Farm Credit's 'Meals in the Fields' another success

[October 10, 2008]  More than 100 Illinois farm families were treated to a free lunch -- and most importantly a quick break from harvest work -- during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Farm Credit Services of Illinois sponsored its annual "Meals in the Fields" program Sept. 22-26 to help promote farm safety.

Each of Farm Credit's 21 branch offices selected a different farm family every day of the week to receive a lunch meal. The Farm Credit staff served the lunch wherever the farmers happened to be working that day -- whether in the fields, in the machine shed or around the kitchen table.

Agriculture continues to rank as one the most dangerous occupations and industries in North America and across the globe. Last year, 715 deaths and 80,000 disabling injuries were attributed to agriculture. Especially during the long harvest workdays, farmers are reminded to take breaks and drink plenty of water to help them stay alert while operating machinery.

This year's National Farm Safety and Health week marked the 65th consecutive signing of a farm safety proclamation by a U.S. president, beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944.
(2008 proclamation)

Farm Credit began the Meals in the Fields tradition during Farm Safety Week in 2001. Dave Owens, president and CEO of Farm Credit Services of Illinois, says the program promotes farm safety while providing farmers with both a lunch break and a nutritious meal. "Our Farm Credit staff enjoys delivering meals to the producers that feed our country and our world," he said. "Sometimes it helps to give farmers a special reason to climb off the combine or out of their grain truck to take a quick and refreshing break during the harvest."

All Illinois farmers who reside in the southern 60 counties were eligible for Meals in the Fields by registering with a Farm Credit Services of Illinois office or by e-mailing their name and contact information. Each Farm Credit branch office selected a different farming operation to serve a lunch to from Monday to Friday of National Farm Safety and Health Week.

Farm Credit Services of Illinois is a farmer-owned and directed agricultural lending cooperative. With $2.3 billion of assets and 170 employees in 21 branch offices, the cooperative provides competitive and flexible farm financing and crop insurance expertise to 8,000 farmers, agribusinesses and rural landowners in the southern 60 counties of Illinois. The mission of the U.S. Farm Credit System is to provide financial capital and financial services to agriculture and rural America.

[Text from file received]