McLean County Farm Bureau

Labor Day - Office Closed
2021-09-06

Entry Level Driver Training Info Session
2021-08-31 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Learn about the new entry-level driver training (ELDT) requirements related to obtaining a new Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) and endorsements at an Aug. 31 online informational meeting, starting at noon.
Illinois Farm Bureau transportation expert, Rodney Knittel, will share the latest information on the new ELDT rules that will be in place as of Feb. 7, 2022.
McLean County Farm Bureau members can register to participate online from your own computer, tablet or smart phone via Zoom.
Members who do not have a computer or internet access can sign-up to watch the webinar at the McLean County Farm Bureau office in Bloomington.
Social distancing and/or face masks may be required for those attending in person.

Landowner Property Rights Meeting
2021-08-26 18:30 - 20:00
Join us for a look at landowner private property rights with an informational meeting to be held Thurs., Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Illinois Farm Bureau attorneys Garrett Thalgott and Laura Harmon will provide an overview items to consider before signing a legal document that affects your property.
Topics covered at the meeting will include:

Leases/Easements
Pipelines
Transmission Lines
Condemnation/Eminent Domain
Railroad Easements
Wind/Solar projects
Agriculture Impact Mitigation Agreements
Intellectual Property (Big Data)
Carbon Sequestration

The presentation will also explore county zoning, protections under state law, suggestions for what landowners should look out for in contracts, avoiding red flags and securing adequate compensation.
Attendees can participate in person at the McLean County Farm Bureau building, 2242 Westgate Drive in Bloomington or online via a computer or smart device.
Social distancing measures will be observed as needed based on current health department guidelines. A Zoom link will be provided for those who register for online participation.

Prime Timers Meeting
2021-08-26 11:30 - 13:00
Prime Timers will meet Thursday, Aug. 26at 11:30 a.m. the McLean County Farm Bureau
Office, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington.

Boxed lunches will be available for $5 per person. Reservations for lunch are required by Aug. 24.

The Prime Timers group is geared for any Farm Bureau members of retirement age.

IL State University Research Farm Tour
2021-08-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Illinois State University Research Farm, 25578 ISU Farm Lane, Lexington, IL, 61753, United States
Join us for a look at the latest research in cover crops, saturate buffers & more at the Illinois State University Research Farm near Lexington.

Supper will be provided. Event hosted by McLean County Farm Bureau Young Leaders & Illinois State University Collegiate Farm Bureau.

Triple M Farm Tour
2021-08-19 18:30 - 20:30 | Triple M Farm, 16727 Airport Road, Clinton, IL, 61727, United States
Join us for a berry-delicious evening at Triple M Farm near Clinton!
Supper will be provided along with a farm tour including the vertical, hydroponic strawberry growing system. Pick your own strawberries will be available for $4/container (approx. 1 lb).
Hosted by McLean & DeWitt County Young Leaders. Triple M Farm is located 8 miles east of Clinton off of Route 10.

2021 McLean County Fair
2021-08-04 - 2021-08-08 | McLean County Fairgrounds, 1106 Interstate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Admission Tickets/Specials

Carnival Info/Prices

McLean County 4-H

4-H Show Schedule

Grandstand Line-up

Wednesday: Tobin’s Pizza Big Smokers Tractor Pull and local Pickup Truck Pull-offs, 6 PM, $6 grandstand admission (Tractor Pull Tickets)
Thursday: “YaBud” Country Music Night, brought to you by Highway Chevrolet, featuring Jameson Rodgers, Clayton Shay, The Natu Band. 7pm start.
$20-$30 Ticket options (incl. fair admission) (Proceeds benefit the David V. Stiles Scholarship Fund)
Friday: “YaBud” Rock Music Night, brought to you by Highway Chevrolet, featuring Head East, Black Stone Cherry. 7pm start. $20-$30 Ticket options (incl. fair admission) (Proceeds benefit the David V. Stiles Scholarship Fund)
Saturday: Dow Owen Tire Demolition Derby at 7 PM: $15 grandstand admission
(Demo Derby Tickets)

HogWild 5K Run/3K Walk
2021-08-01 08:00 - 10:00 | McLean County Fairgrounds, 1106 Interstate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Race or walk in, around and through the fairgrounds with the 5K run or 3K walk. Plus enjoy a delicious porkburger after the race!
Early bird registration by July 15:
5K race – $25
3K walk – $20
Includes t-shirt, good bag & 4 McLean County Fair admission tickets
Late registration (July 16 or later)
5K race – $30
3K walk – $25
Includes t-shirt, good bag & 4 McLean County Fair admission tickets
Race time 8 a.m.
All proceeds support McLean County youth and the educational efforts of McLean County Fair!

Emancipation Brewing/Hop Farm Tour
2021-07-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Emancipation Brewing Co, 13113 N. 2500 East Rd, Fairbury, IL, 61739, United States
Check out a local brewery & hop farm with a tour of Emancipation Brewing Co near Fairbury, IL.
Supper will be provided & drinks will be available for purchase.
Hosted by McLean & Livingston County Farm Bureau Young Leaders.

