CCFB News» January 2022

In celebration of the healthy and nutritious food grown and raised by local farmers, Cook County Farm Bureau® members and partners are supporting local families and food pantries.

The year 2022 marks the 22nd anniversary of Food Checkout Day and Cook County Farm Bureau’s largest effort to date to support local families in need. Rather than support a single charity or even a handful, Cook CFB will match member donations to any Cook County food pantry.

In celebration of the healthy and nutritious food grown and raised by local farmers, Cook County Farm Bureau® members and partners are supporting local families and food pantries.

The year 2021 was certainly not a “breeze” with plenty of ups and downs for members and the organization. Coming off the 2020 pandemic shutdowns, many thought that 2021 could be a cakewalk. As an organization, the Cook County Farm Bureau is proud to have provided a year full of service to members that ended up being quite rewarding. Here’s a brief recap…

Cook County Farm Bureau was well represented at the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting in Chicago in December.

Cook County Farm Bureau was presented two prestigious Illinois Farm Bureau awards at the Annual Meeting last week.

Shop Local, Live Local is an Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) program that connects local food and farm businesses with Illinois communities.

Illinois tops the charts when it comes to number of local units of government. According to the U.S. Census of Governments, that number is 6,918. Coming in second place with 5,148 units is Texas. Rounding out the top five are Pennsylvania, California and Ohio.

Want to learn how your food is grown?

Just when we assumed COVID would be long gone by January of 2022, we start a new year with more challenges ahead. Every aspect of our lives is now different and the new normal is a phrase that had its time. Each day is our normal and career changes and options continue to unfold throughout all industries as the headlines demonstrate.

The Illinois Farm Bureau® Board of Directors established the 2022 State Legislative Priorities at it’s the December Board Meeting.

With funds available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), funds are available to expand broadband.  While the expansion of broadband is beneficial on many fronts, Farm Bureau members remain concerned about the cost of the ARPA.  To that end, members are preparing the following letter to the members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.

The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions dates back some 4,000 years ago to the ancient Babylonians. Those same Babylonians were also the first to ring in the New Year (in mid-March as they planted their crops, not freezing their tail feathers off in January).

 Illinois Farm Bureau® (IFB) delegates re-elected President Richard Guebert, Jr., and Vice President Brian Duncan at the organization’s annual meeting in Chicago, Dec. 4-7. Richard Guebert Jr. has secured another term — his fifth and final — as president of Illinois Farm Bureau. 

Bloomington, IL (November 18, 2021) – There is always uncertainty around what spring, summer and fall may bring. COUNTRY Financial® and Illinois Farm Bureau remain ready to assist farmers through every season. The organizations are again teaming up for ten regional meetings across Illinois to share updates on improved opportunities for farmers to protect their farms and crops in 2022.

In celebration of the healthy and nutritious food grown and raised by local farmers, Cook County Farm Bureau® members and partners are supporting local families and food pantries.

The year 2022 marks the 22nd anniversary of Food Checkout Day and Cook County Farm Bureau’s largest effort to date to support local families in need. Rather than support a single charity or even a handful, Cook CFB will match member donations to any Cook County food pantry.

Membership into the Club is accomplished by earning points by recruiting and reinstating voting and associate members during the year.

Rich Township High School, Olympia Fields, and Park Forest- Chicago Heights School District 163, Chicago Heights, recently received their charter to establish an FFA chapter at a reception to celebrate the occasion. FFA State President, Adam Loker, spoke to the students and guests about opportunities the students will have through membership in the nation's largest school-based youth leadership organization.

We had only one item on our Black Friday shopping list: a metal poultry fountain. It didn’t satisfy any Christmas wishes, but it was freezing outside, and the chickens needed water, not ice, from their drinking water dispenser. The new container’s galvanized metal construction allowed it to rest atop a heated base. We purchased the drinker with a 20% off coupon, and the kids’ laying hens now have thawed water until the last freeze of spring.

Recipe printed with permission from member, Gibby's Gourmet Mushroom, LLC.

I have been writing about the Pillars of Agricultural Literacy – Understanding the intersection between agriculture and society. The last four months, I have reviewed pillars 1, 2, 3 and 4. Now on to Pillar 5: The Connection between Agriculture and Technology.

Throughout 2021, Cook County Farm Bureau® has remained engaged and committed to partnering with and supporting local farmers, students, and non-profits.