Case IH pedal tractor.If you have questions about theraffle, or to purchase tickets byphone, call the Farm Bureauoffice at (630) 584-8660.

VOL. 73 NO. 10 OCTOBER 2008

Kane County FarmerKane County Farmer

Prime Rib au jusBack by popular demand – the special for

October is Prime Rib Au Jus. This special features a two-poundcontainer of authentic prime rib, sliced thin with delicious au jus.This makes a fantastic hot and hearty sandwich right before thekids go out to trick-or-treat! Melt some mozzarella or provolonecheese on top and it is even better!

Each 2-lb. tub is selling for $8.00 to M or A+ members and $9.00 for A members, available only during the month of October or while supply lasts.

Octoberspecial!

Gov. Blagojevich announces grants to increase exports of IL foodGovernor Rod Blagojevich

recently announced the avail-ability of federal matchingfunds to help Illinois food com-panies promotetheir products inforeign markets.

The BrandedProgram reim-burses partici-pants for up tohalf of theirinternational marketing and pro-motional expenses including thecost of foreign trade shows,international travel, advertising,product demonstrations, point-of-sale materials, and packageand label modifications to meetforeign import requirements.

“Every food item we selloverseas creates demand forIllinois crops and supports jobshere at home,” said GovernorBlagojevich. “International tradeis vital to the well-being of ouragriculture industry and these

funds will help Illinois food com-panies build name recognition inforeign markets and increasetheir export sales.”

Illinois is thefourth largestexporter of agri-cultural com-modities in theUnited Statesand relies uponforeign trade for

nearly 40 percent of its agricul-tural income. Overall, Illinoiscompanies exported a record$48.7 billion in products in 2007,a 16 percent increase from 2006.Since 2002, Illinois exports have grown by more than $23.13 billion.

The Food Export Associationof the Midwest, a non-profit asso-ciation of Midwestern state agri-cultural promotion agencies,administers the BrandedProgram. Funding comes fromthe United States Department of

Agriculture’s Foreign Agr-icultural Service through itsMarket Access Program.

Program participants must fitthe U.S. Small BusinessAdministration’s definition of a“small company” and be incor-porated in the United States. Inaddition, at least half of theirproducts must be made withdomestic ingredients. Agriculturecooperatives and export agentsthat work on the behalf of U.S.food companies also are eligiblefor assistance, provided theymeet program requirements.

Questions about BrandedProgram qualifications, eligiblereimbursements and the applica-tion process can be directed toIDOA Marketing RepresentativeKim Hamilton at (217) 782-5809 or The Food ExportAssociation of the Midwest at(312) 334-9200. Additionalinformation about the programand a “pre-qualification” work-

Funds will enable Illinoisfood companies to

expand their advertisingand promotion budget

in overseas markets

KCFB Foundation truck raffle tickets

Gould named to IALF Class of 2010

Chris Gould, owner of GouldFarms in Elburn, has been select-ed by the Illinois AgriculturalL e a d e r s h i pF o u n d a t i o n(IALF) as one of28 new membersfrom throughoutthe state for theI l l i n o i sA g r i c u l t u r a lL e a d e r s h i pProgram (IALP)Class of 2010.

Throughoutthe next twoyears membersof the new IALPclass will attend14 seminars focusing on currentsocial, political, and economicissues. The first year’s curricu-lum includes a 7-day nationaltravel seminar to Washington,D.C. A 14-day internationalstudy tour is the highlight of thesecond year of the program.

Gould says he is excited aboutthe program and knows it will bea beneficial learning and net-working opportunity. “The goalfor the program is to help indi-viduals like myself improve oncommunication and leadership

skills,” says Gould. “We can thenturn around and use those skillsand be more well-rounded play-

ers in variousa g r i c u l t u r a lorganizat ionsthat we getinvolved in.”

As the pre-mier leadershipprogram inIllinois, theIALF has pro-vided for ands t r e n g t h e n e da g r i c u l t u r a lleadership sinceits founding in1 9 8 1 .

Candidates, ages 25 to 49, areselected to the IALP based ondemonstrated leadership activi-ties and potential, commitment tolearning, and accountability tothe Illinois and United Statesagricultural industry. The missionof the IALP is to develop knowl-edgeable and effective spokesper-sons to become policy and decision-makers for the agricul-tural industry. For more informa-tion contact the IALF office at (309) 837-7711 or visitwww.agleadership.org.

Chris GouldHoly cow, glamour sow, is that an antique plow?

New videos on KCFB websiteGlamour

sow – All ofthe clamor inthe mediar e g a r d i n gDemocra t ic

Presidential nominee BarackObama’s comment about puttinglipstick on a pig resulted in fif-teen minutes of fame for someKane County pigs. Pork produc-er and Kane County FarmBureau member Ray Feldott andChicago Tribune reporter BillHageman tested the theory thatswine don’t take kindly to make-up, at Feldott’s Aurora farm.

Surprisingly, the first attemptwent better than expected – asFeldott steadied the pig andHageman applied a layer ofCha-Cha Cherry on the pig’slips. Video of the makeover ses-sion, including the pair’s secondattempt on another not-so-patient pig, can be seen on theChicago Tribune’s website atchicagotribune.com or link to itdirectly from the KCFB website.Go to www.kanecfb.com andclick on the “Local farm and FBevent videos” icon in the upperright, or the videos link at thebottom of the home page. Thereyou can view two new videosthat will give you a peek at somerecent agricultural events:

A n t i q u eplow – Alsoon the KCFBwebsite isfootage of

more than a dozen local antiquetractor enthusiasts plowing a fieldon the Joe White farm near Elburnin August. If you like antique iron,take a look at this video!

Holy Cow! –You can check outsome dairy cowsfrom LenkaitisHolsteins of StCharles that got intothe act at the 2008

Chicago City Chase, a scavengerhunt style competition. At thestation outside of Harry Carey’srestaurant and bar, contestantshad to milk a cow and collect afew ounces before moving on tothe next obstacle.

The videos can also be foundon YouTube at www.youtube.com/KaneCountyFarmBureau,along with several other agricul-tural videos from Kane County.

CALENDAROF EVENTS

October 2Board of Directors, 7:30pmOctober 5Garfield Farm MuseumHarvest Days, 11:30am-4pmOctober 8Women’s CommitteeMeeting, 9:15amOctober 10-12Scarecrow Festival (LincolnPark – St. Charles)October 13Columbus DayOctober 16Women’s Committee BloodDrive, 3-7pmOctober 31Halloween

All meetings are at the Farm Bureau, 2N710Randall Rd., St. Charles, unless otherwise noted.

sheet that can help companiesassess their eligibility for fund-ing are available online atwww.brandedprogram.org.

Funds are for international

marketing activities in the 2009calendar year. About $6 millionin reimbursements typically isdistributed to program partici-pants in the Midwest every year.

The Farm Bureau Women’sCommittee has set up a BLOODDRIVE with Heartland BloodCenter for Thursday, October16, 2008 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.This event will be held in theKane County Farm Bureau’sparking lot on Randall Road in

St. Charles in Heartland’sMobile Blood Unit.

All donors are asked to pre-register by calling the FarmBureau at (630) 584-8660. Also,remember to bring a photo ID,which is required to donateblood.

Beef store is now open! Sat. 9-4 or by appointment

100% hormone free beef.Selling individual cuts. Buy as little or as much as you want.

