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PARTY LINE
By Richard Thomas
The board just authorized spending $175,000 to update our computer system. The cost would have been greater had we not worked out a deal with PraireiNet for transporting our information. I just keep thinking about how much storage we could have built with that much money, but a good record keeping system is so important in today’s ever changing agriculture atmosphere. With this new system, out customers will be able to access information about their accounts through the Internet. It’s just part of the on going information exchange.
I got to thinking, the other day, about this information exchange and it is really nothing new. My mom knew just about everything that went on in our neighbor hood back when I was growing up. We had a party telephone line and our ring was two longs and a short. I think there were about 10 to 12 other families on the line with different rings. If the phone rang three shorts, we knew it was Evan and Maylucille Gibbens, our neighbors to the south. Then, two shorts and a long were Tracy and Alice Shields, our neighbors to the east, and so on. If you get the drift here, Mom did what they called back then, “rubbering on the line”. In other words, when the phone rang and it wasn’t our ring, she would run to the phone, put her hand over the mouth piece and listen to the conversation. Sometimes the other person could hear her pick up the receiver and they would ask who else was on the line. Heck, us kids would even get into the act sometimes. I don’t want you to think that Mom did this all the time, but it was a common practice back in those days. It kept you up to date on what was happening in the neighborhood. In other words, we had our own Internet.
The other nice thing about this system was that it didn’t break down very often. Oh, sometimes, Dad would get mad about something and just about ring the phone off the wall. Eventually, Central would answer and Dad would find out that she had been eating supper, so he would calm down. He didn’t have to leave any voice mail or wonder what extension numbers to put in. He talked to someone in person. I can remember getting this long ring one time (when I was very small) and being told that the war was over. Sometimes I wonder if it would be better if we went back to those old party lines. I know for sure it would be a lot cheaper.
On the lines of communication, I have been getting lots of compliments from customers and counterparts in the grain business on what a great web page we have. If you’ve never had the opportunity to visit it, you should. You might even see a picture of yourself. The address of our web page is www.topflightgrain.com. Now, if you want to email me, it’s thomas@topflightgrain.com, not two longs and a short! And I do read my email every day. I look forward to hearing from you.
By Debbie Bryant
It seems that we have kept pretty busy most of the winter here in Atwood. We have shipped regular beans, nonGMO beans, STS beans and corn to Decatur.
We have also had several farmers haul grain in out of their bins. It’s nice to have something to do, especially after harvest.
Now, it is time to think about planting and starting all over.
By the time you receive this newsletter, I will have started all over, too. I will be leaving Topflight Grain to accept a teller position at the First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust in Tuscola.
I have enjoyed meeting and working with the customers of Topflight, and my fellow employees for the last five years. Several people have told me that it is difficult for us old people to start something new, so keep me in your prayers.
I would like to take this time to thank you, for the opportunity to work for you.
By Louie Tieman
It’s that time again. Vanessa called and asked what I was going to put in my newsletter. I told her I didn’t know, but that it was not 5 pages long, like the last one! Denny Hill wanted more space for his letter, and so did Sandra and Gregg!
I’m always looking back. Do you remember when we had “Steve’s Scenario”, “Ventures at Voorhies”, “Terry’s Tales”, Jeff’s Jottings”, “Rick’s Review” “Shackelford’s Story”, “Mack’s Track’s”, “Harf’s Story”, and “Built by Burton”? Guess we should bring back the Burton’s section, so we’d know what was going on in the maintenance department. Roger is busy now, and will be the rest of the year, repairing things for Topflight facilities. From listening to all the employees, there are a lot of holes to be patched this year and it won’t be with duct tape! We’ll save the duct tape for Jim at Monticello, okay Shaff?
Another article was entitled “Glancing Back, Looking Forward”, by Pam. That was back in 1994 when she was looking ahead, yep, you guessed it, WINTER! As I’ve been looking back through my newsletters, I would have to say that Pam is the only employee who looks better with age. The rest of us have grayed and balded!
Going back to 1997, I like that issue, that tells it all, “Where friends do business”. Here, at Topflight, we are trying to exceed customer expectations. So, as we work with you in building our Topflight company name, we hope you will do most if not all of your business with Topflight. Remember, we have trap shoots, golf outings, focus meetings, annual meetings, and the women’s program. What more could you ask for, except higher grain prices? So, from all of us here at Topflight, Thank you for choosing us.
On the “What’s Happening” front, Travis is going to be on the road, driving a semi for his uncle Richard. He will move all the equipment in it.
Brian is still in Bement, with Tosha Hooker and they have two dogs. He is welding and she works, of all places, the post office!
Misty is going back to nursing school and will start the first of April. So, I guess her working for Dad this fall is out of the question. She always did want to make the big bucks!
Nancy and I, well, we’ll be flipping burgers before long at the Dairy Queen in Sullivan. I don’t know if we can make any money or not. All I’ve been asked so far, is “Do we get a senior citizen discount?”, “Do employees eat free?”, and “How about just free samples?”. I’ll tell you one thing, making ice cream cones is NOT as easy as it looks, believe you me! I would like to exceed customer expectations at the Dairy Queen, also. Let’s keep it going, I say. Remember, “We treat you right”.
One last thing, my ole’ Buddy who lives on MegaBuck Lane, does your wife know you took that picture of the lady on the beach?
Thanks for your business and may each and every one of you have a safe planting season.
I knew my headline topic got all of your attention, but I won’t promise you higher prices!
By Greg Frye
Things are going pretty good here at Seymour. We have been loading train cars and moving a lot of grain around. Every morning, Steve and I have anywhere from five to twelve farmers in the office. They keep us in line and give us their expert advice on everything from fishing to farming.
We have had several farmers asking a lot of questions about the nonGMO contract, but just a few who have signed up so far. If anyone is interested that I haven’t talked to, please give me a call or stop by the office.
Steve has been working hard on the outside to make things run better and look better. We have had several good comments from people in town about the way things look. That makes Steve and me feel pretty good.
Bob Foran’s farm sale was March 31st, a couple of miles south of Seymour. Steve volunteered his time to help park cars. Last count we heard, was seventeen racks to sell.
I volunteered to help the Seymour Fire Protection District during the day if they have a fire call. They only have two or three men to answer calls during the day, and can really use the help.
I hope everyone has a safe planting season, once the temperature gets warm enough. If you are in the Seymour area, stop by and see Steve and me. We always have the coffee pot on.
P.S. On April 4th, I was in jail, trying to collect money for Jerry’s kids. Thanks for the donations, that you gave, to bail me out!!!
The past three months, we’ve been busy taking in grain off the farm and shipping grain to ADM. Since just before Christmas, we’ve had receipts of about 300,000 bushels of corn from farm storage and have shipped about 600,000 bushels to ADM. On soybeans, we’ve had receipts of around 35,000 bushels and delivered about 175,000 bushels to Decatur.
Each year, I find more farmers bypassing the direct shipment of their grain to ADM or Staley’s from farm storage and delivering their grain to the elevator. With the averaging of moisture content, payment of patronage, and just the convenience of the local elevator, it is hard to pencil out in favor of direct shipping. We appreciate your business and will continue to work hard to obtain it.
The most popular question I received from farmers this winter was “have you had any loads rejected at ADM or Staley’s?” I’m happy to report that we’ve had no rejections of either corn or soybeans. It has been an extra burden, testing for Starlink in the corn this winter, but unfortunately, it is something we had to do.
