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[MAY 10, 2001]  High school teens are invited to have a great time at the Illinois 4-H Leadership Convention this summer meeting other teens, serving the community, building on your leadership skills and just plain having fun! The convention is scheduled for June 29 to July 1 in Champaign and is open to any Illinois high school teen from age 14 to 18.

Teens may participate as individuals or as part of a team from their high school, local community group or 4-H club. Membership in 4-H is not required for registration.

Delegates will be able to select active learning sessions on teamwork and leadership, tour various University of Illinois facilities such as Krannert Center for the Performing Arts or the Fire Service Institute, and participate in a half-day community service project helping others. Fun activities, including a picnic, pool party, two dances, banquet with a ’50-’60s theme, and outstanding speakers and entertainment are also on the weekend schedule.

Cost for the convention is $140, which includes two nights at the Chancellor Hotel & Convention Center in Champaign, four meals, speakers, entertainment and workshop materials. Registration materials are available at the Logan County Extension Office, 980 N. Postville Drive, Lincoln. Or you can call for more information at 732-8289.

[Logan County Extension news release]

[MAY 9, 2001]  In celebration of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month in May, University of Illinois Extension in Logan County sponsored a Walk Day on May 7 for local elementary students. Children in county elementary schools were invited to participate by walking with their class at recess that day.

A total of 11 schools, 43 teachers and 869 students in Logan County schools participated in this Walk Day activity, walking a total of over 33 miles.

The third-grade class at Central Elementary in Lincoln, taught by Donita Biggs, and the second-grade class at West Lincoln-Broadwell, taught by Linda Trommer, were chosen from a random drawing of all classes participating and won bags of trail mix to eat on their walk. The first-grade class at Washington-Monroe Elementary in Lincoln, taught by Jeanette Chamberlain, was drawn and won a pizza party for their class.

Walking is the best way to start a new fitness program this spring because almost everyone can do it, it’s free and it’s easy. Health experts tout physical fitness in general as having many benefits, including an association with a decreased risk of breast cancer, improved cardiovascular health, and lowered resting pulse rate and blood pressure.

Walk Day is an annual event the first Monday of May sponsored by University of Illinois Extension. For further information about how to get involved next year, please contact Patty Huffer at the Logan County Extension office, 732-8289.

[Logan County Extension news release]

[MAY 7, 2001]  Kate Wrage, a senior Hartsburg-Emden FFA member, advanced out of the state semifinals in public speaking with her topic "Seeds of Change."

 Kate was one of three finalists selected out of 10 who participated in the semifinals hosted by the Illinois State University Agriculture Department.

Kate qualified for the finals round on June 14, during the state FFA convention.

[Kate Wrage (at left) and
Jennifer Hermann, state FFA treasurer]

[MAY 4, 2001]  Five members of the Hartsburg-Emden FFA chapter placed at the recent Section 14 Agricultural Mechanics Contest.

 Nic Coers placed first in carpentry skills, Kory Leesman was second in engine analysis, Matt Duckworth was third in surveying, Shawn Payne placed third in electrical wiring, and Kevin Behrends participated in the welding skills area.

By placing first in his area, Nic Coers will now advance to the state agriculture mechanics contest.

Each individual took a written test and then had to do a hands-on practicum in his respective area.

[L-R:  Kevin Behrends, Shawn Payne, Kory Leesman, Nic Coers and Matt Duckworth]

[MAY 1, 2001]  The Hartsburg-Emden FFA livestock judging team placed third at the recent Section 14 Livestock Judging Contest.

 Matt Ballance was fourth-highest individual overall and third high in swine judging.

Other members of the team were Matt Duckworth, Nic Coers, Matt Wrage, Daniel Coers, Brittney Kavanaugh, Kory Leesman, Josh Anderson and Jacob Klokkenga.

[Members of the Hartem livestock judging team (left to right) are Jacob Klokkenga, Josh Anderson, Kory Leesman, Brittney Kavanaugh, Daniel Coers, Matt Wrage, Nic Coers, Matt Ballance and Matt Duckworth.]

[APRIL 28, 2001]  Logan County 4-H had its annual Oral Communications Contest recently. Illinois State Fair delegates selected included Emily Bakken, Lincoln, illustrated speech; Hans Bishop, Atlanta, illustrated speech; Amanda Davison, Beason, formal speech; Andrew Fulton, Lincoln, illustrated speech; Mathew Runyon, Broadwell, demonstration; and Abrigail Sasse, Beason, original works. Selected as an alternate was Kelly Cross, Hartsburg, in oral interpretation. All were Blue Award winners. Abrigail Sasse was selected as the top oral communicator and received a plaque sponsored by Lincoln IGA.

