“As I’ve grown older I’ve really got to understand how powerful one voice can be, my voice can be, or the team’s voice can be. So to hold that back or not to use that just seems selfish in a way.” – Megan Rapinoe – U.S. professional soccer player

 

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” – Albert Einstein – 1879-1955 – Mathematician-Physicist-Nobel Prize Recipient

 

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.”  – Henry Ward Beecher – 1813-1887 – Clergyman-Social Reformer-Speaker

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the unorthodox and unconventional Paul Conforti)

 

June 3rd CU Sunrise will return to in-person meetings at Lodgic

 

PROGRAM

Bob introduced our speaker Linden “Lin” Warfel

Lin Warfel grew up on a farm near Tolono, IL. He went to Wabash College before transferring to the University of Illinois to study Agriculture.  He then had a stint in the U.S. Air Force before he returned to farming. Lin has served on the Parkland College board, the Unit 7 school board and the Illinois Community College Association. Lin is a member of Rotary.

In 2021, Lin is celebrating 60 years as a farmer. Lin talked about how technology in farming and the science behind agriculture has evolved over the years.

Central Illinois is the epicenter of what is known as the breadbasket of the world. There is no better farm ground anywhere than in Champaign County. The fertile topsoil left behind after the glaciers retreated during the ice age and, when combined with our weather, make east central Illinois farm crop yields the envy of the world.

In the 1970’s Lin purchased a state of the art 4-row planter which could plant 40 acres per day.

Today, Lin owns two 24-row planters, each capable of planting 60 acres per hour, while maintaining precise seed depth in the soil, and the planter monitors soil temperature while the tractor uses GPS and auto steer to precisely (within 1 inch) follow each field’s plot plan.

Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) change the way seeds and other organisms such as bacteria perform.  A commonly used medicine that comes from a genetically modified source is insulin, which is used to treat diabetes, and there are many others. GMO technology in crops have reduced the quantity of herbicides and insecticides used on the modern farm field.

There are approximately 1 billion microbes in a cup of soil. Ag microbiology studies how microbes work with soil nutrients, photosynthesis, and soil fertility each affecting crop yield.

The world watches central Illinois crop productivity. Illinois is #2 in agricultural exports, second only to California. The California climate is uniquely suited for the export of dairy, cattle, nuts, and fruit. Illinois is #1 in corn, #2 in soybeans and #4 in pork exports.

We buy so many products that are “made in China”. One wonders, what does China buy from us? China has 1.4 billion people, and much of the country is not suitable for farming.  Illinois is the #1 exporter of agricultural products to China. Lin said that in agricultural terms China is the elephant in the parade. Illinois agriculture plays a major role in in that trade balance. Much of the food in China could accurately be labeled as “Made in Illinois”!

 

 

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  Apr 15th Apr 22nd Apr 29th May 6th
         
Reflection Charlie Smith Cary Woolard Michelle Barbey Keith Brandau
Notetaker Perry Hodson Conforti Perry

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)

*All meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted*

 

April 15th – Ryan Reid, Director of Sports Operations, Rantoul Family Sports Complex (Cary)

April 22nd – John C. Stark, Artistic Director and Derek Munson, Managing Director, Illinois Shakespeare Festival (Charlie)

April 29th – Club Social – no morning meeting

May 6th – Winnie Stortzum will discuss her trip to Portugal (Mary)

May 13th – TBD (Bob)

May 20th – TBD (Tom)

May 27th – TBD (Cary)

June 3rd – TBD (Charlie)

June 10th – TBD (Mary)

June 17th – Jon L. Seydl, Director of Krannert Art Museum (Ondine)

June 24th – Pass the Gavel ceremony