Chuck's Chat - Welcome to April 2025

We received 0.65” of much needed precipitation here along the Northern Sycamore Urban Boundary last Saturday night. Could we possibly get that much again tonight? This weekend looks favorable as well. Fingers crossed.

Montgomery County Farm Bureau and Coffeyville Local Health Equity Action Team are partnering this spring to provide materials necessary for container gardening to eligible recipients in local communities. We currently have collected over 130 tubs, and a grant will allow the purchase of soil, amendments, seeds, and plants. All we need is some volunteer labor to help make everything happen. Stay tuned for information regarding dates and where assistance will be needed. This is a great opportunity to get your hands dirty and help some folks learn to grow their own healthy food.

Once again, Kansas Farm Bureau is awarding a Natural Resources Award. If you know of a Farm Bureau member in Montgomery County who deserves to be recognized for their farm conservation or land stewardship efforts, contact Kathy O’Brien at 620-331-0826. The application deadline is May 15.

The Kansas Farm Bureau “Century Farm” program will recognize members’ family farms whose current owner/operator is related to the owner/operator of the farm in 1925 or before. Kansas Farm Bureau will also recognize member families whose farms have been in the same family for 150 years. If your farm, or if you know of someone who may qualify, please contact Kathy O’Brien at the Montgomery County Farm Bureau office at 620-331-0826. Applications must be submitted by May 15. Since the year 2000, Kansas Farm Bureau has recognized more than 3,200 family farms.

Sponsored by Montgomery, Labette, Wilson, Crawford, and Neosho County Farm Bureaus, the annual Earth Day event will be celebrated on Thursday, April 17, in Parsons. Again, we need several volunteers to make this a successful event. If you have helped in the past, you know what an exciting day this is for the students and teachers. If you have not had the opportunity to assist, we would welcome your participation! Juice, coffee, tea, breads, cakes, cookies, etc. will be served starting at 8am and throughout the day. Lunch is provided for all volunteers. Please help us show these students how “In Agriculture…Every Day Is Earth Day”! Contact Kathy O’Brien at 620-331-0826 for details or to volunteer.

Until next month,

Chuck Voelker