Chuck's Chat - Welcome to March 2024

Spring begins officially on March 19 at 11:06EDT. I really thought it had begun just the other day, but then the rapid 60-degree temperature descent reminded me otherwise.

Daylight saving time will begin on Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m., when you’ll move your clocks forward an hour and lose an hour’s worth of sleep. Rest assured; I won’t lose any sleep over it. I get up when I wake up regardless.

Farm Bureaus promote safety and health in agricultural and rural communities to reduce the number of farm work related injuries and deaths by promoting safe practices and increasing public awareness of the importance of safety and health in agriculture. American Farm Bureau Federation’s 20214 Ag Safety Awareness Program Week was created for this reason. Watch our Montgomery County Farm Bureau Facebook page for daily tips and reminders March 4 – 8.

The annual issue surfacing meeting will be held March 14 at Colborn’s Kitchen, 551 S Country Club Rd, in Chanute beginning at 6:30pm. This is an opportunity for Farm Bureau members to make policy recommendations and raise issues they would like the KFB Resolutions Committee to examine.

National Ag Day is celebrated on March 19, and falls during National Ag Week. It's a day to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless others across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture. Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear on a daily basis. But too few people truly understand this contribution. This is particularly the case in our schools, where students may only be exposed to agriculture if they enroll in related vocational training. Each American farmer feeds more than 165 people ... a dramatic increase from 25 people in the 1960s. Quite simply, American agriculture is doing more - and doing it better. As the world population soars, there is an even greater demand for the food and fiber produced in the United States.

Once again, Kansas Farm Bureau is awarding a Natural Resources Award. If you know of someone in Montgomery County who deserves to be recognized for their farm conservation or land stewardship efforts, contact Kathy O’Brien at 620-331-0826 by May 1.

Also, if you’re a Kansas Farm Bureau member and have ownership of 80 acres or more within the same family for 100 years or more, or 150 years or more, we’d love to get you some much deserved recognition. “Century Farm” and “Sesquicentennial Farm” status and recognition is available from Kansas Farm Bureau. Let Kathy O’Brien or any board member know by May 1. Since the year 2000, Kansas Farm Bureau has recognized more than 3,200 family farms.

The Montgomery County Farm Bureau website has the information and application for this year’s scholarship award, and is due April 1. We will award up to five scholarships worth $1,000 each to graduating seniors or current post high school students whose parents or the student possess a Montgomery County Farm Bureau membership.

Until next month,

Chuck Voelker