Thrill-seeking Farm Bureau members and their families can once again get their kicks this summer by purchasing discounted tickets to seven Midwestern theme parks. Savings for a family of four can be as much as $94 at some theme parks, once again, proving your Farm Bureau membership has great value.

Farm Bureau is currently in the process of reorganizing the Prime Timer Committee, specifically targeting members 55 years of age and older. The committee was formed as an opportunity to meet regularly to facilitate networks between members with the same interest. This committee will assemble for tours, educational seminars and social gatherings. Please contact the Farm Bureau office at 815-875-6468 with your information if you would like to be added to the PT mailing list for future activities.

It is said to learn a new thing every day. However, this past month and a half of working as an intern at the Farm Bureau I have been exceeding this quota. It seems every day I come in to work, and learn many new things. My learning started right off the bat. The Friday I started working for the Farm Bureau, Sarah Hildebrand, Jill Frueh and I traveled to the Farm Bureau's adopted classroom in Chicago. The theme during the trip was cattle.

The Bureau County public libraries are expanding their offering of books related to agriculture, thanks in part to the donations made by the Bureau County Farm Bureau Women's Committee. For the past several years, the Committee has sponsored a book donation to public libraries.
Visit a local library to check out the Committee's latest donation, "A Handful of Dirt." The book, authored by Raymond Bial. This book is appropriate for 3-5 Grade Readers who want to take a good look at dirt through Bial's eyes (and his camera lens). After reading this book I assure you, you will never again look down on this rich, lifeful, life-giving "element. Check it out at your local library this summer!

The taste of the summer season will come alive soon as the Bureau County Farmer's Market is expected to open for business Saturday, May 19. The Market, located at Darius-Miller Park in Princeton, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday May 19 through October. The market will also be held on Tuesdays (starting in June) at Darius Miller Park. The hours for the Tuesday evening markets will be from 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 Plow Creek Farm will be setting up a few days early at the location to sell their fresh strawberries!

The Bureau County Farm Bureau donated $2,571 to the Bureau County Extension Unit at the April Board meeting, thanks to generous donations received from Farm Bureau members.  Jim May, District 4 Representative (right) presented the check to Jill Guynn, Unit Director of the University of Illinois Extension Unit in Bureau County.

Vicki Litherland, K-5 Teacher for PE/Health and coach at Bureau Valley Grade School was named as a finalist for the Illinois Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year Award. Ms. Litherland brings ag in to the classroom every chance she gets by using references to agriculture and food pyramid as students learn how they are connected to healthy choices and lifestyles.

 

Firefighters and EMTs from all over Bureau County participated in a tractor rollover rescue course Saturday, March 10^th in Princeton.  This course provided an in-depth look at agricultural trauma with emphasis on injuries from tractor rollover accidents.  Stateline Farm Rescue provided classroom instruction, followed by hands-on training.  The Life Flight team from St. Francis Medical Center, in Peoria also flew a helicopter in for the day to allow further medical instruction on such injuries.  The Bureau County Farm Bureau sponsored six area firemen thanks to a grant received by Illinois Farm Bureau and COUNTRY Financial.

The Eighteenth annual 4th grade Ag Fair was held on March 15th at the Bureau County Fairgrounds. This year the Ag Fair was attended by 23 classes composed of almost 440 students and approximately 25 adults and teachers. The 23 classes were divided between morning and afternoon sessions. The students visited 14 different sessions were they had a nine minute mini lesson on agriculture. 

The Bureau County Farm Bureau Young Leaders Committee has wrapped up its farm labor pool application period. This listing for Bureau County residents interested in full or part time agricultural related labor is has now been compiled. The list is now available at the Farm Bureau Office in Princeton, and will be accessible to anyone who needs farm help.

The Farm Bureau or the Young Leaders Committee do not intend this listing to be an endorsement of any persons and will not be responsible for any actions of workers.