2013 Was A Banner Year for the DeKalb County Farm Bureau

Mark Tuttle accepted honors on behalf of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau at the Illinois
Farm Bureau Annual Meeting from Vice President Rich Guebert. Tuttle noted it was
as successful year thanks to members, the Farm Bureau Board of Directors and staff.

The 2013 year was a year of actions and accomplishments for the DeKalb County Farm Bureau. “It’s been a banner year for Farm Bureau,” says Mark Tuttle, county Farm Bureau president. “The successes of 2013 were witnessed in our organization’s program year. We were able to set the course for a very successful year and provide our members value in their Farm Bureau membership.”Farm Bureau identified several areas of accomplishment in 2013 in this year in review. They are:

Ag Zoning Changes – FB leaders spent six months analyzing and reviewing the county’s ag zoning ordinance and then proposed changes in writing and at a public hearing. The County Board will vote on these changes at their December meeting.
New Legislators/Legislative Agendas – Farm Bureau welcomed new legislators serving at state and national levels and presented them with legislative agendas from the county FB Board.
Agriculture Goes To School – In February, 107 volunteers visited 154 classrooms reaching 3,545 students with ag messages. First through fourth grades were presented ag-related lessons.
Sycamore Spirit Award – Farm Bureau received the Spirit Award from the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce, as an outstanding small business in the community.
Chicago Moms Visit Farms – Two local farmers hosted the Illinois Farm Families “Chicago Moms” in tours of their farms. The Wards and Martz’s shared important crop and livestock Mark Tuttle accepted honors on behalf of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau at the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting from Vice President Rich Guebert. Tuttle noted it was as successful year thanks to members, the Farm Bureau Board of Directors and staff. It’s been a banner year for Farm Bureau information with the group of 20 moms.
Ag Books Donated To Schools – Once again Farm Bureau donated a set of ag-related books to all the school libraries in the county to expand childrens’ knowledge of agriculture.
Young Leaders Organize – A group of young leaders organized and were involved in a number of events: Discussion Meet, State Conference, Family Fun Day, annual picnic, NIU Ag Day and ALOT.
Scholarships Awarded – Eighteen students benefitted from FB Foundation scholarships – 10 Senior Scholarships, five Morley Science, two Medical and one Ag Discipline Scholarships were granted.
Ag Week Baby Baskets – Farm Bureau and commodity groups provided baskets full of ag-related baby items for babies born during National Ag Week. Thirty-five baskets were presented at Kishwaukee and Valley West Hospitals.
Barnyard Bash At Family Fun Day – This year’s Fun Day took on the theme, “Barnyard Bash,” with a variety of farm-related activities for the 230 Farm Bureau family members in attendance.
Summer Ag Institute For Teachers– Fifteen teachers benefitted from the Summer Ag Institute with classroom sessions, farm field tours and engaging speakers. They earned educational credits in the themed SAI: “Exploring Agriculture via Reading and Writing in the Common Core.”
Center For Ag Building Remodel – Farm Bureau updated, expanded and relocated offices in the Center for Agriculture for the USDA Service Center and Farm Credit Services. Plus, the Extension Office was relocated to its new office within the building. Farm Bureau also modified its office complex with newly remodeled offices and board room.
Tour de Farms Outreach – Four farmers greeted 2,000 bicyclists with farm messages on signs posted by their farms. The signs offered farm facts for the benefit of Chicago riders.
New Truck Regs Information – Farm Bureau hosted a truck regulations meeting to update 70 farmers and truckers on the new regs. Farm Bureau also offers a column on these truck regs in the FB newspaper.
Health Clinic Expanded – This year the health clinic offered cholesterol screenings for 66 members and added the Stroke Detection screenings for 54 members.
NIU Ag Day – FB partnered with Farm Credit to celebrate Ag Day in conjunction with NIU Football. Over 430 people enjoyed the hospitality tent and food along with the Huskie game.
Prime Timers Programs & Trips – A variety of informational and entertaining monthly programs were enjoyed by Prime Timers. Additionally, they offered nine day trips.
Crop Reporters– Twenty Crop Reporters kept track of rainfall and provided other crop observations from April through October. What a year it was– with a wet spring which meant a later planted crop, sporadic rainfall during the summer months, then a later harvest with a bumper crop.
School Field Trips– Farm Bureau hosted 150 Sycamore 8th graders to farm tours and a stop at the Farm Bureau. FB also provided five transportation grants for schools touring local farms. Maggie The Cow – A fiberglass cow was used at several venues to experience what it feels like to milk a cow by hand. Named, “Maggie,” the cow was utilized at the Sandwich Fair, the county plot day and at Family Fun Day.