Rescheduled: YL Night @ the CornBelters
2021-07-22 18:30 - 20:00
July 15 game was rained out/canceled – so we’ve rescheduled for the July 22 game.
Young Leaders & their families are invited to join us for a night at the ballpark & watch the game from the Pioneer Suite.
Plus enjoy a post-game concert from Chicago Farmer.
Tickets $5 per person & includes supper in the suite!

MCFB Foundation Golf Outing
2021-07-19 09:30 - 14:00 | The Den Golf Course, 3002 Fox Creek Rd, Bloomington, IL, 61705
Hit the links & help raise funds to support local agricultural education!

Monday, July 19
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Cost: $90 per golfer or $360 per foursome
Includes golf cart, 18 holes of golf, lunch, snacks and ribeye dinner!
Plus raffles, contests & prizes
Location: The Den Golf Course, Bloomington
You can also join us for the ribeye dinner for just $20!

Members Night Out
2021-07-10 17:00 - 20:00 | McLean County Fairgrounds, 1106 Interstate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Join us for a casual evening at the West Expo, McLean County Fairgrounds from 5-8 pm.

FREE BBQ meal, food service starts at 5:30 p.m.
Live Music
Cash bar
Prize drawings & more!

Office Closed - Independence Day
2021-07-05

Prime Timers Meeting
2021-06-24 11:30 - 13:30 | McLean County Farm Bureau, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Prime Timers will meet Thursday, June 24 at 11:30 a.m. the McLean County Farm Bureau
Office, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington.

Join us for the “Milky Ways of McLean County” with local ag historian, Don Meyer, to share
about local dairy history.

Boxed lunches will be available for $5 per person. Reservations for lunch are required by June 21.

The Prime Timers group is geared for any Farm Bureau members of retirement age.

Farmland Assessment Info Session
2021-06-21 18:30 - 19:30 | McLean County Farm Bureau, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Get answers to your questions about farmland assessment.
Presenter: Brenda Matherly, Director of Local Government for Illinois Farm
Bureau
Attendance is limited to Farm Bureau members only.
Members may register to attend in person or online via Zoom. A link will be e-mailed to participants who register for this option.
Meeting location: McLean County Farm Bureau Building, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington
Click here to register

AITC Teacher Workshop
2021-06-08 - 2021-06-11
McLean County Ag in the Classroom is offering a Summer Workshop June 8-11 for pre-K-12 Teachers!

4 Days of field trips, tours & hands on lesson ideas
Geared for pre-K to grade 12 educators
Earn 30 PDCHs (professional development clock hours), plus 2 graduate level college credit hours available (optional/additional fee)
Learn about FREE resources for STEM lessons aligned with Common Core & Next Generation Science Standards
Take home lesson ideas, materials & grant opportunities for use in your classroom next year!

Click here for more information & to register.

Memorial Day - Office Closed
2021-05-31

MCFB Board Meeting
2021-05-18

ISU Cover Crops Field Day
2021-04-16 16:00 - 18:00
Illinois State University will host a Cover Crop Field Day April 16 from 4-6p.m. at the Research Farm 25578 ISU Farm Lane, Lexington, Ill.
The event is free & no registration necessary.
A cover crop tour will be offered at 4 p.m. followed by presentations & discussions of the latest research on cover crops including pennycress.
Click here for a flyer with more details.

Consolidated Election - Go Vote!
2021-04-06 06:00 - 19:00
The Illinois Consolidated Election will take place April 6, 2021.
Offices on the ballot include:

Municipal offices – mayor, council, etc
Township offices – trustees, supervisor, road commissioner & clerk
School boards
Other special purpose districts like library boards, fire protection districts & more

Three ways to cast your ballot:

Vote by Mail: Send in a vote by mail application now through April 1 or request your ballot online at www.mcleancountyil.gov/elections (or Bloomington voters click here)
Vote Early: Feb. 25 – April 5, weekdays from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm at the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts
Vote on Election Day: polls open 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. click here to find your polling place

Find specimen ballots: click here (or Bloomington voters click here)
Candidate information:

McLean County Chamber of Commerce candidate surveys
McLean County League of Women Voters candidate surveys
WGLT/League of Women Voters Candidate forums

Office Closed - Good Friday
2021-04-02

MCFB Foundation Virtual Trivia Night
2021-03-19 18:30 - 20:30
Join us for a fun night to celebrate agriculture & support local ag education efforts!
MCFB Foundation Virtual Trivia Night – March 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Grab your “quaran-team” and join us online for a family-friendly, fun night of trivia! Cost is $60 per team (suggested 4-6 people).
Compete for prizes & bragging rights! All proceeds benefit local ag education efforts including scholarships, Ag in the Classroom, grants for local FFA chapters & more.
A Zoom link will be provided to each registered team.

