The 74th Annual Meeting of the Jasper County Farm Bureau was held Monday, February 8th, at the Sunrise Community Center.
Joe Bierman, President at Large of the Jasper County Farm Bureau, opened the meeting by welcoming those who had come. Preceeding the catered meal by Martin's IGA, Keith Matson, A Director of the Jasper County Farm Bureau Board, gave the invocation. The flag was presented by Newton FFA member Dominic Ginder. Marissa Kautz, also a member of the local FFA chapter, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Following the meal, Bierman introduced the members of the Jasper County Board of Directors and their wives. He also introduced two special guests, both Jasper County natives. These were State Representative David Reis and Richard Ochs, who is Illinois Ag Association Director for the District.
Reis and Ochs both briefly talked to the group. Reis talked about the 2010 census and how the results from this will affect the 'remapping' of the congressional district maps. He said that petitions are now available to be signed concerning revising the way this is done. He urged everyone to sign one so they can have a resolution placed on the November ballot.
He said that the resolution is to have a revised way to get the districts remapped, so the citizens of the state will have more input.
Reis also said that an update of the "Image of the Farmer" is being developed. He said that it has been 35 years since an 'image' has been compiled and since that time many things have changed in the ag industry, adding that 35 years ago farmers were thought of as men wearing 'bib' overalls while today those in the agriculture industry have advanced into the technical world - quite a different image than three and one half decades ago.
The two men also urged the group to tell their story about what they are facing as farmers to others. They said that they felt if farmers, and those in the agriculture industry, would talk about farming to others that it would be an enormous help when it comes to legislation that relates to this industry.
Ochs and Reis also both commented that Human Society of the United States (HSUS) has commented that one of their goals is to get rid of all of the livestock in the U.S. They said that citizens need to be aware of this.
Following Reis and Ochs comments, Bierman said that he totally agreed with the two - that those in the farming/agriculture industry need to talk to others and need to be very aware of such activist groups as HSUS and PETA that are attacking agriculture.
Following these speeches, it was brought out that the treasurer's and secretary's reports are in the booklets, and asked the members to read them at their convenience. The two reports were approved.
Bierman and Tony Trimble, manager of the Jasper County Farm Bureau, introduced the personnel of the Jasper County Farm Bureau and Country Insurance and Financial Services. The local Farm Bureau staff includes Tony Trimble, manager; Marilyn Schafer, secretary/bookkeeper; Pam Jansen, part-time secretary and Joann Bergbower, janitor.
Trimble spoke on behalf of Mike Nichols, Agency Manager of Country Insurance and Financial Services and his staff which includes Pat Mammoser, agent; Dave Jansen, agent; Mary Lou Markwell, agency secretary, Kim Radke, secretary and Julie Jansen, secretary. Trimble recognized Peg Mulvey who had retired in the last year from the position as secretary, thanking her for her years of service.
After these introductions, Bret Ochs representative from Wabash Valley Service Co. introduced the staff of Wabash Valley.
Next on the agenda was the election and re-election of Directors. The nominating committee report was presented by Director John Ferguson. He said that the terms of Paul Keller (Fox Township) and Kenny Ochs (Ste. Marie Township) were up and that these two members were willing to serve for another term.
These two were then re-elected to the Board.
Other Directors on the Board are Roger Bierman (North Muddy Township), Mike Evans (Crooked Creek Township), Darrell Hickox (Grandville Township), Brent Pitcher (Grove Township), Dale Ginder (Wade Township), John Ferguson (Willow Hill Township), Melvin Birk (Smallwood Township), Keith Matson (Hunt City Township) and Greg Kepley (South Muddy Township).
Also during the meeting, Joe Bierman was nominated and re-elected President at Large of the Board of Directors.
The guest speaker for the evening was Jeff Fleming, an attorney from Olney who is a professional humorist. Some of Fleming's clients have been Anheuser-Busch Companies, Illinois Power Company, Eli Lilly & Co., General Electric and Illinois Bankers Association.
Fleming entertained the group with his unique humor telling stories about some of the trips that he had taken for his speaking engagements. He had the audience laughing when he wore an enormous cowboy hat which he had to wear to a conference that he was speaking at in California and was told that he had to wear Western attire. Fleming said that to take the hat with him on the plane he had to wear it because it would not fit into any suitcase. He continued by saying that he turned into stories the comments and looks that he received wearing this very unique hat. He added that now he seldom goes without wearing 'The Hat' .
Besides humor, Fleming on the serious side, talked to the the group about some of the serious problems that face farmers and those involved in the ag industry. He said "Use tomorrow what you learn tonight" referring to some of the things that had been talked about earlier in the meeting.
The meeting concluded with the awarding of several door prizes.