Mark & Linda Schramer, Owners8N840 Lakin Road, Maple Park

815.895.4691 • 1-877-FOR-FDBASample Packs make great gifts!

You receive the KaneCounty Farmer because youare a Farm Bureau member. Ifyou are a farm operator orowner, you benefit from alocal, state and national organ-ization committed to agricul-ture and your way of life.

If you do not have directties to farming, your member-ship helps promote local farmsand farming, encourage wiseuse of our limited naturalresources and preserve farm-land and our agricultural her-itage while allowing you toenjoy COUNTRY insuranceand the many other benefits ofone of Illinois’ premier mem-bership organizations.

We appreciate your mem-bership and continued supportand we welcome your com-ments on the content of theFarmer. We encourage you tomake recommendations aboutfarm, home, food, naturalresource, renewable energy oragricultural heritage and histo-ry related topics for inclusionin future issues of the Farmer.

PAGE 2 KANE COUNTY FARMER OCTOBER 2008

Kane County FarmerKANE COUNTY FARM BUREAU

PUBLISHED MONTHLYSteven J. Arnold, Editor

Merry Pitstick, Executive AssistantSuzi Myers, Ag Literacy Coordinator

Elizabeth Dawson, Membership SecretaryAudre Pack, Training Specialist

Ryan Klassy, Information DirectorOFFICE: Randall Rd. between Routes 64 & 38

Address: 2N710 Randall Rd., St. CharlesPHONE: 630-584-8660

info@kanecfb.com www.kanecfb.comOFFICE HOURS: 8:30-5:00 Monday though Friday

(USPS No. 289700)POSTMASTER: Mail form 3579 to

2N710 Randall Rd., St. Charles, IL 60174Second Class Postage • Paid to St. Charles, IL 60174

Year Subscription: $2.00

n DISTRICT 1Aurora, Sugar Grove,Big Rock Twnshp.Gene FeldottRt. 3, Box 425Aurora, IL 60506630-892-2197Mike Pitstick1708 Hannaford Dr.Sugar Grove, IL 60554630-878-3975Donna Lehrer7S027 Jericho RoadBig Rock, IL 60511630-556-3476n DISTRICT 2Kaneville, Blackberry,Gen./Bat. Twnshp.Bill Collins1125 Lewis RoadGeneva, IL 60134630-232-2043Wade Kuipers1N318 Watson RoadMaple Park, IL 60151815-827-5200

Joe WhiteSecretary-Treasurer47W727 Main St. Rd.Elburn, IL 60119630-557-2517n DISTRICT 3Virgil, Campton,St. Charles Twnshp.Robert Biddle4N566 Whirlaway Dr.Elburn, IL 60119630-365-9374Chris CollinsP.O. Box 62Wasco, IL 60183630-513-5833Al Lenkaitis, Jr.6N352 Fair Oaks Dr.St. Charles, IL 60174630-561-9514n DISTRICT 4Burlington, PlatoElgin Twnshp.Alan Volpp9N728 Peplow Rd.Hampshire, IL 60140847-683-3681

Mike KenyonVice President1250 E. Main St.South Elgin, IL 60177847-741-1818Robert GehrkePresident12N860 Route 20Elgin, IL 60123847-697-2538n DISTRICT 5Hampshire, Rutland,Dundee Twnshp.Beth Engel15N638 Walker RoadHampshire, IL 60140847-683-3482Gerald Gaitsch10613 Brittany Ave.Huntley, IL 60142847-669-2003Wayne Schneider402 S. 5th StreetWest Dundee, IL 60118847-428-3350

According to the Crop Production report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s NationalAgricultural Statistics Service (NASS), corn production for 2008 is forecast at 12.1 billion bushels,down 2 percent from last month and 8 percent below 2007. Based on conditions as of September1, yields are expected to average 152.3 bushels per acre, down 2.7 bushels from August, but 1.2bushels above last year. If realized, yield will be the second highest on record, behind 2004, whileproduction will be the second largest, behind last year.

Harvest time

Old aerial photos of farms and businesses.Photos date from 1964 to 1983. Kane,Dupage, Kendall. More counties available.

Interested parties may contactTom @ 888-237-5784

or email pictureman1@live.comor visit vintageaerial.com.

Chad Leman, an Illinois FarmBureau member and pork pro-ducer from Roanoke, has openedthe door to his operation andinvited millions into his barns viathe video-sharing site YouTube(www.YouTube.com). Leman’svideo is one of three featuredproducer videos that can befound on the Conversations onAnimal Care site (www.conver-sationsoncare.com).

The video was produced incooperation with Illinois FarmBureau (IFB) and AmericanFarm Bureau Federation’s(AFBF) Conversations onAnimal Care initiative. Lemanguides viewers through hisfarm, giving them an inside lookat a pork operation.

Leman represents IFB on theAFBF Swine Advisory

Committee and servedthree years on IFB’sLivestock and DairyGrass Roots IssueTeam. He operatesLeman Farms Inc., agrain and pork opera-tion, in partnershipwith his father.

AFBF’s animal careinitiative helps livestockproducers share personalinsights on the care theyprovide farm animalsthrough presentations,speeches, and otherefforts. The initiativeputs a face on farmers asthey demonstrate that theanimals they care forproduce safe, healthyfood for Americans.

Video tells Illinois hog farm story

A video featuring the pork operation ofRoanoke, IL producer Chad Leman is fea-tured on YouTube.com. It is one of three fea-tured producer videos that can also befound on the Conversations on Animal Caresite (www.conversationsoncare.com).

The Farm Bureau Staff isagain entering the annual St.Charles Scarecrow Festival,October 10-12. The staff will becreating a scarecrow the weekprior to the festival. Please stop bythe office to lend a hand andexpress your creativity! Thescarecrow will be in the tradition-al category. Our entry in theScarecrow Festival provides apositive image of the FarmBureau and promotes our organi-zation. Thank you in advance for

Blood drive Oct. 16th

Farm Bureauwill have anentry in the

annual St. CharlesScarecrow

Festival.

Scarecrow Festival volunteers wanted!your help! Make sure you visit thefestival and vote for our entry!

Steven ArnoldAmlingsBatavia CreameryBetty’s Garden PartyBlackberry Station Country StoreBlue Goose SupermarketBordersBuck Brothers, Inc.C&C Mulch and More –

Bill CollinsCardinal FitnessColonial CaféJackie Meier – COUNTRY

FinancialR.F. Houtz Cub CadetHampshire Curves For Women DeKane Equipment Corp.Hogan Walker John Deere Eliza JaneSycamore Farm and Fleet1st Farm Credit Services

Fast Frame Design &Craftsmanship

Geneva Gander MountainGeneva Jake’sGraham’s Fine ChocolatesCardinal FitnessColonial CaféGrand Victoria CasinoHeidi’s Cake & PastryHeinz Bros. GreenhouseHighland of Elgin Golf CourseHughes Creek Golf ClubIllinois Farm BureauJeanette WesemannJerry ReganJewel FoodsJudy’s Quilt and SewKane County CougarsKane County Flea MarketKane County 4-H FoundationKane-DuPage Soil & Water

Conservation DistrictMike & Carol KenyonKlein’s Farm & Garden MarketKuipers Family FarmLimestone Coffee & TeaLuck-E Holsteins Marlowe’s Ace HardwareMeijerMenardsPanachePapa G’sPaper MerchantPastigel BakeryPersimmon TreeSteve & Merry PitstickReam’s Meat MarketRick Bristow – COUNTRY

