Celebrate Agriculture: Thank a Farmer Week

 

  Recently at the Missouri Capitol, MO State Representatives Sherri Gallick and Dane Diehl presented Bates County Farm Bureau members with a resolution for “Thank a Farmer Week”.  The resolution highlighted the impact that farmers and ranchers have in providing the food, feed, fuel and fiber that serve consumers in Missouri and around the globe.  Pictured are (L to R) Missouri Farm Bureau District 4 State Board Member, Sharon Arnold; MO State Representative, Sherri Gallick; Bates County Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee Chair, Mary Fischer; State Representative Dane Diehl and Bates County Farm Bureau President, Kevin Fischer.

Bates County, Missouri – Missouri Farm Bureau and county Farm Bureaus throughout the state are joining forces to celebrate the importance of agriculture from March 2-8 during Celebrate Agriculture: Thank a Farmer Week!

According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, “A 2021 study of the economic contribution of Missouri agriculture and forestry showed that agriculture is a $93.7 billion industry.” Missouri agriculture employs almost 460,000 people. The state is ranked in the top 10 for 12 commodities including, number of farms, goats, beef cattle, poultry, hay, rice and cotton. With all that they produce, it is remarkable that farm and ranch families account for less than two percent of the U.S. population. Across the United States, there are two million farms with 3.4 million farm operators. This number includes owners, their families, hired workers, tenants and renters or sharecroppers. Many farms today find multiple generations working together to produce food and fiber.

Recently at the Missouri Capitol, MO State Representatives Sherri Gallick and Dane Diehl presented Bates County Farm Bureau members with a resolution for “Thank a Farmer Week”. The resolution highlighted the impact that farmers and ranchers have in providing the food, feed, fuel and fiber that serve consumers in Missouri and around the globe. Other Bates County Farm Bureau plans for “Thank a Farmer Week” include providing educational tote bags, filled with an accurate agriculture book and classroom materials, to county 3rd grade teachers. Also “Thank a Farmer” goodie bags will be distributed to local farmers.

Bates County Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Chair, Mary Fischer, says. “Celebrate Agriculture: Thank a Farmer Week is a great time to recognize the contributions made by farmers. Agriculture is vital to our daily lives and our community. Since 98% percent of the population doesn’t farm, it is easy to take for granted the importance of our farmers.

Adrian Chamber Spotlight: Be The Light Flowers & Coffee

 

Recipe of the Week

 

Bates County real estate transfers and marriage licenses

 

Riepert, Dietmar E to Grant, W E (Trustee) Bl 2 Couch's Addn

Spencer, Steven Scott Jr to Spencer, Steven Scott Jr Str 22-39-33 //Ne+

Six, Harold Lee Trust 03-29-2002 to Six, Cary R. Str 20-42-31

Six, Harold Lee Trust 03-29-2002 to Six, Cary R. Str 20-42-31 //Nw

Six, Thelma Cleo Trust 03-29-2002 to Six, Darla D Str 28-42-31 //Sw

Six, Thelma Cleo Trust 03-29-2002 to Lawrence, Cheryl L. Str 28-42-31 //Nw

Heckadon, Joyce E (Trustee) to Heckadon, Jeffrey Str 6-39-31 //Nw

Lacy, Jessie Kay (Co-Trustee) to Mormon Fork Investments LLC Str 5-42-33+

Lacy, Jessie Kay (Co-Trustee) to Deborah Lacy Wheeler Farm LLC Str 5-42-33+

Breckenridge, Peggy A Trust 05-23-1997 to Breckenridge, Shawn T. Str 36-39-30

Hartsell, Justin W to Hastie, Brent M Bl 22 Glenbrook Farms

Atchison, Sherry L. to Myers, David Lt 49 Adrian, Original Town Of+

Huenefeld, Kathy J to Jackson, David Str 5-40-30 //Sw

Huenefeld, Kathy J to Lesmeister, Denver Str 5-40-30 //Sw

Garwood, Lois Ann to Garwood Family Trust 02-11-2016 Str 12-38-32

Smith, Curtis A to Healey, Robert Lt 1 Bl 7 Cogswells Addn+

Elliott, Melody L to Rushing, Bryan Str 21-39-33

Marquardt Brothers Farms, LLC to Osage Basin Farms Str 34-38-30+

Sargent, Richard to Smith's Properties, LLC Lt 2 Bl 2 Montgomery's Third Addn

Marriage license

none

The Museum Minute: Just put up an antenna

 

Courtesy of the Bates County Museum 802 Elks Drive, Butler Mo 64730 (660) 679-0134

Herrman’s Historical Happenings week of March 5

1872 The Bates Co Court establishes a new township in Southeast Bates Co, called Rockville township.

1913 The Worland Coal Company is chartered.

1929 The Butler city council votes to hire a man devoted to keeping the square cleaned up (plenty of horses insure this will be a full time job).

