CCFB News» December 2020

Members can learn how policy serves at the forefront of Illinois Farm Bureau and why it shapes what the organization does through a new, monthly podcast.

A majority of U.S. adults have a positive view of farmers’ sustainability practices, and an overwhelming majority trust farmers, according to a new national public opinion poll from the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Beef's For Dinner (FarmWeek) - With the approach of the Holiday season, the national Cattlemen’s Beef Association will launch Beef. It’s What’s For Holiday Dinner. Advertisements will be shown during Hallmark Channel’s countdown to Christmas movies and an updated holiday landing page on https://BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

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.

Individual health insurance open enrollment ends Dec. 15. Insurance bought during this period will be effective Jan. 1, 2021.

An increasing number of members are making end of year charitable contributions to the Cook County Farm Bureau Foundation. These charitable donations are a way to support the agricultural literacy efforts of the organization and seek to pay Uncle Sam fewer income taxes!

Your farm operation changes frequently. And when you make updates on your farm, you also need to update your insurance coverage.

Current circumstances and caution about traditional holiday gatherings may dampen spirits this upcoming season. But this doesn’t mean all celebrations have to skipped in 2020. Through Home for the Holidays, the Illinois Farm Bureau hopes to encourage upholding holiday traditions – both new and old – while members spend a bit more time at home.

Each month we are highlighting a Cook County Farm Bureau Member: This month's "Face of CCFB" is... Gerry & Linda Kopping, owner of Kopping Farms.

Looking through the headlines that summarized 2019 you realize how fast life is passing by. The events that were chronicled surely must have happened a long time ago, not just 12 months ago. Right? Wrong. In thirty short days a new list will be out summarizing 2020. Do we really need a list of what we have all been through in 2020? Of course, we do. Perhaps for a future history lesson or perhaps to make us realize how the strong need to help the weak as those definitions can change at the drop of a hat.

The Ag in the Classroom program is offering a summer internship to a college student majoring in Agriculture Education or Ag Communications. The individual selected for this paid internship will assist with all live and virtual educational programming including content development and delivery to teachers, youth, and community member

At the November meeting of the Cook County Farm Bureau, the Board of Directors elected its leadership team for the next year. Ms. Janet McCabe, Orland Park, was re-elected by the Board to serve as the organization’s President, a position she has held for the past year.

When almost 4 years old, our son’s Christmas wish list included a “tree cutter” (chain saw), a “bin site” (grain storage facility), and a “wiggle tractor,” (his description of a high-horsepower tractor that articulates, or bends, in the middle). To his delight, he received toy versions of all of them. Life on the farm influences the gifts found under the family tree, often itself decorated with ornaments shaped as cows, pigs, barns, and corn-consuming wildlife.

Election day came and went in the Heinsohn household. Years ago, we gave up cable television, so my blue-eyed girl and I listened as results crawled in. Crawled. In. It was the first election since college that I didn’t sit glued to the results. And election night is basically my Superbowl complete with snacks, cheering, and the occasional booing. All that’s missing is the commercials!

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.

The year 2020 has been described as Groundhog Day, Disaster 911, the Year of the Pivot, the “Swear” year and At Least It’s Over.
I viewed the year 2020 as competing in a marathon “team” obstacle course. There have been so many obstacles; COVID - 19, social unrest and riots, political elections, shelter-at-home, a dragging farm economy, a wave of community needs, desperation and depression, inability to vacation, and new concepts for work and to connecting with family and friends.