FinancialRobert & Beth GehrkeSciTech Hands On MuseumShady Hill GardensThe Shoppe Next DoorSpring Bluff NurseryState Representative Patricia

Reid LindnerBernice ThomasTony Sell – TracsterTown House Books & CaféVilla Olivia Country Club Wally Sundberg – COUNTRY

FinancialWasco NurseryWing Park Golf CourseWiser ChoiceZylstra Harley Davidson

Wow, have you visited thearea near the Kane

County Farm Bureau building

lately? One can’t help but noticethe significant transformationthat is taking place to the sur-

rounding landscape. The KCFB building sits on

approximately three acres ofland (less than the original threeand a half acres due to the latestRandall Road widening project)which was purchased in the late1950’s. At that time a buildingwas built which not only housedthe KCFB office but severalother agricultural groups. TheFairgrounds was our closest

neighbor to the south, west, andnorth. On the other side of theFairground’s land to the northwas a “Dog & Suds”(if I remem-ber correctly) and across Rt. 64was the Half Moon Tavern.Slowly the area started filling in– Fairview subdivision acrossRandall Rd. to the east – aMontgomery Wards store to thesouth – and two banks on eitherside of Randall Rd. on the cor-ners of Oak St. – but the “fields”to the north and west of usremained our unchanged neigh-bor for just short of 50 years.

Even though the landremained undeveloped, that did-n’t mean it wasn’t used on anoccasional basis. You neverknew what might “pop up” – ofcourse it was a given that duringthe KC Fair and the first week-end of each month’s FleaMarket, the field turned into aparking lot from Randall Rd.back, with rows of cars (anddust) which would fill the field.Then there was the annual largeequipment sale that saw hugepieces of farm machinery, earthmoving equipment, etc. move inand out for the big sale. Eachspring a locally-based amuse-ment company would set up

their carnival to make sure theequipment was in safe workingorder and every year it wouldrain the whole time. You knewwhen the field got nicelymowed in August that the dogshow would soon be there withall their tents and pens, it wasalways very hot. November usu-ally saw the Christmas Treepeople with their little trailerand rows of trees for sale. Andspeaking of ‘popping up”, occa-sionally over the years wewould arrive to work in themorning to see the big top beingraised for the circus had come totown over night. The next morn-ing upon arrival to work theentourage was completely gonewith only filled dumpsters wait-ing for pick up.

Several months ago we gotnew neighbors – the grassyfields began a complete trans-formation from what it was, to asoon-to-be-completed CostcoWarehouse store along with itsown gas station. A smaller park-ing lot remains – with nicelypaved rows for the cars; howev-er, gone are the occasionalamusements for us, the KCFBbuilding employees, to enjoy, orwill they be?

The month of September wasfull of events. One that I

made it to was the Elgin Car andAlternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV)Show. Our Manager SteveArnold and I got the chance tovisit with car aficionados andarea residents while we showedoff the Flex-Fuel E85 Chevypickup truck that we’ll raffle offat the Touch-a-Tractor event inMarch, 2009.

The show was a blend ofantique cars and AFV’s. Therewere several cars converted torun on used vegetable oil, whichnot only make good use of oilused in restaurants, but havemuch more pleasant smellingexhaust. Our display was set upnext to the NorthwesternUniversity Solar Car Team, whodisplayed their latest creation,nuSolar sc5, which resembles apool table on three wheels. Theentire surface is covered withsolar panels, with the exceptionof the plastic cover/windshieldover a cockpit in the center. Theteam raced the car in the NorthAmerican Solar Challenge tocompete in a 2,400 mile racefrom Plano, Texas, to Calgary,

Alberta, Canada. In talking with some AFV

folks we learned more aboutGM’s recently unveiled ChevyVolt that will carry you to andfrom work on a single charge –with an average range of around40 miles. And there was buzzabout the Tesla car that can dozero to sixty in under 4 seconds,has a top speed of over 130mph, and a range of 250 milesbefore recharging.

It’s easy to see when youlook around these days that con-sumers are looking for ways tosave money on transportationcosts. There are fewer SUVs onthe roads and the CTA andMetra are both running at nearrecord ridership levels. Theyhave plans to remove restrooms,seats, and even bar cars to makeroom for more riders.

And of course, corn-basedethanol is already helping tostretch our fuel supply – the gasin your tank right now contains10% ethanol. More and moreE85 flex fuel cars and trucks arebeing produced, capable of run-ning on gasoline or a blend of15% gasoline and 85% ethanol.We had plenty of questionsabout the E85 Chevy truck inour display.

It was interesting to see all ofthese vehicles assembled in onevenue and to think about theresources and ingenuity that aregoing into producing the nextgeneration of alternative fuelvehicles. It’s likely that you’llsee a combination of all thesetechnologies on the roads of thefuture.

My favorite part of the daythough, was hearing the roar ofthe antique cars as they fired upand headed out the driveway.The need for more fuel-efficientvehicles is obvious and renew-able fuels are the way of thefuture – but maybe they’ll figureout a way to make your electriccar sound like a ‘65 Mustang.We’ll have to wait and see.

OCTOBER 2008 KANE COUNTY FARMER PAGE 3

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Looking BackBy Audre Pack

FUELS OF THE FUTUREBy Ryan Klassy, Information Director

Above: A Volkswagen “veggie car” that runs on recycled vegetable oil.Left: The futuristic looking solar car fromNorthwestern University.

Thank you ...The Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation would like to

thank the following businesses for their generous donationsto the Silent Auction at the KCFB 95th Anniversary AnnualMeeting on September 29th. The auction was a great success andhelped raise funds for college scholarships for students who wishto pursue a career in an agricultural field.

1E SILENT AUCTION DONORS e

Dairy Cows Used for Chicago Scavenger Hunt

Although Chicago was onceadorned with hundreds of fes-tively decorated (inanimate)cows, the city was not quite pre-pared to see the living, breath-ing counterparts of the artisticexpressions. Recently, AlbertLenkaitis, Jr., a St. Charles areafarmer and a director on theboard of the KCFB, lent three ofhis dairy cows to Chicago’sbeefed up scavenger hunt: CityChase. According to the CityChase website, the event is a“unique, urban adventure thatrequires participants to exhibitteamwork, resourcefulness,determination and the ability tomake decisions on the fly asthey search for ChasePoint chal-lenges scattered in unknownlocations throughout the city.

The challenges are designed totest mind, body and spirit.”

Specifically, Lenkaitis’ChasePoint coaxed the chasersto milk a cow. According toLenkaitis, the contestants werepainfully misinformed when itcame to milking the cows. Theparticipants needed to collect amere couple ounces of milk topass the challenge. Still, manycontended that the act was “themost disgusting thing [they’d]ever done.”

Despite some chasers’ appre-hension, Lenkaitis’ ChasePointelicited a pleasant array of shock,hilarity, and eagerness to learn.There was a mix of diligent rac-ers who got in and out quicklyand stargazers who made sure tofit in a photo-op with the cow.Stationed next to Harry Carey’sRestaurant on Kinzie and

Dearborn, the initial reaction tothe ChasePoint channeled Careyhimself as the chasers exclaimed,“Holy Cow!”.