The 2001 Marketing Pool signup was closed at the end of January and I’m happy to report that we have 1.7 million bushels enrolled for this coming year. This is an increase of over 50% from the 2000 Marketing Pool
For the 2001 Pool, we have 2 separate corn pools implemented. The first is for patrons signed up from September-December period and we have them 40% covered at this time. We have a cash sale of $2.36 on 20% of the bushels and a September call bought on those 20%. We also have 20% coverage with a Mini-Max (short hedge) position. For the customers signed up in January, we have the same strategies, except the cash sale is at $2.11. At this time, with soybeans trading so far below loan rate, we have no strategies in place, but will be looking for an opportunity during planting season and into the growing season.
Anyone interested in the 2002 Marketing Pool signup, (September 2001 – January 2002), or have any questions about this year’s pool, please give me a call at 1-800-955-2180.
Basketball and volleyball season has ended around our house and softball season is getting underway. With one daughter a high school cheerleader and the younger one participating in all sports, my wife and I sat on several different bleachers the past 3 months. Fortunately, all the teams were successful and made for an enjoyable winter. We are looking forward to getting outdoors for the softball season.
Have a Safe Planting Season.
By Sandra Paul
Spring is here and it is generally one of the most welcome seasons! After the LONG winter we have had, I am sure most will agree it is time for some warmer weather.
For those who don’t know me, I am Sandra Paul. I live on a family farm 2.5 miles west of Seymour with my husband Gary, and daughters Samantha and Sonja. I started with Monticello Grain at the fertilizer plant in White Heath in March 1991, and was the office manager in Monticello when Monticello Grain merged with Topflight Grain.
The Monticello elevator has been very busy since Topflight gave the green light for free DP. We have taken in waxy corn, regular corn, STS beans, and regular beans. On given days, we had all three pits being used to dump in. One would have thought it was harvest all over again!!!
As I am writing this, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Prairieinet system. I am looking forward to being on line at the scales again. The told me it would be good experience in getting to know the Topflight computer system by having to hand enter all the scale tickets!
The Monticello crew would like to extend Joyce Bennett a very happy retirement! Retirement is a big step in a person’s life and one many people look forward to, so enjoy, Joyce!
Have a safe and fun Spring!!!
“You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments that stand out, the moments when you have really lived, are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.”
By Brock Casteel
As our customers gear up for another busy spring planting, we here at Topflight Grain are also busy. The past several months since I have been with Topflight have been very enjoyable and rewarding. We have moved a lot of grain so far, with a lot left to go. We have successfully cleaned out Lake City, Smith’s bin site, two tanks at Burrowsville, that pesky bull pen at LaPlace, and we are currently transferring out of Van Horn’s bin site. Randy is doing a great job at LaPlace, which is beginning to become a regular put-through facility. Of course, we couldn’t make any of this happen without all of our TOPNOTCH help! One of my goals is to have every bin and silo cleaned at one point in the summer as to give us a fresh start on next fall, which will surely prove to be another great harvest as our knowledgeable customers prove every year.
Recently, I have been working with Lake Land College on receiving students from the college during harvest as part of a work study program in conjunction with the Ag department of that school. I hope not only for more, excellent part time employees during harvest, but also to introduce these students to the world of grain handling and marketing. I feel it will prove to be a win-win situation for everyone involved.
For a week during March, Rich Beer of Farmland Insurance, and I toured all Topflight facilities. I am happy to report that while he did have some recommendations to be made, he was very impressed with Topflight’s facilities and safety practices. Thanks again to all involved in making Topflight a great place to work.
I would also like to wish everyone a safe spring planting season from all of your friends here at Topflight.
PIERSON NEWS
By Russel Wright
Happy Spring to everyone. Of course, when spring rolls around, a man’s and a woman’s fancy turns to . . . . you guessed it . . . field work and planting corn and beans.
At Pierson, during the winter months, the operation crew was busy loading two units of railcars with beans. Brock, Bill, Benny, and Jake also vacced and hauled off the farm as well as emptying bins at Lake City and Smiths.
I want to thank all the truckers who hauled out of Pierson as well as all Topflight facilities. Without them your grain wouldn’t be able to move to market in a timely manner. Again, thanks, and keep up the good work!
Speaking of trucking, that is one of many services Topflight Grain provides. We offer on the farm pickup, during harvest, as well as from bins, either direct to Decatur, or to one of our facilities.
Topflight Grain is also co-owner of United Prairie with locations at Pierson and White Heath, in our trade area. Stop in and visit these locations for your fertilizer and chemical needs.
It seems like every time I write an article for the newsletter, we are telling someone Goodbye. The Pierson crew wishes to express good luck to Joyce Bennett on her recent retirement. We will miss her warm smile and all her help, as well as her sense of humor. So, Happy Retirement!
We also are saying goodbye to Deb Bryant. She has taken a job in Tuscola. We will miss her and all her hard work she does for Topflight Grain. I am sure her customers at Atwood will miss her. So, good luck, Deb, at your new job.
Everyone, have a safe planting season and stop by Pierson for coffee, soda, and popcorn, and good conversation.
BUSY AT LAPLACE
By Vanessa
Stinson
The winter is almost past and spring is just around the corner. A lot of things have happened this winter. The pile of corn that has been on the ground was picked up in December, and believe it or not, it was in good condition. We have cleaned out the Lake City and Smith facilities this winter. They were full of beans. The beans were transported back to LaPlace and loaded out on rail to go to the south. We are in the process of unloading the Van Horn facility at this writing. It feels good to have all of those locations cleaned out before the summer heat hits.
The ground was broke for the new scale and office in early March. By the time you read this, the scale will be finished and the new office will be started. So, this fall, we will be in the new facility. If you are ever this way, stop in and have a look.
The bean complex has been pushed back until next year, so we will have to wait on that project for awhile, but when it is finished, it is going to be like heaven, here in LaPlace.
I was happy to see so many of you at the women’s program this year. I believe it was one of the best that I have ever attended. How can we top this one?
Hope all of you have a great summer season, and we will see you in the fall!
DON’T KNOW WHERE, DON’T KNOW WHEN, DON’T KNOW WHAT
By Mikki Burns
It’s been a long, cold winter! I’m sure we all agree on that! We are all ready for spring, which date wise, is here, but not weather wise! It will come in time, and the sooner, the better!! We all need a pick-me-up, so I’ve been trying to brighten up the house with a few new “white” items. “White” everything is in the magazines, as far as decorating. It would be nice if we could empty out and start over, but for most, that isn’t feasible or affordable. So adding a new touch here and there can often give you a sense of change. Try it, maybe it will be the pick-me-up you need, too.
Our yard sure needs a “pick-me-up”! Lots of work ahead for us. The winter and the wind have really taken a toll on things. I hope some things can be salvaged and redone because everything looks bad. It gives one a “don’t-know-where-to start” state of mind.
Our farmers have a “don’t-know-when-we-can-start” question facing them right now. The weather will surely warm up soon so planting can begin. I hope all of you have “safe and no-problem” planting season.
We “don’t-know-what-we’ll-do-without-them” – We all want to wish Joyce Bennett the best of luck in her retirement!!! We know she is going to enjoy it a lot. Also, to Debbie Bryant, we wish good fortunes in her new job opportunity. We will miss them both!
READY OR NOT, HERE WE COME!!
