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TOPFLIGHT
CROSSES
We get lots of compliments on the lighted crosses we have on our elevators thru the Christmas season. This all started 30 years ago when I told Roger Burton and Terry Lawson, two of our employees, I wanted them to build a BIG lighted cross to put on top of our elevator here in Bement. They built it so big we could hardly get it out of the shop. It is 25’ tall and 16’ wide with 40 regular 100-watt bulbs affixed to it. It is made out of galvanized pipe, hinged at the bottom so you can swing it down to change bulbs. The cross is so big it has to be guyed with two cables. When Stason Kopps was transferred from Milmine to Monticello a couple of years ago one of his goals was to have a cross that was bigger than Bement’s on top of his new elevator. So they built a cross 30’ tall and 20’ wide with 87 light bulbs on it. I know when I drive from Bement to Monticello and cross the second knoll on Route 105, their cross looks like it’s in the middle of the road. I believe we have crosses on most of the elevators that we keep open the year around. I know I can see the cross on Seymour’s elevator from I-72 as I go to Champaign.
Last year we lit the cross in Bement for the churches sunrise service and it was awesome. It’s our way of decorating the whole country side and reminding people what the true meaning of Christmas is all about.
You know next year we will be celebrating our 100th year of being in business. Of course the name has changed but our purpose remains the same. To be owned and controlled by farmers. I think it’s remarkable that in those 100 years there have only been five mangers here at Bement Grain.
W. B. Fleming 1903 thru 1938
Edward Glennon 1938 thru 1945
Glen Durbin 1945 thru 1965
Roy Ubbenga 1965 thru 1969
Richard Thomas 1969 to the present
I think this says a lot about the community and the company. The community is a great place to live and raise a family. The company has grown from 30,000 bushels of storage in 1903 to 18 million bushels today. That growth and this wonderful community have helped us in keeping and training some terrific individuals. From the original set of employees to the 38 we have working for us today you couldn’t ask for a more dedicated group. We are also proud of the fact that this community and company have been very instrumental in developing, promoting, and influencing individuals to pursue the agricultural trade. We’re very proud of their accomplishments and would like to share with you where some of them are at and the job titles they have. This is in no particular sequence and if we’ve left someone off we apologize. A * denotes those who have worked for us.
* Frank Stone President of Mann Financials Kansas City, MO
* Curt Miller Grain Manager Sunrise Ag Virginia, IL
* Steve Mechling Superintendent Central States Elev. Montpelier IN
* Todd Widholm Loan &Trust Officer/State Bank Hersher, IL
* Doug Gooden Mgr. ADM Beach Grove Elev. Indianapolis, IN
Tim Gallagher Senior V.P. Bunge Grain Div. NA St. Louis, MO
* Don Camden CEO Agri Grain Marketing LLC Des Moines IA
Jack Laley Export Logistics Spec. Bunge NA St. Louis, MO
Bernie Whalen Monsanto Team Leader East Region Henderson, Ky
*Steve Kelly General Manager Alliance Grain Gibson City, IL
*Dave Foran Senior Mgr. of Procurement Kelloggs Ballle Creek M
Steve Mills ADM Group V.P. & Controller Decatur, IL
*Joe Thompson Comptroller Alliance Grain Gibson City, IL
*John Thomas Cargill Ag Horizon Central IL FSG Gibson City, IL
*John Flavin GPCI Branch Manager Ivesdale, IL
*Chris Corum Comptroller Clarkson Grain Cerro Gordo, IL
*Joe Weir Origination Mgr. Alliance Grain Gibson City, IL
*John Pranske Pur. Agent for Kopetz Manf. Decatur, IL
*Dave Devore Grain Merchandiser Siemer Milling Teutoplis, IL
Jeff Moery Plant Mgr. ADM Corn Processing Peoria, IL.
*Jeff Wright Man Lift Technician Harris Ind. Atwood, IL
Roger Moery President Vogel Popcorn/Con Agra Morral, Ohio
Of the 22 people mentioned 16 have worked for us and 12 graduated from our local High School. I’ve always said that if I make it to heaven I didn’t think the Lord will ask me how much money did I make but he might ask me how many people did I help out. I would like to think I could list these individuals and many more.
Our family will all be home for Christmas, after Christmas. You know when your kids get married and have families of their own you have to become flexible. The older I get the more important family becomes to me so I’m really looking forward to all of us being together for Christmas.
Thanks for your business and have a Happy Holiday Season.
MARKET
NEWS
by Scott Docherty
The harvest for 2002 was about as expected for corn and a good surprise for the soybeans. Corn yields averaged 130 to 135 bushel per acre and the beans surprised me with 50 to 60 bushel per acre averages. I will not predict bean yields at our crop tour after this last year’s wild guestimate. We received 2-3 inches of rain the same week as our crop tour and it did the soybeans a world of good. Unfortunately, it was too late for the corn that went through a spring flood and a summer drought. We had corn fields averaging from 70 bushels an acre to 170 bushels per acre. Topflight Grain receipts showed these lower yields with corn receipts at 11,670,000 bushels, down 3,280,000 bushels from last year. The bean receipts were up 260,000 bushels at 4,360,000,
from the fall of 2001. We had a larger percentage of the corn crop bought before harvest this year so our storage income will be way down. Producers had 4 days to collect a bean LDP this harvest and did not have corn drop below loan for a corn LDP. The Topflight crew was not busy making LDP sheets, but they sure were busy making copies of the last 4 years production reports for the new farm program.
The December CZ futures average for October came in at $2.52, 20 cents better than the February average. The producers that had CRC coverage this year are sure glad they did with many of them expecting 40 to 50 dollars per acre in payments. The producers that had RA coverage ended up with a $2.425 December average for the month of November.
The USDA lowered the projected corn exports to 1.925 billion bushels for this marketing year and also lowered the average farm price range to $2.20-$2.60 for corn. The USDA lowered the projected soybean crushings but raised the soybeans exports for a net increased usage of 25 million bushels. The projected average farm soybean price is a range of $4.95-$5.85 per bushel for this marketing year. The key to soybeans in the next 60 days will, of course, be the South American crop. If they have crop problems, beans will go to $6.50 and if they produce a crop larger than the US, for the first time, then beans will run into resistance at $5.90-$6.00 and fall to $5.00 by April.
We are still interested in buying your nongmo beans for post harvest delivery and we are also signing up acres for the 2003 nongmo bean program, which is at a premium of 35 cents.
