The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to everyone in Western Illinois.
Tribute to Mark Pearson
The farm'n' community received some shock'n' news last week.
A good friend of me and the boys, and about every farmer in these parts, I suspect, Mark Pearson, died June 3rd, at 54 years old.
He was a good supporter of agriculture and will be sorely missed.
Mark had a unique blend of expertise and humor and was fun to be around. He always kept conversations lively and on target.
He was host of public television's Market to Market, public television's weekly journal of rural America, and radio broadcaster for WHO radio station.
I was told Mark was a cut'n firewood that final day, Sunday, and came in to shower for a church event he planned to attend.
After take'n a shower he told his wife he didn't feel well at all, and needed to get to the hospital "right now". He never made it to the car.
Part of Mark's "persona" was his over weight condition. He continually joked about it and realized the danger it presented. Control'n ones weight whilst active on the speak'n circuit, with all it's meals, is difficult at best.
What ever Mark had planned beyond Sunday, June 3, is history now. He will be greatly missed by family and friends and in the farming community.
Few of us remember the headliners of yesterday. For example, how many of you'ns can name the last five winners of the Miss America Pageant or ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
Can ya recall the six Academy Award winners for best actor or the last ten world series contestant teams. How about the last six Master Farmers, the five wealthiest folk in the world, or the last few Heisman Trophy winners.
These folks were no second-rate achievers and were, in their time, considered the best in their fields. After all the hoopla-rah goes away, much is forgotten and accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
It is much easier for most folk to recall who their best teachers were that had a positive impact on their lives, who a few friends were that helped "em through a difficult time, who taught "em something worthwhile in life's pathway, or who they enjoys be'n around and spend'n time with. What person doesn't know the ones who make them feel appreciated and special?
The fact of the matter is, those people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most awards.. or the most money. They are simply the ones who care the most.
Mark Pearson was one of those folk to family, friends, and acquaintances. The way I see it, he was a "Good Ole Illinois reared farm boy transplanted in Iowa to help them Iowiegan folk out". Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He was a daily guide, advocate and prime cheerleader for the farmer and Agriculture and will be greatly missed.
A Jaw'n Session on America
The neighborhood boys were have'n a good "jaw'n" session over the weekend, and self-analyzed themselves as Americans and drew the conclusion that America is unique in many ways.
Out of them discussions we's decided that::
1) Only in American could politicians talk about the greed of the rich at a $35,000 a plate campaign fund raising event.
2) Only in American could people claim that the government still discriminates against black Americans when we have a black President, a black Attorney General, and roughly 18% of the federal work force is black. 12% of the population is black.
3) Only in America could we have had the two people most responsible for our tax code, Timothy Geithner, the head of the Treasury Department and Charles Rangel who once ran the Ways and Means Committee, BOTH turn out to be tax cheats who are in favor of higher taxes.
4) Only in America can we have terrorists kill people in the name of Allah and have the media primarily react by fretting that Muslims might be harmed by the backlash.
5) Only in America would we make people who want to legally become American citizens wait for years in their home countries and pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege while we discuss letting anyone who sneaks into the country illegally just become American Citizens.
6) Only in America could the people who believe in balancing the budget and sticking by the country's Constitution be thought of as "extremists".
7) Only in America would you need to present a driver's license to cash a check or buy alcohol, but not to vote.
8) Only in America could people demand the government investigate whether oil companies are gouging the public because the price of gas went up when the return on equity invested in a major U.S oil company (Marathon Oil) is less than half of a company making tennis shoes (Nike).
9) Only in America could the government collect more tax dollars from the people than any nation in recorded history, still spend a trillion dollars more than it has per year for total spending of $7 million PER MINUTE, and complain that it doesn't have nearly enough money.
10) Only in America could the rich people who pay 86% of all income taxes be accused of not paying their "fair share" by people who don't pay income taxes at all.
Well, me will be jiggered if'n those aren't some enterest'n thoughts brought up by the neighborhood boys. I accused them of come'n up with some of those ideas from the Internet.
They sez " of course we did- it's a valuable source of information". I sez "do ya suppose many folk would agree with your'n thoughts"?
They sez "probably not in the West Coast, East Coast, and liberal big city areas. Liberal politicians probably don't want average folk think'n about such matters. Just pay the bill and keep vote'n in the errors that are apparent, they hopes.
"Progressive politicians are a bank'n on the average voter have'n short memories and a strong desire for greedy self enterest.
"Bad will never end as long as naive and impressionable folk is will'n to be flattered and deceived. The dumbing of America comes about by politicans inflat'n with hyperbole and is gilded with fine coats of fraud, which dulls folks capacity to see our nation as our founding fathers intended, and as we was give'n the freedom to enjoy."
"Perhaps that is so," I sez, "in some areas, but most folk around these parts are not that'a way. Anyways, it is enterest'n to review the facts as facts is." I told the boys.
I'm a hope'n every one that participated at the goat show and 4-H dinner had a good time up north in Stronghurst last Saturday. It certainly was a good event to meet neighbors and help out a good cause.
Bright'n someone's day as ya go through the balance of the week. See ya in church come next Sunday.
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya Later
Barnyard Bruke