Red and White

Last Thursday night we were invited to the Roanoke Apostolic Christian Church along with a group of numerous others to sing for the Zion's Harp recording project.  The Roanoke church, with its unique ceiling, room shape, and its wall surfaces, make for excellent acoustics for recording a large acapella singing group.  We enjoyed the fellowship and the singing, and I was surprised at how well my voice held up over the three hours.

Saturday evening we were blessed to partake of Holy Communion.  It is always a sobering, yet special and uplifting evening.  I am always humbled by how blessed I am to be covered by the blood of the Lamb.  Humbled by the great sacrifice that made it possible.  Humbled by the blessings I enjoy that I do not deserve.

And I think I say this every year, but wine never tastes as good as Mogen David Kosher Concord Grape wine tastes at Communion.

Palm Sunday was a full day with worship, Sunday School program, and a singing in the evening.  With a major snowstorm occurring all day as a backdrop.  It's spring, but we are getting our January snow now!  About 7 inches in our area.  Fortunately it was wet snow, and didn't drift as much as dry snow would have.  But the wet drifting snow and slush combination still made the roads somewhat hazardous.  With the warming trend this week, it should be gone by the weekend.

We have been seeing a high death loss in a group of pigs that we have at our neighbor's farm.  So this morning we had the vet out to determine the cause and a course of treatment.  It has been a long time since I watched a vet "post" (necropsy) a pig, and I actually enjoyed it.  I hope I didn't bug him by asking too many questions as he sliced and diced, examined tissues and organs, and took samples to send away to a lab for testing. 
It made for red snow. 
I then drove to Wyoming (Illinois) to pick up some medications he suggested we try in the meantime.

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
I Corinthians 11:25

Poetry

At the 100 year Farm Bureau banquet, one of the former presidents recited the following poem.  I requested a copy, and he graciously sent me one.  He said his Grandfather used to recite it to him when he was growing up.  I'll contribute this as a "random act of poetry". 

Ready for a Full Day's Work

'Twas down on the farm about half past four,
I slipped on my pants and I sneaked out the door.
Out across the yard I run like the dickens,
To milk 10 cows and feed all the chickens.
Clean out the barn and curry Nance and Jigs,
Separate the cream and slop all the pigs.
Well I work two hours and then eat like a Turk,
And by Heck I'm Ready for a full day's work.

I grease up the wagon and throw on the rake,
I throw a jug of water in the old grain sack.
Hitch up the horses and hurry down the lane.
I gotta get the hay in 'cause it looks like rain.
Well look over yonder, sure as I'm born,
The cattle's on a rampage, cows are in the corn.
Out across the meader I run a mile or two,
Heavin' like I'm wind broke, get wet clean through.
Back to the horses, and now for recompense,
Nance got a-straddle of the barbwire fence.
Joints are all a-achin' and muscles in a jerk,
But I'm as fit as a fiddle for a full day's work.

Well I worked all summer till winter is nigh,
Figured up the books and heaved a big sigh.
Worked all year and didn't make a thing.
Got less cash now than I had last spring.
Now some people say there isn't any hell,
But they've never farmed, so how can they tell?
But when spring rolls around, I'll take another chance,
While the fringes grow longer on my old gray pants.
Give my 'spenders a hitch and my belt another jerk,
And by heck I'm ready for a full year's work.

Author Unknown

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
Exodus 5:9

Food Commentary

I found this editorial in The Week very interesting coming from a secular perspective.

By The Week Staff | March 21, 2013

Food is the new religion. I am hardly the first to make this observation, but I heartily endorse it: Secular sophisticates have jettisoned traditional beliefs about sin and sanctity, so they fulfill their instinctual need for purity and redemption through what they eat. I see the proof whenever I visit the local Whole Foods to hunt and gather weekend victuals. There, you cannot help but smirk at the organic, locavorish righteousness of it all—even as you succumb to the spell. (To see how Whole Foods will soon become more righteous still, see Talking points.)