Topflight Grain is contracting bushels for our 2003 High Oil corn program also at this time. The premium is the same as last year at 25 cent for 8% oil content and we will also add on a 2 cent signing bonus for a limited time, so please contact one of our grain originators for more details.
The biggest concern I see as I am writing this article is the introduction of new corn hybrids that are still not approved for European acceptance. These include Roundup Ready, Herculex, and the rootworm resistant varieties that are being offered. Producers are asking for them, also, because of the direct return for your dollar. Topflight Grain still ships into these unapproved markets and continues to see road blocks and challenges in channeling these varieties into the correct markets. Topflight Grain has not changed its corn acceptance policy and will continue to review these issues and keep you informed as they develop. The second concern I have is Alfatoxin in the corn that is to be delivered off the farm. If the conditions were wrong when you harvested your crop it is possible that it got a lot worse when you stored it in the bin this past fall. We will be checking and testing loads as they are delivered to make sure we don’t have an unmarketable commodity. This extra segregation and testing is costly so grain margins will suffer as a direct result this marketing year. Please give us a call if you have any questions or comments about these issues.
My family and I would like to wish you a Merry Xmas and a Happy 2003.
Everyone at Pierson is getting ready for Christmas and the New Year. Dan Chambers just brought me a book that his son Don published. It’s about various towns in Illinois and western Indiana. There is even a picture of Topflight’s Pierson elevator on page 126. The book would be a good Christmas present to give and get. If you’re interested, give Dan a call.
The Pierson crew wishes everyone a safe and joyous holiday season. And please stop in and get your new calendars and have some popcorn with us.
Change
can be a Good Thing!
As most of you know by now, my new primary work location is now at our TopFlight Grain facility in Monticello. In late September of this year I moved my office as did Scott, to Monticello, so we can utilize the extra office space that is here at Monticello. I now have Derrick’s old office and he and Scott share the large office that is on the west side of the building. It has been remodeled and a wall has been taken out and really looks nice.
We have had a really smooth harvest this year. Our corn yields were right around the 135 bushel per acre average that our crop tour came up with, but our soybean yields were actually a lot better than the 34 bushels…..we had timely August rains and the soybeans averaged around 50 bushels per acres.
I have enjoyed getting to know the customers in the Monticello area. We have our information for our 2003-2004 Non GMO and High Oil Specialty Grain Programs. Sign up has already begun for these programs. Here are some of the particulars of both programs. In the Non GMO program, the premium has been bumped up to 35 cents per bushel. Delivery locations will be Atwood, Bement, Cisco, Emery, LaPlace, Seymour and Shacks. The locations accepting High Oil corn will be Bement, Cisco, and Seymour. Premiums for this will be 25 cents per bushel with 8% oil content. There is still plenty of space at these locations for both programs. We would like to thank all of those who have participated in these programs!
During this holiday season, it is a time to pause and to remember all of the things which we have been blessed with. Our families, being most important. We also have our good friends at work. And of course, we have our customers. Without them we would not have a place to come to work. I hope everyone has a joyous holiday season, and I look forward to serving you in the coming months.
SOUTHERN
TERMINAL
This year harvest at TopFlight Grain seemed to go smooth for the most part with few snags and only a couple of break downs. I felt that the new La Place project made an enormous difference in that area, lines where down to nearly nothing, and if we can have a repeat of that performance in a bumper crop year, it will make it that much better. I would also like to thank all of you for using the driveway to the south of the elevator at La Place. It made things much easier for everyone involved with all the traffic going the same direction.
Since harvest we have been very busy loading rail cars for shipment and making room for free DP grain. If I didn’t know better I would say we are becoming a terminal elevator. If we keep up this pace on rail cars we should set some kind of a record for these locations. I would like to thank all of our customers for their business in this past year and hope that we will continue to do business with us in the years to come. If you have any comments or suggestions for any of the facilities feel free to stop by or give me a call anytime.
Harvest 2002
The harvest of 2002 is complete at LaPlace and the bean totals were
great but the corn drug behind about 40 bu an acre less than last year. We took
in about 1.5million bushels of corn and around 600,000 bushels of beans. The new bean complex worked
well. Everyone seemed to like the set up. I cannot remember having more than 6
trucks in line at one time, that was great I can remember those 1 hour lines we
have had in the past .
We had a few new faces working for us this year. Inside, we had Darlene
Hale and Kim Smith along with my 2 sidekicks from last year Tonya Tenney and,
my daughter, Ashley Stinson. Outside, Randy Oakman and Chad Dickey ran the bean
complex and at the corn end David Jones and good ole reliable David Roper
(Roper, as we know him) helped Randy out. You all did a great job and if you
need a job next year we will be happy
to have you back.
At LaPlace this year we took in non-gmo soybeans. We were worried in
the beginning that this would cause a back up of the corn trucks but with the
corn below average this year things went fine. We will be taking non-gmo beans
next year also. So if you are a customer who raises non-gmo beans, call us and
get a contract for them and receive a 35 cent premium.
On the homefront, Keith and the girls are all doing fine. Our youngest
daughter, Nicolle, has to have some arthroscopic surgery to her knee so she is
not able to play basketball this year.
Ashley is a senior and getting her college stuff in order. She wants to be a dental hygienist. She will
attend Lake Land college in the fall.
Gretchen is working at the Kroger store in Mt Zion as a pharmacy tech and also getting her associates degree in
business administration at Richland. Keith is fishing for crappie every chance
he gets and I am bowling when I find the time. Our family would like to wish
you and yours a Happy Holiday season.
SURVIVOR!!!
I survived another harvest. This was my seventeenth harvest since I started working at Bement Grain and Topflight Grain. But, this is the only company I have worked for since graduating from high school. I am proud that I can say these words. Hayden says that he is going to work for Topflight when he grows up. I think that Mitchell is going to play video games for a living. If anyone knows of any good jobs in this field please let me know. He is only nine years old but I think that he can start right away.
We keep a spreadsheet every year of harvest receipts and shipments at Topflight. The spreadsheet shows that harvest lasted fifty five days this year. The first ten days and the last ten days are easy. It is the thirty five days in the middle that seem to hurt the most. Cisco won the most dumps award again this year. Dick usually presents the top elevator with a toilet seat for this accomplishment. It would be nice if Cisco would give me a roll of toilet paper for helping load some of the trains during harvest. I will let you know if I receive a roll.