The Farm Bureau encouragesanyone who is captivated by theconcept of City Chase to partici-pate. Everyone 18 and older iswelcome to the challenge.Winners are invited to the nation-al competition and finally, theinternational competition if theywin nationals. Not only will theChase behoove participants’mental and physical health, pro-ceeds raised at the event aredonated to the Special Olympics.While furthering your own ath-leticism you are supporting theskills of those in need.

The menu of activities isthick and diverse. In addition tocow milking, participantsrepelled down Navy PierTowers, completed an SAT testwriting, endured a MarinesBoot Camp and sketched a nudemodel. Ultimately, there were38 ChasePoints and only 10 hadto be completed. Thus, if youencounter an impossible task,there’s always the option topass.

Rotating between Holsteins

and Jerseys, Lenkaitis kept thecows rested while upholding theenjoyable atmosphere that lin-gered throughoutthe day. AlthoughLenkaitis was a bitmessy by the end ofthe chase, the eventwas surely worth-while. WhileLenkaitis and theparticipants openlyexpressed theirthoughts onCityChase, the cowsfailed to comment.

For more information onCity Chase be sure to visit theirwebsite, www.citychase.com.

PAGE 4 KANE COUNTY FARMER OCTOBER 2008

Women’s CornerBy Barbara Pachla

Women’s Committee Chair

A smile, a thank you, kindwords, and volunteeringMake a Difference Day is

October 25th. It is a day devotedto helping others by doing vol-unteer work in the community.It can be anything related tohelping others – taking someoneto a doctor appointment, shop-ping, or visiting the sick at anursing facility. Take your oldglasses to the Lions organiza-tion, assist the Forest Preservewith community activities,clean up the yard for the elderly,or rake their leaves. But it canbe as simple as kind words or asmile. These types of simplegestures are contagious.

In keeping with this samethought, October 12 is OldFarmers Day. As Americans wetip our hat to all farmers for

their contribution to Americanculture, values, and society. Thisday originated in the early tomid 1800’s. Early settlerscleared fields and pristinewoods to farm the rich land. Themonth of October is an appro-priate month to celebrate andhonor farmers. Harvest time isat hand.

Try this fall dessert.Pumpkin Cheesecake Cake

Batter:1 cup butter1/2 cup sour cream3 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla21/2 cups flour2 teaspoons baking powder1 cup sugar1 teaspoon cinnamon1/2 cup pumpkin (canned or

URBAN COWSBy Kristin McMahon

A competitormilks one ofAlbert Lenkaitis’cows at ChicagoCityChase 2008.

Sweet tooth – safe farmIn an effort to bring safety

awareness to the attention ofKane County farmers duringNational Farm Safety andHealth Week, September 16-22,the KCFB Women’s Committeedistributed buckets full of candyto 11 different ag-related busi-nesses and places that farmersfrequent throughout the county.

After attending to the agendaat their meeting on September10, the volunteers assembledwhat have become an annual

fall tradition, Farm Safety TreatBuckets.

Volunteers enclose tasty treatsin Ziploc® bags and then attach arelated safety message. Thetaglines include, “Safety con-scious farmers make ‘JollyRanchers’!” and “Farm safety is nothing to ‘Snicker’ at! Take itseriously!” The volunteers leavebusiness owners plenty of candyto refill the buckets as needed.

Dorothy Milnamow, the leadcommittee member for the proj-

ect says that in its fourth year, itis a favorite of both the commit-tee and the farmers who benefitfrom the program.

“When farmers go in to theirlocal grain elevator or a localagribusiness we hope they takea candy bag, read the safety slo-gan, and keep it in mind.Hopefully it helps them thinkand act safely as they work.”

KCFB Women’sC o m m i t t e emember NancyMeyer assem-bles candy bagsfor the FarmSafety TreatBuckets Inset: One of thetasty taglines oncandy.

(continued on page 6)

• Pigs cannot sweat. Pigs usedto have to roll around in mudto keep cool. Today, fans andsprinklers do the job.

• A pig’s squeal ranges from110-115 decibels. Comparethat to the noise from aConcorde supersonic jet,which is about 112 decibels.

• Pigs are smart. They are thefourth smartest animal.

• A mother pig, or sow, givesbirth twice a year. An averagelitter is 8-12 piglets.

• Sows are pregnant for threemonths, three weeks, andthree days.

• Compared to ten years ago,pork has 30 percent less fat,14 percent fewer calories and10 percent less cholesterol.

• One pig eats about 870pounds of corn and 120 ofprotein and minerals to reacha market weight of 250pounds.

• Pork is an important part ofour diet. Pork provides ourbody with protein, iron, zinc,and B vitamins.

• Hog manure can be used asan important fertilizer forcrops.

OCTOBER 2008 KANE COUNTY FARMER PAGE 5

Name ______________________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip _____________________________________ Telephone (_____) ___________________

Please complete and return to Kane County Farm Bureau, 2N710 Randall Road, St. Charles, IL 60174 by October 15, 2008 for your chance to win a box of pork chops!

Compiled by Beth Dawson and Suzi Myers

P B F O D G N Q R Q O K N Y K

R X A G L O O S G I P Y K S H

O D T C I H I V I T A M I N S

T L E N O Y T R R U H U L A L

E E K I B N I I O E K B U D T

I A R O N Q R W L N T S A E N

N N A R M S T Q X A A T L D P

R E M R A F U Z R G V G I O G

N R A B Y O N L E H I Y H L R

W F P J M S B M I P Z C W J A

J Y R N Q A I I O N K A N U I

S Q U E A L H C P R T N R I N

G L U E D R H G O E E R O J N

Q B M N X W S P R P F W C X U

M V C J K H I E W L S O W O L

BACONBARNBOARCORNFARMFARMERGLUEGRAINHAMHOGINSULINIRONLEANLITTERMARKETNUTRITIONOINKPENPIGLETPIGSPORKCHOPPROTEINSAUSAGESOWSQUEALVITAMINSWATER

Pork

National Pork MonthEat Country Ham MonthNational Pasta MonthNational Pizza MonthNational Chili MonthNational Cookie MonthNational Angel Food Cake Day – October 10Farmer’s Day – October 12National Canning Day – October 23National Bologna Day – October 24National Chocolate Day – October 28

October is . . .

Illinois pork facts• There are 4,600 hog farms in

Illinois• There are 4,050,000 pigs in

Illinois• Hogs are Illinois’ third highest

agricultural commoditybehind corn and soybeans

• 10% of Illinois farms haveswine

• The pork industry add almost1.9 billion dollars to Illinois’economy

• Pork accounts for 11% of theincome from agriculture forIllinois

• Illinois ranks 4th nationally in

porkp r o -duction

• Pork contributesover 18,500 jobs toIllinois

• In 2002, Illinois market hogsconsumed the approximateequivalent of 1 million acresof corn, and more that 958 million pounds of soy-

bean meal• In 2002, Illinois produced

1.81 billion pounds of pork• 1995 was the first year that

the U.S. exported more porkthan it imported

Pork facts

Congratulations,Maria Hutchinson of Geneva. Maria’s name was chosen from

the entries received for correctly completing last month’s WordSearch Puzzle. For Maria’s participation, she will receive a box ofchicken breasts.

Thank you Maria for reading the Kane County Farmer, andcontinue to watch each month for more great opportunities fromthe Kane County Farm Bureau.