By Chuck Bentley
Our computer upgrade is going on schedule. By mid April, the new hardware and software will be installed and Prairieinet (high speed wireless Internet) will be available in our trade area. The new ConnectAg service will also be available, soon, that lets a customer view his grain records in our computer, over the Internet, and gives access to weather, Chicago Board of Trade, local elevator prices, accounting function for grain inventory and more.
I believe the Internet to be the future of business. We already do banking, hedging, grain returns, rail billing, and some other procedures over the Internet. Now, we expect to be able to do contracts, ACH fund transfers (instead of writing checks), sending grain settlements and other related reports, directly to a person’s email address and much more. Be prepared for change – ready or not!
The company is on the way to another good financial year. The financial status at the end of February-March is better than this time last year.
I would like to thank Joyce Bennett publicly, for working at Topflight Grain as she retired on March 31, 2001. It has been great working closely with her and I wish her the best in her retirement.
READY FOR SPRING
By Scott
Docherty
Starlink, Madcow, and Hoof & Mouth Disease have taken over where the drought talk left off last winter. Starlink and Madcow have shaken the consumer’s confidence in the food chain and supply. We have had some heated discussions in our own office about the impact of Starlink and Madcow contaminating our domestic and international markets. Aventis has announced that 430 million bushels of corn may be contaminated with the Cry9C protein instead of the 85 million reported last December. This will NOT help U.S. corn exports and the USDA has trimmed exports by more than 100 million bushels with more cuts likely to come. Farmers are being urged to get written certification from their seed corn company of testing for Cry9C before planting their seed.
The corn ending stocks is at 1.941 billions bushels and will be over 2.0 billion if more exports are cut for 3rd and 4th quarter inspections. The USDA average farm price for corn has been lowered from $1.85 in January to $1.80 in the March report. Remember that Topflight Grain customers should average 5 –7 cents better than the US average, so $1.97 to $2.00 for cash corn is a good sale. The new crop corn has good carry in it (CK01 @ $2.11 versus CK02 @ $2.53) so keep selling the carry whether it is for fall or January delivery. The projected 2001 – 2002 corn carryout is at 1.6 billion bushels with good domestic demand and China possibly becoming an importer, also. All eyes will be on the March 30 stocks and planting intentions report as the corn acreage could be cut back by 2 million acres.
The soybeans have enjoyed strong exports as we could export over 1 billion bushels. That’s the good news; now the bad news. The total South American could be 64 MMTs, which will dominate the world export market from April, forward. The USDA average bean price has been lowered from $4.80 in the January report, to $4.55 in the March report. The bean ending stocks is are projected to be 330 million bushels, and with more acres in the 2001 planting season, and stiff competition from South America, the 2001-2002 ending stocks are estimated to grow to 450 million bushels. There is no other game than the loan rate when it comes to marketing new crop soybeans. Be careful, because there are some marketing specialists advising bean sales below loan, expecting to get a huge LDP payment in the fall. This can be very costly if you do no have upside coverage and you have a crop problem with beans sold at a dollar per bushel below loan rate.
Discussions have started concerning the farm bill and that the CRP program may be expanded because it is environmentally friendly, and it would take additional acres out of production. Ideas on trade issues with the WTO and how are we going to continue paying $24 billion to farmers if we get tax breaks from the administration? A flex setaside with higher loan rates and a counter cyclical payment program is being tossed around. How all this gets worked out or not, I am not sure, but I cannot stress enough how important it is to let your representative and senator know what issues you think should be included in the next farm bill.
The kids loved their Christmas vacation with all snow on the ground, but I sure didn’t enjoy getting the gas and electric bill for December. Thank God, January and February were not that bad, because I had already turned the thermostat down twice and told the kids to put more clothes on. We have enjoyed good moisture and some warm days since then and I am sure the farmers are getting anxious to get rolling in the fields. Be careful with the spring planting season and enjoy your summer activities.
NEW PROJECTS & GENERAL MAINTENANCE
By Eric Clements
It seems as though winter is finally over. I just finished raking my yard. I always like getting out in my yard in spring, then by the time summer is near its end, I wish my grass would die. I have my fishing boat all ready for this spring, so all I need is a little war weather. Roger and I usually go up to Clinton Lake together and do some crappie fishing.
Our LaPlace project is going right on schedule. Damery Bros has one scale completed and is starting on the next one. I hope that by the end of May, a lot of this project will be completed. We are building a new office with 2 scales. We plan on building a new dump pit and two bins, next year. The bins will set near where our present office is now. This is our biggest project planned for this summer.
The maintenance staff has been hard at work, making improvements and rebuilding equipment from last year’s harvest. We line the inside of our equipment with a rubber like material called Kyrptone. One 4’x10’ sheet costs $300. This material lasts several years. We have a lot of this lining yet to install this summer, but we seem to have made good progress so far.
We have been shipping a lot of grain this winter. Lake City and Smiths are already empty. It is always good for the operations staff to be able to move a lot of grain over the winter so that we can core and inspect the bins. We haven’t had any problems so far and I don’t expect that this will change.
In March, Lisa and I traveled to Phoenix for the GEAPS National Convention. The weather was great and I took in four days of very informative meetings. When we got home, Hayden ran to me first. Lisa didn’t say anything, but I think she got a bit jealous. Mitch ran to his mom. I guess he remembered who butters his bread every morning.
nonGMO BEAN PROGRAM
By Keith Whitacker
I have enjoyed my first four months here at Topflight Grain very much! I have been able to meet a lot of people and look forward to meeting more of you. One of my responsibilities has been to look after our nonGMO soybean program for 2001-2002. To date, we have 10,400 acres signed up in the program. If you have nonGMO soybeans that you would like to enter into the program, be sure and give us a call here at the Bement office and I will be glad to make a contract for you.
The program offers a 20 cent premium per bushel and we have 8 locations that these beans can be delivered this fall. These locations include Atwood, Bement, Burrowsville, Cisco, Emery, Lodge, Seymour, and Shackelfords. We also have a buyer’s call program for those interested in keeping their grain on the farm and delivering it next spring. The grain needs to be price or placed on priced later, so that we can be able to move the grain when the processor call for it. No bin run seed will be permitted in this program.
We would like to thank you for your participation in this program. I have also spent some time checking in on the possibility of our company being ISO 9000 certified. Dick has an article about the process in this publication.
I hope the planting season goes well for all of you and that Mother Nature cooperates throughout the summer. I look forward to hearing your planting updates.
GLAD TO HELP (most of the time!)
By Pam Jarboe
I was going to tell you another “Honey, can you help me a minute” story, but I was afraid that OSHA might visit our farm when they found out some of our situations, so I’ll skip that story about setting on the top of the fork lift late one evening! As well as helping Dan for a minute, that “help me for a minute” is a commitment that Topflight Grain has to you, our customers.
If you need help with your grain sheets, if the FSA office needs information for a spot check, if your insurance company needs historical information, we’re here to help. If it takes more than a minute, that’s okay, we have the time to help you. Chuck spent a couple of days, correcting some grain divides and re-writing checks. Stason and Roger spent a few minutes helping a Milmine customer with a stalled car. Derrick and Dick helped another friend who had locker her keys out of her car. We have helped many of you, (and would be glad to help more of you!) haul your grain in from the grain bins. Russel and Gloria will get you help with your fertilizer and chemical needs. As we advance with faster communications and more Internet programs, we’ll be able to help you more. You’ll be able to get information, through your computer, anytime of the day or night that you need it.