Cisco was also our elevator with the biggest breakdown in the fall. Something got trapped in one of the main receiving legs and destroyed every bucket on this leg. I say something because we never found the object that caused the damage. This happened at six o’clock on a very busy evening. I drove to Peoria that night and picked up 625 plastic elevator buckets. The plastic pieces from the destroyed buckets plugged our leg and dryer. Roger stayed until midnight working on this problem and then returned at five o’clock the next morning to start replacing all the buckets. Henry and Michael helped Roger replace all the buckets in one day. This is the first time we have ever had this many buckets destroyed on a grain leg.
Lately I have been working on projects and improvements for next year. The next harvest will be here before we realize it. If anyone has a suggestion for a facility improvement please let me know. Even if you just tell me to fill in a pothole.
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
It’s hard to believe that another year is almost gone, but here we are putting up Christmas trees and hanging lights again. That means that we’ve survived another harvest.
Harvest went well this year thanks to a great crew. I would like to thank Barb Holt for helping me again this year, what a lifesaver! Helping Bill outside this year was Steve Griffith and Danny Fisher. Everyone did a great job. Thank you all for your hard work! I would like to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation during harvest. I thought everything went pretty smoothly. I would also like to thank Helen Dallas and Debbie Bryant for the goodies to munch on. We appreciated the thought, and so did our bellies.
I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate Melvin and Norma Fay on their retirement. We wish them all the best in health and happiness as they enjoy their retirement.
As another year comes to a close, we can take the opportunity to reflect on the year’s events and count our blessings. Regardless of the difficult trials in our lives, we can all find much to be thankful for. I know I can. God bless you all and warm wishes for a safe and wonderful holiday season.
Seymour News
The pace has picked up again since harvest ended now that we have offered Free DP to grain delivered from the farm. Harvest went really well this year, and even though the corn yields were down, we did not have any problem filling the elevator. This was the first harvest here with Mike running the elevator, and he did a great job. He had Donavin and Jason to help him outside and I had Emily and Erik helping to run the scales. They all did an excellent job and, if available, I would hire them back.
We received high oil corn and non-GMO soybeans here along with the normal corn and soybeans. Both of these programs are going to be run next year, so let me know if you are interested. The high oil corn has a 25-cent per bushel premium for 8% oil content, for either harvest or buyer’s call delivery. Also, if you sign up before the end of the year, there is an extra two cents per bushel premium. The non-GMO soybeans are going to be a 35-cent per bushel premium, which is up ten cents from this year. Space is limited in both of these programs, so sign up early.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Harvest 2002!!!
By Mikki Burns
It’s over, and I think everyone is glad!!
We had one day that slowed everyone up—all the buckets on the leg at the East elevator broke. It caused a little congestion, but everyone really worked hard and together to get it fixed in as little time as possible. We still do not know what caused it—that’s a little scary.
Even though the corn yields were down, we still went over the two million mark—2,025,958 bushels of corn and 538,074 bushels of soybeans. We shipped nine trains in comparison to eleven last year.
Cisco sure had good help again this year, and I would like to thank:
Jon Sago, Joyce Bennett, Stacey Burns and Laura Shaw who helped in the office, store and scales;
Heath Conover, James Warren and Gary Riggs who helped outside;
Rick, Garold and John for doing a “great” job managing the elevators and binsite.
Thanks!! Everyone!!
Harvest was over in time for our annual St. Louis trip—I really look forward to that each year!! My sister, Barbara Powers, and our friend, Cindy Martin, and I went for four days to St. Louis and St. Charles shopping, eating and just having a good time. I look at it as a REWARD after harvest.
Our grandson, Blaine, is really growing. He weighs about seventeen pounds now and has grown about seven inches. He smiles and coos—soooo cute!! Grandpa has already gotten him a ‘John Deere’ wagon for Christmas. It’s sure going to be fun having a little one around!!
The holidays seem to have rolled around really fast again this year. With Thanksgiving being late, seems like Christmas is just around the corner. ‘So many things to do and so little time’. But, somehow it always gets done. So, all of us at Cisco wish you and yours a very safe and wonderful holiday season. Let us all be thankful for our many blessings.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
By Derrick Bruhn
Scott and Keith moved to the Monticello office before harvest. It has been great to have a couple extra hands when things get busy. Keith has been a great help with the phones and at the scale when needed. Scott has been busy with everyday activity and teaching me as he goes along. He has brought a lot more phone activity to the office with him. It’s not uncommon to have two or three lines busy at the same time.
Harvest went very well. We had some returning help this year with Chris Frye helping us on the outside and Kyle Meece helping with the scales. Heather Martin helped at the scales this year also. All of them did a great job and we really appreciate them for helping us when they were needed. We also appreciate all of their help at Lodge. At some point during harvest all of them got the opportunity to work at Lodge.
Monticello had a good harvest. With the yields down, the traffic was a bit slower, but bushels were better than expected. Rob worked on the Delux dryer and got it to work if it was needed. We didn’t use it too much, but it is ready for a big harvest next year. We had Steve Riggs here this fall to help with drying and running grain at night. Stason had a little easier harvest this year with the good help that he had outside. I can’t forget Jim. Jim dumped the highest percentage of grain over expectation at Lodge this year. He took in 154% of expected corn and 200% of the expected beans. He did an excellent job with running the scale and dumping trucks. Good thing that the golf cart doesn’t have an odometer on it because Jim made a lot of trips from the office to the pit.
Crop insurance time is rolling around and I will be helping anyone who has questions pertaining to it. I will help you incorporate insurance with your marketing program. I am an agent for ASI if you are looking to purchase insurance.
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOOD NEW YEAR!
EMERY NEWS
By Denny Hill
Harvest began about a week earlier here at Emery this year compared to the other Topflight locations, so we became aware of the short corn crop first. Like most other areas of ours, we knew the crop size was down but were optimistic that it wasn’t in the 110 to 130 ranges our crop survey came up with in August. But when the first field was completed and the yield fell in this range, we knew the ground piles wouldn’t be necessary this fall.
For the first time in a few years our corn dryers were needed for quite a bit of this year’s corn crop. Most of the corn we received the first couple of weeks tested 21 to 28 percent and it seemed like the corn didn’t dry down quite as fast as it usually does in the field. Fortunately we didn’t have any breakdowns and Charlie and his help were able to keep the grain flowing without a hitch all fall.
