CCFB News» Bona Heinsohn, CAE CCFB Director of Gov. Affairs and Public Relations

Research conducted by the Pew Research Center indicates that a surprising number of Americans deny that humans are a major contributor to climate change. Those same individuals do not see climate change as an important issue for the country.

The Cook County Farm Bureau Political Action Committee officially came to be in 2009 with the first election in 2010. Since the 2010 election, the PAC has endorsed over 60 candidates. Some Democrats. Some Republicans. Some independents. Not all were incumbents.

Last year I tried to set some goals. I wrote them down. I tracked one or two of them. And to my surprise I reached my goal of reading 24 books.
In a moment of frivolity, I shared my achievement with my younger cousins. They were less than impressed. And their year-end reading totals schooled my barely finished before the New Year’s ball drop total of 24.
Now just a handful of days into 2024, I think it may be time to increase my reading goal. My non-overwhelming total includes professional, self-development, prospective book club reads, and personal reading. Here are some of the titles I have on my to be read list just waiting for their time to shine.

I scoff at making resolutions and have shared that sentiment numerous times. Perhaps it’s even a well-known fact about me. In January of 2023, this column stated I didn’t make resolutions this New Year. I didn’t follow through with them in 2022. And in January of 2022 it was even more blunt. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. I scoff at the idea of making champagne laden promises of exercise. Budgeting. Dieting. Or personal improvement. Instead, I opt for sarcasm.

Politicians are gearing up for the 2024 elections. Illinois candidates will again pass and file nominating petitions. Offices on the March ballot include but are not limited to U.S. House of Representatives, State Senators, State Representatives, Metropolitan Water District Commissioners, Clerk of the Circuit Court, State’s Attorney, District One County Commissioner, and District Three Board of Review.

Our rodeo drill season has come to a close. As we hang up our chaps for the winter, it’s important to take inventory. After over a year off for an injury, our big red grumpy dragon again graced an arena. With my blue-eyed girl in tow, he ran a sweep. Pinwheeled. Barrel turned. And rolled back into a flying v. If you had asked us a year ago if we thought he would make it back for the 2023 season, we would’ve told you no. This is a win.

Mississippi River Basin states, including Illinois, have received guidance from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop state-led plans to reduce nutrient loads discharged into rivers and ultimately the Mississippi River. Based on federal guidance, Illinois released their statewide Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS), which was developed by numerous partners including state agencies, extension services, and a multi-stakeholder group, which included Illinois Farm Bureau®.

Fair season has come to an end for our house. The animals are back home. The show box is supposed to be cleaned and tucked away. And the truck has been cleaned out.

For most families summer brings excitement. Pool time. Baseball games. And vacations. For our family summer brings cultivating. Flaming. Zapping. Walking calves. And rodeos.

The debt limit is a legislative limit on the amount of debt that the U.S. Treasury can incur to cover the expenses previously spent by Congress. Article I Section 8 of the Constitution authorizes Congress to borrow and spend money.

Less than a year ago during a conference in Bloomington, County Farm Bureaus were asked to engage with their county boards to build a greater awareness of Farm Bureau and to lobby said county boards to approve a resolution recognizing and celebrating agriculture in the county.