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By Scott Docherty
In my last High Flyer article I said there would be some great opportunities on the horizon but I sure didn’t think the opportunity would happen right at harvest! Topflight Grain dumped just over 21,300,000 of corn and 5,500,000 bushels of soybeans this fall, so yields were good but not the bin buster that we all thought we had at our crop tour. Every year brings a new challenge and this year it was Diplodia ear rot which is found in years with abundant rainfall during the growing season. We were checking loads that were coming in from the field with damages ranging from 3% to 25% right off the combines. Our customers did not like to hear this but the issue was real and Topflight Grain has to make grade when we are shipping this corn back into the marketplace.
I am very proud that Topflight Grain had 2 facilities set new fall corn receipt records this harvest. The crews at Laplace and Cisco dumped over 3,000,000 bushels of corn this fall at each of these facilities and kept the trucks moving with out any major lines. I can still remember when Laplace dumped just over 2,000,000 bushels back in the fall of 1999. So with the improved farming practices and seed traits that means Laplace and Cisco will be dumping over 4,000,000 bushels of corn. Wow! now that is scary to think about!
I must also add that Cisco dumped a record 760,000 bushels of soybeans this harvest so combined corn and beans receipts at Cisco was just under 3,800,000 bushels of grain. Needless to say Topflight Grain will need to expand our facility at Cisco to meet the demands of our customers and we sure do appreciate all of the business you have given to us.
The market sure has been exciting and who would have thought right at harvest we would see such a rally? The USDA tightened up ending stocks, the funds started buying and off to the races we went to $3.00 plus prices and $3.00 corn prices for the next 3 years also.
Topflight Grain Coop customers sold corn right into the rally and we own 75-80% of the corn crop and with this ownership we saw some $2,500,000 daily margin calls, so you can see what kind of money it takes run our business. I know that Topflight Grain will set another new record this year when we get ready to make our Jan payments. It could be well over $50,000,000.00. I know it is nice to have a good working relationship with our financial partner Co-Bank, when it comes to exciting times like this and you can count on them being there for you. I sure hope you feel that Topflight Grain is a partner that you can count on as we move into some uncharted territory with corn acres expanding by 10-20% and corn prices at 3.00-3.50 for the next 3 years.
Topflight Grain has been working on Rail projects, Bin projects, and our involvement in One Earth Energy which is the Ethanol project. I can tell you that 2006 was a very busy schedule and I also think that there will be some great opportunities for our patrons in calendar year 2007.
I am looking forward to another great meal at Jimmy Goulds as I won the harvest bet this year. My family and I wish you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!
HARVEST 2006
By
Vanessa Stinson
The harvest of 2006 started off slower than usual with the untimely rains, but the week after Labor Day Topflight offered free drying for a few days and boy that got a lot of you going and for sure got us back into the swing of harvest.
Here is a bit of trivia for you: in 1999 your LaPlace facility took 2 million plus bushels of corn. This was a company record .This year the LaPlace facility took 3 million plus bushels of corn. That is a 50% increase in volume in 7 years! Pretty cool, huh! In the midst of all of the corn we took 530,521 bushels of beans and 91,468 bushels of non-gmos. And we never had to close!
At this time I would like to thank everyone who made this harvest a success, from you the customer, to all of the great part-time help, to our families for bearing with us when we came home in a grouchy mood. If it was not for all of you, Topflight could not do what we do.
Our family would like to wish all of you a very happy holiday season.
NUMBER 26!!
By Sandy
Davenport
Number 26 is in the books! Hard to believe that this was my 26th harvest. Not bad for being hired for harvest help, way back in 1981.
My wishes came true, no LDP on corn and just a few days on beans. And, a lot of vehicles came across the scales marked with FARM CODES. All of us in the office sure did appreciate that. Hopefully, we will have 100% participation next year. Sharon Brown and Dana Shull were my office helpers again this year. It is so nice to know that I can devote the necessary time in my office and not have to worry about the scale, they do a great job. I know that Charlie would like to thank Mac Pinney for the great job he did outside. He put in a lot of long hours, but we always knew we could count on him coming to work.
Emery received 396,513 bushels of beans, 2,308,800 bushels of corn and 31,370 bushels of NON-GMO beans this harvest. Seems like there always has to be a problem every harvest. This year, especially in the Emery area, it was Diplodia (cob rot). Corn on corn which had plenty of rain seemed to be the hardest hit.
Our pre-harvest plan was to not open the Waller facility this fall. But, to help alleviate the bean line at Emery, we did open the Waller facility for a few days. It’s always nice to have that crutch to fall back on.
Filling the bunker went well. All of the outside guys worked hard to get the corn dried, moved to load out position and loading trucks so that the bunker could be filled quickly. We were fortunate to get it filled and tarped before the rains came.
Now that the big rush of harvest is over, Charlie, Gary Wood and I are working in our remaining vacation days. I am taking the week of Thanksgiving off. Hopefully, the Maroa-Forsyth football team will be playing in the state championship game in Champaign the day after Thanksgiving. Our grandson’s basketball games have begun and we try to work in as many Parkland basketball games as possible to watch our nephew. In between all that, I have to get Christmas shopping done before December 15th. We are going to New York the week before Christmas to watch Parkland play and to do some sightseeing.
Doesn’t seem possible that it is that time again, but Charlie, Gary and I would like to wish everyone HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
By
Brock Casteel
Sometimes it is funny how things work out. I am writing this newsletter article two days eight hours and seven minutes before my wedding day. Only two and a half short months ago I was concerned with the slow but steady progression of harvest that seemed to be dragging its feet due to the late spring planting season and intermittent rains that were taking place. The date for the nuptials was set long before spring planting, and normally Halloween time is wrapping most harvesters up. So a November 18th date didn’t seem to be intruding on any harvest time duties. As like most grooms, my role in the day to day decision making on things like colors, dress styles, and decorations was limited to say the least, not that I mind. Once we had the major things set like the date, place, location of reception, and honeymoon destination, it seemed to me that it was all going to be smooth sailing from there. Of course that was before harvest didn’t start as planned the day after Labor Day, making the time line to my wedding day a little closer than I would have liked. This was more than a little alarming to me, although after warning my bride- to-be of the looming conflict, she made it very apparent that it better not be a problem. Although taking some good natured ribbing from my coworkers and some local farmers who knew of the time situation, I assured her that it would not be an issue and we carried on with the preparations. Now, I know what you are thinking, many of you as you are reading this are saying to yourself that there is no conflict, and no decision to make, and I agree, but, Harvest time is a commitment that all of us here at Topflight make every year, and take seriously, so when one person is out sick or otherwise gone it creates a strain on the rest. Year after year employees are asked to sacrifice a lot of family time, in the name of harvest. So while there are always exceptions, it does create a little bit of a guilty feeling to leave coworkers behind at such a crucial time of the year. Lucky for me, my prediction of dumping corn the morning of my wedding did not come true. In fact, it only lasted until the 9th of November, leaving plenty of time before the big day. By the way it is now two days seven hours and twenty one minutes prior to my wedding at the completion of this article. It really is funny how things work out.