When bean harvest finally got underway, the farmers were shocked to see the bean yields their fields were putting out. After seeing the worst corn crop since ‘88’, the farmers were not expecting a bumper bean crop but the late rains in August made us one of the biggest bean years in sometime.
We lost 2 of our farmers (Rob Marsh & John Beal) to tragic accidents in the last year and it was heart warming to see the community come together and help these families harvest their crops this fall. John had 160 acres not far from Emery that his fellow farmers took turns running his combine (he had narrow row corn) and finished it in a timely matter along with several hundred acres in the Warrensburg area. Rob’s family, who lived just ½ mile from Emery, watched in amazement as the neighborhood harvested 1700 acres of their corn and soybeans in about 3 days. A 90-acre field of corn next to the elevator had 9 combines in it and was finished in one hour. It was quite a sight! Both of these young men were in the prime of their life and will be greatly missed by the people they touched.
As far as the Hill family goes we are in our winter routine of basketball games 3 or 4 nights a week. Jessica is now a junior and a cheerleader for Maroa-Forsyth and Meghan, an 8th grader, plays basketball and volleyball on the junior high team. My wife Terri is still teaching 8th grade math in the Meridian school district.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE EMERY BRANCH
BOTTOM LINE PROJECTIONS
It seems like yesterday that I just completed my last article. Must be my bad memory!
It appears this year will be more difficult for your company than the past several years. Corn volume was down approximately 20%, corn drying up slightly and storage and price late income down significantly. End of October financials show a slightly better ending number than last year, but with reduced volume and decreased storage income, end of May profit levels are projected to be much less than in the past. Your company has a strong balance sheet and should have no trouble in absorbing a reduced profit level next years.
Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year!
Greetings
from Milmine
Aug.21, Randy Harlin says we are off 30% on our yield check. He say’s that they will make 44 at least.
Sorry Randy I can’t remember what that guy said they made, LOL.
Sept.9, Les to Dave,”Here, you haven’t been in this chair yet.” The “puter chair” as it’s known in Milmine.
John Mcrae checking on the price of corn, on 2 telephones. He said you had to be important to talk on 2 phones at once, I see Duane and Les wanting to get another one. I am not that important I told him, that’s why I keep mine shut off.
Sept.11, Roger Hendrix first load of corn at 20.7% and t.w. of 56.2.
Sept.13, Roger couldn’t haul because he had to go get a washer at Lowe’s to stay on Dianne’s good side he said.
Sept.14, Stuart James had to help the other “puter man”, put gas in is truck as that E does not stand for enough.
Sept.17, Sam Brandenburg was eating at the West End and was talking to Dick Thomas about hauling to the competitor, ruined Dick’s appetite for lunch. Dick called and asked me where he was hauling it to. I started laughing cause Sam calls my competitor his grain bin on the farm.
Sept.23, The first day of getting busy. The computer was lost without the guys.
Also my first dessert day from Alice Briggs. She is an excellent cook, that ole’ Roger is lucky. I won’t tell anybody that Ken G. was going to turn my box upside down either.
Stuart James first load of beans 12.1% moisture. Heather asked Janet “what did you do now? Well it looks like the kids read their parent’s newsletters too.
Sept 24, 12:40 P.M. Linda Born brought up a sample of beans to get tested and saw two trucks lined up at the bean elevator at the driveway and she say’s “oh ,my we have a bean line at the elevator already”. Well Danny L. was taking beans out and the other trucks couldn’t get thru yet, as he was loading out of the south tank. It was funny.
Sept.25, Alice Briggs brought me peach cobbler and it was still warm. Eric ,her grandson, say’s “you have to eat it while it’s still hot.” I did and it was great. THANKS ,Alice.
Sept.26, I knew when Linda Bowlby was studying my sign in the window my spelling was wrong. She does it to me every year.
Sept.27, Duane was checking for alfatoxin, was wondering about glowing in the dark. Jeff Swartz biggest load, he got popcorn and caramels.
Linda Bowlby wants to be the most mentioned person in my article. Why my article?
Sept.28, Sam calls and wants to know if we are taking bets on Wima Fendley not weighing empty this year. They had just started on Ann Miller and he saw her down there. 11:10 a.m. Linda Bowlby’s first load today.11:59 a.m. Linda Bowlby’s 2nd load of the day.
Linda Bowlby back at 1:52p.m.
J and J at it again, Charlie say’s they are going to kill each other. Aka “WOOD SPECIALTIES”
Jane Bradley calls and wants to know if they are the first ones done because Walsh’s just did their field. She had been golfing with the girls.
“Grandpa Tom”… Dobson, is what Hannah and Matt called him, sounded funny to me, but he is older than me, LOL.
Sept.30, 6:55 a.m. Les makes coffee and turns on the computer, while I am turning on everything else. Wilma Fendley wants to know if I’d take a bribe or how much was it worth…………. ‘” SHE WEIGHED EVERYTIME THIS YEAR”… Loaded and empty..
Linda Bowlby and Grandpa Tom , hold up their farm code cards everytime when they pull on the scales. This is a plus for people running the scales because sometimes if you switch turns, you may have switched fields again. Thanks for all the help you have given us here at Milmine because we really do appreciate it very much.
It is a lot easier for Teri and me. Sometimes she may not know a truck, and that farm code in the window is what we go by ..
Randy Howland’s Dodge pickup was pulling his Dad’s new Ford. Raymond said the Dodge was shut off and that the Ford was pushing the Dodge.
Linda Bowlby had a fly in the tractor cab and it was driving her nuts ,so of course she named it “LOUIE”
Oct.1, I told Linda Bowlby to take beans to the concrete elevator, she say’s “no problem”. That means she doesn’t have to go up the hill.
Oct.2, Linda Bowlby gave me the stupid sign cause I misspelled sandwich again , because it doesn’t have a “T” in it.
A patron told Dick that he wouldn’t have to write a newsletter cause mine was long enough for him, too.
Oct.3, Sam called and wanted to know if Wilma made it?
Dwight Miner called my elevator “A HORSE and BUGGY” elevator. How’s that Vanessa? He was dreaming , I guess !
Lisa Hendrix made her first trip thru the elevator, with no problems, I knew you could do it Lisa, I had no doubts about you.
Oct.4, Joyce Hendrix, have you done anything to make the newsletter, “NO,NO” she said.