We have had a successful winter meeting schedule. Your employees have attended meetings to keep them informed about agriculture issues, some employees have spoken at these meetings, and we’ve hosted several meetings at Topflight, including the Focus meetings and the women’s program. Of course, the women’s program is my favorite, because we can visit with our farm women. We don’t see them too often, and very seldom do we have that many terrific women together as one group. It was a wonderful meeting, and we enjoyed seeing all of you.
Wish me luck, as I take a week’s vacation in April, to catch up on some things around the house. Last spring, I helped Dan in the field for one day. I ran the Steiger, with the field cultivator, ahead of his planter. He called me on the radio, and told me to finish up by working out my tracks. I not only worked out my tracks, I worked out his planter tracks! I think the corn was a little over populated on the north end rows that year!
SOME THINGS JUST TAKE TIME
By Richard Thomas
As I told you in our last newsletter, we were working on a project to build receiving and storage space along with a new office and scales at LaPlace. It just took longer than we thought to get all the negotiations done on the lots we needed to purchase to make this project work. Part of the building project will have to be put off until next year. However, we have signed contracts for a new office to be built and two new scales. Damery Bros. From Macon, have already started work on the scales and Rick Montague from Sullivan will be building the office.
The way the land purchase ended up was that Topflight Grain got the two lots we needed to make the whole project work. In turn, the Cerro Gordo Fire District got enough money to buy another lot in town, and a good down payment on a building to house a fire truck in LaPlace. Everything worked out to the benefit of those involved except it just took longer that we thought it would.
Our sympathies to the families of . . .
Francis Beery
Herman Shinneman
Jack Foulke
Harry Bloch
Margaret McCartney
Maxine Clifford
Earl Meece
Don Bolsen
Marilyn Lieb
John Helphinstine
Loren Rogers
Doris Durbin
Tom Jinks
“Buddy” Ralph VanVleet
Esther Brame
Leslie Cripe
And
all others who have lost loved ones.
Our congratulations to . . . .
Gary & Lisa Hadden, parents of a new son. Jerry & Joyce Alexander are the proud grandparents.
Brian & Debbie Henningsen, parents of a new daughter. Bob & Deanna Henningsen are the proud grandparents, and Gene & Flossie Taylor are the proud great grandparents.
Debbie & Steve Barrett, proud grandparents of Blake Joseph Barrett.
Lillian Bicknell, daughter of Scott and Rachel Bicknell of Lovington, winner of the sixth grade Geographic Bee at Lovington school.
Mia Brandenburg, daughter of Trent and Jenny Brandenburg. The proud grandparents are Sandy Brandenburg and Steve & Donna Fleener.
The Rajettes Danz Team from the Atwood-Hammond High School, who competed in the state team championship at the Assembly Hall in Champaign in March. Members of the team are Terra Patient, April Day, Sharlie Schable, Megan Wall, Andrea Fay, Gina Stoerger, Marieta Miller, Jenna Cacshetta, Sarah Kistler, and Cassie Logsdon. Their coaches are Shari Schable and Joy Fay.
Taylor Powell, son of Darren and Angie Powell. Proud grandparents are Ed & Donna Beauchamp and Mike & Beverly Powell.
We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse.
For my grandchildren, I’d like better.
I’d really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.
I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.
I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you’re sixteen.
I twill be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.
I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.
I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother. And it’s all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he’s scared, I hope you let him.
When you want to see a movie and your little brother wants to tag along, I hope you’ll let him.
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in town where you can do it safely. On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don’t ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won’t be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.
If you want a slingshot, I hope you dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.
I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what Ivory soap tastes like.
May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove, and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
I don’t care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don’t like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.
May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.
I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor’s window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.
These things I wish for you – tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness.
To me, it’s the only way to appreciate life.
ONLINE TRADING
By Scott Docherty
I have started entering hedge future orders via the Internet. The orders are sent to an electronic clerk, on the first step of the corn pit. When the order is filled, it is sent back to Topflight Grain, and the clearing firm. This type of order entry is quick and easy, with fills coming back quicker, also. The downside is entering an order with the wrong price and not having another set of eyes looking at the order ticket to correct any mistakes. I believe this is just another step towards total electronic trading, instead of open outcry at the Chicago Board of Trade. The CBOT overnight trade is electronic trade, right now.
Topflight customers, may in the coming year, be able to trade your cash grain online, and be able to bring your customer status account to market as this technology and software become available. We will keep you updated of these rapidly advancing areas.
CLEANING SOYBEANS FOR UNITED PRAIRIE
By Richard Thomas
Passing by the Bement seed cleaning plant, in February and March, you may have noticed quite a bit of action. We were cleaning seed beans for United Prairie. United Prairie is a fertilizer and chemical company, headquartered in Ivesdale. Topflight Grain owns 28% of United Prairie.
We worked out an arrangement with them this year to clean and bag some seed beans. The total amount cleaned ended up being a little over 7500 bushels. The seed beans were grown locally and had a very good germination. Working together like this, lets all of us in the cooperative system make better use of our facilities, and in the end, makes you, our owners, more money.
LOREN ROGERS
By Richard Thomas
While we were gone on vacation this winter, I called back to the office, and learned that Loren Rogers had died. I can’t say that I knew Loren real well, but I always admired the way he farmed. His farming operation was kinda like being in a fish bowl, because he farmed all along Route 105. His roadsides were always mowed like a yard and you never saw very many weeds in his fields. I always wondered if he ever took a vacation, because it seemed like he was always around. From his green and yellow machinery, to his farmstead, everything seemed to be in place.
I was always going to stop in and tell him how I felt about his farming operation, but now it’s too late. I guess I should learn from the saying I have posted on my office door: “DO IT TODAY. If you were going to die soon, and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? AND WHY ARE YOU WAITING?”
NOT SUCH A GOOD IDEA
By Richard Thomas
I had this bright idea about putting this Vitamin E capsule in the mailing we sent to you in January. Since we were making this large mailing, I thought we might as well get our money’s worth out of the postage, and include a product made from the soybeans you raise. So, I called Marvin Rau at ADM and asked him if they would give us some Vitamin E capsules to include with the mailing. ADM sent the tablets out and when I left on vacation, everyone was stuffing envelopes to get the mailing out in a timely manner.
One week into my vacation in Florida, I called back to find out how things were going. Pam said, “You know that idea you had about putting the Vitamin E capsules in the mailing we just sent out?” I said, “I sure do”. Pam told me “Well, it didn’t work so well”. By the time the envelopes went through all the machinery at the post office, some of the capsules were smashed, others had smashed and the Vitamin E ran out and stained the information in the mailing, others, however, made it through just fine. Like Pam always does, leaving me feeling that everything didn’t turn out so bad.
Well, Nancy and Dale Huisinga invited Bonnie and me over one afternoon to play a round of golf. After the golf game was over and we were back at their condo, Dale brought out this envelope with a packet in it, and two smashed Vitamin E capsules. He asked me “What was this supposed to be? Nancy and I couldn’t figure it out.” So, I had to explain, how a good idea, I thought, went bad.
I apologize if it caused you any trouble or blurred the papers that were in the mailing. Next time, I’ll not try to get so much bang for my buck.
JOB SHADOWING
Scott and Dick had two young men from the Bement High School job shadow them on Monday, March 12th. Josh Hendrix shadowed Dick, and Andy Hendrix shadowed Scott. The first thing, Monday morning, Dick took Josh to a meeting in Champaign to meet with US Representative Tim Johnson. After the meeting was over, Dick and Josh met up with Scott and Andy in Decatur at ADM’s headquarters for a tour and lunch.