HARVEST FROM THE OTHER SIDE
By
Louie Tieman
Well after 29 years being on the Topflight Team, I have been able to be on the opposite side of the fence. My hands curl up just right now to put around a steering wheel, and had the chance to help MCRJO out on the farm. Yep! let's go back to the code system.
I had the chance to haul into MIL,PIE,WAL,EME and the 1horse elevator. I saw that NICHA found a 2 horse elevator at MIL. He said he was surprised. Yeah, Harold, it does run smooth. Also, RITDE was there waving real big at me. HUFJE,was also there, just to name a few of my old friends and patrons. Since I left, MIL is a thriving city now.
I would like to say it was a pleasure going to the elevators and getting the POY. John thought that was part of my job, I guess. He was always asking me if I had all the tickets and if they were right. We only disagreed one night for only 3 or 4 hours. It was really great to work with him.
Gloria wanted to know what they did for entertainment since I was out there. Guess that said it all.
John said I did keep them on their toes. Scott Lane was a real big help. He was part of the new team we formed this fall, Mcrae Farm Management Team. We never did get our shirts printed up, though.
And yes, I did get to go to the Covered Bridge Festival, BURMI, twice even! So you can call me TIEDI or THOLO. One day the weather was not worth going, so you must have been wanting it to rain.
By the way my 4.2 acres made 188.8 and I sold out at $3.26, before Ness could charge me storage. All those years and she wouldn't give me a break. I had the chance to sell this summer at $2.57. Nope, I told Pam. I called back later, it was $2.03. “Dang, I will hold out.” She said, “scale up”. Now, listen to this, she still has corn from 2 years ago waiting for $4.00! She might just get it, but how much storage???
Was great to see everyone this harvest and was glad it was a safe one for everyone.
Thanks to all the Topflight Grain employee's who were really nice and on the ball.
Louie Tieman still a company man....
By
Lindy Powers
Well another harvest come and gone, with some very
good yields. Milmine took in 1.942 million bushels of corn, and 518,000 bushel
of beans. After filling up the new 750,000 bin we still put approx. 600,000 on
the ground. It seemed like this harvest lasted forever. I guess it was because
of the rain and the crop just didn’t mature until later than usual because of
the late plantings. I would like to thank Rick, Jeff, and all the outside guys
that helped. I would also like to thank Robbie Powers for helping me out in the
office.
Ahead is our Christmas Open House. Milmine’s will be December 13th,
from 11-1. I hope that you stop by and join us for lunch.
My youngest daughter, Katie, has been busy the last
several months trying to raise money to go to the Orange Bowl and perform with
the Clinton High School Cheerleaders. They have done very well and it looks
like they’re going to make it. I am very proud of Katie. She is also on the honor roll.
My middle daughter, Tonya, is expecting in December
and, YES, it’s another girl. Emma will be welcomed into this world by her
sister Madison, and cousins Mya, and Autumn, along with her very proud aunts
Dana and Katie.
To my wife, Ann, the last 3 years have been very
emotional and most people could not have gone through what you have gone
through. Speaking for myself, our family and all our friends I just want you to
know that we LOVE YOU.
I hope that everyone has a very Merry Christmas and
A Happy New Year.
by Russel Wright
This was my first complete harvest at Atwood. At first I didn’t think it would start, then I wondered if we would be done by Thanksgiving. Well, here it is almost Thanksgiving and, yes, harvest started and ended just about on time as in previous years. With so much of the early corn being in the high moisture range, we had to close early twice to let the dryer catch up. Of course as the good weather held out and the beans being later, a lot of the corn dried down so the dryer could stay ahead. This year Bill had the help of Roger Benner, Travis Merro, and Jacob Garza, and later Ross Butler to dump, load out trucks or to haul corn and beans to the other bins that we rented for storage. In the office I had the help of Christa Helmuth, Chris Isbell, and occasionally Christy Taylor. Thanks everyone for a job well done.
I also want to thank the many truck drivers that hauled the grain away to either Decatur or Champaign. They are the key to staying open. This location did get full of corn, beans and non-gmo’s; so with out the help of the truckers we would have had to close.
I also want to thank our good customers, and their drivers that deliver to Topflight. We sure appreciated the signs on the sides of trucks, wagons, and in the windows. This makes everyone’s job a lot easier. I can’t forget to thank my wife Debby, with my long hours here, she has to maintain the home front, cooking meals late at night and trying to keep up the news.
With the crazy markets that have been taking place since the middle of October, a lot of customers have been watching and waiting for that magical number to appear, so they can sell and get the high prices. Topflight offers a lot of marketing tools to fit about all your marketing needs.
If you come to Atwood, please stop by and enjoy the popcorn, peanuts and coffee that we have. Everyone have a happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
By
Jason Goodner
What a harvest to remember. It wasn’t that long ago that we were expecting a bumper crop, but when the dust cleared in early November we had less than expected. Everyone is done combining, and fieldwork is moving along. The 2006 crop was the 4th largest on record, but with some mixed returns in the Seymour area. During our Crop Tour at the end of August this year we had corn averaging 162 bu/ac. We had the beans at 48 bu/ac. According to information gathered from our customers, we ended up with 168 bu/ ac for corn, and around 57 bu/ac on beans.
While yields were above our average, they were somewhat disappointing with the amount of rainfall that we had this growing season. Most customers concluded that the early summer insect pressure during silking caused some of the yield reduction. The corn crop might have been a little disappointing, but the soybean yield was very strong around Seymour. With the summer rains and good growing conditions the beans put on more pods than normal, which resulted to shipping more than 100,000 bushels of beans over to The Andersons for storage.
During the harvest period everything ran really good compared to last year. There were not any breakdowns, or space issues that closed our doors. I’d like to thank Rob Dick, Roger Burton, and Henry Lust for helping out with our preharvest maintenance. We were able to keep space this year by loading out a train in late September. The harvest pace was slowed with the frequent rains that we experienced, but most all of our customers were still done combining by the end of October.
