Women for Family Farms Committee Meets
The Women for Family Farms Committee met at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16, and was led by Sam Tewes, Chairman, after the committee set up for their fall luncheon at the Victorian Ballroom at the Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet with the following members present: Loretta Sartore, Sereda Perosa, Jeanne Tewes, Amy Brandau, Debbie Werner, Karen Warrick, Phyllis Tures and Mark Schneidewind, Farm Bureau manager.
The minutes were reviewed and approved from the previous meeting. Sam reported on the Women’s Committee Christmas party set in December and they will be doing a white elephant gift at the Christmas party. Invites were sent out so get your reservations in soon.
Wreaths Across America is set for December 17th at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, and they are running slightly ahead of last year’s collection with wreaths ordered. Last year was a record-setting event with over 27,000 wreaths ordered; however, there are over 60,000 buried at the ALNC, and the goal is to eventually have each site with a wreath.
Sam thanked the following ladies for their help with the fall flowers program, with the income going towards purchasing wreaths: Melissa, Sereda, Loretta, Karen, LuAnn, and Tracey. Wreath trucks have already called our office, so we are expecting 4-5 semi loads in December.
The beginning hunting program had 44 take the test with 48 people in attendance (parents who sat with their kids during the program). The IDNR stopped in for a review and said our program was fantastic and our numbers attending were the best in the state. The Women’s fall luncheon is today, and they will be doing a 50\25\25 raffle for Wreaths across America. Sandi Haynes is the entertainment, and everyone was looking forward to her performance.
Vegetable Gardening 101 is set for April 2nd from 1-3:30 p.m., with Nancy Kuhajda being the speaker. The group discussed the Will County Farm Bureau annual meeting, and they will be working on decorations and putting things together in January at their next meeting. They will need to wrap the boxes in the white rolled paper, not the plastic table cover but actual white rolls of paper.
This will be looked into by Farm Bureau manager, Mark, and he will get the paper ordered for that. The committee agreed to have games as prizes for people at the tables. Debbie is doing some checking on the games next week, and we will need approx. 35-40. Watch more in the paper for the annual meeting. Sam and Karen will get more boxes for the dice and cards.
Sam said the Young Farmers Committee would host their annual Golf Outing for Ag Education on July 28th at the Green Garden Country Club, so save the date. Sam said the harvest dinner was amazing, with 89 guests, and had fabulous food and a very nice program. She thanked Kelly, Joy, Katie, Karen, Debbie, Nancy, Anita, and Mark for helping.
The Tractors for a Cure Cash Bash is set for March 11, 2023, and tickets will be available soon in later December. Christmas Cuties is set, and we are getting inquiries on how to submit the pictures. The report on the paint party went well, and no new ones are on tap for now. Family Fun Night is set for July 13, so mark your calendars for the event at the Weitendorf Ag Education Facility at JJC.
Ag Expo is set for March 14-16 with set up on the 13th, and will also be held at JJC. They discussed a bird program, a snowmobile safety program, and an update on farm estate laws and what to do. The group approved a spring flowers program for April with a handout on May 6th. Mark will talk with Sunrise Greenhouse and get prices, etc., this winter.
Sam said we would need 12 volunteers to make it work properly. They will check with 4-H and with the FFA to assist.
The next committee meeting will be held on January 9th at 6:30 p.m., and they will work on the decorations after the meeting. Refreshments will be provided for the group that night. They will hold the election of officers for the 2023 year at this meeting as well.