CCFB News» October 2020

Crude Oil or Cooking Oil? For Some U.S. Refiners, It's Now A Choice (Reuters) – Refiners have always produced fuel using crude oil. Now some are using grease. A slump in demand for gasoline since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic has several refining companies accelerating their plans to retrofit facilities to produce so-called renewable diesel made from, among other things, used cooking oil from fast-food restaurants.

The 2020 Cookfresh Recipe Collection is a special “throwback” edition for our 100th year. Recipes selected from decades of submissions to commemorate our Centennial. Recipe booklets are available now.

In September, the Trump administration announced details of the new $14-billion-dollar Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, or CFAP2, that will provide direct payments to farmers and ranchers to partially offset COVID-19-related losses for producers.

Five things you should know about Cook County Farm Bureau Political Action Committee.

Getting agricultural products from a farm to a consumer is a process that involves more steps than you may realize. In some cases, the transport is done by truck and by rail, but there's also a large amount that has an added step of being moved by water and Cook County happens to be huge shipping hub.

Courtesy of the Illinois Pork Producers Association.

My husband had never acted so delighted about supper.
He sat on the porch in anticipation of my first attempt at barbecued baby back ribs on our new smoker. He inhaled the smoky aroma from his porch seat, sipped a choice beverage, and voiced approval during the final un-foiling of the fare.
The pile of rib bones after the meal told the finger-licking tale: I had found his new favorite meal.

Each month we are highlighting a Cook County Farm Bureau Member: This month's "Face of CCFB" is... Rich Schroeder, owner of Schroeder's Materials, Inc.

There’s not much you can get for $20 a year nowadays. As our Ag in the Classroom has been creating new programs for virtual learning, we are finding that it is a challenge to create content without a subscription or membership to enhance things beyond the basics.

I would like to personally thank you for renewing your Cook County Farm Bureau® membership. We know that the year 2020 has been difficult for so many of our members during and following the health and safety concerns of the pandemic and challenging times facing members, businesses, and society.

To mark the Centennial celebration of the Cook County Farm Bureau, the Farm Bureau and Foundation partnered to create a Commemorative Patio on the grounds of the Cook County Farm Bureau. The Commemorative Patio is close to the east entrance of the Farm Bureau building and features personalized memory pavers, three park benches, a wrought iron fence, and flower boxes.

The upcoming ballot will ask whether you support changing Illinois’ income tax structure. Vote NO on this question. The amendment would end the state’s flat rate income tax, but it will not solve our state’s fiscal problems.

Since 2010, Cook County Farm Bureau® has operated a Political Action Committee (PAC) designed to support candidates who are supportive of the policies, priorities, and mission of the Farm Bureau while promoting the economic and social well-being of farmers and farm-related interests in Cook County.

The 2020 Cookfresh Recipe Collection is a special “throwback” edition for our 100th year. Recipes selected from decades of submissions to commemorate our Centennial. Recipe booklets are available now.

September 6 was “National Read a Book Day”. Leading up to that day, the American Society of Association Executives posed the following question to its members: What book(s) has had a surprising impact on your life?

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us in various ways. Back in March, we were forced to cancel our “Breakfast at the Farm Bureau” event to celebrate with our member friends the 100-year anniversary of your organization. Unfortunately, current circumstances prevent us from having a large in person celebration gathering so we have decided to set up more of an “individualized” activity with our members.