After last year’s low harvest cash prices a lot of customers chose to forward contract bushels for fall delivery this year. Right up to harvest beginning those looked to be very good sales. Who would have thought that the price of cash corn would be above $3.50 during the harvest period? Soybeans were also surprising by reaching $6.50. When the prices started to climb in late September we bought a lot of bushels, and continued throughout the fall. I bought some bushels on Sept 15th when corn was $2.12 and beans were $5.18. Like most everyone else these prices caught of customers off guard. Generally during the harvest period you see a seasonal low for cash prices, but this year was an exception to the rule despite a large crop.
Another harvest is in the books, and now life turns back to a normal pace. Harvest is a strain on families, not only for our customers, but employees too. I am thankful for my family. Kari, Kolby, Addi, and I were able to go trick’r treating for Halloween. We had a great time getting to spend time with each other, and our kids got to rake in the candy. Kolby went as Clark Kent, but changed into Superman when he ripped his shirt open. Addi was the cutest pink fluffy kitten. Kari and I both are happy that we aren’t working 7 days a week anymore.
Last but not least is a big thanks to my harvest staff. Kari, my wife, ran the scales on the weekends when there wasn’t rain. Melissa Whitten ran the scales during the week for us. Chris Frye ran the outside operations dumping, drying, and doing daily maintenance work. Chris is a valuable employee to us during the fall with the experience that he brings to the Seymour elevator.
I hope that everyone remembers to thank the ones they love this holiday season. We would like to send our condolences to Paul Bunting and his family. Paul’s wife, Jeanie, lost her battle with cancer this fall. Just as a reminder, Seymour will have an Open House on December 19th from 11am – 1pm. Also as a reminder that you can pick up your deferred checks, and those that are for January contract as of Jan.2nd. It has been a good year, and we hope you have a safe holiday season and New Year.
By
Mikki Burns
This article will date me…but during this harvest, I got to thinking how times have changed!! I was thinking back to the mid 70’s when I first started to work at Cisco Grain. In those days, I did most of the probing…standing out on the concrete ledge, hand probing each truck or wagon. It was very slow paced then…the farmers maybe getting two loads a day. They would line up in the middle of the night to insure them of getting unloaded early and back for another one. We hand wrote every load, and I added them up on an adding machine that had 10 columns of numbers and a hand crank.
When I came back in 1985, the present building was fairly new, being built in 1978. We had graduated to an automatic probe and ticket return. We had to measure the grain, take the temperature, get the calibration and enter all those factors on a machine that then told us the moisture. We still wrote down each load on corn (white) sheets and bean (blue) sheets. Our adding machines had programs in them that would shrink the grain and tell us the drying charge. Then those bushels were entered on a ‘sort-of’ computer called a “Burrows” machine on re-cap sheets. Then as the farmer sold, we subtracted the bushels and hand wrote the check.
In 1986, we got our first computer system through Farmland. By then, we had a ticket printer that stamped the weights. The farm name, number and moistures were still hand written on the tickets, and I sorted and entered each ticket by hand. But it was then in the computer in each farmer’s accounts. We had come a long way…………….
When we consolidated with Bement and Pierson and became Topflight Grain in 1998, we graduated to our current one-weigh system that automatically weighs, prints the ticket and goes immediately into the farmer’s accounts in the computer. In 2002, we got our “Steinlite” moisture testers that all we have to do is pour the grain in…it automatically tells us the temperature, moisture and test weight. (This was wonderful!) I hear that in the future, those factors will automatically go into the one-weigh. We’ve come a long way……………..
So, the grain business has surely changed. From ten people working here at Cisco to four… and several part-timers in the fall. It has gone from pick-up trucks, small grain trucks and tractors and wagons…to larger grain trucks, tandems, semi’s and 600 bushel wagons. It has gone from taking a few thousand bushels a day…to 100,000-200,000 a day. Change is always good…but when you think back, we didn’t have the stress that we have with the fast-paced trend of today. We didn’t have the specialty crops, unapproved varieties and have to worry about whether the EU would accept our grain. It was just corn and beans.
Looking back, there have been so many improvements, and I’m sure there will be more in the future. We strive on getting the farmers grain unloaded in a timely fashion and have the storage facilities to hold the grain. We are proud this year that we took over 3,000,000 bushels of corn and over 750,000 bushels of beans at our location. That was a first for us, and we feel that harvest went pretty smooth.
I would like to thank everyone for all their hard work this fall!! Rick, Russ and Garold are the ones that make things run smoothly in the elevators. They had Seth Wildman, Tim Kenny, Rob Cunningham, and Jerrid Peeler helping them this fall. I had Joyce Bennett and Jon Sago in the office and they are a ‘great help’ to me. My daughter, Stacey Benson, and Karen Blickensderfer gave me a helping hand on some Sundays. It takes us all to make things work and to make “your” life easier. We all hope you feel that we accomplished this goal!!
By
Derrick Bruhn
Every year is different with challenges and change. This year wasn’t out of the norm with corn quality problems and yet another year of record receipts. It is amazing how quick the bushels can come in. Topflight Grain has a very dedicated staff that goes to great lengths to keep the facilities open for the patrons. Prior to harvest the staff puts together an estimated receipts for each location and makes plans for shipments based off of that. For each 5% variance on corn we can be off by 1,000,000 bu. That variance can have a big impact.
Acreage switching is very common practices today as corn prices continue to climb and bean prices stay stagnate. In the central Illinois area we may see a 20% increase in corn acres for next year. That would mean Topflight would be handling 4,263,000 more bushels during harvest. The demand for corn may force this continued change toward more corn acres and Topflight Grain will try to continue to keep up with the industry.
Marketing will be even a bigger challenge for producers this year. Everyone is excited about the higher prices, but a hesitant to sell it. The producer has the opportunity today to sell corn for fall of 07, 08, and 09 for over $3.00 a bushel, yet hesitant to do so. Marketing programs will likely not be used this year by producers, because they can sell $3.00 corn on their own, but will the trigger get pulled to make those sales? Beans have just started to trade over $7.00 for fall 07. Greed starts to become a factor in times like this and is only human nature, but good business sense has to rule to keep an operation profitable.
The family is doing great. We just had Mabry’s 2nd birthday. That was as much fun for the family as it was for her. With Mabry being our only child I am amazed on how quickly they grow up and develop. Everyday there is a new word or phrase she learns. Lynne and she had a great summer together. Lynne is teaching part-time with another 6th grade teacher and is home in the afternoons with Mabry. We are really looking forward to Christmas this year. Our family wants to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
By
Pam Jarboe
As I sit down to finish up my part of the newsletter, I’m full of a weekend of turkey, mashed potatoes, noodles and lots of good desserts. We are fortunate that both sides of our families live close and that we can celebrate most holidays with all of our family. For the Chenoweth’s, we were thankful for a good harvest, and good grain prices. For the Jarboe’s, several are involved in agriculture, and were thankful for the good harvest. All of us joined in thanksgiving that we were able to be together.
