The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to ever one in Western Illinois and all readers of The Quill.
Welcome to October already. I'm a hope'n ever one enjoyed Heritage Trails last weekend. The weather was shore enough fitt'n fer the event.
Heritage Trails
Did ya stop by Weirs Orchard and get some treats? I'm gonna miss em if'n indeed they is a close'n down after this season.
I wish there was some way ta keep their tradition go'n.
Did ya get any of Curt Eisenmayer's apple butter last weekend from the demonstration he put on?
It was plenty tasty and very enterest'n ta watch be'n made. A lot of them old ways is begin'n ta be lost such as apple butter make'n, homemade maple syrup, sorghum molasses, home butcher'n and such as that.
I'm shore glad lard has become more acceptable and available in some stores. There's noth'n better than pie crust made from lard, in my mind fer a change back ta an "old way".
Yield Update
I'm hear'n reports of quite a few 240-250 bpa corn yields and 60-70 bpa soybean yields.
With the price drop on both crops the better yields net far less than lower yields and higher prices netted out last year.
That is, of course, assum'in ya didn't wait ta sell them until this September after their prices has dropped so much.
In some cases there is over $500 per acre less this year at todays prices. That's $500 right off'n the net per acre.
A few years ago the norm was ta only net $50 ta $100 per acre depend'n on whether ya was an owner/operator or tenant farmer.
My how time changes ones view point on things!
Banana Test
It's time for me to give the banana test:
There is a very, very tall coconut tree and there are four animals....
A Lion, a Chimp, a Giraffe, and a Squirrel.
They decide to compete to see who is the fastest to get a banana off the tree.
Who do you guess will win?
Your answer will reflect your personality, so think carefully....
Try and answer within 30 seconds.
Fair Wages
There was this man in one of our western Illinois townships who owned a small farm. The state wage and hour department claimed he was not pay'n proper wages ta his help and sent an agent out ta interview him.
"I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," demanded the agent.
"Well" replied the farmer, "There's my farm hand who's been with me fer 3 years. I pay him $800 a week plus free room and board.
The cook has been here fer 18 months, and I pay her $500 per week plus free room and board.
There there's the half-wit who works about 16 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, pays his own room and board."
"That's the guy I want to talk to, the half-wit" sez the agent.
"That would be me," replied the farmer.
Oh, and by the way your 30 seconds is up fer the banana test.
If'n your answer was:
Lion = you're dull.
Chimpanzee = you're dense.
Giraffe = you're a rather limited thinker.
Squirrel = you're hopeless.
A coconut tree doesn't have bananas. Obviously you're stressed and overworked. You should take some time off and relax!
Profit Analysis
A young professional feller said to his father one day, "Dad, I don't see how ya can run your business like this. Ya keep all your accounts payable in a cigar box, your receivables on a spindle, and your cash in the register. How do ya know what your profits are?"
"Son," said the merchant, "When I came ta this country, I had 36 cents and the pants I was wear'n."
"Today your sister is a doctor, your brother is a professor, and you are an accountant. I have a nice car, a solid house, and a good business. Everything is paid for. So just add it all up, subtract 36 cents and the pants, and there's your profit!"
Well, that's an enterest'n way of account'n wouldn't ya say!
That's all I got fer this week. Hope you are have'n a good week and don't get too wrapped up in them politic fuse'ns that go'n on now.
Hope'n ta see ya in church this week. Where ever ya is, what ever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
BARNYARD BRUKE