Look at that basketball-sized, organic cauliflower in the produce aisle—grown, the sign boasts, on a family farm just 90 miles away! In the meat counter, the grass-fed beef has a maximal animal-welfare rating of 5, assuring us that the cow was so happy in life it met the butcher smiling. In the coffee aisle, aromatic rows of whole-bean, Fair Trade Sumatras and Guatemalas—roasted locally, of course—promise morning enlightenment. In the vitamin aisle, you can armor yourself against worldly corruption with sacramental resveratrol, acai berries, and hemp seeds, and probiotics with 40 billion beneficial bacteria per capsule. No wonder, then, that the affluent shoppers who push their heaping carts around the store—many in workout tights that display their buns of steel—have such a confident, self-congratulatory air. Yes, they are paying double what groceries cost at Stop N’ Shop. But how much purer we all are, how oxidant-free! How much longer we’ll live than the wicked masses! We are The Chosen. Give us this day our artisanal, gluten-free bread and our goji berry juice, and may our carbon footprint be small. Amen.

I have said this before, but while food may be the new religion for many "sophisticates", I think the predominant religion of the masses in our society today is sports. 

And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:
II Kings 21:21

100 Years

Friday night we attended the 100 year anniversary of the Tazewell County Farm Bureau.  In early 1913, about a dozen farmers met in Washington, Illinois to form an organization to represent farmers on legislative issues.  Incorporation papers were filed with the state on May 12, 1913.  They were the first farm group in the state, and perhaps the nation to use the name "Farm Bureau".  The first office was in the Denhart Bank building in Washington.

We enjoyed an evening of good food and fellowship with farmers of all ages from though out the county.  I had the opportunity to serve on the FB board from 1989 - 1996, and was able to meet farmers from other areas of the county that I would not have otherwise met.
 
Representative Aaron Schock stopped by on his way back from D.C. and complimented the Farm Bureau on its strong and effective political lobbying power and representation in both Springfield and Washington D.C.  He also told us that he entered a proclamation into the congressional record in D.C. commemorating the Tazewell County Farm Bureau's 100th anniversary.

State Farm Bureau President and American Farm Bureau board member Phillip Nelson was in attendance, and gave an inspiring keynote address.

Over the years, out of Farm Bureau came many other organizations created to assist farmers.  Some of them were (or evolved into);  various purebred livestock breeders associations, Interstate Producers Livestock Association, Illinois Ag Auditing Association, FBFM, Country Companies Insurance and Pekin Insurance, FS, and Rural Youth organization.  The FB was also active in starting 4H clubs and the county 4H fair.
 
There was lots of history shared through a video, a historic photo powerpoint playing throughout the evening, and tables full of old Tazewellites and other memorabilia.  The oldest FB member in attendance will be 100 years old in July.

It all made a person proud to be a farmer.

On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
Esther 9:17
  

Continuing Education

After a week at the beach, we left Venice and headed to the Orlando area.  Brock Associates had their two day Winter Ag Symposium at the Radisson Celebration Resort.  On the way, we stopped at the Gamble Plantation and toured the antebellum mansion and grounds.  It is the only surviving plantation house in South Florida.  It was once a 3500 acre sugar cane plantation with sugar mills.

At my meetings, I met farmers from all over the country, and it was interesting to compare notes on the drought, land prices, and other ag topics.  The nationally known speakers were good, so I hope I can use some of what I learned.  Mostly these meetings help broaden my horizon and give different perspectives.

We flew home on Allegiant direct from St. Pete/Clearwater.  We were in the air 2 hours and 6 minutes, and then we were in Peoria!

Home for a couple of days, then Monday I attended the Illinois Soybean Profitability Summit at ISU in Normal.  It was my first time to attend this meeting and I was impressed with the speakers and information.  On Tuesday I attended Earlybird Fertilizer's annual Grower Meeting.  Again, a lot of good local information presented by our partners there, plus market and financial information by Bob Utterback.  Of course it was followed by a ribeye steak lunch.