Now, we’re making plans and list for Christmas. Some are difficult to choose gifts for, others are easy to just keep buying and buying! Most of the “kids” are old enough that gift cards work best, but it’s fun to find something to hide that card, something more to unwrap.
The Topflight staff is preparing for Christmas, with calendars for you and your family, and the annual open houses. Be sure to check the back page of the newsletter to plan your December travels. You’re welcome at any and all of the open houses. What an easy way to visit each elevator that you own! What an easy way to meet more of the great people who own this cooperative! Some of the facilities will be serving soup and sandwiches, some will have snack foods, others have the “full meal deal”. Be sure to join us for fun, food, and some great fellowship.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year!
By
Amy Brammer
Congrats to everyone for making it through another successful harvest season! A good crop and a friendly board create the perfect mood to transition into the holiday season. This is my favorite time of year. I love everything from frying the turkey on Thanksgiving until ringing in the New Year. Although, with this brings my annual quest (i.e. crazy antics) to find/decide upon a theme for the wrapping of Christmas gifts. (Yes, a theme!) Each year it’s different, from a specific color theme or design detail. Last year will be tough to top as I found wrapping paper I could personalize saying “Happy Holidays from The Brammers!” This year I haven’t yet decided on the wrapping paper, but I have found a website, via a friend, that allows you to custom make address labels and gift tags with people caricatures. You can pick out such details as hair color, hats, children or adults, and even include pets! As I called out to my husband with glee to come down to the basement and look at my find, he just shook his head and laughed. This will be our eighth Christmas together and thankfully he has accepted my gift-wrapping neurosis!
Moving on to some marketing thoughts to ponder…with the market rally we have seen in the past couple of months, many customers are hesitant on their new crop marketing ideas for 2007. “I started forward contracting this year at $2.40 and could have waited and sold $3.53!” This is a common remark we are hearing. In marketing, much like life in general, we must continue to look forward. You learn from the past and use it as a benchmark, but don’t let your regrets completely dictate your next year’s marketing plan. Each marketing year presents a unique situation in which we must be flexible, but still cover risk. We started this fall with market expectations for the 2006 corn crop at 11+ billion bushels. In the November report, the USDA lowered the corn crop to 10.745 bill bushels and the market reacted. Lower yields, growing demand, and reduced ending stocks all combined to make the market push to buy corn acres in an unexpected harvest rally and it’s working! We are hearing talk of a 15-20% increase in corn acres for the 2007 crop year. So, with a possible record corn crop planted in the spring, barring any crop delay/failure issues, will there be a point where the market levels off? As acres are confirmed? As the crop matures? If export demand wanes due to higher prices making the US less attractive on the international market? If so, what is that price level? Unfortunately, no one knows for sure especially since we are not trading just grain crop fundamentals any longer, there is also fund money to consider. The commodities market has changed drastically in the past couple of years. What you’ve done in the past might not successfully bring you a consistent profit in the future. So, what’s a farmer to do? Spread out your risk. Decide what percentage of your crop you want sold pre-harvest. Depending on your cash flow needs and storage capabilities, stair-step forward contract some bushels for Fall ‘07 or January 2008 forward. Put some bushels in the Average Price Program. (This program should be quite attractive this year as the Jan-May pricing window should hopefully co-inside with the continued push to lock in corn acres and there is no fee!) The Pool Program also starts in January. Have you thought about using options with your cash contracts to protect yourself against major market movements? This might be the year. But, leave yourself some room to take advantage of possible late summer or harvest rallies should there be a crop problem/delay. Almost everyone I have spoken with over the past two months has said, “Where is the top? Where do I start selling?” Unfortunately, no one knows where the top is (or we would mostly likely be trading from someplace warm and sunny!), so the best we can do is spread out our risk and try to protect ourselves from major market swings. As always, if you are interested in sitting down and discussing your marketing options, contact me or your local Topflight elevator and we can help you come up with a customized marketing plan for your business.
Elliott
and I wish you and your families a very merry and blessed Holiday season!
By
Gloria Litwiller
Another season is behind us . . . HARVEST SEASON. I just can’t believe how fast it went by. Harvest is a busy time of the year and the Topflight Grain employees would like to take this time to THANK all of you for your patience and kindness during this time. Pierson would also like to THANK the part timers as well. Without them Pierson would not have run so smoothly this year.
Our first load of corn came in on the first day of the drying special and it just kept coming . . . and coming . . . and coming. That first day of the drying special, we ended the day taking in about 90,000 bushels. The second and third day wasn’t a whole lot easier. Ralna looked at me like I didn’t know what I was talking about, because I told her that usually harvest starts out kind of slow and gradually builds. It really didn’t seem like we were that busy, but we knew better by the way our feet hurt. Our last load of corn came in on November 4. During that time we took in 2.1 million bushels of corn. We started filling the new bin on Friday, the 13th. My thoughts were, this is not a good day to start on somehing so enormous and new, but it went really well. We filled and covered the ring as well as shipping out 400,000 bushels of corn, ending the season at Pierson on a full note. Our bean crop ended on a good note as well. We took in 570,000 bushels and shipped out 340,000 bushels. Not only were the yields good in this area, but HOW ABOUT THESE PRICES? Who would have thought?
Now that HARVEST season is behind us, we can move on to the next season. . . . The Holiday Season. SEASON GREETINGS to you and your families.
Just a note on what’s been happening at my house. If you are looking for a place to build a new house and be my neighbor, there are quite a few lots that are for sale or soon will be for sale. The new wooded subdivision across the road is now open and ready for sale. The new subdivision behind my house is coming along nicely and should be ready by spring. I have heard Bob Boylan is very interested in these lots.
It’s been a good year hunting this fall. I killed an eight point buck and will have lots of deer sausage for my friends. I seem to have a lot more friends when there is deer sausage available. I have also thinned out the local goose population. Goose is very hard to give away. Not a whole lot of demand for this meat.
It was another losing year for my corn harvest bushel bet. My monster crop did not materialize and I was only off 2.3 million bushel. Oh well, there is always next year. I think I have heard the same saying come out of Rodd’s mouth. Something to do with the Cubs.
At work one day there appeared a string of butterflies by my desk. It seemed Dan Moore was fascinated by them and one seemed to fly off and appear in his truck. I guess I’m not the only butterfly boy.
Have a great holiday season and Best Wishes to all.
