Chuck's Chat - Welcome to November 2023

The recent silent auction held at the Montgomery County Farm Bureau annual meeting raised nearly four thousand dollars. Many thanks to all of those who donated, purchased, and assisted in many other ways to help make this another successful event.

The Montgomery County Farm Bureau and the Anna Lawless Farm Bureau Financial Services agency are participating together in the End Hunger Food Drive. Your opportunity to donate food or funds only lasts until November 15, and it all goes back to our local Montgomery County Food Banks. Drop off points are the Farm Bureau office at 217 W Myrtle in Independence, and Coffeyville Feed and Farm in Coffeyville. Thank you in advance for your continuing support.

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back an hour Saturday night, November 5. You might be late to church on Sunday if you don’t.

Tuesday, November 7, is election day. Be sure to vote for those local folks that you think will help make a difference in our county and communities.

The average cost for a "classic" Thanksgiving dinner for 10 was $64.05 in 2022, according to results from the American Farm Bureau Federation. That was $10.74, or 20%, higher than what it was in 2021. I have not seen the figures for 2023. They might be too scary to publish. However, I recently read that Aldi and WalMart are going to lower the cost of food items associated with Thanksgiving. The cost of purchasing a turkey could be lower this Thanksgiving, thanks to a drop in avian influenza cases and a recovery of the turkey population in the United States. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed turkey and egg prices in the latest Market Intel report, which states the average price for an 8-to-16 pound turkey typically served for Thanksgiving was $1.27 per pound in August 2023, 22% lower than the same time last year.

Pray for rain.

Until next month,

Chuck Voelker