Illinois

PorkWhat U.S. city became known asPorkopolis?The open lands of the Westencouraged large-scale hog rais-ing operations, which, in turn,created a need for expanded com-mercial pork processing facilities.Packing plants grew throughoutthe Midwest, with centrally locat-ed Cincinnati soon becoming sostrongly associated with porkproduction that it becameknown, informally at least,as “Porkopolis.”How did Wall Streetget its name?F r e e - r o a m i n ghogs were notori-ous for rampagingthrough the pre-cious grain fields ofcolonial New York Cityfarmers. The ManhattanIsland residents chose to limitthe forays of these riotous hogsby erecting a long, permanentwall on the northern edge ofwhat is now Lower Manhattan. Astreet came to border this wall –named Wall Street.Fact or Hogwash? When hot dogs were first sold,street vendors called them “redhots,” and they did not come ona bun. Instead, a pair of white

cotton gloves came with eachone to keep fingers cool whileeating.Fact. It happened at the St.Louis World’s Fair, where hotdogs were first introduced to thepublic along with the ice creamcone in 1904.

What did President Harry Trumanhave to say about hogs?“No man should be allowed to be

President who does notunderstand hogs.”

What was the high-est known priceever paid for ahog?$56,000 was paid

for a crossbreedbarrow named

“Bud,” owned byJeffrey Roemisch of

Hermleigh, Texas and bought byE. A. “Bud” Olson and PhilBonzio on March 5, 1985.

What was the heaviest hog everrecorded?A Poland China hog named “BigBill” weighing 2,552 pounds andmeasuring 9 feet long with abelly that dragged the ground,owned by Burford Butler ofJackson, Tennessee in 1933.

Hog trivia . . .

Did you know that...

You can look it up: Pork is the world’s most

widely eaten meat.

Pig feed sack

Materials:One sandwich size Ziploc® bagYarnBlue, white or silver candyToasted Oat CerealPeanutsRaisinsMulti-colored candyPeanut Butter candy

Directions:Copy the pig feed sack chartbelow and insert the paper intoyour Ziploc® bag. Add theblue/white/silver candy, toastedoat cereal, peanuts, raisins,multi-colored candy and peanutbutter candy to the bag. Tell afriend what pigs eat and how thethings in the Ziploc® bag repre-sent what pigs eat. Enjoy yourfeed sack snack!

Pigs Need: Represented by:Water .................................Blue/White/or Silver CandyCarbohydrates....................Toasted Oat CerealProtein ...............................PeanutsMinerals .............................RaisinsVitamins.............................Multi-Colored CandyFat......................................Peanut Butter Candy

Chewing gumAnimal feedLeatherGlueCombButtonsPlasticsPaintbrushPlywood

AdhesiveInsulationUpholsteryCosmeticsAntifreezeCellophaneFloor waxCementCrayons

ChalkMatchesPuttyLinoleumMedicineRubberHeart ValvesBurn Dressing

We get over 500 products from pigs!Pig by-products include:

October ... the month of fallcolor, leaves to rustle

through and rake, football, newtelevision programs and the har-vest of ourIllinois bounty.These are thethings that popinto my mind atthis time of theyear.

When I drivethrough thecountryside, I am awed by thebeauty of the corn standing sotall, with the ears ready to beplucked by the combine. Thesoybeans are quite a sight, turn-

ing that beautiful yellow/browncolor as they await the com-bine’s pass through to gather allthe “miracle beans”. After the

shaky start ofthe year, we areblessed with acrop that actual-ly did get plant-ed and come tofruition.

The haybales that dot

the landscape amaze me. Thebeauty of the circles of hay,seemingly going on forever, isquite a sight. I stop my car andphotograph many of these won-

ders – including the photo yousee here.

Then there are the pumpkins– Illinois produces more pump-kins than any other state. Thepumpkins, gourds, Indian corn,and squashes are everywhere.The bright colors make them aperfect decoration in and aroundthe house.

Children – they are in theirglory at this time of the year.They are amazed at the acornsfalling like rain from the Oaktrees; excited about picking outthe perfect pumpkin for theirjack o lantern; deciding on theirHalloween costume; and enjoy-ing playing outside in the clear,crisp weather.

Fall foods are special also.The tasty concord grapes that Inow have to purchase at themarket, after years of “tasting”them on my way to school as achild; the first apple crisp orapple pie of the year, made with

Since October is membershipdrive month for the FarmBureau, it seems nat-ural to have a bookexplaining the howand why of the FarmBureau as the bookof the month. Thebook has an easy for-mat and is very read-able. The authorwrites, “The essen-tial part of history isthat it is, after all, astory – an account ofan event or events. Agood story gives thataccount in a way thereader can enjoy, understand,and perhaps use.”

Events from the beginning ofthe “Farm Bureau movement”

to recent times, arecaptured within thebook. It discusses thedifferent policies,proposals and billsthroughout the histo-ry of the FarmBureau. Photos areincluded of pastFarm Bureau presi-dents and boardmembers.

Come in andcheck out this inter-esting book or any ofthe many others we

have in our library.

PAGE 6 KANE COUNTY FARMER OCTOBER 2008

AG LITERACY CORNERBy Suzi Myers

Book of the Month

Call Doug Deininger:815-439-9245

298± ac. Kankakee Co., IL462± ac. Grundy Co., IL152± ac. Grundy Co., IL150± ac. Kankakee Co., IL78± ac. Grundy Co., IL

Call Bill Green:630-761-8143

10+ ac. Kendall Co., IL239± ac. Grundy Co., IL285± ac. Vermilion Co., IL

4” x 3”Kane County Farmer

visit our website at www.capitalag.com

Call Chip Johnston:815-875-2950

43± ac. Bureau Co., IL199± ac. Henry Co., IL12± ac. Bureau Co., IL74± ac. Bureau Co., IL149± ac. Bureau Co., IL48± ac. Bureau Co., IL135± ac. Bureau Co., IL

Call Scott Johnson:217-359-3336

73+ ac. Coles Co., IL412± ac. Ogle Co., IL

630-434-1838

CapitalAgriculturalPropertyServices, Inc.

Sale Pending

Sale PendingNew Listing!

New Listing!

New Listing!

Each month, the KaneCounty Farm Bureau honors theperson or persons who sign themost members into our organi-zation. For August, we wouldlike to congratulate both TedSchuster and Debra Tuchoski.Ted and Debra each signedseven new members to benamed top recruiters for August2008.

Ted Schuster has been anagent with COUNTRY’s St.Charles Agency since March2005. Ted services clients out ofthe Sugar Grove office at 32Cross St. You may reach Ted at(630) 466-9600.

Debra Tuchoski has been anagent with COUNTRY’s St.

Charles Agency sinceDecember 2002. She servesclients from her office located at12 S. 1st Ave Suite A, in St.Charles. You may reach Debraat (630) 797-3700.

As a token of our apprecia-tion, Ted and Debra will receive

a box of pork chops fromInboden’s Meats in DeKalb,supplier of our monthly specialsfor Farm Bureau members.Thank you, Ted and Debra foryour continued support of KaneCounty Farm Bureau and con-gratulations on your success.

Top Recruiters of the Month

What’s new in the COUNTRY agencies?St. Charles Agency, RichardBristow, Agency Manager

Bob Kearns has been namedAgent of the Month in the St.Charles Agency. Bob has been aCOUNTRY Agent since 1981,and has earned 26 AllAmericans, 26 All Stars, andwas named to COUNTRY’Sprestigious Hall of Fame in2002. Bob serves his clientsfrom his office located at 892 N.LaFox St. in South Elgin. Hemay be reached at (847) 888-3200.

