BANNOCK COUNTY FARM BUREAU NEWSLETTER

November, 2003                                 Issue V

 

 

            State Convention

The 2003 Idaho Farm Bureau Convention will be held in Idaho Falls December 2nd through the 4th.  Delegates to the convention will participate in debating resolutions for the 2004 policy manual.  Bannock County Farm Bureau submits resolutions to the District committee each year in August.  Resolutions, which are approved at the District meeting, are forwarded to the State committee and then debated at the policy meeting at State convention to determine if they should become part of the policy manual.  Remember to contact your County Farm Bureau prior to August 2004 to discuss issues you would like designed into policy for the 2005 policy manual.

 

The annual convention includes informational meetings related to agricultural issues and provides guidance to members for the program of work for the upcoming year.  At the convention in December 2002, which was held in Boise,  Bannock County was awarded top honors for the work completed that year.  The County Farm Bureau received money with the gold star recognition and the County Board of Directors has voted to set the money aside for a special program to promote agriculture in Idaho.

 

            2003 Farm Woman Of The Year

Brenda Kay of Swan Lake has been selected as the farm woman of the year for Bannock County.  Brenda and her husband Alan have a cow-calf operation in Swan Lake and raise meadow hay and alfalfa.  The currently lease out their dry farm.  Alan is the 4th generation on this family farm and Brenda and Alan have been on the farm 20 years.  They have four sons, Justin (18), Jacob (16),  Kory (12) and Tyler (9). 

Brenda is involved in all activities associated with the farm operation.  She helps with the feeding, calving, branding and vaccinating and especially likes round-up.  Brenda says she used to help bale with the square baler but after they switched to round bales, she hasn’t been involved with the equipment work.  Like many other farm women, Brenda has the opportunity to serve as the “go-fer” parts person!

With four active boys, Brenda’s volunteer activities have targeted supporting the boys church and school interests.  She has served as “Team Mom” and organized fundraisers, sponsored booths and helped with classroom activities.  She has been the Young Women’s President in her church two different times, served in the primary presidency and currently serves as the home enrichment counselor in Relief Society.  Brenda has been a Cub Scout committee chairman and served on the Downey Library Board.

 

Brenda and Alan are previous members of the Idaho Cattlemen’s Association and current members of the Marsh Valley Cattlemen Organization and the Cottonwood Grazing Association.  Sons Justin and Jacob are active in FFA and Brenda actively supports their participation.

 

Brenda has been a legal secretary, a loan department assistant for Farm Credit Services and currently serves as the Downey City Clerk & Treasurer in addition to her responsibilities on the farm and at home.  She is a graduate of Marsh Valley High School at Arimo and following graduation, she completed two semesters of college study as a medical secretary.  She and her husband Alan completed a three-year course in farm management at ISU in Pocatello.  Brenda continues to improve her skills through workshops and skills training coursework whenever the opportunity is available.

 

Brenda and Alan have been members of Farm Bureau for many years and were active in the Young Farmers and Ranchers organization in their youth.  Brenda has also served on the women’s committee in the past.  Brenda has said she and Alan belong to Farm Bureau because of the support it offers to farmers and ranchers.  Brenda says Farm Bureau keeps them informed on the issues currently impacting farmers and ranchers and has the ability to actively lobby for them.  She says the insurance is good and they can count on the insurance company support if they have a claim.  They have also appreciated the opportunity to associate with other farmers and ranchers.  CONGRATULATIONS BRENDA!!    FARM BUREAU APPRECIATES YOU!!

 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE YOUNG FARMERS AND RANCHERS

In February, the state YF&R had the opportunity to attend the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers National convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Scott and Cody Bird represent Bannock County on the State Committee and they reported it snowed several feet while they were there which kept them from leaving their hotel for a few days but they were excited to say it was a wonderful experience.  Cody said “every time you turned around, someone was there handing out chocolate.  We toured a chocolate factory and it felt as if we were in the Willie Wonka movie.  Any and all kinds of candy were at our fingertips.  Needless to say, there was some weight gained by the time we returned home.” 

The National YF&R convention will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2004.  Scott and Cody are encouraging all Young Farmers and Ranchers to attend.  It will truly be a learning experience and the opportunity for the American YF&R convention to be this close may not happen again for several years.  The dates for the convention are February 21st – 23rd.  There is no late registration, so if you are interested, please contact Scott or Cody Bird at 237-6490 as soon as possible. 

The YF&R is currently sponsoring a service project to collect food for hungry Americans.  They would appreciate any donations of canned goods or non-perishable food items.   Donations can be dropped off at the Bannock County office on Alameda Road in Pocatello prior to November 28th, 2003.

 

            WOMEN’S COMMITTEE

Bannock County Farm Bureau would like to express sincere appreciation for the years of service volunteered by Beverly Phillips and Anjanele Degn as co-chairs of the Bannock County women’s committee.  These two ladies have spent countless hours of their time organizing and promoting the program of work, which provides information and activities related to agricultural interests.  They resigned from the chair position in January of 2003 and Anjanele and her husband Kevin have moved with their three young boys to Malad where Kevin is an agent for Farm Bureau Insurance.  Beverly and her husband Ray continue to serve on the local board of directors and Beverly continues to volunteer on the women’s committee and help with the program.  THANK YOU BEVERLY AND ANJANELE FOR YOUR LOYAL DEDICATION TO FARM BUREAU!

Brenda Degn and Sherril Tillotson are serving as the new co-chairs of the women’s committee.  For information related to programs or activities sponsored by the County Farm Bureau, you can contact Brenda at 897-5792 or Sherril at 776-5267.  Activities which will be promoted in the following year include:

Speech Contest – January 
Food Checkout Day – February        
Ag Baby – March  Earth Day – April            
FFA
Day Marsh Valley
– May          
Flag Day – June  Parades and Patriotism – July                    
Fair and Variety Show – August                                                                          
Farm Tour @ Potato Farm – September           
Pumpkin Contest – October                                                          
Farm and City Awareness Activities – November

Additional projects are scheduled throughout the year to educate people about the value of agriculture in the economy and promote farm safety.  In addition to promoting programs to educate the public about agriculture, the women’s committee is actively involved in lobbying for agricultural interests and encouraging all women to become involved in the legislative process.  If you would like to be a member of the women’s committee please contact Brenda or Sherril.  All Farm Bureau women are eligible to be women’s committee members and your participation would be welcome.

BANNOCK COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James Guthrie (President) and Carol Guthrie                         Inkom              775-3416                                       
Bret Casperson (Vice-President) and Nancy Casperson       Lava                776-5428                                
Ken and Brenda Degn                                                          Downey          897-5792                               
Kit and Connie Tillotson                                                        Lava                776-5829                                
John and Janie Probst                                                            Swan Lake      897-5630                               
Ray and Beverly Phillips                                                         Inkom              775-3307                             
Sherril Tillotson                                                                      Lava                776-5267
Scott and Cody Bird  Bannock County YF&R Chairman        Pocatello         237-6490

County meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of each month at the
County
Farm
Bureau office on Alameda Road at 6:30 p.m.