[Logan County 4-H Oral Communications Contest participants (left to right, back row): Abrigail Sasse, winner, Beason; Emily Bakken, Lincoln; Hans Bishop, Atlanta; Amanda Davison, Beason; (front) Kelly Cross, Hartsburg; Andrew Fulton, Lincoln; Mathew Runyon, Broadwell.]

Judges for this year's contests were Christina Wilkinson of Springfield and Jo Ellen Maske of Mount Pulaski.

Oral communication is a life skill taught and practiced in 4-H. To find out more about the program, contact the Logan County Extension Office, 980 N. Postville Drive in Lincoln, or call 732-8289.

[Patty Huffer, Logan County Extension]

[APRIL 24, 2001]  Logan County 4-H members participated in the area 4-H Meats Judging Contest April 19 at RMH Foods in Morton. Members of the local team were Troy Tolan, Andrew Fulton, Rachael Jones, David Fulton and Daniel Fulton. All were in the junior category of under 14 years of age.

The team placed third in the Junior Division.

Individuals placing in the junior bracket were Andrew Fulton, placing third, and Troy Tolan, placing fourth.

The team was coached by Don Miller from the Logan County Extension Office.

[Daniel Fulton, Rachael Jones, David Fulton;
(in back) Andrew Fulton and Troy Tolan.]

[APRIL 23, 2001]  Logan County farmers are finally getting to roll in earnest on a countywide basis. Earlier, there was quite a bit of field activity in the southern portion of the county, but producers in the northern half were at a standstill in many instances. It’s always hard to estimate planting percentages when some are done planting and others haven’t started, but the 50 percent level should come close for our corn acres. This lags behind averages for the last three years by up to 30 percent. 

With the type of farm equipment we are now using, the entire county could be planted in about a week, give or take a day. With a few good days of planting a great dent should be made in the half of the corn acres not yet planted. What we really need is a greatly decreased wind speed. The wind is making it hard to apply fertilizer and chemicals and making it just plain hard to see. The wind is also creating a very dry soil surface and wet zones underneath.

[Jack Knollenberg by Lawndale]

There are a few soybeans planted in the county as well as corn, but the number of acres is very minimal. In general, we say there is no penalty for late planting in corn until we get into May. The penalty is very small until May 4, and then we begin to lose a half percent of yield a day. Soybeans can be planted through May with little yield loss.

One of the premiere web sites for agricultural economics information is the Extension "farmdoc" site. The URL is http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu. This URL is a little different than one I gave before, but the old one will refer you to the new. A couple of things buried in the site that are of interest this time of year are machinery cost estimates and crop production costs.

Machinery cost estimates are just that. These figures are calculated to estimate what a particular farm operation costs you as an operator. The specific URL for the costs is http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu//
manage/machinery/index.html.

[to top of second column in this article]

[Bill Cross over by Hartsburg]

Keep in mind that these are not custom rates. Custom rates are not published by the University of Illinois. Custom rates are actually surveys of people that do work on a custom basis. The U of I has only put out the estimated cost of operations for as long as I can remember. These figures are also what it is estimated to cost for the power, machine, fuel and labor. No management charge is built in. Many are interested in what the increase in diesel fuel price will do to the rates. Gary Schnitkey at the U of I says the impact will be in cents per acre at current fuel prices.

Another area of interest this time of year is crop budgets. Check out the budgets in the management area of farm.doc. With the estimated costs of producing corn this year, total costs are estimated to be about $2.68 per bushel with average input costs and 160-bushel corn yields. Compare this to the current cash price of around $1.80 or the loan rate of $1.95 and you can readily see that additional yield or income is needed to break even (this does include a land cost of $145 per acre).

Don’t plan on making up for corn shortfalls on the soybean side. The estimated break-even price for soybeans is $6.71 per bushel (calculating $115 for land rent or equivalent). Compare this to around $4 per bushel for harvest delivery or the $5.41 loan rate and we are still a little short. Where is the difference made up? For some it is in reduced costs, for others additional farm program payments help, and for still others there is some erosion in machinery equity.

At any rate, current prices don’t offer a cash bonanza for local farmers.