Aurora Agency, Jackie Meier,Agency Manager

Greg LeBeau has beennamed Agent of the Month forAugust 2008 in the AuroraAgency. Greg began his careerwith COUNTRY Insurance &Financial Services in October1987. He serves his clients fromhis office at 1921 Wilson Street,Batavia, 60510. You may reachGreg at (630) 406-6900.Elgin/Schaumburg Agency,Jack Smith, Agency Manager

Gary Bolger has been named“Career Agent of the Month”

for August 2008. Gary has beenan agent with COUNTRYInsurance & Financial Servicessince July 2003. His office islocated at 1814 GrandstandPlace, Elgin, 60123. His phonenumber is (847) 742-0001.

Luke Fawkes has been named“Employee Agent of the Month”for August 2008. Luke has beenan agent with COUNTRYInsurance & Financial Servicessince July 2006. His office islocated at 1030 Summit, Elgin,60120. His phone number is(847) 591-6118.

A History of the IllinoisFarm Bureau by Dan Leifel

Debra TuchoskiTed Schuster

orchard fresh apples; a bowl ofchili with fresh corn bread on acool evening; meatloaf baked inthe long unused oven, completewith bubbling acorn squash.These are the tastes of fall.

Fall also brings many differ-ent festivals. I spend manyhours working with children atsome of the fall festivals, teach-ing about apples, pumpkins,

seeds, and more. Look for ourscarecrow at the ScarecrowFestival in St. Charles. Beingoutside is such a pleasure onthese cool sunny days.

I hope you have a wonderfultime this October enjoying thewonders of our world and thatyou share these times with theimportant children of your life.Have fun.

Right: Nearly 100 area pro-ducers and ag businessmengathered at the Kane CountyCorn Growers test plot on thecorner of Rt. 47 and Beith Rdin Elburn on September 18 forthe KCCG Annual Plot Day.Emerson Nafziger, Professorof Agronomic Extension at theUniversity of Illinois was theguest speaker. Nafziger gavehis observations and talked to

the farmers about what might be expected from this year’s corn crop.According to Nafziger much of the area’s crop is in good shape giventhe relatively late start in planting and large amounts of rainfall inmany areas. Those in attendance were treated to a pork chop dinnerand had the opportunity to examine several varieties of hybrids at thetest plot.

Left: Randy Pauli of Great Lakes Hybrids (left) examines an ear ofcorn from the Kane County Corn Growers test plot as Bill Hanson ofElburn looks on.

fresh puree)1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/3 teaspoon saltFilling:8 oz cream cheese1/4 cup canned pumpkin1/3 cup sugar1 tablespoon corn starch1 egg1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.In a bowl beat all the ingredi-

ents for the filling until verysmooth. Set aside and prepare

the batter.In a large bowl cream butter,

sugar, and vanilla until light andfluffy. Add eggs and beat well.Add flour, baking powder, bak-ing soda, cinnamon, and salt.Mix in pumpkin and sour cream.Blend thoroughly until smooth.Pour half of batter into buttered13”x9” glass baking dish. Addthe filling and spread evenlyover the batter. Add remainingbatter and lightly swirl into fill-ing. Bake 50-55 minutes, thenallow to cool. Add whippedcream to serving pieces.

Women’s Corner(continued from page 4)

By Sara McKiness of Horse Logic

EDITOR’S NOTE: Based in St.Charles, Sara McKiness is aCertified Horse Trainer whohelps riders improve their com-munication with horses withoutpunishment. She graduated vale-dictorian from Meredith ManorInternational Equestrian Center(MMIEC) where she majored inteaching and training, andminored in Farrier Science.

We are moving on to the nexttwo steps of the Training Treewhich are Straightness andBalance. As we progress furtherup the training tree our horse isdeveloping a wonderful relation-ship with us and he is also devel-oping correct training that willallow him to pursue any discipline.

Now that we have success-fully progressed halfway up theTraining Tree, it is time to intro-duce Straightness. The reasonthat we have not introducedstraightness until now is toallow out horse to become com-fortable carrying a rider. Ridersinterfere with a horse’s natural

balance and it takes time for thehorse to develop the correctmuscles in order to gracefullyand comfortably carry a rider.

For the first year or so themain focus was on teaching thehorse aboutrhythm, relaxation,freedom of gaits,and contact.Teaching thesesteps first allowed our horse todevelop a close bond of trustwith us, thus furthering the rela-tionship between horse and han-dler. When the horse trusts youhe will try harder and his train-ing will almost feel effortless.

Straightness is defined as:The horse is “straight” when itshind feet track into the footfallsof its front feet. as defined by:Faith Meredith Director ofRiding, Meredith ManorInternational Equestrian Centrewww.meredithmanor.edu

This means that a horse cantravel straight on a line, circle orshoulder in, and its hind feetwill track on the same line as itsfront feet.

When a horse is travelingstraight he needs to have hishind feet following the footstepsof the front feet. In other wordsthey need to lineup with thehoofprints of the front feet. If

the hind foot printsfall to the inside oroutside then yourhorse is movingcrookedly.

Let me give you an exampleof straightness, a horse that is ona straight line needs to have hishind legs tracking with that ofhis front legs. This means thatthe hind legs will travel instraight lines just as the frontlegs. Each hind leg will reachunderneath the body the sameamount. For example both theleft and right hind legs willreach underneath the horse inthe same amount. And on a cir-cle line, this means that thehorse’s body will be bent frompoll to tail to match the circleline, and that he has to workharder in order to have his hindlegs follow the fore legs. If youare on a circle to the right, the

horse will have to reach underwith his right hind leg. The righthind leg will have to bear moreweight on the circle line. His lefthind leg will have to reach far-ther in order to follow the trackof the left leg. And vice versa fora circle going to the left.

When working on straight-ness with your horse make sureto work both sides evenly.

Balance is the next step inthe Training Tree. Balance iswhen the horse evenly distrib-utes his weight on all four feet.Horses naturally carry about 60percent of their body weight ontheir front feet (forehand). Thereason for this is horses have alarge head which tends to shiftweight onto their front ends.

When we are teaching thehorse to be more balanced wereally want him to start to takethe hind end further under hisbody, and to put weight evenlyon all four feet. This also allowsthe horse to use his back moreeffectively, and he will gradual-

ly start carrying more weight onthe hindquarters. In order toeffectively start carrying moreof his weight on his hindquar-ters he also needs to be strongenough. Asking for balance isasking the horse to use differentmuscles in a whole new way.

When you are following theTraining Tree and your horsestarts to have an issue with histraining, remember that you cango back down the tree to fix anyproblems and then continueback up with your progression.

Always introduce new thingsin baby steps. This way yourhorse is comfortable and it rein-forces your relationship.

I welcome any suggestionsfor future articles, or if you’dlike me to answer any horserelated question on my blog justlet me know. You can view myblog by visiting my site andclicking on the Blog button. Ifyou have any questions regard-ing this article please contactSara at www.horselogic.net.

For the better part of a week,I apologized to company

and explained why I displayedthe ice cream scoop, my favoriteneon green silicone spatula andevery other kitchen utensilacross the surface of my hutch.A laundry basket full of unfold-ed, but clean, dish rags and floursack towels sat nearby.