Tuesday afternoon we braved the snowstorm and headed north into Chicago.  Fortunately neither the storm nor the roads were as bad as predicted.  We stayed at the Buckingham Athletic Club Executive Hotel in the Loop.  We immediately knew we were out of our league when we checked in and realized that everyone we saw coming and going were in black suits with white shirts, or tuxedos!  We definitely looked like hicks (and probably acted like hicks).  I dressed Business Casual, but we quickly realized that business casual in downtown Chicago is black pants, dress shirt, black dress shoes, and a black trench coat when outside.  Not khakis and a blue shirt like downstate.
Our room was on the 40th floor looking directly at the Chicago Board of Trade with its statue of Ceres, Roman Goddess of Agriculture on top.

I was here to attend CIH's Hog Margin Management Education Program.  Two full days (Wed. and Thurs.) of intense learning how to manage margins using futures and option strategies.  Tuesday included a visit to the Board of Trade and the Mercantile Exchange.  Despite the dramatic increase in computer trading, there is still a lot of open outcry that takes place, especially in the options pits.  It is fun to watch a large room full of adults shouting at each other, the hand signals they use, and the colored jackets they wear to identify who they trade for.

On Tuesday night we had Giordano's famous Chicago stuffed pizza for supper.  On Wednesday night we met Matt and Lena at The Italian Village.  Matt was in town for a commercial real estate appraisal class (the women shopped while we men were at our meetings).  I once again ordered my favorite dish - the Frutta Di Mare Linguine.  It is fresh mussels, squid, clams, scallops, and shrimp in a zesty tomato sauce over linguine.  I was not disappointed!

Thursday night it was McDonald's on the way home.  Now it's back to normal life for us!

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
II Timothy 3:7

Florida

For the last several years, we have flown down to Florida towards the end of February, spent a week with my folks, then drove them home.  This year, they decided not to go to Florida at all, but we decided to keep up our tradition anyway.  So, we have spent the last week and a half in the sunny south.  And it was the sunny south all except one day.  The weather was beautiful. 
We spent the first week in Venice at the Venice Beach Villas.  A small, quaint, older, resort that we really liked.  Situated on Venice avenue, we could walk east to the downtown shops and restaurants, or west to the beach.  There were two senior couples from Bluffton staying there, so we enjoyed their fellowship.  Most of the people staying here come back year after year, so they all knew each other and were on a first name basis, even with the staff.  Venice is a smaller, quieter, slower paced town than some of the other popular Florida destinations.  And it has Casperson Beach, (my favorite) where I spent much time hunting shark teeth!  We also spent time on Venice Beach, Clearwater Beach, and visited St. Pete Beach. 

There ought to be a weight limit on who can wear Speedo's.

Pelicans were the wildlife of abundance this year.  They would float around on the water, gracefully lift off, soar over the water until they spotted a fish, then tuck their wings and dive bomb into the water and come up with a fish in their mouth.  Sometimes there would be a group of 3 - 8 pelicans practicing synchronized diving into a school of fish. They are much more graceful than they would appear to be.

Behold the humble pelican;  His beak can hold more than his belly can!

We enjoyed the fellowship at the Sarasota church, and ate out with Roy's and Ralph's one evening in honor of Dad and Roy's birthdays.
Speaking of eating out, I partook of some very fine food while down here.
-- Grilled Hogfish at Captain Eddies
-- Baby Back Ribs at Gold Rush
-- Chilean Sea Bass at Casey Key Fish House
-- Okeechobee Frog Legs at Captain Eddies
-- Alligator at Phillipi Creek Oyster Bar
-- BBQ Beef Brisket at Rib City
-- Crab Stuffed Salmon at Bascom's Chop House

As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
John 21:9