While at ADM, Dick mentioned to one of the merchandisers who was giving the tour, how honored he was that they chose to shadow two people at Topflight Grain. The response from the ADM employee was “Who else could they job shadow in Bement, someone from Quick Mart?” Just goes to show, about the time you think you’re looked up to, someone always puts you in your place.
By Derrick Steirwalt
I am currently a senior at Bement High School. Every day, at 1:30, I leave school and go to the Bement office of Topflight and am there until 3:15. It has been a great experience for me to get a taste of running a co-op. I am planning to attend Parkland College and study general agriculture, starting in the fall.
I would like to farm when I get out of college, but everyone knows we all can’t farm and this internship gives me ideas of something else I can do. They have me doing a little bit of everything. I have weighed trucks, tested for StarLink, and even loaded bean dust. I’ve also spent some time with Rob Litwiller in Pierson, for United Prairie.
Dick took me to Pierson and Milmine to show me those elevators. On our way back from Milmine, we picked up a stranger along the road that locked her keys in her truck. We went back to Bement and Dick got out at the bank for a meeting. I took her and his Cadillac back to Milmine to pick up an extra set of keys. It was an exciting trip. On another day, he took Josh Hendrix and me to a meeting with Tim Johnson in Champaign. After that, he took us to Decatur to show us around ADM. It was a great experience.
This internship has bee really good for me. I would like to thank Dick and Pam for this experience. I also want to thank Keith, Chuck, Joyce, Eric and Scott for showing me what they do each day. Topflight is a great place to intern.
We had four cars out of a 50 car train rejected by ADM in January, because the corn tested positive for the StarLink trait. We unloaded the corn and put it back into the elevator in a separate bin. We later loaded it back out and it was shipped to a poultry feeder in the Southeast. After we found out we had StarLink, we started testing the inbound grain at all of our facilities, and we found some more in the Monticello area.
The testing for StarLink has added costs to our operations. So far, we have billed Aventis Cropscience $3,341.42, for costs associated with the testing. So far, they have paid us $3134.03 towards the bill. The $208.39 difference is for blenders we had to buy to do the testing. Aventis claims we would have to buy the blenders anyway. We are still arguing with them over this matter. None of this takes into account of how the testing slows down the loading process or the frustration in dealing with the problem.
As you can see, StarLink contaminated corn is not a desired trait for corn into our normal market channels. Many grain organizations are encouraging corn growers to obtain written certification from their seed suppliers that their seed corn has been tested, with negative results, for the StarLink (Cry9C) trait, and to keep these records! This is an issue that should concern you, as a corn producer, whose product is valued by the export market. We urge you to be aware of the StarLink issue, and strongly suggest that you verify your spring seed has been tested, and shows no trace of StarLink.
Once in the grain chain, the trait can contaminate an entire bin. Those bushels will be rejected by the local market and alternate markets must be found, at a lesser price, with higher transportation costs, and the added costs of separation and identity preservation.
Please, be sure that your 2001 corn does NOT contain the Cry9C gene!
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (Hoof and Mouth Disease)
Foot and mouth disease (or hoof and mouth) has grabbed the attention of the news media and the grain markets, recently. One rumor of a case in the US can ruin the market in a matter of minutes. What is hoof and mouth disease?
Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, hogs, sheep, deer, etc.). It causes the animals to slobber, not eat, and they have painful movement. It cannot be cured. The concern of the disease is that it spreads so rapidly and so easily that it can affect many herds and animals in a short amount of time. The only way to get rid of it is to kill the animals.
Over 50% of our corn use is feed use. Can you imagine the impact on the demand of corn as a feed, if this disease would become very widespread, and millions and millions of animals were destroyed? TV news has shown this, in Britain. It is a terrible sight, and also has great ramifications on our corn and bean markets. Rumors of hoof and mouth outbreaks can move the market quickly.
On the other hand, the demand should be good for healthy animals, and it could increase the demand for soy protein, if the consumer seeks alternate sources of protein.
Programs are still open for the 2001 crops for nonGMO beans and high oil corn.
The nonGMO beans earn a 20 cent premium, delivered to Atwood, Bement, Burrowsville, Cisco, Emery, Lodge, Seymour, and Shackelfords. They can also be farm stored, delivered at buyers call.
The high oil corn premium is 20 cents, based on an 8% oil content. This corn must be delivered to Bement or Cisco, or stored on the farm and delivered at buyers call. The corn price is determined by the export market, which varies (higher and lower) than the domestic market.
(Buyer’s call means that the farm stored grain will be delivered when the processor calls for it. Be careful that you understand this term when you plan to store your specialty grains on the farm.)
If you have any questions, or interest, in the specialty grains programs, please call the Bement office at 217-678-2261, and talk to Keith Whitaker.
The cleaning mills are Bement and Monticello are ready to clean your farm stored beans, used for seed beans. We can clean the beans, and run them back into your wagon, or we can clean them and bag them, whichever is more convenient for you.
We do ask that you call ahead to make arrangements for the cleaning. This will allow us to schedule enough man power to get the job done for you.
This year, we will also be asking that you sign the scale ticket, to confirm that the beans are not RoundUp Ready beans. We will only clean nonGMO beans. This is a legal issue, in that it is illegal for a producer to save and plant bin run RoundUp Ready seed. Therefore, we are not allowed to clean them, either.
HAVE SOME FUN
Louie Tieman created this word game for you to enjoy. The hints are listed below. If you need the answers to the hints, you’ll have to look through the newsletter to find them.
1. Where is “Megabuck Lane”?
2. How much did it cost for Brock to use the ATM machine at Big Al’s?
3. Who is the big man at the dumps at Pierson?
4. What is the last name of the grain originator at Seymour?
5. What is the last name of the outside boss at Seymour?
6. Who is the manager of Topflight Grain?
7. Who is one of the new board members this year?
8. What organization is Eric Clements treasurer of?
9. What is Pam’s last name?
10. Name another new board member this year.
11. Who is the grain merchandiser for Topflight Grain?
12. Who is Monticello’s number one man?
13. Which elevator won the “Most Dumps” award?
14. Which employee painted cars in the late ‘60s and early 70’s?
15. Which employee can hit a golf ball a mile?
16. Which elevator is the farthest northwest facility?
17. Which elevator is off Route 10?
18. Name the employee who created this crossword puzzle.
19. What is the last name of the employees who are father and son?
20. Which facility is east of Bement?
21. Who is the ex-semi driver for Topflight Grain?
22. Name a type of specialty bean.
23. Which is our most famous elevator?
24. Which employee is known as “Stinny”?
25. Name the employee who retired in 2001.
26. Who is the outside employee at LaPlace?
27. Who is the outside employee at Emery?
28. What is the last name of the local auctioneer, who is also a board member?
29. What is the name of Louie and Nancy’s famous place in Sullivan?
Answers to questions in the word search game:
Earlier this winter, Russ, Vanessa, and Keith attended a meeting on “ISO 9000”. Since then, Keith has attended the follow up meeting, which was more detailed and direction oriented. It may be a topic that you hear more about, and may be interested in. Here is a little more information about ISO 9000.
ISO 9000 provides a management plan to insure Quality Assurance through planned, formalized activities intended to provide confidence that the output will meet required quality. Its purpose is to promote the development of standards through credible documentation. The process involves management involvement, documentation, customer input, and continuous improvement. It is a program that traces every activity of production (in our case, crop production) from the beginning to the final product and destination. The certification process would assure the buyer and the consumer that proper handling has been practiced through all stages.