“I’m at war with a mouse.”Mice looking for a warm

retreat are as sure a sign of fallas way-too-early Christmasmerchandise at the departmentstore. I can expect a few rodentseach fall because the weatherturns cool and Grandpa harveststhe cornfield near our home,which sends the field mice scur-rying toward our home and

detached garage.I typically catch these corn-

fed mice in our old farmhousebasement before they find moreinteresting terrain and foodselection in my kitchen on themain level. Ideally, I wouldremember to check the traps inour uninhabitable basementevery few days to make surethey remained ready for amouse attack. Unset traps temptthe mice to seek other spaces inour dwelling.

Those that bypass the base-ment traps find the kitchen. Ifind the trail before the mouse:droppings in the top drawers ofmy base cupboards, includingthose designated for towels,utensils, silverware and alu-minum foil. The intruders occa-sionally frequent the cookiesheets and mitts in the drawerbeneath the oven and find afeast at the bread basket inbetween.

I enter battle mode. I emptyeach drawer, wash everythingand wait to catch the enemybefore resuming to a normal

life. I feel like I am attemptingto function without electricityduring a summer storm. Likeflipping the light switch, I openthe utensil drawer to grab myneon green spatula, only torecall it’s unavailable. I closethe drawer and walk to my tem-porary storage location on thehutch.

The capture typically is easy.I set two traps with peanut but-ter bribery and have successwithin hours of nightfall. Butthe most recent mouse battledfor four days, during which itenjoyed a sack of potato rollsand leftover wiener roast hotdog buns. It bypassed four trapsand managed to eat a hunk ofsharp cheddar from one withouttripping the trap. In the mean-time, it left more tiny blackremains that I wish were thedead picnic bugs they resemblefrom a distance.

But by day four, it was backin the cornfield to becomeorganic matter to supportGrandpa’s crop – and the nextgeneration of mice.

OCTOBER 2008 KANE COUNTY FARMER PAGE 7

FOR SALEMC900E continuous flow graindryer, 3 phase, natural gas, usedin 2007, covered top, heat recov-ery system, good condition,$1250 OBO. 630-557-2517 or630-878-1726‘94 Buick Station Wagon – looks& runs well. Many miles left, 25M.P.G. highway – $1,950 OBO.630 584 3274

Wheat straw, nice tight bales,delivery available; John Deere726 soil finisher, 28 ft, excellent;IH 735 plow, 6 bottom, variablewidth, excellent. 847-514-8844

WANTEDUseable silo filler or corn chopperfor 4-H sheep. Please call early orleave message. 847-683-2863

FOR RENTHilton Head, SC – Oceanfrontcondo, 2BR, 2BA, completely fur-nished. Atlantic Ocean at yourdoorstep plus private swimmingpool. Wonderful dining, tennis,golf discounts and great shop-ping. Rents Saturday-Saturday.Owner discount. 630-896-5148

FREEFemale Cat & 2 kittens – Mothera very good hunter. 630 221 9396& 773 297 8923

CLASSIFIED ADS • KANE COUNTY FARM BUREAU MEMBERSClassified advertising rates: 20 cents per word/$10 minimum. DISCOUNTS for members: Associate members, 20%;Voting members, 30%; PLUS members, 40%. Payment in advance is requested. Voting members receive limitedfree classified advertising of farm commodities and farm equipment. Ads are due by the 15th of every month for thenext issue. No advertising (classified or display) for financial or insurance services will be accepted.

Name _____________________________________________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________________________________________

City_________________________________________________ State_______ Zip _______________________

Category: Circle One: For Sale, Wanted, For Rent, Services, Other: ________________________________

Ad copy: ___________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Member No. _____________________________________ Phone No.(________) ________________________Complete the above form and mail to: Kane County Farm Bureau, 2N710 Randall Road, St. Charles, IL 60174 or fax to (630) 584-0023. Non-member ad rate: payable with ad, $10.00 – 20 word maximum per ad.

––--–– CCLLAASSSSIIFFIIEEDD AADDSS ––--––

Horseman’s corner: Training Tree: straightness and balance

Are you hearingeverything you should be?

Most hearing losses progressvery slowly over a long period oftime. Frequently, it’s friends andrelatives who recognize and tellsomeone they care for about theirhearing problem. The self-testthat follows will help you decideif you, or someone you know,may have a gradual hearing loss.• Do you find yourself asking

people to repeat themselves? • Do you hear, but not always

understand, conversation,especially in noisy places likerestaurants?

• Do people say you play theradio or TV too loudly?

• Does it seem as though peo-ple are mumbling when theyspeak to you?

• Do you find telephone conversations increasinglydifficult? A “yes” answer to any of

these questions is a very realindication that a hearing prob-lem may exist. Beltone’s 10-stephearing test is one way to makesure a hearing problem isn’tkeeping you from enjoying lifeto its fullest. If you do have a

hearing problem, it will be com-forting to learn how easily mosthearing problems can be helped.Discover Better Hearing withDiscounts on Beltone HearingAids!• 20% discount for Farm

Bureau members• Free hearing screening• Annual electronic hearing

evaluations for you and yourfamily

• Audiometric testing by atrained Beltone hearing aidspecialist or audiologist

• Savings on the dispenser’sregular list price on hearingaid purchases

• A warranty commitment hon-ored at any of Beltone’s 2,600service centers

• Over 70 models and hundredsof customized Beltone hear-ing aids to choose from,including small in-the-canalhearing aids that almost dis-appear in your ear For more information, con-

tact 1-800-BELTONE (235-8663) for the Beltone hearingaid center nearest you.

A fresh coat of paint on thebarn or new wallpaper for thekitchen is less expensive forKane County Farm Bureaumembers who take advantage ofa discount being offered atSherwin-Williams stores.

Since 2001, Sherwin-Williams has provided discountsto Farm Bureau members. The25% discount applies to all paintand wallpaper products and sup-plies available in the 91 retailstores around the state.

Members need only showtheir Farm Bureau membershipcard at the store to receive thediscount.

Sherwin-Williams is NorthAmerica’s leading paint manu-facturer offering the widestselection of top quality paints,stains, masonry coatings, wallcovering, floor covering, equip-ment and supplies.

For more information, callthe Kane County Farm Bureauat (630) 584-8660.

Sherwin-Williams offersdiscount to IFB members

County Plan, Inc. is excitedto offer the Dental IndemnityUSA plan, a NEW voluntarydental insurance plan. The planprovides benefits for diagnosticand preventive care, as well asalmost every form of specialtydental treatment.

Choose your own dentist. Nodeductible for preventive and

diagnostic services. Annualdeductible for all other servicesis $50 per person, $150 familymaximum. Call the FarmBureau office for enrollmentforms and a schedule of coveredbenefits.

Members can also call 888-917-3276 for complete detailsand questions about the plan.

Smile about Dental Plan

PAGE 8 KANE COUNTY FARMER OCTOBER 2008

“FUN”-draisingKane County Fair Country Store – The Fair providesthe Foundation the opportunity to raise funds and friendsby offering unique hand crafted items and farm themedgifts. Buck Bros, Inc of Hampshire and DeKaneImplement of Big Rock cooperate in this effort, allowingthe Foundation to sell farm toys on consignment.

