Seneca FFA honors Golden Farmers

As a part of its National FFA Week celebration, the Seneca FFA invited farmers in its school district who are more than 70 years old and have been involved in farming for more than 50 years to its Golden Farmer award event.

Sixteen seasoned farmers were presented with awards in front of more than 150 people at the event held in conjunction with the Seneca Historical Guild.

“In every other occupation, career milestones are recognized with celebrations and gifts,” says Isaac Brockman, Seneca FFA member. “Farmers, however, are never shown appreciation for their longevity in a very challenging occupation. We wanted to change that.”

Brockman served as emcee, and FFA members served as ushers as each farmer and their family were brought to the stage and presented with a certificate and a gift. Seneca FFA officer Mackie Autry read a tribute to farm wives.

After the presentation of the Golden Farmers, they were asked several questions generated by FFA members. A consensus among the answers: Farming has and always will rely on a strong work ethic — even with the convenient technology available today.

“I can’t thank the Seneca FFA enough,” said Golden Farmer and 1997 Farm Progress Show host Joe Kennedy. “They sure made us feel special tonight as we reflected on the challenging but wonderful life we led as farmers.”

The evening was partially sponsored by a Living to Serve grant from the National FFA organization, Tractor Supply and CoBank.

Free tires available for students restoring antique tractors

Titan International Inc., the maker of Titan and Goodyear farm tires, is accepting applications for the company’s annual antique tractor restoration program. FFA and 4-H student-members nationwide can register online to qualify for a free set of Titan or Goodyear tires for antique tractors.

Titan has awarded thousands of free tires to student-led tractor restoration projects since 1996. Tyler Schimke of the Paso Robles FFA chapter in California is one of the students to benefit from the program. He restored a 1956 Farmall 300 LP tractor in 2018.

“It was my first tractor restoration and a great ​learning ​experience,” Schimke says. “I could not have completed the project without the help of Titan and many others. I appreciate their support of students interested in agriculture and tractor restorations all over the U.S.”

Applications and new guidelines for the 2019 program can be found at titan-intl.com/antique-tractor-restoration. Qualified projects will be accepted while allocated supplies last. There is no set deadline to apply. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We feel there is nothing more important than supporting the future of agriculture, the young men and women who will carry on this country’s proud farming legacy,” says Scott Sloan, ag product manager for Titan. “That is why we have awarded thousands of free tires to student-led tractor restorations.”

Each FFA chapter and 4-H group with approved applications will receive tires for no more than two tractor restorations (four tires per tractor) per calendar year; one tractor per set per student, per lifetime. Any student with a previously approved tractor restoration project is not eligible for the Titan antique tractor restoration program.

Compeer Financial offers women’s seminars

Twelve meeting dates and locations are being offered across Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin for Compeer Financials’ women’s seminars. Expert speakers will share their insight on some important topics to women growers, including:

There will be four Illinois dates:

ASA honors Illinois soybean producer with leadership award

Ron Moore, a farmer from Roseville, Ill., and longtime state and national soybean industry leader, was honored by the American Soybean Association during the group’s banquet March 2 at Commodity Classic in Orlando, Fla.

Moore received ASA’s distinguished leadership award, which annually honors a visionary leader with at least five years of notable state or national leadership service.

Moore served as an at-large director for the Illinois Soybean Association for several years, in addition to serving as chairman from 2009-11. Most recently, he has served as one of the Illinois directors for ASA and served as chairman of that organization.

As an ISA director, Moore was involved with the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research, Illinois Livestock Development Group, Soybean Research & Development Council, Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable and numerous other agricultural groups and committees.

“I’ve been very fortunate to serve the soybean industry, and I’m honored to achieve such an award,” Moore says.

He is a graduate of the Ag Leaders of Tomorrow and Illinois Ag Leadership Program and has been active with numerous community endeavors. He has a degree from Culver-Stockton College and raises corn, soybeans, alfalfa and feeder cattle with his wife, Deborah, and son Michael.

2019 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale results

The Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale kicked off the 2019 Illinois Beef Expo, held Feb. 21 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The sale averaged $3,757 on 48 lots.

"The IPT sale continues to be one of the best sources for total performance genetics in the Midwest," said Travis Meteer, IPT sale manager. "During the past 51 years, the sale has sold 4,788 bulls valued at over $8.8 million."

There were three breeds represented in the 2019 sale: angus, simmental and polled hereford. Meteer said a senior simmental bull was the top seller, selling for $7,500. The bull, HHS Power House 868E, was sold by Haven Hill Simmentals to Hildebrand Cattle. The second-highest-selling simmental bull also was consigned by Haven Hill Simmentals, and he sold for $5,800. Rincker Simmentals consigned the third-highest-selling simmental at $5,400.

The top-selling and highest-indexing angus bull was consigned by Hobbs Angus. He sold for $6,300 to Melvin Seivers of Staunton. The second-highest seller in the Angus division was the second-highest indexing angus bull, also consigned by Hobbs Angus. He sold for $5,200.

There were three hereford bulls that left the ring at a price of $4,000. Rabideau Polled Herefords, Sturdy Herefords and Biggs Polled Herefords consigned the top sellers.

Producers interested in viewing a breakdown of all the prices can visit the IPT Bull Sale website at www.iptbullsale.com. Also included on this site are the individual bull prices from the 2019 sale and the numbers and averages from the previous 50 sales.