By
Eric Clements
This harvest went a lot better than the harvest of 2005. We still dumped corn on the ground uncovered, but it was about 2,000,000 less than we had on the ground uncovered last year. The extra storage we built this past summer was a big help. We were also able to ship in a timely manner this year. Topflight trucked 4,000,000 bushels to Tate and Lyle, ADM and The Andersons. The truckers put in the hours and hard work in order to ship all these bushels to keep our doors open.
The operations crew is now busy picking up the corn piles. We have crews at Seymour, Maroa, Milmine and Monticello picking up corn. After the ground piles are finished, we will start on the maintenance list from each of the elevators. There will be several holes to patch and spouts to spin. The equipment wears out a lot faster than it did ten years ago with the larger crops. Laplace and Cisco both received over 3,000,000 bushels of corn at harvest this year. It was less than ten years ago when we celebrated these facilities receiving 2,000,000 bushels of corn at harvest.
My family just finished a great Thanksgiving weekend. The weather could not have been any better. Hayden and I decorated the house with lights. We were both proud when we went outside the first night to admire our work. Mitch is playing basketball on his 8th grade team. I told him that when I was in the 8th grade we wore red canvas converse shoes and we were called the Bement Cardinals. He looked at me like I went to school in the 1800’s. I graduated from the 8th grade in 1982, so it hasn’t been that long ago.
I hope that everyone has a safe and joyful holiday season.
NEWS FROM MAROA
By Denny Hill
Another harvest has come and gone here in
Maroa with things finally wrapping up shortly before Thanksgiving. After an abundance
of rainfall during the growing season, most people were expecting 200 bushel
corn to be common but for one reason or another yields were just average in our
area.
Harvest finally got going in the middle
of September when the drying special was put in place for a few days. Corn was
averaging in the upper 20’s at this time and we took in around 150,000 bushels
during this 3 day period. After waiting another week to 10 days for Mother
Nature to help dry the corn out we got busy again the last week of September
with corn and by the time we had finished in mid-November we had taken a little
over 2.2 million bushels of corn. Last year we took 2.1 million bushels of corn
during harvest. Yields varied quite a bit in our area but the average was
probably close to 175 bushels per acre. Due to the late harvest our bunker at
the bin site did not get filled till late October and we ended up putting
another 130,000 on the ground next to it uncovered. We were able to get this
uncovered pile picked up by Thanksgiving in good shape.
The soybean crop was good again this year
but was down some from our excellent year we had a year ago. We took in 530,000
bushels of beans this fall compared to over 600,000 last year. Some of this
loss can be attributed to a loss of bean acres to corn acres but the average
yield was down around 5 bushels to the acre from a year ago.
This was the first year for Ronnie Miller
in command of the outside during harvest and he did a fine job of handling all
the different problems that we face during this busy time. Gary Liggett was in
charge of the bean dump at the bin site and filling our flats down there. Nick
Tombaugh, John Boehn and James West were our fall extra help that worked here
and at Waller when needed.
Inside help this year for Jill and me was
the same as the past with Roger Lewis running the scales for the most part and
my daughter Meghan would help after school and on the weekends. Roger has
helped me in the office during the harvest season every year since his retirement
from Caterpillar. It is sure nice to know you have someone you can count on
each fall that knows the system and all the patrons the way Roger does.
It will seem different next fall as for
the first time in quite a few years I will not have a daughter helping during
harvest season. Meghan is a senior this year and be going off to college next
fall. Between her and her older sister Jessica, one of them has worked here for
the last 6 years during the harvest season. It has been a great opportunity to
spend time with them while we work the long hours of harvest.
HAVE
A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON!
OH, CHRISTMAS TREE!
By
Rodd Runyen
It is hard to believe, but it seems that in the blink
of an eye, the Christmas season is here once again. I love the Christmas
holiday. The Christmas season is magical and fun and renews your spirit to face
the world. The shopping, the wrapping, the baking, the decorating, the parties,
the events – they all make for a rushed season though. Wouldn’t it be nice to
go back to when we were kids and got 3 weeks off for Christmas vacation? That
would allow for everyone to slow down and enjoy the Christmas season!
Decorating
the Christmas tree is one of my favorite things about Christmas. We gather the
kids together and decorate the tree as a family. First, we start off by loading
the tree with lights. I love a tree with lots of light on it. You can turn the
lights off in the room and just sit mesmerized gazing at the twinkling lights
on the tree. It is hypnotic but brings about a calming feeling. The glow of the
tree lights up the presents underneath and adds to the Christmas feeling.
We then decorate the tree with ornaments. We buy
an ornament each year with the year on it. As we decorate, we can look at the
ornaments and remember the years we purchased them. They bring back many
memories of Christmases past and allow us to remember those times fondly.
We also have the debate about our Christmas tree
topper. We have two Christmas tree toppers – one is a white angel and one is a
Santa Claus that moves his head sideways and waves a lantern. It seems as
though we can never remember which topper we had on the tree the year before!
So we debate about it and finally decide which one gets another year of glory
atop the Christmas tree!
Finally, we add the tinsel to the Christmas
tree. We put on several boxes of it. The shimmering tinsel reflecting the
lights makes the Christmas tree. It moves with the slightest breeze and brings
the tree to life. It gives it the feel of a tree standing out in the snow.
With the tinsel on, we can stand back and admire
our work and enjoy another year of memories of putting up the Christmas tree!
With my oldest a junior in high school, I realize that these tree decorating
memories are now fleeting. The kids will all too soon be moving on and making
their own memories, so I hold these times special as we decorate our Christmas
tree. I hope you have a special Christmas and I would like to wish all of you…
Merry Christmas and God Bless You in the New
Year!
By
Staston Kopps
Another harvest has come and gone. Overall the yields were pretty good. I am glad things have slowed down a bit. Now we are picking up ground piles and loading trains.
It was a pretty smooth harvest. This was Kevin Taylor’s first year at Lodge, and he did a fine job. At Monticello Jack Warren kept busy and had some long nights, but Jack kept taking grain even though there were a few minor equipment breakdowns. Chris Frye was at Seymour again this harvest, and things went pretty well. Rob Dick did a lot of traveling this harvest to do maintenance where needed. I would also like to thank the part-timers who worked during harvest. Without them it would not be possible to get the job done.
I also did a lot of traveling during harvest working on ground piles and loading trains, and it was nice to have a new company truck to drive. Topflight Grain bought a 2006 Ford F150 for the Monticello facility.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!
