Banquet Season

Snow and ice are covering the ground keeping farmers busy. While some town people might be snowed in that doesn’t give farmers the day off, it usually just gives them even more jobs. You can find them outside in the freezing cold pushing snow, scooping bunks, spreading lime around the icy yards and unfreezing waters. However, when all the work is caught up you can find them enjoying various commodity banquets this time of year. January is the beginning of banquet season to celebrate many great things accomplished in the previous year and it also includes an amazing free meal and great free door prizes with your annual dues paid up to date so of course you find many farmers in attendance.

The local banquets are the social event of the week and a great way to catch up with many friends and neighbors. We all know farmers, and I personally have first-hand experience that they can talk farm talk about anything for hours. Farmers may not admit it but they actually love going to these events. They love to help raise money for each organization as they excitedly bid on live auction items. I am always amazed at the amount of money raised at these events in a very short time with a quick auction following the meeting. I am always impressed with the neat auction items made and donated to the cause. Most proceeds go towards scholarships for area seniors or simply supporting the local commodity industry. Some farmers, like my dad, might even get so excited about attending the banquet that they forget to grab their checkbook off the counter before leaving home. However, they don’t realize that they don’t have a check with them until after they bought their new prize possession from the banquet auction. Luckily enough their teenage daughter still had her bright neon softball checkbook in the car so she got to write the bright flashy check to donate to the organization. I am the proud new owner of 15 ton of rock from the quarry purchased at the Clinton County Cattlemen’s Banquet last weekend.



All in all, banquets are a fun way to get a great meal, possibly donate to your county organizations and catch up with old friends. They are the social event of the year and don’t forget to bring your checkbook if you plan on buying something. I hope you all stay warm as January comes to an end. 

-Kesley Holdgrafer