Oct.7, Dinner’s ready, spiral ham, from Bob and Linda Bowlby and it just came out of the oven it was still hot. Boy was it good too. They are starting to spoil all of us over here because it is nice when you are busy. We really appreciate and that’s from all of us here at Milmine, inside and outside help.
The other Tom Dobson, forgot to weigh empty, but he got a mile down the road and came back.
Oct.8, I heard Dave Conlin was driving around trying to drum up some business.
Johnny Bill asked Ryan where his caramels were. Ryan said, “I ate them trying to help you lose weight.”
Oct.9, Jim Burns, said he had 80 bu. beans. I knew they were good cause I watched that field all year long. Don’t let him tell you any different, Mildred.
Whoops, Mikki just entered the picture. Alot of difference in acres she said. I tried Jim.
Mylinda brought over her grand daughter Emily over so she could see Louie’s CASTLE. That’s what she calls my elevator.
Oct.10, Linda Bowlby gave me an award for most dumps in one day on beans. It was our record though, 50,000 plus.
Duane couldn’t use his cell phone cause he lost his little black book in a bin of corn.Ed Huffington gave us a scare on his little accident.
Oct.12, Bob Bowlby takes Linda coffee to her in bed every morning. Ladies you better get on your hubbies. He would be a good catch,LOL. Linda’s got him.
Oct.14, Chad Burns doesn’t like those crumpled up tickets he gets from that horse and buggy elevator.
Charlie Vinson gives everyone a hug and kiss, when he comes to Milmine. He has missed us for a year.
Oct.16, They are calling Milmine, Junior Sample’s used truck dealership. Lecrone, Ayers, and C.Hendrix trucks all decided to die at the same time.
Oct.17, Curt Robson called from the combine and thanked me for the popcorn. I won’t tell anyone that Duane (dad), forgot to take you your steak dinner that day. He told me not to tell you Curt. LOL.
Oct.18, Knox Morton going to do what nobody else could do after 24 years. You will have to tell them Knox I forgot what it was.
5:03p.m. Wilma said she made it. I told
her maybe Melvin would let her bring in the last load and she’d forget to weigh
it.
Oct.23, Les your disciple is Bolden.
Dec…. Got a phone call, David T. forgot where he left his truck one night and had to try and find it the next day.
From all of us here at Milmine have a great and blessed holiday season and THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
Ok, my next article won’t be so long, that way you won’t be bored with Milmine ...
Oh, by the way Josephine the wind mill is great, ½ mile north of Milmine.
I will be a PePaw by the time this comes out or close. Going to be a boy, Collin Blake.. My first grand child.
MERRY
CHRISTMAS!!
As we near the end
of harvest, those who have to work the last weekend are quite jealous of those
who finished up the crop and have the weekend off. Once harvest is finished, it allows us some time to catch up on
the things that have been put aside for the past two months. Among the Topflight girls, this includes
catching up the laundry, the dishes, maybe some housecleaning, and some
bookwork. (If the men have these
duties, they don’t talk about them!) At
our house, I finally found the floor of the utility room! It was covered with corn chaff and hay!!
It was a fairly good harvest. Bean yields were far better than
anticipated, and corn yields were about as anticipated. We avoided the LDP game, for the most part,
and tried to finish up the bookwork, as timely as we could. Shortly after harvest, I was a guest at the
Piatt County Farm Bureau Ladies Group.
This is a terrific group of women, very interested in agriculture, and
always attentive. I presented them with
a variety of marketing plans, illustrated with a variety of cookies. I love to bake cookies, and it only seemed
natural to tie that interest to the interest of my occupation. I may have stretched the imagination a bit
far in that correlation, but it was fun and I think we all enjoyed the
thoughts. I greatly appreciated the
note that I received from Twila Mackey, telling me that Stan wasn’t sure about
the theories I presented, but he liked the cookies that accompanied the
presentation!
The end of harvest is a rewarding time
of the year for all of us, and truly makes us appreciative of the year’s
labor. More so than other professions,
agriculture allows us to celebrate the Thanksgiving season, as it was intended,
thankful for the year’s goodness. We
enter into the Christmas season, grateful and hopeful, for another prosperous
year.
We wish you and your family a very
Merry Christmas.
A
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Guest of Honor: Jesus Christ
Date:
Every day. Traditionally,
December 25
But He’s always around, so the date is
flexible . . .
Time:
Whenever you’re ready.
(Please don’t be late, though, or you’ll miss
out on all the fun!)
Place: In
your heart . . . He’ll meet you there.
(You’ll hear him knock.)
Attire:
Come as you are . . grubbies are
okay.
He’ll be wearing our clothes anyway.
He said something about new white robes and
crowns for everyone who stays till the last.
Tickets: Admission is free.
He’s already paid for everyone . .
(He says you wouldn’t have been able to
afford it anyway. .
it cost Him everything He had.
But you do need to accept the ticket!!)
Refreshments: New
wine, bread,
and a far-out drink He calls “Living Water”,
followed by a supper that promises to be out
of this world!
Gift Suggestions:
Your life.
He’s one of those people who already has
everything else.
(He’s very generous in return, though.
Just wait until you see what He has for you!)
Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth, Light, Life, Love, Real
Happiness,
Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles,
Healing Power,
Eternity in Paradise, Contentment, and much
more!
(All “G” rated, so bring your family and
friends.)
R.S.V.P. Very Important!
He must know ahead so He can reserve a spot
for you at the table.
Also, He’s keeping a list of His friends for
future reference.
He calls it the “Lamb’s Book of Life.”
Party being given by His
kids (that’s us!!)
GRAIN
INSURANCE FUND
By Richard
Thomas
As most of you know the Tywalk Grain bankruptcy took all the money the State of Illinois had in the grain insurance fund plus about 4 million more out of the state treasury. So now the state needs their 4 million back plus they want to build the grain insurance fund up to at least 7 million dollars. The assessment comes from the grain dealers in the state, of which we pay $10,000, amounts to about $900,000 per year. We paid our assessment in July and now we understand there has been another elevator failure in Southern Illinois that is going to take $800,000 out of the fund. You can see we’re not making much progress in paying off our debt or building the fund. The state Grain & Feed Association met with the State Farm Bureau to try and work out a plan where the grain dealers along with the farmers would contribute to the fund. That was okay until the legislators thought that farmers would look at it as a tax and in an election year they didn’t want to pass the legislation. Now the Farm Bureau is back to the bargaining table with a plan for more coverage and more regulations. I hope something can be worked out.