Our sympathies to the families of Alberta Simpson, of Lovington, Helen Dickey, Duane Wallace, Kyle Clarkson, Esther Ford, Edith Hite, Betty Kizer, Mary Barker, Everett Meyer, Marjorie Knowles, Ervin E Beachy, Gene Schroll, Carolyn Cooper, Goldie Shinneman, Bob Corum, Martha Medaris, Betty Schultz, Julie Beery, George Walsh, Paul Greve, Jerry Mayfield, G Jay Stiehl, Dale Leischner, Ruby Lamb, Richard Casteel, and all others who have lost loved ones.
Congratulations to . . .
Dave & Charlotte Corman, first time grandparents of grandson Isaac Shipley; John McRae & Stacey Webb, married on November 18th; Betty Moery, retiring form the State Bank of Bement; Jim Ayers, honored for his outstanding participation in community college leadership; Joe & Virginia Ponder, who celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in October; Michelle Gross and Ken Wright, recipients of the Illinois Bankers Association scholarship award; Robert & Deanna Henningsen, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary; Hildred Webb, who celebrated her 100th birthday with an open house at Tatman Village; Lucia Wilkin, president of Piatt County Historical & Genealogical Society, receiving the Honorary Achievement Award; Charlie & Darlene Baker, married 50 years, in October; Helen Thomas, whose family celebrated her 90th birthday with a family party at Dick & Bonnie’s house; Lt. Col. Amy Walker, promoted to the rank of colonel in June; Joanna Warner, who celebrated her 80th birthday in October; Duane Medaris, whose 90th birthday was celebrated by a party, hosted by his daughter Mary; Wayne & Evelyn Kaufman, who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary; Curtis & Susan Harshbarger, recently married; Bob Postlewait inducted into the Bement Hall of Fame; Helen Ayers, named 2006 Honorary Alumni of Bement High School; Diane Appleby and Chris Stevens, married in August; Brooke Morris and Jason Jennings, Bement Homecoming Queen and King. Their court included Brittany Lane, Sara Nagele, Summer Foran, Ryan Stoerger, Tatum Auth, Peyton Owens, Matt Cahill, Ryan Hall, Kyle Taylor and Matt Hendrix; Erica Chapman and Brock Casteel, married in November; Tami Coon and Russ Weber, married in November; Walt & Doris Cresap, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in September; Josh Lieb, Jake LIeb, and Adam Sleeth, finishing 3rd in the State Illinois Farm Bureau Agri-Quiz Bowl; Craig Himes & Catherine Fombelle, recently married; Secily Shambaugh, elected 2006 Cerro Gordo Homecoming Queen; Gaylord & Gloria Hendrix, married 60 years, in October; Owen & Marilyn Anderson, married 50 years; June Elliott, who celebrated her 80th birthday in September; Twilia Mackey, celebrated her 90th birthday in October; Ruth Schall, who celebrated her 100th birthday in September; Bailey Runyen, chosen as Student of the Month, in Cerro Gordo; Ryan & Sara Reeder, of Hill Air Force Base, Utah, proud parents of their new son, Colin. Very proud first time grandparents are Allen & Lynnette Reeder; Kevin & Daphne Walsh, parents of Olin Michael. Proud grandmother and grandparents are Gloann Walsh and Dan & Glenda Bates; Ron & Ann Uhe, recently married; Mr & Mrs Byron Mackey, parents of Tyler Christian. Proud grandparents are John & Marilyn Mackey. Proud great-grandparents are Stanley & Twilia Mackey; Beverly Rettke, 81 years old; Zach & Mary Ann Hillard, proud parents of Emma. Proud grandparents are Ed & Michelle Hillard and Steve & Marilyn Ayers; Reed & JoAnne Fombelle, married 25 years, in November; CONGRATULATIONS!! To our local football teams: Maroa-Forsyth, 2A State Champions Tuscola, 1A State Champions Monticello, Arthur-Lovington, Sangamon Valley, Argenta-Oreana, St Teresa, and Mt Zion, all who made it to the state play-offs.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Indiana Chapter, has chosen Travis Stoutenborough, Maroa, Illinois, as a recipient of one of the 2006 philanthropy awards, Outstanding Young Adult. Travis was nominated by the Riley’s Children’s Foundation.
As a student at Purdue University in 2004 Travis contacted Riley Children’s Foundation about starting a Dance Marathon on campus to benefit Riley Children’s Hospital. Several months later the inaugural Purdue University Dance Marathon was held in the middle of the dollege basketball championships. That event in April 2005 attracted 100 students and raised $2500. Travis worked tirelessly the next year to strengthen the program. This year the second marathon attracted more than 300 students and raised $25,000, a 1,000 percent increase over the previous year! Eleven Riley families shared their stories at the marathon. They are part of more than 3,500 visits from the Tippecanoe County to Riley Hospital each year. A supporter reflected that “Travis commands respect and generates ideas while being a servant leader who listens carefully. He has laid the groundwork for an event that has already become a staple on Purdue’s campus.”
Travis is the son of Jim Stoutenborough, and Tami Hopkins and the grandson of Barb Stoutenborough and Dorothy & Bob Sprague.
Local residents Beulah Hendrix and Ginny Dahms and Topflight employees Vanessa Stinson and Pam Jarboe boarded the Norfolk Southern passenger train in Bement on November 18. The special train and the NS employees aboard the train were part of “Operation Lifesaver”. This is a safety promotion by the railroad to make people more aware of the importance of caution near any railroad track. Safety specialists talked about accident rates, and programs and speakers available to address the safety issue. During the presentations, additional guests embarked in Tolono, Tilton, and Attica. The train and its passengers turned around in Lafayette, for the trip back home.
Statistics cited showed Macon County with the greatest percentage of rail/vehicle accidents, most of them occurring in Decatur. However. Champaign had the greater number of injuries from rail/vehicle accidents. The age group from 20 – 29 was involved in 37% of the collisions. 68% of the collisions occurred because motorists did not stop at the crossing, and 68% of the collisions happened in clear weather. A train can weigh up to 12 million pounds and may require 5280 feet to stop, traveling at 55 miles per hour. These statistics and more stressed the need to “Look, Listen and Live.”
It was a very nice trip, full of information, and hosted by a great group of NS safety specialists, agents, and detectives.
