Franklin County Farm Bureau News

When you read this several of us will have just returned from the Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference in Springfield. Some of the workshops that we will be attending are:  Farm Bill, Renewable Fuels Standard, Transportation & Infrastructure, Water Quality Issues, Trucking Regulations and many more.

Larry Miller, executive director Franklin County Farm Bureau

This is always a good conference to attend because these are some of the more important issues that our farmers are concerned about.

Speaking of Trucking Regulations – we will be having a seminar on Monday, March 3 at noon at the Farm Credit Service building in Mt. Vernon.  This is open to the public and lunch will be served at noon.  Kevin Rund will be able to answer any questions that you may have.  Please call the office at 435-3616 if you plan on attending this seminar so that we can plan on the amount of food to prepare.

Last week I discussed the many state wide benefits that are available to Franklin County Farm Bureau members and today I want to discuss the local member benefits.  The following businesses have some discount available to Franklin County members – must show a valid Franklin County Farm Bureau Membership Card –

Big O Farm & Garden – Thompsonville -5% of pet food
FB McAfoos – Benton – 15% off Kubota Logo merchandise
Benton Dairy Queen – Benton- $1.00 off Royal Treat $1.00 off round of mini-golf
Extreme Auto – Benton – free detail with service work of $300 or more
The Weeping Willow – Benton – 15% off $35 purchase
West Frankfort Bowl – West Frankfort – free drink with purchase of meal of free shoe rental
Fast Truck & Trailer – Benton – proudly supporting Franklin County Farm Bureau
Rhino Linings of Southern Illinois – Benton – 10% off Rhino and accessories
Martin’s Restaurant – Benton free drink with $5.00 purchase
Stark’s Total Fitness & Tanning – Benton – one month free of unlimited classes with new membership and any new tanning package get 50% off lotion
Four Season’s Ace Hardware – Benton – 10% discount on entire purchase of $50 or more
Earth Works – West Frankfort – 10% off any rock, mulch, flowers, plants or trees
Christopher Subway – Christopher – buy one 6” mealt @ regular price get 6” sub for $.99
Concepte of Illinois – Benton – for all your computer needs
Rend Lake Marine – Rend City Road – 10% off week day boat rental (no holidays)
Leedle Houme Bees – Mulkeytown – 10% off on honey
Benton Lawn & Garden – Benton – 5% off on parts & labor
The Wild Trillium – Benton – items from local artisans
Benton Save A Lot – Benton – stop in for weekly specials

The Rural Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Program offered by Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) does double duty. How so? It helps out nurses and it helps out rural healthcare. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Twenty percent of the U.S. population live in rural areas, but only nine percent of physicians practice there. The Rural Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Program (RNPSP), now in its twenty-second year, supports nurses who want to become nurse practitioners and serve in rural communities.

There will be five scholarships, worth $4,000 each, granted this year to nurse practitioner students who agree to practice for two years in an approved rural area in Illinois. The program is sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau and the illinois State Medical Society.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be Illinois residents and be a Registered Nurse accepted or enrolled in an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program. Funding is provided by the Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program.

According to Mariah Dale-Anderson, who heads up the program for IFB, “This scholarship has helped many qualified applicants hurdle financial needs or borderline academic barriers to receive a medical education. In all, more than 55 students have benefited from loans and recommendations to the University of Illinois.”

Applications are available at county Farm Bureaus® throughout the state, on the Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program website at RIMSAP.com, or by writing Mariah Dale-Anderson, Special Services Manager, Illinois Farm Bureau, PO Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61702-2901.
Applications are due May 1.

Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.