In the mean time the USDA says that any
elevator in the United States can have a grain dealers license without having
to comply with the state regulations.
What an uproar this has created in the grain industry. The NASDA (National Association of State
Departments of Agriculture) is threatening to sue the USDA over whether they
have jurisdiction over the states or not.
As a member of the NGFA (National Grain & Feed Association) I have
been appointed to serve on a committee to try and work through these
challenges. I have attended a meeting
in Chicago and then recently a meeting in Kansas City. The committee agrees that there needs to be
protection for the farmers of some sort; either an insurance fund or enough
bonding to cover each grain company’s risks.
Some think that all the insurance should be funded by the farmers, like
they do in Indiana.
Our committee believes that two competing regulatory systems can co-exist; a federal system and a state system. The federal system may need some modifications to cover grain dealer or merchandising transactions, but we believe they can co-exist. Competition can be a very good thing and if there is competition between the two systems, it may work to make both systems better. The industry should have a choice. Companies operating in multiple states should have a single, predictable regulatory framework to conduct their business in.
I feel very honored that the NGFA asked me to serve on this committee and I know we will come up with a fair agreement.
WHO
WON THE BET?
By Richard
Thomas
For the last several years Chuck, Scott and myself estimate the amount of fall bushels we’ll receive on both corn and soybeans. We put the estimates in a sealed envelope and at a given time Chuck opens them and publishes the guesses. The one closest to the corn number gets treated to a night out by the other two with the wives included. Last year Chuck won but we haven’t paid him off yet. We usually take close to 15 million bushels of corn at harvest and usually all three estimates are pretty close together. But after the crop tour this year there was a lot of excitement when the envelopes were opened. Chuck estimated 10.4 million (controllers are always pessimistic), Scott estimated 10.7 million and I estimated 12.4 million. Well the laugh was on me because I was so much higher than either of them. We actually use these figures to do our projections for the fall receipts. They tried to convince me that my figure was way too high and that we should average their two numbers together to get a realistic number to plug into the spreadsheet. Harvest started and Chuck was on cloud nine. He just knew we were going to owe him another meal. I’ll have to admit there were times when I thought he might be the winner. Well we surpassed his number and now Scott looks like he’ll win for sure. Chuck was willing to concede to Scott but he sure didn’t want me to win. We got to the end of October and they wanted to stop doing the spreadsheet and declare Scott the winner. I wouldn’t agree because the purpose of this whole exercise is to give us a harvest figure and harvest was still going on. I was encouraging the branches to get out and drum up new business. On the 1st of November we reached the figure it was going to take for me to win. You should have seen their faces! Boy were they dejected! Now I’m looking forward to a meal at the Chesapeake House in Springfield, Illinois, real soon.
CONGRATULATIONS
to . . .
The Cerro Gordo Broncos, Argenta Bombers, Monticello Sages football teams, who progressed into the semi-fianls of the state football playoff tournament;
Tyler Morganthaler, selected Macon County Player of the Year;
June & Carroll Elliott, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary;
Ryan and Sarah Reeder, married in August;
Steve and Kelly Bullwinkle, parents of a new son, Owen Lee. Grandparents are Steve & Maureen McCartney and Mr. and Mrs. Lee Bullwinkle;
Clyde and Helen Clarkson, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary;
Louie Tieman & Bob Perkins. Louie treated Bob to lunch, for wearing his Topflight Grain hat, in an advertisement;
Darrin and Beth Carroll, parents of new daughter, Alyson Mae. Grandparents are Dean & Bev Carroll; Great grandparents are Kenneth & Anita Carroll;
Brian and Jody Wilkin, parents of a new son, Garrett Andrew. Grandparents are Lucia Wilkin, Dick & Evelyn Wilkin and Joe & Nancy Kerkoff;
Frank & Florence Hoffman, recently celebrating their 50th anniversary;
Chris Karr, winner of the hog calling contest at the State Fair, for the 3rd year in a row;
Melvin & Norma Fay, retiring from farming;
Dillon Docherty, student of the quarter, at Bement;
Milo Hiser, celebrating his 90th birthday in September;
Nicolle Stinson and Jeff Gregg, appearing in the Decatur Herald’s Cerro Gordo Homecoming article;
Roger & Alice Briggs, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in October;
John Clifford, honored by Easter Seals Central Illinois as the Business of the Year;
Our
sympathies to the families of . .
Ira Davis, Joe Trower, Marjorie Beckhart, Paul Hogan, Mildred Bolsen, Nell Hubbell, Tracy L Skinner, Spencer Wierman, Helen Hepperlen, Richard Arnold Gucker, Marie Harshbarger, Dr. Jeff Roberts, Jack Nolan, Julia Morris
1. Dust system for LaPlace soybean pit.
2. Overhead bin at Monticello to better blend and load out soybeans.
3. Bigger capacity conveyor for wet corn at Monticello.
4. Remove old wood elevator at Monticello.
5. New bigger conveyor at Pierson to fill biggest tank.
6. Grain oiling system at Pierson for corn going to the ground.
7. Speed up leg and conveyor at Emery soybean complex
8. New scale at Emery.
9. Clean up approach and concrete at old Argenta elevator.
10. Put larger augers in flats at Cisco.
11. Build retention pond at Seymour.
12. Look at replacing four-wheel drive pickup.
13. Replacing end loader
14. Mower tractor for Monticello
15. Coat roofs at LaPlace – Elevator and Hoffman tank
16. Electrical upgrading at Cisco east elev.
17. Grain distributor at Seymour
18. Oil and asphalt or blacktop drives and other areas
19. Paint legs at Pierson and Lodge
20. Trailer for Monticello
21. Maintenance truck
CAN
SHE BAKE A CHERRY PIE?
It may not be a cherry pie, but Rick & Debbie can buy a good pie!! Rick Stone, and Debbie Sievers attended the Monticello FFA Chili Fest, and came home with three delicious pies. Proceeds from the Chili Fest and the pie auction benefit the FFA Chapter.
HOLIDAY
SCHEDULE
All Topflight Grain offices will be closed for Christmas Day on Wednesday, December 25, and on Wednesday, January 1. Please have all of your end of year grain sales, or payments completed by Monday, December 30, so that we can have most of your January checks ready for pickup on Thursday, January 2.