2006 2005
Corn sold 75% 37%
Corn-delay priced 8% 36%
Corn-stored 18% 27%
Corn-ave price $2.67 $2.09
Corn – ave moist 17.8% 17.5%
Beans sold 41% 31%
Beans-delay priced 2% 2%
Beans –stored 57% 67%
Beans-ave price $5.90 $6.00
Beans-ave moist 11.3% 12.2%
Nongmo beans sold 45% 30%
Nongmo beans-delay priced 20% 18%
Nongmo beans-stored 35% 52%
Nongmo beans-ave price $5.86 $6.01
Using the projections of our preharvest planning, we saw that this year’s corn crop would be greater than the storage available. One part of the solution was additional ground piles and bunkers. About 700,000 bushels were hauled to the bunker at Emery, and stored under the tarp. Maroa stored 520,000 bushels in their bunker, and an additional 130,000 bushels on the ground. 600,000 bushels were piled on the ground at Milmine. Monticello hauled 380,000 to the parking lot of the old General Cable plant. Seymour filled their bunker, about 2/3 full, with 280,000 bushels of corn, and Pierson filled their ring with about 225.000 bushels of corn.
What a surprise when we looked out the windows of the Bement office during harvest, to see a Harley and its leather dressed rider posing for the camera in front of our giraffe! We had to ask what the occasion was. Bryan Booth and Joe Dubree from Coziahr Harley Davidson were on a “Discovery Challenge”. The Challenge was similar to a scavenger hunt, for the Harley Riders, taking them to sights and towns within a 100 mile radius of Decatur. The list of 33 items included giant jack-o-lantern bins, village where Lincoln spent his early childhood, Moonshine General Store, Willie G’s house, The Boondocks, the Sun Singer, town named for a large furry animal, hometown of the original Steak ‘N’ Shake, birthdplace of the cozydog, a river ferry crossing, and the giraffe of Bement. Some of the items were self-explanatory, others required some research. For the contest, each rider was to visit each stop on the list, have a picture taken with the item, and finally submit the list and all pictures to the Coziahr staff.
We had an interesting visit with Joe and Bryan, and hope they had fun on their central Illinois scavenger hunt.
One Earth Energy is in the midst of its informational and fund drive meetings. You are welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting of your choice.
One Earth Energy is the company formed by Topflight Grain, Alliance Grain, Grand Prairie, Ludlow Farmers Coop and Fisher Farmers Coop, to pursue the construction of an ethanol plant, owned by the local cooperatives. After many, many meetings, the company is now in position to describe the plans, and seek investors. It’s been quite a process and a lot has been learned by all involved. Mitch Dawson, a native of Lovington, has been hired as manager of the company.
If you’re interested in attending a meeting, please call your local Topflight office for the meeting in your area. We’re sure you will find it interesting, whether or not you choose to invest in the ethanol plant.
AND THE WINNERS ARE . . . . . .
Darrel Carr, Mary Duvall, and Ken Stemler. These lucky people are the proud winners of that world famous, much coveted Topflight Grain T-shirt. Their names were chosen from the monthly answers to the Topflight Grain Trivia contest. To test your knowledge (sometimes the questions are easy, sometimes they require some searching), click on the Trivia link at www.topflightgrain.com. All correct answers are entered into the monthly drawing for a Topfight Grain T-shirt.
RAIL EXPANSION
Recently, the Norfolk Southern has implemented new standards for grain elevators. In Bement and Milmine, our normal practice has been to split the 50-car units between the two elevators, or to load 50 cars at Bement, scheduling a switch from the NS to move the cars in two, 25-car units. The NS has changed their service policy, so that if they provide the switch, fees will be greatly increased, with some uncertainty about future service for the 25 car units. In order to work with the railroad, and continue the efficient means of transporting some of our grain by rail, Topflight Grain made plans to expand the rail siding at Milmine and Bement.
The Milmine expansion will include two tracks, running west of the elevator. These two tracks will allow us to load the 50-car unit, using our trackmobiles to move the cars on the tracks. No assistance will be required from the railroad to load the 50 cars. Progress is moving well on this expansion. The ground work began in late summer, the rock was laid down for the rail bed, and ties and track are just about completed for the first of the two lines.
Plans for the Bement expansion are to lay 2 new tracks on the rail bed, on the property owned by Topflight Grain past the west edge of the village. Following zoning approval by the county, per the county map showing all property within the authority of Piatt County, the village of Bement located a map showing .5 acre of the total 11 acres to be within village zoning authority. Approval by the Bement zoning committee was denied to Topflight Grain for the rail expansion project. Since that time, the village, has not communicated with Topflight management nor its legal council, in response to work through the zoning issue. At this time, the Bement project is on hold, while we attempt to communicate, negotiate, or understand the problem.
The premium for nongmo beans has increased to 70 cents for fall 2007 delivery, and to 75 cents for post-harvest, buyers call delivery. Certified seed must be used in this program. Each load will be tested at the scales, to ensure a positive nongmo test. And, very important – a grower contract must be signed to participate in this specialty program, earning the 70 cent per bushel premium. Nongmo beans may be delivered to Topflight facilities in Atwood, LaPlace, Seymour, Shacks, Emery and Maroa. Space may be limited. Be sure to contact your local Topflight office for the grower contract, as soon as possible, if you are interested in the program.
Please remember when selling nongmo beans, that you specify that you are selling nongmo beans. They may look like beans to you, but nongmo beans are accounted as a separate commodity, different from soybeans. Just as they must be stored in separate bins in the elevator, they are accounted separately in the grain position.
Early this fall, for about 10 days, local bean prices were low enough to generate LDP payments. If you harvested and sold beans before October 5, you may be eligible for LDP on those beans. If you need assistance with delivery sheets or completing the LDP form, please contact your local Topflight Grain office.
The 2007 Topflight Grain Marketing Pool begins the first of the year. Sign up must be completed by December 15. The marketing pool combines the market knowledge and experience of Topflight Grain managers and merchandisers, and professional grain advisors to make grain marketing decisions. Producers may enroll any number of bushels, but are encouraged not to enroll more than 1/3 of their total production. If you have any questions about the marketing pool, or would like to enroll some of your production bushels, please call Denny Hill, at our Mara office, 217-794-5533.
Are you interested in a simple to understand marketing plan? Try our average price program. You enroll a specified quantity, and an equal amount of these bushels is sold weekly, during the January through May time frame. Historically (although not always), January through May tends to be highest seasonal prices. As with the marketing pool, you may enroll any amount of your production, but are encouraged not to commit more than 1/3 of your production. If you have any questions, or would like to enroll, please contact Derrick or Sherryl in the Monticello office, at 217-762-2163.
If you prefer a “fancier” contract, you should look into one of our accumulator contracts. There are a lot of specifics in these contracts, but basically, within a given time frame, your enrolled bushels are divided into weekly sales. The contract price is locked in, generally above the current market. The weekly sale is made, if the trading range falls within the price parameters of the certain accumulator contract. If the market trades below the price levels, no more bushels are priced. If the market trades above the price levels, the weekly sale is doubled. There are quite a few details to understand in the accumulator contract, but it is a good way to make sales above the current market. Your local Topflight office has more details, if you’re interested.
