Chuck's Chat - Welcome to January 2024!

And just like that, another year is done and gone and a new one is upon us. I’m not quite sure just where the time goes, but I still have projects to complete that were due last year. My current work schedule is already full until April, so I better get this written and get back to work.

However, I am going to miss a little time later this month, as I will be attending the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. As a member of the Kansas Farm Bureau Resolutions Committee, I have the opportunity to attend as an alternate voting delegate. I’ve not had a chance to attend this meeting before, and I’m looking forward to seeing how differently business is conducted compared to our state annual meeting.

And speaking of meetings, this year Kansas Corn and Kansas Soybean are teaming up with K-State Research and Extension to present their popular crop management schools. They will cover a number of issues and opportunities for growers and are tailored to each region. Morning refreshments and a hot lunch are provided at these in-person schools. Our area meeting will be held January 16 in Parsons at the KSU Southeast Research & Extension Center. The sign in begins at 8:30am, speakers begin at 9, and it will all wrap up around 3pm. Preregister here https://kscorn.com/schools/

Did you know that January 7 is National Harlem Globetrotters Day? I used to enjoy watching them on ABC’s Wide Wide World of Sports as a kid. Yes, I’m that old. I remember checking the TV Guide to see if they were scheduled to be on that Saturday afternoon. The ball handling skills of Curly Neal and the halfcourt hook shots by Meadowlark Lemon were often imitated during recess on the grade school playground as I recall. The Globetrotters were founded in 1926 in Chicago and were originally called the Savoy Big Five, named after the famous Savoy Ballroom where they played their first games. In 1929, promoter Abe Saperstein dubbed the team the New York Harlem Globetrotters. Over the decades, the team has won over 27,000 games and has played in 124 countries and territories. Kinda feel sorry for their most common opponent, the Washington Generals.

Be smart. Be safe. Stay strong.

God Bless America

Chuck Voelker