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Our Mission
Be a voice for agriculture by providing leadership and services that enhance the quality of life in Whiteside County.
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Events & News
Illinois County Farm Bureaus Receive iPads to Aid 2020 Census Campaign
To help mobilize the agricultural community, the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) is equipping each of its county Farm Bureaus with technology to aid the public in completing the 2020 census. Each county Farm Bureau has received an iPad to be used in coordination with IFB’s efforts to assist both members and non-members in getting access to the internet to complete their 2020 Census survey. This is the first time the U.S. Census Bureau is asking household residents to complete the survey online.
“The U.S. Census is directly related to Illinois’ representation in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert, Jr. “With Illinois losing population over the last several years, the state could lose one, maybe two, seats in the U.S. House. That makes this survey extremely important for the state to have widespread participation and accurate responses from its citizens.” Reapportioning occurs after each U.S. Census, starting with the number of seats given to each state in the U.S. House of Representatives. From there, boundaries will be redrawn for those seats as well as for the General Assembly and county boards. “Illinois Farm Bureau is aware that not everyone has equal access to the internet, so we are providing county Farm Bureau offices throughout the state with an iPad to serve as a ‘Census Access Center’ for members or non-members to help them complete this important survey,” said Guebert. “Survey responses will absolutely affect individuals at county levels and district levels through voter representation. Illinois Farm Bureau is trying to do its part to make sure everyone is counted.” Federal funding heavily relies on Census results. U.S. Census data determines how $675 billion dollars is distributed, impacting education, fire and emergency response services, transportation, employment, housing, health care and public policy. Illinois Farm Bureau offers the following timeline for the 2020 Census:
Locally, Whiteside County Farm Bureau will have hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. between Monday to Thursday. For more information, please contact Jennifer Phelps at (815) 772-2165 or whitesidecountyfarmbureau@gmail.com. 
UCR Registration Now Open
The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) fees for 2020 have been released and registration opened, February 13, 2020. The fees, normally due January 1 of each year, have been delayed until the fees are formally established.
The UCR board recommends that States delay enforcement until June 1, 2020. Registration can be completed online with the Illinois Commerce Commission or at the UCR Plan’s website. Registration fees have been reduced by 14.45% from the fees paid for the 2019 registration year: Number of Vehicles
Applications are now available for nurse practitioner scholarships through the Illinois Farm Bureau® Rural Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Program. There will be 10 scholarships, worth $4,000 each, granted this year
The scholarship program, now in its twenty eighth year, helps encourage and develop the pool of rural health practitioners to help meet primary health care needs in rural Illinois. Students who receive scholarships agree to practice for two years in an approved rural area in Illinois. 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. 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 Donna Gallivan, Program Manager, Illinois Farm Bureau, PO Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61702-2901. Applications are due May 1. For additional information, contact Donna Gallivan at 309-557-2350, or via e-mail at dgallivan@ilfb.org. Young Leaders Support Local FFA Chapters
The Whiteside County Farm Bureau® Young Leaders presented checks to the county’s three FFA chapters in Morrison, Prophetstown and Sterling. The $500 donations were part of the proceeds from the Breakfast for Agriculture Education held in March.
In addition to the FFA donations, the Young Leaders awarded three $1,000 scholarships to local students studying agriculture. For information on the Young Leaders program and their activities, contact Matt Lillpop, Executive Director of the Whiteside County Farm Bureau®, at (815) 772-2165 or matt.wcfb@gmail.com. Farm Bureau Supports Local Food Bank
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FOUNDATION NEWS
Scholarships Available
The Whiteside County Farm Bureau® Foundation is pleased to announce the 2020 scholarship program for area students majoring in a field of agriculture. The Foundation is offering the following scholarships:
For details about the scholarship program, including eligibility requirements, visit the Foundation’s website. Students can complete the application at https://form.jotform.com/82604098889978. The application deadline is February 28, 2020. Interested persons can contact Matt Lillpop, Executive Director of the Whiteside County Farm Bureau® Foundation, at (815) 772-2165 or matt.wcfb@gmail.com for more information. Summer Internships Available
The Whiteside County Farm Bureau® Foundation is funding up to three summer internship positions to assist in the coordination of the Foundation’s summer 2020 Farm Camp program.
The Whiteside County Farm Bureau® Foundation is a general not-for-profit corporation organized under IRS Code 501(c)(3) with one of its goals being to serve the needs of our county’s youth through education and other opportunities, so that they may increase their knowledge of agriculture. The internship is open to high seniors graduating in the spring of 2020 and current college students. Preference will be given to applicants from Whiteside County who have a farm background and/or are studying an agriculture- or communications-related field. Additional internship information, including access to the online application, can be found by visiting the Foundation’s website www.wcfbfoundation.org/summer-internship. Interested persons can contact Matt Lillpop, Executive Director of the Whiteside County Farm Bureau Foundation, at (815) 772-2165 or matt.wcfb@gmail.com. The application deadline is March 13, 2020. Classroom Grants Awarded
The Whiteside County Farm Bureau Foundation awarded four grants of $200 each to four local schools. The grant program offers grants to pre-school through high school teachers in Whiteside County, in a public or private school system, to fund projects promoting agricultural literacy.
To date, classroom grants have been awarded to the following:
Criteria for the classroom grants are as follows:
Items considered when evaluating applications:
The online application will be open until January 31, 2020, or until grant funds are exhausted. To apply, visit https://form.jotform.com/92164230490956. Winning applicants will be notified within one week of submitting an application. A final report will be due by Friday, May 15, 2020. Please direct questions to Matt Lillpop, Executive Director of the Whiteside County Farm Bureau Foundation, at (815) 772-2165 or matt.wcfb@gmail.com. AITC On Facebook
Attention teachers! Whiteside County Agriculture in the Classroom is on Facebook. Get updates on programs, grants and resources available for use in your classroom. 
Scenes from the 2019 summer Farm Camps
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Illinois Agricultural Association
1701 Towanda Avenue Bloomington, IL 61701 |