TRICK
OR TREAT!!!
We enjoyed several Halloween visitors this year!!!
Hayden Clements roared into the Bement office.
Dillon Docherty juggled his way into the Bement office.
Gabrielle Brix cheered for the Cisco crew!
Brie Brix swept into the Cisco office!
THE
WORST OF TIMES, THE BEST OF TIMES
When tragedy occurs, or illness occurs, the strength of the farm community shows strong. It is the worst of times, but the best of times to see the warmth, strength and support that is present in our communities.
Friends and neighbors of Charlie Smith gathered to harvest his crops this fall. Charlie has suffered from some health problems, and the community dedicated their time and equipment to deliver Charlie’s crops to Seymour. It was a heart warming day as everyone worked together. Charlie and Margaret treated the crew to chicken (or beef) and noodles at the annual Church luncheon that day at noon.
Many friends and neighbors of Rob Marsh’s gathered to harvest his crops this fall, in the Emery area. Robbie was tragically killed in an accident in August. In memory of Rob, Dick wrote this tribute:
ROB MARSH
It’s hard to put into words your feelings when such a tragic event happens that takes the life of a young person. I had the opportunity to sit down with Rob (Marsh) and Denny (Hill) just a few days before the accident and we talked about the future of farming and his farming operation. He was going to have the opportunity to rent some more land from a friend and was excited about that opportunity. I told him about meeting his oldest son Tyler at the Argenta parade and appreciated the help he had given us in setting up our float. Tyler told me he knew all about it because he was on the baseball team that walked beside our float at the Maroa parade a year earlier.
From the pictures I saw at the visitation I could tell Rob was really a family man and well respected by all those in the community. That was evident by all the neighbors who showed up to help harvest his crops. Jim Mattingly, Rob’s father in law, with Denny’s help, coordinated the harvesting of Rob’s crops.
I lost a brother in an accident when he was only 9 years old and to this day my mother wonders why. I guess it not for us to know. Mom found solace in thinking that God didn’t want all old people in heaven. Someday I guess we’ll all know why.
CALENDARS
2003 calendars are available at each of the Topflight offices. Please stop and pick up the ones you need. They’re a handy reference, with our phone numbers on them, so you can call us quickly when you need information.
LIFE
HAS COME FULL CIRCLE
I’m shopping for mom now. You know the last time I did any grocery shopping was after Bonnie and I got married and every Saturday afternoon, when I got off work, we would go grocery shopping. For less than $10 we could buy all the groceries we needed for the week. Mom can go shopping every Monday on the bus that leaves from Tatman, but I think she likes to see me, so she refuses to go. Her shopping list consists of empty boxes and containers of what she has used. Bonnie helped me out and made an all time shopping list of the things mom needs and then we just check them off. She eats breakfast and lunch in her room, but for the evening meal she goes to the dinning room where the cooks at Tatman provide a wonderful meal. Mom complains about having too much to eat and sometimes misses the evening meal. I keep telling her she is paying for it, so go down and eat anyway. Now she’s learned the routine from the other retirees and she takes along a container to take the leftovers back to her room for the next day’s lunch. It’s hard to keep her in bananas because she eats a banana every morning for breakfast and you know they don’t keep very long. She loves Milky Way candy bars and Oreo cookies with the thick filling. I keep her well supplied with them, because I like sweets also.
So this is what I mean by full circle. She took care of me while I was growing up, so now in her latter years I am taking care of her. Of course she doesn’t mind reminding me of that real often. Her eyesight is still good so she reads a lot and loves to do word game puzzles. She can tell when there’s going to be a change in the weather because of a bad knee she has that hurts when the weather changes so she says.
She has some problems with her short-term memory but they are real good at Tatman about looking out for each other. The other day when I visited with mom she told me she was worrying about one of her friends. I said, “Mom, what do you think is wrong with her?” Mom replied by saying, “I think she’s loosing it,” while making a circular motion by her head. I asked Mom why she thought this and she said she had to show the lady which way to go when she left her room. I said, “But, Mom, that’s the same lady that stops by every evening and reminds you and then takes you down to eat.” She thought for a little while and responded by saying, “I guess it’s like the Blind leading the Blind.” We both laugh.
I don’t know what this has to do with the grain business, but several of you have asked about my Mom because I mentioned in our last newsletter that we had moved her to Tatman Village. I hope I didn’t say anything real bad about her because she reads and saves every newsletter we write. I know because we are in the process of cleaning her house out and, believe me, she saved everything. One thing about it if she does read something I’ve said she doesn’t approve of, she won’t remember it long.
SETTING
SAIL FROM SEYMOUR
Quite an unusual load pulled into Seymour this fall! A very large boat was anchored to the trailer of the semi! One of the neighbors built the boat, and was transporting it to the East Coast. Once there, a sail and finishing touches would be added, to set sail in the Atlantic Ocean.
A
GREAT STRESS BUSTER
When you have had one of those “take this job and shove it” days, try this:
On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the section where they have thermometers. You will need to purchase a rectal thermometer made by “Q-tip”. Be very sure that you get this brand.
When you get home, lock your doors and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed during your therapy. Change to very comfortable clothing, such as a sweatsuit and lie down on your bed.
Open the package and remove the thermometer. Place it on the bedside table so that it will not become chipped or broken. Take out the written material that accompanies the thermometer and read it.
You will notice in small print the statement that “Every rectal thermometer made by “Q-tip” is PERSONALLY tested.”
Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times, “I am so glad that I do not work in quality control at the “Q-tip” company!!”
GRAIN
PAGE
“Know Before You Grow”
The National Corn Growers Association coined the phrase, “Know Before You Grow”, to make producers aware of the market channels for their grain production. With new biotechnology introductions coming to market every year, producers are anxious to accept the benefits of the new technology. However, not every consumer market is anxious to accept the products of the new technology. Many of the newer biotech traits in corn breeding have not been accepted in the European Union. This affects the central Illinois corn market, immensely, since much of our corn, and our corn products, are exported to the European Union. The loss of that market could be very detrimental to our local corn prices.
The National Corn Growers phrase encourages you to be aware of the traits in the corn that is selected for seed, and to be sure you have a viable market for that corn. Not only must you have a market for your corn, your neighbor must have access to that market, also, with the great distances that corn pollen travels. Although your neighbor may have planted only approved varieties, cross pollination may produce a non approved variety, when it is delivered to the elevator for sale.
