Rural Issue

Sixteen thousand meals served promoting farm safety

By the end of this week, Farm Credit Illinois will have provided meals to 79 farm locations in conjunction with National Farm Safety & Health Week and the 2015 harvest season.

In its 16th year, Farm Credit Illinois’ annual Meals in the Field program has become an important program that Farm Credit employees and farmer-customers alike look forward to. During the weeks of Sept. 21-25 and Sept. 28-Oct. 2, FCI staff delivers meals as well as provides each host family with two farm first aid kits.

Mike Loyd, Vice President of Marketplace Initiatives tells Brownfield the annual program is a celebration of hard work, relationships and being able to partner and work together in the agriculture industry.

“We are so blessed to be able to be a part of that with the abundance that we have.  It’s a family get-together,” said Loyd.

In addition to the farmers their families, often times neighbors, employees and extended family are invited to join in for the noon-time meal.  Loyd said theses meals together are a time for sharing laughs, stories, talking about agriculture, and catching up on harvest is going.

Mike Loyd talks about Meals in the Field program:

Brownfield’s Cyndi Young joined Jacksonville District office Vice President Mike Lonergan and members of his staff during a Meal in the Field at the Morgan County farm of David and Robin McQueen.

Lonergan says it is important for farmers to take a break and recharge batteries during harvest season to help prevent farm accidents.  It’s also a good opportunity to thank farmers for their business and contribution to agriculture.

 Mike Lonergan talks about Meals in the Field program:

The Meals in the Field program has seen continual growth since it began in 2000.  On average, Mike Loyd tells Brownfield, Farm Credit Illinois will serve approximately 1,000 meals during the program, as they have for the past 16 years.

Each field office looks forward to the Meals in the Field program and put their own unique touch on it.  Some offices serve meals picked up at caterer or restaurant, while other offices do all of the meal preparation themselves.

As long as the members feel it is worthwhile and they like it, Mike Loyd says Farm Credit Illinois will continue with the program.