To become ISO 9000 certified, a company undergoes planning, documentation, education, training, and testing. The benefits of the program are market acceptance and involvement by all levels of management. As consumers become more aware of food quality and demand safe foods, the ISO 9000 program offers a plan to trace the food growing process and assure the consumer that the food meets the standards.
WAKE UP!!!
In March, Dick and Bonnie attended the National Grain & Feed Convention, in New Orleans. Dick is a member of the National Grain & Feed board, serving on several committees, and working to address the issues that face the grain handling industry.
The trade show demonstrated the dominance of e-markets and e-trading, all Internet based businesses serving the grain industry. Dick noticed fewer booths, though, this year compared to last year, as some of the companies have combined resources, and others have just disappeared. This way of business is becoming more and more common, even in our everyday activities, so we keep aware of the companies and the products that are offered.
A highlight of the trip, was a tour of ADM’s export elevator at Ama. At that elevator, they were loading a vessel that held 2.2 million bushels (over 40 barges worth of corn!) of grain. Unusual with this loading, was that they were loading the vessel entirely with corn. Usually, they load 5 or more commodities in each vessel. If they are loading several commodities in the vessel, they load the appropriate amount of the first commodity in the bottom, lower a caterpillar into the vessel to level the grain, put a tarp and plywood over the grain, then load the next commodity. The same procedure is followed until the vessel is loaded. The buckets on the leg are about the size of the bucket on our “Bobcat”, holding over 30 bushels each.
On a side tour through New Orleans, Dick & Bonnie learned where the term “wake” originated, (as used as a part of the funeral service). In the old days, before they embalmed people, they would bury some people alive (by accident, of course!). Someone would stay by the tomb for a few days to see if they really were dead. A bell was installed on the tomb, so that if someone did “wake” up, they could ring the bell.
As well as the informational meetings, and side trips, at these conventions, Dick enjoys visiting with, and meeting new people, who are in the grain business. He talked to Frank Beurskens about his venture into processing soybeans into soy milk. (Frank, and then, others in our office tried to convince Dick that the stuff was good, but we’re not sure he bought into the idea!)
WIN A FREE DINNER!!!
How would you like to win a free dinner . . for two . . . accompanied by a pleasant, knowledgeable Topflight Grain employee? It’s simple!!! If you’re photographed and shown in a TV advertisement or a newspaper or magazine advertisement, wearing a Topflight Grain cap, we’ll buy your dinner!!
Keep wearing those caps!
EXCEED CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS!
About a year ago, Dick promoted the slogan among the employees to “exceed customer expectations”. We had signs in the offices, and we talked about it, but this year, we’re getting down to business. Recently, as employees have exceeded customer expectations, they have been awarded a certificate, with their name, and their act of goodness.
Recipients have included Roger Burton and Stason Kopps for rescuing Wilma when her car stalled at Milmine, Chuck Bentley for solving some customer problems, all the Topflight Girls for organizing a wonderful women’s program, and Michael Burton and Henry Lust for courteous service on a farm pickup job.
To receive the award, an employee must be nominated by fellow employees, or by our customers. So, if you receive outstanding service from a Topflight employee, please pass your compliment on to our manager, Richard Thomas. That employee may be recognized for the contribution with the certificate and mention in the weekly employee newsletter. (On the other hand, if you are aware of improvements that need to be made, we want to hear about those, too.)
The theme for the 2001 Topflight Grain annual Women’s Program was “Unlock the Memories”. 190 customers attended the program, on Wednesday, March 21, at the Bement Country Opry. Centerpieces of old pictures, gloves, jewelry, records, etc, decorated each table. Each place setting was decorated with a votive candle, wrapped in lace, and tied with a ribbon, and a key, to “unlock the memories”.
If your normal reply to “How are you?”, is “I’m just fine.”, Becky Glenn redefined the word “fine”. It now stands for Frustrated, Insecure, Neurotic, and Exhausted. Becky spoke about “Celebrating the Ordinary”, encouraging each lady to enjoy life. She had three “S’s” to develop that practice. Smile, Speak positively, and Savor the day were the habits she suggested. To be positive and have fun, she had many suggestions, including blowing bubbles, or taking short trips with an unknown destination.
Other speakers for the program, included Dave Portnoy, Steve Seitz, and Norma Harrold. Dave Portnoy works for the Women’s Safety Education Group in St. Louis. He made the ladies aware of situations that could put them in danger, such as walking alone to the car in a parking lot or being distracted using a cell phone. He suggested the use of a loud voice, pepper spray, and certain self defense techniques to use, if necessary. Using “volunteers” from the audience, he demonstrated some simple moves to break free from various holds.
Steve Seitz has recently renovated the Voorhies castle. He showed before and after slides of the restoration process. The fireplaces, the windows, and the roof were just a few of the major projects that were undertaken. The slides showed beautiful light fixtures, stained glass, and fireplaces. Using pictures of the original house as a guide, contractors reopened doorways, rebuilt porches, and installed new windows. The result of all their work is a beautiful Voorhies castle.
“Memories are made of . . .” was the title of Norma Harrold’s speech. She told us that we had a choice of how we cherished our memories. We could celebrate the good memories or be bitter about the difficult memories. Using the handiwork work of her Grandmother, as an example, Norma described how she chose to remember the great work and the great spirit of her grandmother. Norma told the group that women usually are in charge of making the memories, and then in charge of keeping the memories. She has a tin pan, that Grandma made chocolate sauce in, and the sieve that was used to drain the lumps out of the gravy, (except that no one placed a pan under the sieve. The gravy went right down the drain!) These are family memories that are favorites!
A delicious lunch of chicken casserole, fruit salad, lettuce salad, and pasta salad was served at noon. Chocolate cake and turtle cheesecake were served as dessert. Cinnamon rolls, coffee, hot tea, and orange juice greeted the guests as they arrived at 9:00.
Many memories were made this day, as the speakers entertained and inspired the stockholders and friends of Topflight Grain.
The chicken casserole recipe from the program, has been shared with us, by Connie McLaughlin, our caterer:
From Connie McLaughlin
1 chicken, cooked & deboned (or use chicken breasts and some legs & thighs)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 large box stuffing mix
2 cans of chicken broth (or 32 oz from broth while cooking chicken)
1 stick margarine
Mix all ingredients except the margarine, together. Grease a baking dish, put mixture in pan. Melt margarine and pour over mixture. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour, in the covered pan.
(For the women’s program, the casserole was mixed the day before. The stuffing mixture gets hydrated and moist. Mushrooms can also be added.)
SURVIVING AND THRIVING IN THE NEW AG ENVIRONMENT
The 108th annual convention of the Illinois Grain & Feed Association was held February 18 – 20, in Peoria, Illinois. Most of your directors and several employees attended the convention, to learn about “surviving and thriving in the new ag environment”.
Workshops were attended, that addressed the topics of human resource issues, international competition, OSHA updates, energy usage and ways to conserve, weather, global trends, future trends in farm machinery, facilities that will thrive in the future, and e-commerce and the Internet. Other events included the opening ceremonies, featuring Keith Matheny, who unlocked the power of the mind with a presentation entitled “Mind over Magic”, the meeting of the Legislative Council, the trade show with over 110 exhibitors of grain industry products and promotions, David Naster, who told the attendees they “Just Have to Laugh”, and Dr. Lowell Catlett, who embraced the changes of agriculture in the 21st century.