Landowner 201 - Grain Marketing
2021-03-18 18:30 - 20:30 | McLean County Farm Bureau, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Expand your understanding & skills for managing your farmland the Landowner 201 series.
March 18 – Grain Marketing

Instructors: Dr. Maria Boerngen, Illinois State University & Brian Basting, Advance Trading
Topics include: Cash grain sales & contract types, crop insurance

Landowner 201 is a series of 3 classes:

March 4 – Farm Management & Financial Analysis
March 11 – Farm Transition Planning
March 18 – Grain Marketing

Each class will run from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Classes will be held in person at the McLean County Farm Bureau building or you can participate virtually (online via Zoom). Social distancing measures will be in place for those who attend in person.
Registration costs:

Farm Bureau member fee (per farm): $15 per class or $40 for all three
Non-member registration fee (per farm): $20 per class or $50 for all three

More than one person per family/farm can attend the classes

Health Insurance Options Webinar
2021-03-17 09:00 - 10:00
Explore the health insurance options available to you with a webinar March 17 at 9 a.m.
The webinar will focus on choices available through COUNTRY Financial and online through the Healthcare.gov marketplace.
If you are self-employed, work part-time or work for a small business that does not provide employer based coverage, this webinar will provide an overview of choices and considerations. This webinar will focus on options for those who are not yet eligible for Medicare (not Medicare supplements).
Due to COVID-19, the Healthcare.gov marketplace has a second open enrollment period to enroll for 2021 coverage from February 15 through May 15.

Landowner 201 - Farm Transition Planning
2021-03-11 18:30 - 20:30 | McLean County Farm Bureau, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Expand your understanding & skills for managing your farmland the Landowner 201 series.
March 11 – Farm Management & Financial Analysis

Instructors: Jed Metzger, FBFM & Tom Jennings, Livingston, Barger, Brandt, & Schroeder, LLP
Topics include: Farm Business Conversations, Succession & Estate Planning

Landowner 201 is a series of 3 classes:

March 4 – Farm Management & Financial Analysis
March 11 – Farm Transition Planning
March 18 – Grain Marketing

Each class will run from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Classes will be held in person at the McLean County Farm Bureau building or you can participate virtually (online via Zoom). Social distancing measures will be in place for those who attend in person.
Registration costs:

Farm Bureau member fee (per farm): $15 per class or $40 for all three
Non-member registration fee (per farm): $20 per class or $50 for all three

More than one person per family/farm can attend the classes

Brandt Industries Tour
2021-03-09 17:30 - 18:30
Join us for a tour of Brand Industries at their manufacturing facility near Hudson.
We’ll take a look at the manufacturing process for the company’s grain augers and grain carts.
Tour is limited to 15 people, first come first serve. Masks will be required along with closed toe shoes and long pants.
Please register for tour using the button at the top of the page.

Landowner 201 - Farm Management & Financial Analysis
2021-03-04 18:30 - 20:30 | McLean County Farm Bureau, 2242 Westgate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Expand your understanding & skills for managing your farmland the Landowner 201 series.

March 4 – Farm Management & Financial Analysis
March 11 – Farm Transition Planning
March 18 – Grain Marketing

Each class will run from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Classes will be held in person at the McLean County Farm Bureau building or you can participate virtually (online via Zoom). Social distancing measures will be in place for those who attend in person.
Registration costs:

Farm Bureau member fee (per farm): $15 per class or $40 for all three
Non-member registration fee (per farm): $20 per class or $50 for all three

More than one person per family/farm can attend the classe
March 4 – Farm Management & Financial Analysis

Instructor: Dr. Maria Boerngen, Illinois State University
Topics include: Farm Business Planning, Cash Flow & Balance Sheets

Rules for the Road
2021-03-04 18:30 - 20:00, 2021-03-02 09:30 - 11:00
Get the latest updates on transportation rules & regulations for farmers at the Virtual Rules for the Road program March 2 at 9:30 a.m. or March 4 at 6:30 p.m.
McLean County Farm Bureau members have 2 options to participate:

Virtual/from home – participate from on your own computer, tablet or smart phone via Zoom
In Person – Members who do not have a computer or internet access can sign-up to watch the webinar at the McLean County Farm Bureau office in Bloomington

Blood Drive - McLean County Fairgrounds
2021-02-25 12:00 - 18:00 | McLean County Fairgrounds, 1106 Interstate Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
Give a heartwarming, live-saving gift for someone by donating blood.
In partnership with the American Red Cross, a Blood Donation Drive will be held February 25 from noon to 6 p.m. in the West Expo building on the McLean County Fairgrounds, 1106 Interstate Drive, Bloomington.
To schedule an appointment, visit www.redcross.org, use the Red Cross Blood Donor app or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Blood is a perishable product that can only come from volunteer blood donors. Donors of all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, B negative and A negative.
