CCFB News» May 2022

Cook County Farm Bureau® leaders are looking into updates to Farm Bureau’s organic agriculture policy to reflect the exponential growth of the industry and its importance to Cook County’s agricultural economy.

American Farm Bureau Federation® (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall today commented on the U.S. Supreme Court decision to hear the case against California’s Proposition 12 filed by AFBF and the National Pork Producers Council. The state law seeks to ban the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet the state’s arbitrary production standards, even if the pork was raised on farms outside of California.

Join Cook County Farm Bureau in supporting agriculture and small businesses. Featured local businesses Flowers, Vegetables, Landscape, Farm Stands and much more.

Hosted 300 students at an Ag Day event at The Children's Farm in Palos Park. Students, teachers, and chaperones learned about agriculture by visiting eight learning stations with bees, plants, livestock and even worms.

Our three-day summer program will allow you behind the scenes access to local and rural producers as we visit farms & agribusinesses. Tours and speakers will demonstrate how to incorporate agriculture into your curriculum by explaining the relationship between agriculture, science, technology, natural resources, the environment, and food production.

The following is a statement from Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert, Jr. regarding President Biden’s announcement in April that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will allow E15 gasoline (gasoline that uses a 15% ethanol blend) to be sold this summer.

Our Ag Literacy Team was pleased to host 30 students over two days for a farm shadow program at Ted’s Greenhouse in Tinley Park. Horticulturist Greg Stack shared his vast knowledge of the industry as he provided a behind the scenes look at the jobs that are involved in a production greenhouse.

Student evaluation forms from our 3rd Grade Ag Day Program started arriving in the mail. As I opened the first packet of student evaluations, I realized I did not need to read the words they wrote but flip to the back side of each evaluation to see how the students completed the last request, “Please draw a colorful picture on the back showing us what you learned today.”

Special Service Areas (SSAs) have been around since the 1970s, but awareness of them is not well established. In fact, the use of SSAs might be a new concept to most people. The 1870 Illinois Constitution mandated uniform taxation, thus prohibiting counties and municipalities from levying a tax to a limited geographic area for public improvements or services. However, in 1970, the Illinois Constitutional Convention altered the constitution to grant municipalities and counties this authority.

Cook County Farm Bureau® leaders are looking into updates to Farm Bureau’s specialty crop policy to reflect the exponential growth of the industry and its importance to Cook County’s agricultural economy.

I may have been born in the south, but my heart lies with the Chicago Cubs.

As a kid I would listen to Harry Caray. Pat Hughes. Ron Santo. And Chip Caray on WGN Radio. I sang along with the seventh inning stretch. With my glove in tow, I went to my first game on a bus with our local Moose Lodge.

Through the decades of the Cook County Farm Bureau®, working with young members has been an important part of bringing fresh ideas and vitality to the organization. The Young Leader Committee provides opportunities for younger members to learn more about the organization and participate in programs and activities to benefit themselves and other members.

Spring upstages January in delivering a fresh start, a contagious feeling when flowers bloom, morel mushrooms pop and calves frolic through greening pastures. Warming temperatures recharge motivations to grill out, eat healthier and take walks. We again experience the satisfying exhaustion of days spent in fresh air and sunshine.

Recipe printed with permission from member, Kathy Lesser

The Illinois Farm Bureau ad on Teacher Appreciation Week shown below caused me to harken back to consider and remember teachers that influenced me. I am sure that all of us have teachers who impacted us greatly in life. I certainly do! I was surprised by the number of teachers that came to mind immediately. I do have a lot of “appreciating” to do! Let me begin!