CCFB News» September 2021

The Cook County Farm Bureau® and the University of Illinois Extension continue to partner on a project that benefits local Farm Bureau members and the general public. Since April 15, the master gardeners have been back (working virtually) to answer questions from members and the general public related to gardening and horticulture. This dedicated group will continue to respond to questions through mid-November of 2021.

Earlier this summer, the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) announced the winners of the 2021 Power of A Awards, including Cook County Farm Bureau’s Food Pantry Support program. As visits to local food pantries skyrocketed on average by more than 50% and at times up to 150% during the height of the pandemic, Cook County Farm Bureau developed several subprojects designed to enable Farm Bureau to reach its objective of financially supporting in-need families and the food pantries that support them.

Cook County Farm Bureau leader Dan Biernacki lays the groundwork for the Farm Bureau’s onsite pollinator garden earlier this summer.

The Cook County Farm Bureau is pleased to announce winners of the July selfie contest! The photos will be featured in various publications, on our website, social media, etc. Thank you and congratulations!

The Fund for Rural America, Compeer Financial’s corporate giving program, has awarded 32 General Use Grants, totaling over $169,000. General Use Grants fund initiatives and organizations whose work enriches agriculture and rural America, aligning with Compeer Financial’s mission.

Spending my summer with the Cook County Farm Bureau as an Ag Literacy Intern can only be described as wonderful. Working with an organization whose vision is to help people recognize and value the importance of agriculture has been so rewarding. Every day I felt that I was contributing to a cause that is so important to me.

Cook County Farm Bureau Young Leaders and Friends gather at The Packingtown Museum for a tour.

Cook County Farm Bureau leaders Todd Price, board member, Ruth Zeldenrust, board member, Kim Morton, Governmental Affairs Team member, and Bob Rohrer, Cook County Farm Bureau manager met with Mr. Jerry Costello II, Director of Illinois Department of Agriculture and Mr. Rob Baren, agricultural Legislative Liaison for the department.

Bacon May Disappear In California As Pig Rules Take Effect – At the beginning of next year, California will begin enforcing an animal welfare proposition approved overwhelmingly by voters in 2018 that requires more space for breeding pigs, egg-laying chickens and veal calves. Unless the courts intervene or the state temporarily allows non-compliant meat to be sold in the state, California will lose almost all of its pork supply, much of which comes from Iowa.

Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), counties are receiving a lot of money to help turn the economic tide on the pandemic. With this money comes questions about eligible expenses on which it can be spent. Information provided in this article has been pulled from the U.S. Treasury Interim Final Rules and guidance.

For many families, August and September bring the return of school. Routines. Schedules. Fall sports. And another month closer to Halloween. For our family, the tail end of summer brings the county fair.

Cook County Farm Bureau® is a member driven organization. Members are at the heart of the organization and are at the heart of every decision made by the Board of Directors.

For consumers looking at food labels, it can be difficult to understand them and know what the claims mean and if they’ve been verified or are regulated. One label that consumers can feel confident about is one which is “organic certified.”

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Midwest Dairy quickly pivoted its work to support our communities by providing Undeniably Dairy grant funding for commercial-grade refrigeration units to local food banks in need. Earlier this year, Cook County Farm Bureau® submitted an application for commercial-grade refrigeration for Alicia’s House, a local Cook County food pantry.

While some people ho-hum about the drive between here and the Rockies, I noted the hay bales during our summer road trip. The large round bundles of dried fresh grasses or clover dotted the landscape, photo-worthy in most instances. They sat proudly in fields, waterways and field edges as an iconic symbol of rural America. And they’re a major feedstuff for livestock, notably cows that consume more than 30 pounds a day when pasture grass cannot provide.

Farm Bureau Member Businesses are ready for you to shop all things FALL…mums, pumpkins, gourds, apples, straw, and décor! Member farm stands are still open too and bursting with color – red ripe tomatoes, green delicious zucchini, and yellow juicy sweet corn, and more!

Recipe printed with permission from member, Kathy Lesser

I was disposing of some piles of old papers (“spring cleaning” every 20 years), and I ran across the American Farm Bureau Federation Foundation for Agriculture document.