Representative Dan Swanson is partnering with the Knox, Bureau, and Henry County Farm Bureaus® to host a farmland assesment meeting in each of the three counties. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss increasing property assessments and adjusment due to flooding. The meetings will be held on Monday, March 2 at:
Due, in part, to a change in the Farmland Assessment Act, all farmland assessments will continue to go up. The rate of increase will be largely dependent on the soil type. Poorer soils will continue to see higher than 10% increases while better producing soils can expect an increase of less than 10%. This increase in assessed values will be reflected on property tax bills payable in 2020 and for several years to come.
Additional information will be provided on the opportunity to receive a flood debasement on those acres that saw crop loss and prevented plant due last year’s flooding.
The presentations, given by Brenda Matherly, Director of Local Government with Illinois Farm Bureau®, will give you a better understanding on how farmland assessments are calculated and the long-term impact on those values.
To accommodate seating and materials please pre-register with the Knox County Farm Bureau (309) 342-2036, Bureau County Farm Bureau (815) 875-6468 or Henry County Farm Bureau (309) 937-2411.
CHICAGO — The Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) Young Leader Committee elected its 2020 executive committee members during the IFB Annual Meeting, held in Chicago, Dec. 7-10.
The executive committee members, which include Chairman Drew DeSutter of Knox County, Vice-Chair Wayne Gehrke of Kane County, Secretary Jenny Jackson of Morgan County, Education and Recruitment Subcommittee Chair Gracelynn Dale of Bureau County, Achievement Subcommittee Chair Victoria Vogt of Monroe County and Governmental Affair and Commodities Subcommittee Chair Aaron Mitchell of Winnebago County, will assume their positions immediately.
Members of the IFB Young Leaders are 18- to 35-year-old men and women who are passionate about agriculture. It is a member-created, member-driven program of the IFB that allows members to promote agriculture, attend conferences and compete in events, including the Young Leader Achievement Award, Excellence in Agriculture Award and discussion meets. Giving back is also a priority for Young Leaders. Through their Harvest for All program, Young Leaders raise funds, donate food and contribute their time to help fight food insecurity throughout the state.
The Illinois Farm Bureau is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, a national organization of farmers and ranchers. Founded in 1916, IFB is a non-profit, membership organization directed by farmers who join through their county Farm Bureau. IFB has a total membership of more than 386,291 and a voting membership of 79,159. IFB represents three out of four Illinois farmers.
Front row (L to R): Jenny Jackson, Secretary; Drew DeSutter, Chair; Wayne Gehrke, Vice-Chair.
Back row (L to R): Victoria Vogt, Achievement Sub-Committee Chair; Aaron Mitchell, Governmental Affairs & Commodities Sub-Committee Chair; Gracelynn Dale, Education & Recruitment Sub-Committee Chair.
On November 20th, the Knox County Farm Bureau had the pleasure of hosting our Adopted Legislator Representative Lamont J. Robinson from the 5th District. His visit started at Jimmy’s Pizza for an Economic Update by Ken Springer from the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development. During lunch with Representative Robinson, Representative Dan Swanson explained some of the differences to look for during the tour. Representative Swanson was unable to tour the rest of the day with us because as a hog farmer himself, he had to be cautious and courteous of his own livestock and the livestock on the other farms.
After lunch, we headed to Triple E Farms in Altona to visit with Knox County Pork Producers Association members Dan Erickson and Brenda Schubbe. It was discussed how much care goes into raising pigs. Holding the piglets was a great experience too!
After leaving Triple E, Jason Main hosted us to learn more about cattle and the show cattle world! Having the chance to ride on a 6-seater Ranger through the pasture was an experience the Representative will never forget!
4th Meridian Farm, Nathan and Aaron Link, and Jared Higgerson were proud to host the Representative for an awesome combine ride through the cornfield to help the brothers finish harvest. We were able to learn about the technology farmers use to help their operations!
Representative Robinson’s visit concluded with dinner at The Packinghouse before he took the train back home.
This experience allowed members to gain another colleague in Springfield and Chicago as well as a friend. Thank you to the Representative for being optimistic and coming to visit as well as Christina Nourie from Illinois Farm Bureau for setting up this relationship through the Adopted Legislator Program! We look forward to visiting the Representative in Chicago once again at the IAA Annual Meeting!
Now accepting 2020 applications!
KCFB Foundation $1000 Scholarship
The Knox County Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarship is open to Knox County residents who will be a sophomore, junior, senior, or full-time graduate student at a college or university during the fall 2020 semester. Preference is given to applicants who have a farm background and/or are studying an agricultural-related or communication-related field.
This is the third year the KCFB Foundation will award this scholarship. For more information and/or an application, please contact the Knox County Farm Bureau office at 309/342-2036 or e-mail: knoxcfb@knoxcfb.org. Applications are due February 14, 2020.
Thomas Lincoln $1000 Scholarship
The Knox County Farm Bureau Foundation is currently accepting applications for the Thomas Lincoln Scholarship, awarded annually in memory of Thomas Lincoln, a Knox County Farm Bureau Young Farmer who died in a tragic car accident.
A $1000 scholarship will be given in the spring of 2020 to a graduating high school senior who is a Knox County resident and has been accepted into an agricultural or agricultural-related curriculum at any college or university in the fall of 2020.
For more information and/or an application, please contact the Knox County Farm Bureau office at 309/342-2036 or e-mail: knoxcfb@knoxcfb.org. Applications are due February 14, 2020.
KCFB Foundation Summer Internship
The Knox County Farm Bureau Foundation is offering an internship with the Knox County Farm Bureau for the summer of 2020. The intern will receive a $2,000 scholarship and is encouraged to explore the possibility of using the internship to fulfill academic requirements for his/her major.
This is the 28th year for the program, which continues to be very successful. The internship is open to Knox County residents who will be a sophomore, junior, senior, or full-time graduate student at a college or university during the fall 2020 semester. Preference is given to applicants who have a farm background and/or are studying an agricultural-related field.
For more information and/or an application, please contact the Knox County Farm Bureau office at 309/342-2036 or e-mail: knoxcfb@knoxcfb.org. Applications are due February 14, 2020.
180 South Soangetaha Road, Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: (309) 342-2036 • Fax: (309) 342-4136