The workshops, the general sessions, as well as the association with members of the grain trade, provide information and training to your company representatives, as they always strive to be informed.
POLITICALLY CORRECT WAYS TO SAY SOMEONE
IS STUPID
A few clowns short of a circus.
A few fries short of a happy meal.
The wheel’s spinning, but the hamster’s dead.
All foam, no beer.
The butter has slipped off his pancake.
The cheese slid off his cracker.
Body by Fisher, brains by Mattel.
Warning: Objects in mirror are dumber than they appear.
Couldn’t pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel.
He fell out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down.
As smart as bait.
Doesn’t have all his dogs on one leash.
Her sewing machine’s out of thread.
One fruit loop shy of a full bowl.
Her antenna doesn’t pick up all the channels.
His belt doesn’t go through the loops.
Proof that evolution CAN go in reverse.
Receiver is off the hool.
Not wired to code.
Skylight leaks a little
Her slinky’s bent.
Too much yardage between the goal posts.
Got a full 6-pack, the lacks the plastic thingy to hold them together.
A photographic memory, but the lens cover is on.
During evolution, his ancestors were in the control group.
Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn’t coming.
Is so dense, light bends around her.
If brains were taxed, he’d get a rebate.
Standing close to her, you can hear the ocean.
Some drink from the fountain of knowledge, but he just gargled.
She stayed on the Tilt-W-Whirl a bit too long.
WHAT’S HAPPENIN’
Since the first of the year, Topflight Grain has received 301,000 bushels of soybeans, 2,052,000 bushels of corn, 101,195 bushels of high oil corn, 91,080 bushels of nonGMO beans, 88,465 bushels of STS beans, and 284,463 bushels of waxy corn.
Since the first of the year, Topflight Grain has shipped out 1,550,000 bushels of beans, 4,013,600 bushels of corn, 176,000 bushels of high oil corn, 25,300 bushels of nonGMO beans, and 99,380 bushels of STS beans.
Topflight employees and board members had a wonderful Christmas party, hosted by Tom’s Bowl. The staff at the bowling alley prepared a delicious meal for all who attended. All of us received a navy blue Topflight Grain sweatshirt!!
Russ has implemented a uniform program for the employees. Most of the operations staff will soon be clad in tan shirts with the Topflight logo, and the employee’s name.
Pam & Dick visited with Jim Spragland and his staff, from AgLand FS, in January, to exchange ideas about customer communications and company promotions.
Dick is taking each employee out for lunch, on his or her birthday. It was Joyce’s first meal at the West End in Bement. John had a good sirloin at Appleby’s.
Dick & Bonnie enjoyed a two week vacation in Florida.
Louie also enjoyed a vacation in Florida.
Scott visited with Fred Seibold on the Breakfast Club on WCZQ, about the StarLink issue and its effect on the company and the grain industry.
Louie spoke at the Monticello Lion’s Club January meeting about his collection of running memorabilia.
Adam Logue passed his written CDL test. He is practicing the driving now.
Jeremy Bryant participated in the Atwood spelling bee on February 6.
Zachary Warnick collected caps, as part of the Cerro Gordo fifth grade project to help kids with cancer.
Dick, Chuck, Scott, and Pam attended a PowerPoint learning session, taught by Linda Taylor, at the Bement schools. PowerPoint is a computer method to make presentations. It replaces overhead transparencies.
(picture #1)
Scott Docherty and John W Hendrix spoke to the Piatt County Farm Bureau women about grain markets and crop insurance, in February.
We have 10,400 acres enrolled in the nonGMO bean program.
Dillon Docherty jumped 463 times in a jump rope contest for the heart association.
Michael and Roger Burton refinished an old “thresherman’s table” for Mike’s future in-laws, Steve & Mary Mann.
Scott attended the WILL marketing meeting in Covington, Indiana in March. Do you suppose he went for the information or the food?
Our location managers may be calling you. Their purpose is to make you aware of any new opportunities that we offer, and to see if we can do anything for you. Please share your thoughts with them.
It takes a lot of good men to keep all the Topflight facilities in good condition and to transport grain between elevators and from the farm. While the office staff is attending meetings and handing out grain checks, the men are fighting the snow, sleet, and wind to keep things running outside. Here are some of their activities since the first of the year.
Brock, Cory, Art, Jake, Benny, Willard, and Randy (and others) picked up the 400,000+ bushel corn pile at LaPlace in December and January.
They’ve loaded out 420,000 bushels of beans by rail, 1,746,000 bushels of corn by rail, and 176,000 bushels of high oil corn, by rail.
They’ve loaded 1,130,000 bushels of beans out by truck, and 2,267,450 bushels of corn out by truck.
Roger and Roy repaired a trackmobile.
Lots of grain has been hauled in from the farm.
They check grain quality once a week, at least, and have walked the flat several times.
Elevators have to be kept clean.
Jim Shaffer worked on the rail spouts at Monticello.
Several of the guys are testing for Starlink.
Willard fixed electrical problems at Seymour.
Roy fixed the forklift.
Roger and Jim patched holes in the Bement elevator.
Michael, Brock, Henry, Benny, Jake, & Adam transferred beans from Smiths and Lake city, to LaPlace. They also hauled beans out of Lake City.
Charlie & John swept the bean bins at Emery.
Gary & Garold took in high oil corn, and transferred the high oil corn from the bin site to the elevator, so it could be loaded out.
The Monticello crew insulated their shop.
Roger, Jim, Roy, Stason, Michael, Henry & Adam bagged beans for United Prairie.
Benny cleaned out bean bins.
Bill helped load out the Pierson trains.
Cory and Steve cleaned out bins at Seymour, trying to find a solution to an aeration problem.
Brock, Bill, and Jake cleaned out bean tanks at Atwood.
Willard worked on the Peterbilt.
Cory moved beans at Lodge, to haul them to Seymour, to load on a train.
Joe is planning repairs on the spouts and outside ring at Seymour.
Rick is selling grass seed and fertilizer, and garden seeds.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, from Bonnie
The Topflight girls always hope, and look forward to, Christmas lunch at Dick & Bonnie’s house. Bonnie prepares a delicious lunch for the girls, serving on a holiday decorated table, with Christmas carols playing in the background, set in their beautifully Holiday decorated home. It’s a day enjoyed by all, for the good food, the great company, and Bonnie’s hospitality, which is superb.
Thank you, Bonnie, for a wonderful Christmas lunch!
ADOPTED CLASS
We always look forward to the winter and spring activities with our adopted 2nd grade class. The events are always fun and we always learn a little, too.
On December 20, we celebrated the Christmas season with cookies and punch, and visiting about their Christmas holiday. To our surprise, we heard a big Ho-Ho-Ho, and Santa arrived, with gifts for everyone. It was so much fun when he had enough time to stay and participate in the Christmas songs. Alas, he had to leave, only after bidding everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
What fun we had at Tom’s Bowl, in Bement, on February 9! It was a rainy day, so Birch’s Bus Service picked us up at the school, and delivered us to the front door of the bowling alley. Teri Ekiss was our tour guide, taking small groups to the rear of the alleys, to watch the pins reset and the ball return to the front. For the next hour, we bowled and bowled and bowled. There were a few strikes and a few gutter balls, but it was a lot of fun.
We learned so much and had so much fun on our field trip to Monticello. Our first stop was Piatt County Sheriff’s office. Carrie Shumard told us about her job as the dispatcher. She had several computers, lots of phones and lots of radios to receive her calls, and communicate with the deputies. Jason Shumard showed us the jail cells, clothing worn by the inmates, the “booking” room, and the visitor’s small room.