So, please, please, be sure that you have a market for your corn, based on its breeding events. At Topflight Grain, since so much of your grain is exported to the European Union, our grain must meet their requirements. If you plant corn that is not on the approved list, please, be sure that you talk with us, so that we know that it needs to be segregated in the elevator and shipped into another market channel. We will be very willing to work with you. We all have to work together to meet our customers’ standards.
Currently, there are 5 “events” that are not approved in the EU. These include
Mon810+GA21, a corn borer resistance and Glyphosate tolerance;
Mon810+Nk603, a corn borer resistance and Glyphosate tolerance;
Mon810+T25, a corn borer resistance and Glyphosinate tolerance;
MonGA21, Glyphosate tolerance;
Nk603, Glyphosate tolerance.
If you choose these traits in your 2003 seed selection, please be sure that we can channel them into the proper markets, so that they do not effect the export portion of our sales. The specific hybrids not approved in the EU are listed on the National Corn Growers website, www.ncga.com, or your local Topflight office has a list of these non-approved varieties.
MARKETING POOL AND AVERAGE PRICE PROGRAM
The deadline for sign up for both of our marketing programs is December 31.
The marketing pool sells your committed bushels throughout the year, as market direction indicates. Often, positions are retained through the use of put or call options.
The average price program markets equal percentages of your committed bushels during the historical highs of the market, during the spring months.
Both programs are offered as a service to our customers, with no fees charged. Either program or a mix of both programs may fit well into your marketing plan. Sometimes, it’s nice to have someone else watching the markets for you.
Bushels must be signed up by December 31, so that the marketing strategies can be put into place. If you are interested, or would like to sign up, please call your local Topflight office.
SPECIALTY GRAIN PREMIUMS
Premiums have been increased to 35 cents per bushel for the 2003-04 nongmo bean program. These beans must be delivered to Seymour, Cisco, Atwood, LaPlace, Bement, Shacks, Emery, Cisco, or stored on the farm for buyer’s call delivery. If you do not plan to grow Roundup Ready beans for next fall, this growers contract can earn you additional premium! Please call your local Topflight office for more details or for a contract.
The high oil corn program has a premium of 25 cents per bushel, for corn with an 8% oil content. In addition, an early sign up bonus of 2 cents per bushel will be given (if you sign up early!). This corn must be delivered to Bement, Cisco, Seymour, or stored in the farm bin for buyer’s call delivery. If you’re interested in the high oil program, please call your local Topflight office for more information, or for a contract.
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM
Now that harvest has been completed, many producers are focusing on sign up for the new farm program. The rules have changed, and usually more records are required to make the proper decisions as you enroll in the program. Yield histories from 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 will ease the sign up process, and aid you in your decisions. If you do not have this information in your files, please call us, and we will print the information for you. Although most of the information is in the computer, it still takes some time to get that much information out of the computer memory and printed into reports. (The Monticello records prior to 2001 must be retrieved by the dig and search method!) Please allow us a few days to retrieve the information for you. If you are requesting bushels on a newly acquired farm, a release form must be signed that will allow us to give that information to you.
Once you have this information, it is most helpful to use one of the Internet based spreadsheets to assist your decisions on the sign up choices. If you do not have the “Excel” program on your computer, or if you do not have a computer or Internet access, we will be happy to enter your yields and bushels into the program and print the suggested plan for you.
The new program has kept many of you busy, and has kept us busy! We will be glad to help you in any way we can! Just give us a call, or stop and see us!
FREE DP
Free delayed pricing is available, now, for farm stored grain, on a space available basis. We’ve shipped a lot of grain out of some elevators, and have a lot of space. Other facilities aren’t quite that spacious, yet. If you have specialty grains, such as nongmo beans or high oil corn, please check to be sure that there is space for them.
92
YEARS OLD
A 92 year old man went to the doctor to get a physical. A few days later, the doctor saw the man walking down the street with a gorgeous young lady on his arm.
At his follow up visit, the doctor talked to the man and said, “You’re really doing great, aren’t you?”
The man replied, “Just doing what you said, Doc: “Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.”
The doctor said, “I didn’t say that. I said you got a heart murmur. Be careful.”
ALL
ABROAD!!!
Eight railcars participated in the railcar run on August 24, from Decatur to Cisco. It was quite a sight to see those railcars, pulling into Cisco!! The members of the Great Lakes Railcar Club had a good time, on their journey, along the tracks maintained by Pioneer Railroad.
TAKING
CARE OF THE HARVEST TROUPES!!!
The Monticello FFA, again this year, (weather permitting!) served porkchop lunches to the farmers and employees of Topflight Grain at the Bement, Monticello, and Cisco locations! We always look forward to the hot sandwiches, chips and drinks.
TALENT
& INGENUITY
Henry Larson never rests!!! This year, he built an electric lift on his combine ladder, that gently carries him from ground level to cab level. He designed it, built it, and painted in John Deere green. (Henry has numerous inventions, including the grain probe that is used at most grain elevators, throughout the country!)
Dick Skagenberg’s fine wood work is on display in the Milmine office. Dick “carves” these beautiful silhouettes from wood.
Jack Gallivan presented a finished, framed picture of Cal Ripkin to Jim Murphy. The wooden picture was made by Dick Skagenberg. Jim stood in line for 4 hours to get the picture autographed by Cal. Jack, of Wood Specialties, framed the work for Jim, with a beautiful cherry frame.
ADOPTED
CLASS
Each fall, we look forward to meeting our new “adopted” 2nd grade class. It is always a pleasure to work with Mrs. Hammond and Mrs. Strack. Early in September, the classes visited Topflight Grain in Bement, for a tour of the elevator and to learn a little bit more about agriculture. We told them about all the corn and beans that are delivered at harvest time and some of the uses of corn and bean products. They had fun watching corn disappear out of the pit, and trying to decide if the corn dryer was really a dryer, or a space ship! The tour concluded with popcorn for everyone, which was probably the best part of the tour!
After harvest, our adventure was a trip to Curtis Orchard. This is always a favorite, as the class learns about the bees that pollinate the apples and pumpkins, watch the apple sorter, and view the cider press. Following a delicious snack of apple donuts and apple cider, a good time was enjoyed in the play yard. We rain through the giant maze, fed the small goats, petted the little kittens and jumped in the hay mow.
Santa will visit soon, then we will enjoy some activities after the New Year!