International AgricultureTeam members travel abroad to Brazil and Argentina
For 12 days earlier this year, members of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program toured various aspects of the South American agricultural industry. The 28-person class is part of a two-year program designed to educate future leaders in the agricultural industry. 1st Farm Credit Services Vice Presidents Keith Detwiler and Steve Sheaffer are members of the class and both went on the trip, which featured tours of farms and agricultural industries in Brazil and Argentina. Brazil and Argentina are leaders in the South American agricultural industry. As part of their participation in the program, Detwiler and Sheaffer had to document their trip. Here are excerpts from their journals.
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Grain farmer Dick Haas saw the necessity and created the invention. Haas is the inventor of the Nester Box Inverter, a device used to flip and “nest” the top of a Buckhorn box.
He planned on leaving Illinois to move out west, where he’d start his ranch.
“I think every boy dreams of being a cowboy,” he said. “I wanted it for me and for my sons.”
Even though he grew up around agriculture, he didn’t start farming until 1994. Both of his grandparents farmed, but his parents were the first generation not to earn income from agriculture.
Association Scholarships
As our association shows its commitment to the future of agriculture, in this issue we highlight the students who have received scholarships from 1st Farm Credit Services. This is one way we make an investment in the future. A total of 34 students will receive scholarships in 2010.
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Kohl's Corner
It’s Time to Talk About Interest Rates
Any news story about interest rates is sure to capture your attention, especially if you are borrowing money on a variable interest rate or have your funds stashed in a low-yielding money market account or certificate of deposit.
CEO Letter
Investing in Our Future Leadership in Agriculture
During the first half of 2010, I have seen something within our association that I have not seen for many years – an increase in the number of our team members retiring.
Editor's Note
Pay It Forward
Most of the events and meetings I go to for work are related to agriculture. Not often is the subject matter beyond the realm of farming or finance. But recently, I was asked to attend the YWCA McLean County’s Women of Distinction Awards banquet.
News Briefs
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Team Members
Full Issue
Archived Issues
Winter
Fall 2009(Web and PDF)
Summer 2009(Web and PDF)
Winter 2009(Web and PDF)
Fall 2008(Web and PDF)
Summer 2008(PDF Only)
For more infomation about Country Spirit contact:Karen Blatter at (309) 268-0254 or at kblatte@1stfarmcredit.com.