South of Cisco, we made our second stop at Pleasant Ridge Farm, a stable owned by Brian and Jody Wilkin. Brian held their horse, April, while Jody explained that horse’s eyes are positioned to watch for danger while they’re eating grass, that their teeth are designed to eat grass and chew grass, and showed us the food that a horse eats. We also saw a horse being fitted for new shoes, and had fun petting the soft nose of April.
After a fun lunch at McDonald’s and an invigorating time at Nick’s Park, Gina Gifford and Al Arney hosted a tour of B&A Screenprinting. We toured the design and graphics room, then watched as our own T-shirts were printed! Each student was given a T-shirt with “2nd Grade Field Trip, March 9, 2001” printed on it. Also on the shirt was a list of the places we had toured.
It was a terrific day, and we certainly thank all of our hosts and hostesses. They were all very informative and fun.
WELCOME!!!
Angela Warnick joined the office staff in Bement, officially on April 2. She will work with Chuck, to handle the accounts payable and accounts receivable. She will also assist with grain buying and running the scales.
Angela come to the Bement office with a good background, having worked part time for Topflight Grain for over a year, beginning at LaPlace. Since then, she has covered every office in the company, during vacations and extra busy times.
Roy Riley joined the full time operations staff in March. Roy, too, comes with lots of good Topflight experience, working through harvest and since then, wherever needed! His job will be to assist at any of the elevators where help is needed, to do regular maintenance work, and to haul grain in from the farm. Roy is a good worker, and is a welcome addition to the operations staff.
Adam Logue has also joined the full time operations staff. Adam has worked for Topflight for a long time, filling in wherever needed in the operations and maintenance duties. He has a lot of good experience, and working on his semi driving license.
Debbie Bryant, location manager at Atwood, has moved on to another job, at First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust in Tuscola. Debbie had worked for Pierson Grain and Topflight Grain for 5 years, making many friends, and always doing a good job, caring for the Atwood customers. We are sorry to see her leave, but wish her the best as she accepts her new position.
Happy Retirement, Joyce!!
Joyce Bennett retired from Topflight Grain on March 30. Joyce began working for Cisco Grain a LONG time ago, and came to Bement, in the merger of Topflight in 1998. She has made many friends, among the employees and the customers, and always did her job with dedication and desire.
We’ll certainly miss her sense of humor and warm heart, but wish her much happiness as she adjusts to setting a different clock!
In recognition of her retirement, Topflight employees, Joyce’s family, and past Cisco employees, joined together on March 30, at the Cisco center, to celebrate Joyce’s contributions to the company. A video was shown of the events throughout Joyce’s career in the grain business, Mikki Burns wrote and read a poem to Joyce, and many people shared their memories. Louie Tieman designed a word search game, for everyone to find the scrambled letters of people and things that are important to Joyce. Representing Topflight Grain, Richard Thomas presented Joyce with a barge trip down (and the return train ride) the Mississippi River, and a necklace.
It was wonderful evening, but a sad one, as we have all valued Joyce’s friendship, but know that she will appreciate the time of her own!
As a parting farewell,
Joyce said “Good bye”:
TOPFLIGHT
FARMERS WELCOMED ME TO BEMENT
By Joyce Bennett
I came to you with regret,
Not knowing what a
wonderful experience I would get.
In such a short time,
I knew everything would be
fine.
Clocking in: A thing of
the past-
Sleeping in at last.
The desk: I no longer
occupy-
Time sure does fly.
The phone: It just doesn’t
ring-
What’s wrong with the thing?
The markets: Nine thirty
opening-
I know you’ll be hoping.
The computer: With all
your information-
I forgot your code with elation.
The farmer: Now, that’s what I love-
Without them there is none of the above!
I’ll miss it all so much!
The best I can do is stay
in touch!
The first of the year is always a BIG money day at a grain elevator (and at the bank!!). Over the New Year’s weekend, the office staff wrote January grain checks, so the money was ready for everyone who had grain sold, for the first of the year.
Over that weekend, $18,270,000 worth of grain checks was written.
During the month of January, $23,550,000 worth of grain was purchased.
That kept Chuck and the bankers busy, keeping that much money in the bank!!
FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS
Our focus meetings, in the winter, are an attempt to bring you up to date on your company, and to listen to input from you, about your company.
This year, the first focus meeting was held at the Hammond Community Building on February 13th. Then, we came to Bement on February 14th, Seymour on February 15th, and finished at Cisco on February 16th. Each meeting was well attended, and good questions were asked by the participants.
Chuck usually opened the meeting, with a presentation of the financials of the company. He also discussed the FM discounts the company is taking on soybeans. The FM is a bushel discount taken, because so many of the beans have been split, or ground up fine enough, that they are graded with a discount. He also mentioned the installation of Prairieinet and an AgPortal concept. Prairieinet is a high speed, wireless Internet connection, that will be installed on some of the Topflight elevators. It will be the communication tool for the Topflight computers. Once it is installed, the high speed service will be available to the public. The AgPortal concept is an Internet site/program that will allow our customers to view their grain records over an Internet connection.
Scott reviewed the recent government reports, marketing news, and displayed charts to provide news that is influencing the markets. He also reviewed the specialty grains for 2001, which include nonGMO beans and high oil corn.
Dick described the new office and scale, to be built this year at LaPlace. A new bean complex will be built next year. He thanked the committee who worked on securing the land for the project.
Denny Hill showed the results of the marketing pool. If you have questions about the pool, you can call him, at 1-800-955-2180.
Eric Clements talked about the testing for the RoundUp trait in soybeans, and the StarLink trait in corn. He ground up a sample of corn, added some distilled water, put this mixture in a test tube, added the buffer solution and the test strip. In about 5 minutes, the results of the test were known. During this time, Eric addressed concerns about the testing procedures, the costs, and the risks faced if grains are mixed with these traits.
Before lunch was served, a survey was handed out, to ask for views about the company, and what could be done to improve customer service. The market tapes, the newsletter and the Website are valuable communication tools. Most people like patronage dividends. Generally, bids and storage rates are viewed as competitive. Some customers would like more market information. Others had suggestions to improve traffic flow, and communication at the scale. The ideas from these surveys serve as a guide as the board and management direct facility improvements and customer policies. Your thoughts are very much appreciated.
After the surveys were completed, a delicious lunch was enjoyed!
The CEO Round Table Forum was attended by Dick, in late February and early March. Most of the attendees were general managers of grain companies, from 10 different states.
The meeting was divided into two sessions. The first session, “Merger, Acquisition and Joint Venture Strategies” included presentations about building a national and global presence, large scale unifications, and mergers.
The second session was “Thriving in your Competitive Environment”. Topics included leadership strategies, building a vision, and leadership strategies for high growth.
They learned about rewarding employees, keeping the good employees, merger problems, merger solutions, and the business theories and practices of other coops, as well as other successful businesses.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
June 2 – 9 Farmland Youth Leadership Conference
We will sponsor 4 – 5, 16 – 18 year olds, to attend this conference. If you know someone who would be interested, let us know. It is a very good program for high school youth.
July 25 Topflight Annual Golf Outing
This year’s program will be at Hickory Point Golf Course
August 10 Topflight Grain Annual Meeting
Entertainment will be Beck & Robertson, music and comedy entertainment. (They were recommended by Capt’n Stubby!)