Farm Family Life

Pilar Bravo from Marion County was crowned the 66th Miss Indiana State Fair at the Corteva Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center. It is the first time since 1981 that a contestant from Marion County has won the title.

The U.S. National Parks Service recommends getting firewood within 10 — and never more than 50 — miles of its destination.

Happy New Year! If you’re anything like me, you might feel like you need a full-body cleanse just to shake off all the pumpkin spice and peppermint bark still lingering in your system.

Dementia is diagnosed presumptively by a clinical exam that notes impairments in cognitive functioning such as memory, language and attention.

It appears that our beloved dark chocolate candy bars can contain dangerous amounts of lead and cadmium — the dark chocolate we intentionally chose for its health benefits like lower blood pressure and antioxidants that protect cells from damage.

It’s a current trend to buy inexpensive old furniture and alter it into something new. Some people may see this as disrespectful to history, but it’s a practice that has been going on for hundreds of years.

Carl Huber Sr. passed away peacefully on Jan. 4 at the age of 84. His friends, family and community remember him as a compassionate man who loved his family and his farm.

As a new year begins I realize that time is not waiting for me. Where did 24 years of this century go? I certainly can name milestone events during those 24 years, but the rest of the time, the majority, I seem to have little recollection.

Agriculture groups are grateful that Congress extended the 2018 farm bill for another year, but urge lawmakers to stay focused on new, modernized legislation that recognizes the many changes and challenges of the past six years.

The National 4-H Council released “Beyond Ready: 2024 4‑H Impact Report,” showing the powerful impact the organization has on more than six million young people.

Family farms accounted for 96% of total U.S. farms and 83% of the total value of production, according to the Agricultural Resource Management Survey.

AgriNews has followed the Rahn family throughout the year. This is the last in a series of updates about the family members and the decisions they make on their farm.

Two central Illinois agriculture teachers already had plenty on their plates as they watched and listened to the news.

Greensburg farmer Tim Gauck was reelected as president of the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, the state’s corn checkoff program.

The Indiana Corn Growers Association reelected Chris Cherry, a farmer from New Palestine, as president.

Whether you’re preparing a cozy family dinner or gearing up for a festive gathering, this recipe for turkey meatballs will have you covered.

It is true that excess sodium has health risks, and I agree with public health officials in recommending that people consume less sodium. High sodium increases blood pressure levels for most people. However, sodium is an essential nutrient.

Now that we have electric lights and heating, lighting a fire in the fireplace feels like something special. Spend a few minutes in front of one, though, and you’ll remember why technology has moved on.

Many of us didn’t plan for this. Years after we expected to retire, we’re still working. For too many of us, working is still a necessity for financial reasons.

Conservation practice adoption, pesticide regulations and biofuel tax credits are just a few of the issues for agriculture entering 2025.

Criminal activity is on the rise in many rural areas. Vandalism to crops, buildings, machinery, fencing and vehicles occurs more frequently than we would like to believe.

The Indiana Ag Law Foundation hosted a new workshop focused on helping families work together to begin the farm transition process.

America’s farmers and ranchers have such a great story to share, and it’s critical for the public to better understand what goes into growing the food, fiber and renewable fuel that drives our nation.

Many of us set goals that are too ambitious or unattainable. Simply put, we set ourselves up for failure when we set unrealistic goals. We also fail if our goals lack specificity and are hard to measure and track.

I don’t know what it is about hanging up a new calendar that makes me want to organize the whole year and set goals.

As a farmer and rancher, I’ve learned to count on the seasons. They don’t wait. The crops don’t hold off until it’s convenient, and the livestock don’t adjust their needs to fit my schedule.

When the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, it’s time to open your new calendar and look ahead. Or, maybe you have a clock like this one, with a built-in calendar.

Older men are less likely to get their partners pregnant, and this difference is apparent by the age of 35.

Indiana Farm Bureau announced “Right This Very Minute: A Table-to-Farm Book About Food and Farming” as the 2025 INFB Book of the Year.

PrairiErth Farm will host a fruit tree pruning workshop on Feb. 8.

As I nurture my poinsettia and other green companions, I’m constantly reminded of the growth happening within our family.

Delegates at the 2024 Indiana Farm Bureau State Convention reelected Randy Kron president of INFB by acclamation.

During a special reception for county leaders at the 2024 Indiana Farm Bureau State Convention, the organization recognized the achievements of county Farm Bureaus in 2024.

The 2025 Indiana Farm Bureau Book of the Year educates children where the food they eat daily comes from in an informative and fun way.

They say you never know what you have until it’s gone. I agree. My years as the resident barn owl at Wonderland Farms have taught me that many take what they have for granted.

We are down to the short rows of 2024. Winter is upon us. Christmas is days away. The older I get, the more quickly the days, weeks, months and years pass by.

The Christmas tree was a scrub cedar hacked from the edge of the woods that bordered the farm. Big-bulbed lights, strung in barber pole fashion, generated almost as much heat as the nearby wood stove.

Some things have a very specific window of opportunity. Eggnog is one of those things. It’s also controversial, right up there with fruitcake. You either love eggnog or you hate it.

Garrett Hawkins, a Waterloo farmer, was elected president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association for 2024-2025 at its recent reorganizational meeting.

Melatonin is safer and has fewer side effect, one of them being vivid dreams. However, 5 mg is a big dose.

The government has a comprehensive website full of information on how to prepare for emergencies, power outages, hurricanes, floods — nearly everything you can imagine.

Would you believe that one of the most prominent figures in American art pottery came from England?

Some of the facts are scary: As we age, we lose muscle mass. The more inactive we are, the more we lose.

As a medical student, I remember seeing what RA looked like before we had effective medications such as methotrexate and TNF inhibitors like Humira.

“Fantasy furniture” usually refers to postmodern pieces with whimsical shapes and unusual colors made from unexpected materials. Like many furniture styles, it’s older than you might expect.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association’s 2024 Excellence in Media Award was presented to Jim Taylor, a reporter on the RFD Radio Network, at the ICGA annual meeting.

Cade Bushnell received the Randy Stauffer Stewardship Award, recognizing his farm conservation work through the Precision Conservation Management program.

The general manager of locally-owned ethanol plant was the recipient of the Illinois Corn Growers Association’s Ethanol Award.

George Obernagel of Waterloo was the recipient of the Illinois Corn Growers Association’s top award, The World of Corn.

A public hearing for a proposed wheat checkoff was held at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The proposal calls for a 1.5-cent checkoff per bushel of wheat sold in Illinois.