Topflight Grain offices will observe Monday, January 1st, as New Year’s Day, opening for the first business day of 2007, on Tuesday, January 2. The 2006 books will close for business at noon on Friday, December 29. If you need to sell grain for 2006 income, please do so before that time. If you need to pay storage or drying bills, for 2006 expense, also please do this before noon on December 29.
Topflight Grain offices will also be closed for Christmas, on Monday, December 25.
All of us wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD, LET’S EAT!!
The Topflight employees and customers were very fortunate this year, to have some good hot lunches served at the elevators. Our caterers arrived with good food, carryout sacks, and lots of people to serve the food. We really appreciate all the delicious lunches and friendly service!
In LaPlace, Jerry Shively, Keila LeHew and Shelly Shively, form the State Bank of Cerro Gordo served sandwiches and drinks to the farmers.
On October 6, Dick Thomas, Tabi Dallas, Michelle Gross, Kendra Wright, Ken Wright, and Mike McHale, of the State Bank of Bement set up their grill to serve hamburgers to all the farmers, drivers and employees at the Bement elevator. They greeted each truck driver, and sent sack lunches back to the field for the combine operators, truck drivers and tractor drivers. It was delicious!
Farm Credit Services served lunch to the Bement customers on October 10, and to the Cisco and Monticello customers on September 30. The Cisco and Monticello lunches benefited the Monticello FFA chapter. Along with the Farm Credit porkburgers served in Bement, we learned that market hogs in Illinois consumed 74,000,000 bushels of corn in 2005, that hogs also consume 25,000,000 bushels of soybeans with soybean meal based feed rations, that Illinois ranks 4th in the US in pork production, the pork industry in Illinois contributes $1.9 billion to the the state’s economy, and contributes 18,500 jobs to the state’s economy.
As school began in mid-August, we began a new year with our adopted Bement second grade class. We met the students and their teachers on September 21, as they toured the Bement facility, and learned about farming and cooperatives. As they entered the office, they met each of the employees, then gathered around the meeting table in the basement. We visited with them about farming, the elevator business, railroad safety, and how a cooperative works. The students split into two groups, then, and toured the office and the elevator. Outside, they saw corn disappear into the pit, the buckets that carry the grain up the leg, the hot spot detectors and all the buzzers that warn Jim when bins are full. (That buzzer sounds just like the recess bell!) Of course, the tour ended with lots of fresh popcorn, enjoyed by all.
On November 9, we boarded the bus with the 2nd grade class, for Curtis Orchard. Judy welcomed us, and told us all about the honey bees that pollinate the orchard and how honey is produced by the bees. In the sorting room, we saw the machine that carefully washes, dries and sorts the apples, and the cider press. After the tour, apple cider and delicious apple donuts were enjoyed by everyone, and then off to the playyard! The hay mow, the maze, and the goats were lots of fun!
In late October, the Monticello facility hosted a tour group of FFA members from Kentucky. Derrick, Jason and Sherryl welcomed the students, advisors and chaperones, about 7:30 in the morning. We’re not quite sure all of the students were awake! They were attentive, as Scott and Derrick told them about managing a grain elevator, and merchandising the grain. It was a totally different business to them, since most of them are tobacco farmers in Kentucky. They grow very little corn and soybeans, so have no need for the tall concrete silos and corn dryers.
The group of young adults is led by Phil French. Phil’s grandfather, Jack Nolan farmed in the Ivesdale/Bement area for a long time, and we became acquainted with Phil when he would come home to visit his grandparents. The students’ tour began in St Louis, came through Monticello, then went to Caterpillar in Morton, the CBOT, then concluded at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. We enjoyed our visit with the students, and wish them a successful future in agriculture.
When Scott felt the ground shake in his office in the basement, it wasn’t a good feeling. The Bement crew had just loaded 25 cars, and the railroad was moving the cars around for the next set, when 3 of the loaded cars derailed. The rail cracked and split, the cars turned over, and corn spilled on the tracks at the east end of the Bement elevator.
It was quite a mess! Crews of Norfolk Southern workers quickly showed up while Eric and Scott offered assistance. No one was hurt, and the railroad worked to move the remaining cars into position to be loaded. During the next few weeks, rail crews and clean up crews worked to upright the cars, clean up the corn, and fix the rails.
Scott and Eric spent part of Sunday afternoon, building a temporary fence to keep Mrs. Baier’s goats out of the corn, so that they wouldn’t eat too much and founder.
With 26 years of service to Cisco Coop and Topflight Grain, Garold Hilligoss will retire on December 31. Please join us in an open house to celebrate Garold’s many years of dedication, on Wednesday, December 20, at the Cisco office, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. (This is the same time as the Holiday Open House.)
Garold has spent many years, filling the binsite, dumping trucks, and serving the Cisco area customers. As the company grew, Garold’s talents have been used throughout the company, loading rail cars, transferring grain, and assisting wherever needed. His knowledge of the Cisco facility, and skills were a great asset to the company, and will be greatly missed. We wish Garold and Joyce a Happy Retirement. And, you just might see him around, still helping out on a part-time basis.
We hope to see you, on Wednesday, December 20, to recall good times and memories with Garold, and wish him a Happy Retirement.
Jill Kuykendall celebrated her 50th birthday on October 30, with a little assistance from the Topflight birthday elves, and the farmers of the Maroa community. Black streamers and balloons surrounded Jill and her desk, but her cake was decorated in bright red frosting and colorful sprinkles.
We wish her many more happy birthdays!!
We’re looking for your favorite recipes! Our goal is to present the Topflight Grain cookbook, at this spring’s women’s program. Additional copies will be available after the spring event. Please look through your recipes and collect your favorites. We will accept your hand written copies, emailed copies, faxed copies, or bring your recipe box to your local Topflight office, and we’ll use the copy machine. If you want to add a special note, or who gave you the special recipe, we’ll be happy to include those notes, too.
We would like to have all recipes by the end of the year. We know it will be a great book!!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Please join your family and friends in Christmas
Celebration at our open houses:
Dec 12 – Pierson
Dec 13 – Milmine
Dec 14 – Atwood
Dec 14 - LaPlace
Dec 15 – Emery
Dec 15 – Maroa
Dec 18 – Monticello
Dec 19 – Seymour
Dec 20 – Cisco
Garold Hilligoss Celebration
Dec 21 – Bement
A variety of food and beverage will be served from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Be sure to stop in and enjoy the food and fun!