FOUNDATION REPORT

Foundation Report to Donors & Contributors (PDF)

The Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation was established to promote education, leadership development and research in agricultural fields.  In 2008-09, over $25,000 was awarded in scholarships and internships to area college students purusing careers in one of Illinois’ largest Industries, agriculture.

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“FUN”DRAISING

Kane County Fair Country Store
The Fair provides the Foundation the opportunity to raise funds and friends by offering unique hand crafted items and farm themed gifts. Buck Bros, Inc of Hampshire and DeKane Implement of Big Rock cooperate in this effort, allowing the Foundation to sell farm toys on consignment.

Bucket Raffles
A second Fair FUNdraiser, the Foundation holds Bucket Raffles in conjunction with our Farm Zoo and the Country Store. Local businesses donate merchandise, gift certificates, etc. for the raffle. Fairgoers purchase the raffle tickets and place their ticket in the bucket corresponding to the prize they hope to win. Funds raised from this event go towards scholarships and internships for college students pursuing careers in  agricultural fields of study.

John Buck Memorial Golf Outing
Established in 2001 by an endowment in memory of the late John Deere dealer, the proceeds raised from this annual benefit fund John Buck Memorial Scholarships, administered by the Foundation.

Farm Bureau dues notices
An agreement between the Foundation and the KCFB allows for Farm Bureau member contributions to be made to the Foundation along with annual dues to KCFB.

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PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES FUNDED

Touch-a-Tractor
This third annual educational event took place on March 28-29, 2008 on the lawn of the Kane County Farm Bureau. Touch-A-Tractor was a huge success thanks to our many generous volunteers, local farmers who contributed farm equipment and antique tractors and local FFA Chapters.
    
Touch -A-Tractor helped teach families and especially young children more about agriculture and farming with activities for the whole family. Children could ride a pedal tractor, go to the farm animal zoo, explore the tractors and combines, while adults enjoyed the antique tractors, perused the displays of direct farm marketers or listened to the Bluegrass band.

Summer Agricultural Institute
A graduate credit course on agricultural research, inputs, production, processing and marketing, the course is invaluable in helping teachers incorporate agriculture into their classrooms. The AgTech Tour for 2009 will be in June of 2008. Teachers will soon be able to register to learn great ways to add agriculture to their classrooms!

AgTech Tour for Teachers registration information is posted to the Kane County ROE. When you follow the link above, the class can be found under the Math & Science category. The registration fee can be paid directly to the ROE. The three credit hours from Aurora University are optional, and you may pay for the credit hours on the first day of the AgTech Tour.

With over 30 tour sites and presenters, the week long course provides a broad overview of Kane County farms, commodities and agribusiness. Sixteen teachers from local schools participated in the Kane County Farm Bureau’s 7th “Agricultural Tour for Teachers,”  June 11-15, 2007. Teachers consistently rate this course as “one of the best I’ve ever taken!”

AgDays
In March, over 2,000 fourth grade elementary school students participated in Kane County Farm Bureau’s AgDays at Mooseheart.  Now in its 24th year, this Women's Committee Program promotes the agricultural industry to students in a fun, educational and exciting way.

Students, most from urban and suburban areas are able to experience the may facets of agriculture, its importance and how it affects their daily lives.  More than 150 volunteers are required to make AgDays a success.  The program’s longevity and volunteer support are indicative of its importance and the chief reason why the Foundation provides financial support for this effort.

Winner’s Choice Tractor Raffle
This first ever event helped the Foundation raise nearly $14,000 in 2006-07.  The proceeds from the raffle helped increase Scholarship awards by 50% for students entering or returning to college in 2007.  With a unique twist the Grand Prize was a choice between a restored 1953 Farmall Super H or a new John Deere X324 lawn tractor or $3,000 cash. The winner, a college student and former Foundation Scholarship winner, chose the cash to defray his college tuition. 

The Foundation repeated the program in 2008 with a restored John Deere B or a new Cub Cadet lawn tractor as the Grand Prize. The second prize was a Cub Cadet Model 989 21" 5 hp walk-behind mower.

Foundation Truck Raffle
For 2008-09 the Foundation is raising funds for scholarship programs with the raffle of a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado E85 Extended Cab 4x4 WT or $20,000 cash. The drawing will be held at our Touch-a-Tractor event on March 29, 2009. Click here for more details and call the Farm Bureau Office at 630-584-8660 to buy raffle tickets.

Ag Literacy Library
The Foundation helps to fund many Kane County Farm Bureau Ag Literacy Programs.  The Ag Literacy Library, located in the Farm Bureau, is one example. The Library has books for all ages and interests available for check-out by Farm Bureau members & Kane County teachers.

National Ag-in-the-Classroom Conference
Former teacher and Kane County Farm Bureau Ag. Literacy Coordinator Suzi Myers participates annually in the National AITC Conference thanks to the Foundation.  Conference tours, workshops, exhibits and contacts help keep local AITC materials and presentations fresh and up to date on the latest technology in agriculture.

Bookmark Contest
An annual contest open to all Kane County Fourth Grade school students, it creates an educational awareness of agriculture’s importance. The theme for 2007, “Baseball & Agriculture, helped students to understand how agriculture makes our National Pastime possible.   Winners receive a prize, a classroom visit from Ag Literacy Coordinator Suzi Meyers, and a lesson and party for the entire class, compliments of the Foundation.

University of Illinois Extension Grant
An annual Foundation grant to U of I Extension, Kane County helps fund Extension’s  4-H,  youth education, food, and nutrition programs.