News

Ag. Expo

Submitted by mchenrycfb on Wed, 04/21/2010 - 16:38

McHenry County Farm Bureau holds Ag Expo every other year for third and fourth grade students. The expo was started back in 1988 and has reached a total of 40,000 students. This past year’s event drew more than 2,500 students and 110 teachers.

Students were exposed to six minute presentations from 20 different agricultural booths. The booths included: swine, Christmas trees, dairy, soil and water conservation, beef cattle, chickens, embryology, worms, historical farming practices, wind farms, corn and soybeans, fish farming, specialty crops, honey bees, horses, sheep, fiber arts, farm equipment, food safety, technology and 4-H.

Roughly 200 volunteers donated their time and talent to the four day event. Volunteers were utilized for set up, booth presenters and tour guides. The McHenry County Fair Association provided its facilities for the event.   We would like to thank all of our volunteers and McHenry County Fair Association for all their assistance. 

Ag Expo provides third and fourth grade students with some basic knowledge about agriculture. It helps the students connect the agricultural industry to the food and products they consume in their daily lives.

U of I Extension announces restructuring plan

Submitted by mchenrycfb on Fri, 04/09/2010 - 19:38

The University of Illinois Extension will maintain its local roots in a restructuring plan announced Friday to help the service survive state budget cuts.

Interim Extension director Bob Hoeft released a plan revealing Extension will close all regional education centers, reduce staff, and develop multi-county partnerships -- but keep an office in every county.

Got Barns, MCAC has Cats

Submitted by mchenrycfb on Fri, 03/26/2010 - 23:19

McHenry County Animal Control (MCAC) is seeking help in finding barn homes for feral cats. This is where farmers/rural residents and their barns could come into the picture. MCAC is receiving assistance for spaying/neutering, Micro-chipping and giving the cats all their shots.

Grain bins can be dangerous and deadly; take caution

Submitted by mchenrycfb on Fri, 03/26/2010 - 21:17

It's National Farm Safety and Health Week and McHenry County Farm Bureau asks farmers to focus on grain bin safety this harvest. Last year, 51 men and boys were engulfed in grain bins throughout the United States. Twenty-six died. Illinois led the nation with 10 accidents and five deaths.

Most farmers know that grain bins can be extremely dangerous, but sometimes it's easy to forget basics of grain bin safety. Also, there is an increased risk if someone who is inexperienced is using them or playing in them, especially children.

Top Membership Recruiters

Submitted by mchenrycfb on Fri, 03/26/2010 - 15:23

The 2009 Top 3 Membership Recruiters were recently recognized: In 1st place was Jason Shreeves, 102 new members (pictured along with Bruce Meier, MCFB President) 2nd place went to Bill Wilson, 95 new members and 3rd place went to Ryan Conway, 88 new members.  Total new members to our organization 1,170 (includes COUNTRY Financial, FS, and Farm Bureau efforts). Great job volunteers and affiliates!