[John Fulton]

Honors & Awards

[MAY 10, 2001]  The Lincoln Community High School FFA Chapter had their end-of-year honors and awards banquet Tuesday evening, May 8, at the high school.

Chapter members who received awards and honors in the past year were recognized as follows:

John Davison

Breeann Werth

Betsy Bakken

Brett Conrady

Emily Bakken

Jackie Bakken

Sara Conklen

Amanda Davison

John Davison

Adam Freeman

Jeff Jones

Monica Short

Jackie Bakken — Diversified Agriculture Production

Emily Bakken — Diversified Horticulture-Production

Jeff Jones — Diversified Horticulture Placement

Jackie Bakken — Diversified Livestock Production

Breeann Werth — Equine Placement

Jackie Bakken — Forage Crop Production

John Davison — Mechanics

Monica Short — Sheep Production

Adam Freeman — Small Animal Care

Jackie Bakken — Specialty Animal Production

Sara Conklen — Swine Production

Geoff Brown — Swine Placement

Emily Bakken — Diversified Horticulture Production

Breeann Werth — Equine Placement

Monica Short — Sheep Production

Adam Freeman — Small Animal Care

Jackie Bakken — Specialty Animal Production

Sara Conklen — Swine Production

Section 14 Land-Use — 2^nd-place team

Blackhawk Land-Use State Invitational — 9^th-place team

ISU Crops State Invitational — 1^st-place team

Section 14 Crops — 4^th-place team

Lincoln Land Crops Invitational — 2^nd-place team

Section 14 Parliamentary Procedure — 2^nd-place team (advanced to district competition)

Section 14 Livestock — 7^th-place team

Lincoln Land Livestock Invitational — 6^th-place team

State Livestock and Dairy — No results yet

Jackie Bakken, president

John Davison, vice president

Amanda Davison, reporter

Adam Freeman, secretary

Sara Conklen, treasurer

Jeff Jones, sentinel

Emily Bakken, historian

Zac Tibbs, student adviser

Monica Short, chaplain

Breeann Werth, parliamentarian

Mr. Nordstrom, adviser

[to top of second column in this article]

Chapter members for 2000-2001

Brandon Babbs

Emily Bakken

Jackie Bakken

Jason Blanford

Geoff Brown

Austin Charron

Reid Conklen

Sara Conklen

Amanda Davison

John Davison

Matt Davison

Miles Ellegood

Adam Freeman

Michael Gasparini

Luke Gerardot

Corey Hassebrock

Jonathon Hinkle

Corey Holmes

Brittany Ingram

Kyle Janssen

Paul Johnson

Jeff Jones

Sara Koehne

Matt May

Devon Nicholas

Emily Patrick

Sean Rawlins

Monica Short

Amy Springer

Shane Steinberg

Andrea Swinford

Zac Tibbs

Breeann Werth

Foundation sponsors for 2000-2001

Croft Fertilizer Service

Al and Eileen Huelskoetter

G & D Four Farming, Inc.

Beason Ag Center

Taloma Farmers Grain Company

Marcia May

Tri-Pork, Inc.

Harold and Rosemary Apel

Gene and MaryAnn Apel

Darren Bakken

Leonard and Rita Bakken

Harold Begolka

Best Friends Animal Hospital

Bock & Associates-Realty

Bill and Pat Bree

Charron's Radiator & Auto Repair

Contractor's Ready Mix

Coy's Car Comer

Ed Hassebrock

Ralph and Joyce Eimer

Eugene Hassebrock

Frontier Mutual Insurance

Graue Pharmacy

Heritage Pork Farm, Inc.

Janet Henrichsmeyer

Jerry's Electric

Charles and Carol Jones

Woody Jones-State Farm Insurance

Kim Koehne

Bob and Sandy Meinershagen

Don and Rose Miller

Paulus Farms, Inc.

Kent and Lynn Paulus

Pegram Welding

Herman Schwantz

Sloan’s Fertilizer Service

State Bank of Lincoln

Town & Country Bank

Earl and Nancy Boyer

Mr. and Mrs. David Deters

William and Mary Jo Janssen

Don and Donna Wilson

Irwin and Lila Conklen

Rod and Pam Conklen

Ethelene White

Quint and Linda Harnacke

C.C. Hawes Implement Company

Mr. and Mrs. Rick Holmes

Michael and Janet Patrick

Lynn and Donna Miller

Mr. and Mrs. James Sheley

Jim White

John L. White

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