FIELD TALK
News from Whiteside County Farm Bureau
May 2020
Applications Available for Veterinary Student Loans
Illinois Farm Bureau® (IFB) is accepting applications for its Illinois Veterinary Education and Training (IVET) loan program. Loans are available to students attending any accredited college of veterinary medicine in the U.S. and who are focused on Illinois food animal medicine.
The Illinois Veterinary Education Training (IVET) Program helps offset the high cost of veterinary education. The program loans up to $40,000 to as many as three veterinary students each year. Loans are made over a period of 2-3 years. IVET awards recipients a $1,500 stipend during their fourth year in school to help pay expenses associated with clinical rotations. Loans are repaid over five years, during which graduates must commit to working in a food animal practice that services Illinois livestock producers.
“Illinois Farm Bureau encourages veterinary students to pursue a career in caring for food animals. To succeed, farmers need the services of a food-animal veterinarian to help them care for their beef cattle, swine, sheep, and poultry,” said Tasha Bunting, Associate Director of Commodities & Livestock Programs, IFB. “It’s an opportunity to help bring a calf into the world and share in the love that farmers have for their animals.”
Applications are due May 15, 2020, and can be found online at www.ilfb.org/IVET. The selection committee will interview applicants in spring 2020 at the IAA building in Bloomington, IL. Successful applicants will be notified by mail.
IFB established IVET in 2005. Since then, the organization has awarded more than $430,000 to 24 veterinary students who focus on caring for food animals in Illinois.
WCFB Foundation Awards Scholarships
The Whiteside County Farm Bureau Foundation has awarded $18,000 in scholarships to nine students studying in a field of agriculture. Congratulations to the following Whiteside County students:
- Genea Garza is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She is the daughter of Rey and Amber Garza of Sterling.
- Michelle Cooney is a student at Illinois State University studying Agronomy Management. She is the daughter of Tom and Joan Cooney of Deer Grove.
- Mitchell Clodfelter is a student at the University of Illinois studying Agribusiness Markets and Management. He is the son of Randy and Pam Clodfelter of Sterling.
- Clayton Johnson will graduate from Prophetstown High School in May 2020. He is the son of Reid and Tara Johnson of Prophetstown. This fall, Clayton will attend the University of Illinois studying Farm Management.
- Calvin Naftzger is a student at Iowa State University studying Agribusiess, Markets and Management. Calvin is the son of Keith and Tina Naftzger of Albany.
- John Rahn is a student at the University of Illinois studying Technical Systems Management. John is the son of Paul and Gretchen Rahn of Sterling.
- Emma Frank will graduate from Sterling High School in May 2020. She is the daughter of Troy and Cindy Frank of Rock Falls. Emma is in the Army National Guard. She will attend Black Hawk College is spring 2021 studying Pre-Veterinary Medicine.
- Spencer Schutz will graduate from Rock Falls High School in May 2020. He is the son of Shane and Shannon Schutz of Rock Falls. This fall, Spencer will attend Black Hawk College studying Agronomy.
- Aaron Vander Eide will graduate from Unity Christian High School (Fulton) in May 2020. He is the son of Jeff and Chris Vander Eide of Fulton. Aaron will attend Madison Area Technical College studying Butchering and Meat Cutting.
Since 1992, the Whiteside County Farm Bureau Foundation has awarded $114,500 in scholarships to students pursuing degrees in agriculture. The 2021 scholarship program will open in November 2020. For more information about the Foundation’s scholarship program and other activities, visit www.wcfbfoundation.org.
Farm Bureau Host Virtual Ag Day Kids' Contest
The current COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives. With schools being closed, Whiteside County Ag in the Classroom is working to provide online lessons. With schools closed during National Agriculture Week in March, we held a virtual Ag Day contest for kids. We asked kid's to celebrate National Ag Day by telling us in their own way, why they are thankful for farmers and agriculture. This could have been a thank you to farmers, a picture they drew, a craft they made....whatever they could imagine.
The contest was open to different age groups: Pre-K, K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and high school. Everyone that entered received a prize with the winners getting a little something extra.
We had an incredible 23 projects submitted for this contest! Thank you to all of the kids and their parents for participating. Winners will be announced next week. Below are just a few of the winning entries.
WCFB Foundation Supports Local Pandemic Efforts
The Whiteside County Farm Bureau Foundation has donated $2,750 to local food pantries in Albany, Erie, Fulton, Morrison, Prophetstown and Tampico, and the Sauk Valley Foodbank to assist with food purchases.
We also want to recognize the volunteers that stock the shelves and help with distribution. The pictures are from the Erie and Fulton food pantry volunteers and the food pick up at Sauk Valley Food Bank. Thank you!
The need is great. Please consider a personal donation to any of these organizations. No amount is too small.
About Us
Email: whitesidecountyfarmbureau@gmail.com
Website: www.whitesidecfb.org
Location: 100 East Knox Street, Morrison, IL, USA
Phone: (815) 772-2165
Facebook: www.facebook.com/whitesidecountyfarmbureau