1938 A bread truck crashes into a home on West Pine street in Butler but damage is limited to a broken picture and the family clock stopped working.

1947 For the first time in Bates Co history, women's names are called and sworn in for the jury panel in circuit court. Mrs. L.D. Harper and Mrs. Edith Lincoln are among those chosen for this historical event.

1960 Stores around the Butler square, which had been closing on Saturdays at 6 pm will resume the regular 9 pm closing time on Saturdays.

1999 The Butler city council isn't impressed with Mediacom, the tv cable company, who makes empty promises, 4th Ward councilman Bill Neider says "I wouldn't mind paying for something worth watching. I'll just put up an antenna."

What’s Up by LeRoy Cook

 Would You Go?

Now that spring is unofficially settling in, aviation life is returning to normal and we saw considerable air traffic plying the skies. The sightings varied, from a pair of A-10 attack planes, out of Whiteman AFB cruising over to the Piper Navajo survey plane with a tail stinger, making grid passes at 500 feet.

Among the visitors to the local aerodrome were a St. Louis-based Cirrus SR22, a Cessna Skylane, various Piper Archers and Warriors, and an RV-6 homebuilt, despite our lack of fuel or tiedowns and soon-to-be fixed spotty runway lights. Based planes moving about included the Ferguson family Cessna 182, the club’s Cessna Skyhawk, Jerrimie Platt’s Grumman Tiger and Sky4’s Cessna 150s. 

On Monday, February 24, Josh Poe took his Private Pilot flight test and came home a winner, now fully qualified to exercise all the privileges of unfettered flight, no longer a mere student pilot. He’s now exiting the Cessna 150 trainer for his Cessna 172 and will be flying out of Paola. Josh has worked hard here over the last couple of years and deserves congratulations on his achievement.

Last week’s photo of a Cessna 177A Cardinal sitting nose-down in a Linn County field reportedly originated with a fuel-flow blockage, perhaps from ice in the system. Thankfully, there were no injuries and the aircraft can be repaired, as the pilot handled the emergency landing correctly. I recall a Beech Bonanza that landed near the Butler VORTAC station under similar circumstances several winters ago; that one flew away after thawing out.

A FedEx Airbus cargo plane had to make a quick return after departing Newark airport in New Jersey on Friday, after plowing into one or more birds on climbout. There was an engine fire and with quick action by crew and responders no other damage was done. Wildlife strikes, mostly birds, are on the increase, but that’s probably the result of more stringent reporting protocols. Usually, the bird is the only causality. 

If you own a pocket laser pointer and have ever been tempted to shine it on an overflying aircraft—Don’t, for Pete’s sake. An Alaska woman was sentenced to three years for lighting up a helicopter, and she’s lucky the pilot’s eyes weren’t ruined permanently or an accident didn’t happen. Lasers can do serious damage; they aren’t toys.

Blue Origin, Jeff Bezoz’s hobby company that shoots people up in rockets for a few minutes of near-space flying, has announced a six-woman passenger package for its next launch, including such notables as CBS newswoman Gayle King and singer Katy Perry. Hope all goes well; I’d ride if they offered me a seat.

The question in last week’s column wanted to know the minimum visibility allowed for helicopters flying under Visual Flight Rules. It’s one-half mile, as opposed to the one-mile restriction for fixed-wing aircraft. Obviously, it’s because the ‘copter can slow to a creep or hover. For next week, our brain teaser is “how much does a certified air traffic controller get paid, on average?” You can send your answers to kochhaus1@gmail.com. 

Obituary - Elizabeth Joyce Keaton

Elizabeth Joyce Keaton, age 89, Parker, Kansas passed away Saturday, March 1, 2025. Joyce was born on February 14, 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri the daughter of Owen and Mildred Smith Gilchrist. She was united in marriage to Richard Keaton on June 4, 1955. She was a homemaker raising four children. Joyce was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Paola, Kansas. She enjoyed going to garage and estate sales. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Owen Gilchrist. Joyce is survived by her husband, Richard, two sons, Steven Keaton and wife Kathryn, Richard Keaton Jr. and wife Angie, two daughters, Susan Arbuckle and husband Daryl, and Anna Marie Woodhead, thirteen grandchildren, thirty-four great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 2 pm Friday, March 7, 2025 at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Burial will be in Wait Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 pm to service time Friday at the La Cygne Chapel. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Bears fare well in District Speech Contest

Butler High School District Speech Results: 

Morgan Stump: 5th in Poetry 

Kylee Murray & Grant Del Negro 5th in Duet 

Mads Webb: 2nd in Informative Speaking

Ryland Oakes: 1st in Radio