Bucket Raffles – A second Fair FUNdraiser, theFoundation holds Bucket Raffles in conjunction with ourFarm Zoo and the Country Store. Local businesses donatemerchandise, gift certificates, etc. for the raffle. Fairgoerspurchase the raffle tickets and place their ticket in thebucket corresponding to the prize they hope to win. Fundsraised from this event go towards scholarships and intern-ships for college students pursuing careers in agriculturalfields of study.

John Buck Memorial Golf Outing – Established in 2001by an endowment in memory of the late John Deere deal-er, the proceeds raised from this annual benefit fund JohnBuck Memorial Scholarships, administered by theFoundation.

Farm Bureau dues notices – an agreement between theFoundation and the KCFB allows for Farm Bureau mem-ber contributions to be made to the Foundation along withannual dues to KCFB.

Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation2008 Report to Donors and Contributors

Touch-a-TractorThis third annual family

event took place March 29-30, 2008 on the lawn of theKane County Farm Bureau.Touch-A-Tractor has been ahuge success thanks to ourmany generous volunteers,local farmers who contributedfarm equipment and antique tractors, and local FFAChapters.

Touch-A-Tractor helps teach fam-ilies and especially young childrenmore about agriculture and farmingwith activities for the whole family.Children can ride a pedal tractor, goto the farm animal zoo, explore thetractors and combines, while adultsenjoy the antique tractors and perusethe displays of direct farm marketers.

Touch-A-Tractor returns to the KCFB March 29-31, 2009.

Ag DaysIn March, over 2,200 fourth grade

elementary school students partici-pated in Kane County Farm Bureau’sAgDays at Mooseheart. Now in its24th year, this Women’s CommitteeProgram promotes the agriculturalindustry to students in a fun, educa-tional and exciting way.

Students, most from urban andsuburban areas, are able to experi-ence the many facets of agriculture,its importance and how it affects their daily lives. Morethan 150 volunteers are required to make AgDays a success.The program’s longevity and volunteer support are indica-tive of its importance and the chief reason why theFoundation provides financial support for this effort.

Winner’s Choice Tractor RaffleThe first Tractor Raffle helped the Foundation raise

nearly $14,000 in 2007. The 2008 raffle raised nearly$8,000 and helped increaseFoundation Scholarshipawards by 50% for local col-lege students. With the uniquetwist of a choice of a restoredantique tractor or a new ridingmower, the raffles have been asuccess in raising funds andfriends for the Foundation’sscholarship programs.

For 2009, the Foundationhas upped the ante and willraffle a new E-85 Chevroletpick-up truck (or $20,000cash!). Get your tickets bycalling (630) 584-8660.

Summer Ag InstituteTwenty teachers from local

schools participated in the KaneCounty Farm Bureau’s 9th“Agricultural Tour for Teachers,”a graduate credit course on agri-cultural research, inputs, produc-tion, processing and marketing.The course is invaluable in help-

ing teachers incorporate agriculture into their classrooms. With over 30 tour sites and presenters, the one-week

course provides a broad overview of Kane County farms,commodities and agribusiness. Teachers consistently ratethis course as “one of the best I’ve ever taken!”

Scholarship ProgramsThe Foundation offers several scholarships to area stu-

dents. Over $25,000 in Scholarships and Internships wereawarded for the 2007-08 school year.

The John Buck MemorialScholarship, in the amount of$1000, is awarded annually to a stu-dent from Kane, DeKalb, McHenry,Boone, DuPage, Will or Lake coun-ty pursuing higher education in anagricultural field. The Scholarshipwas established in 2001 by anendowment in memory of BuckBros. Inc. founder John Buck byfriends and family of the late JohnDeere dealer.

Foundation President’sScholarship, established in 2006,recognizes the most outstandingapplicant among high school seniorsseeking to further their education inan agricultural field of study. Theaward is in the amount of $2000.

Foundation General Schol-arships, are awarded to studentspursuing higher education forcareers in agricultural fields andwhose parents have been KaneCounty Farm Bureau members forat least the past two years. The num-ber of scholarship winners variesbased on applications. Each winnerwill receive a minimum of $1000.

In 2007-08, nearly $20,000 inGeneral Scholarships were awarded

and over $75,000 in tuition assistance has been provided bythe Foundation in the past five years.

Ag Literacy ProgramsThe Foundation helps to fund many

Kane County Farm Bureau Ag LiteracyPrograms. The Ag Literacy Library,located in the Farm Bureau, is oneexample. The Library has books for allages and interests available for check-out by Farm Bureau members andKane County teachers.

National Ag-in-the-Classroom ConferenceKane County Farm Bureau Agricultural Literacy

Coordinator Suzi Myers, a former teacher, participatesannually in the National AITC Conference thanks to theFoundation. Conference tours, workshops, exhibits andcontacts help keep local AITC materials and presentationsfresh and up-to-date on the latest technology in agriculture. Bookmark Contest

An annual contest open to all KaneCounty fourth grade school students, it cre-ates an educational awareness of agricul-ture’s importance. Past themes, like 2007’s“Baseball & Agriculture”, helped studentsto understand how agriculture makes ourNational Pastime possible. Winners receivea prize, a classroom visit from Ag LiteracyCoordinator Suzi Meyers, and a lesson andparty for the entire class, compliments ofthe Foundation. U of I Extension Grant

An annual Foundation grant to U of I Extension, KaneCounty helps fund Extension’s 4-H, youth education, food,and nutrition programs.

Internship ProgramsInternships are offered by the

Kane County Farm BureauFoundation to students who havecompleted at least 30 undergraduatehours. Student interns are responsi-ble for many tasks and internshipsare structured to meet student needs.The Foundation offers summer,winter and mid-term internships.

Interns help coordinate Ag-in-the-Classroom projects, county fairactivities, media relations and assistin developing grant requests for theAg Ed program in Kane County,with P.R. efforts, newsletters, pressreleases and other correspondence.

Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation Programs and Activities

2009RaffleGrandPrize

Grand Prize: Anew E-85 ChevroletSilverado 4x4 Extended Cab pick-up (or $20,000cash). Get your ticket today. Call us at (630) 584-8660.

Wayne Gehrke of Elgin, recipient

of the 2008-09Foundation President’s

Scholarship, is attending the

University of Illinoismajoring in Agronomy.

A 2008 graduate of Somonauk High School,

Thomas Warhurst will use the John BuckScholarship to study

ag mechanics atKishwaukee

Community College.

Kristin McMahonof St. Charles,

a graduate of EasternIllinois University,

is the summer 2008 intern for

Kane County FarmBureau Foundation.

Gifts to the KCFB Foundation support local education and leadership development for the future of America’s most essential industry, Agriculture!

Thank you for your generosity!

___ $100 ___ $75 ___ $50 ___ $25 ___ Other __________________

Payment Information – Please make checks payable to:KCFB Foundation, 2N710 Randall Road,

St. Charles, IL 60174

The KCFB Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(5) charitable organization that supports education, leadership development, research and charitable activities

for the benefit of agriculture and farm families.

THE KANE COUNTY

FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION

WAS ESTABLISHED

TO PROMOTE EDUCATION,

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

AND RESEARCH IN

AGRICULTURAL FIELDS.

IN 2007- 08, OVER $25,000 WAS

AWARDED IN SCHOLARSHIPS

AND INTERNSHIPS TO

AREA COLLEGE STUDENTS

PURSUING CAREERS IN

ONE OF ILLINOIS’ LARGEST

INDUSTRIES, AGRICULTURE.