Chuck's Chat-Welcome to December 2025

Kind of a slap to the face to be presented with snow and below freezing temperatures here along the Northern Sycamore Urban boundary this first day of December. We’ve had pretty nice weather all fall and then BAM! POW! BOOM! Sorry, I thought Mr. Freeze from the old Batman series was back for a second there.

The Kansas Farm Bureau annual meeting will be held December 6 - 8 in Manhattan. Members will have opportunities to attend educational workshops covering topics including crop insurance, Medicare, membership, and mental health. Sunday evening there will be a banquet to honor KFB's Distinguished Service Award winner, Farm Families of the Year, Leadership KFB and Casten Fellows. The business session will take place on Monday, where voting members will adopt policies for the 2026 legislative session and elect at-large board members to serve as chair of the Women’s Leadership Committee and Vice President.

Farm Bureau members in Kansas are encouraged to register for Day at the Statehouse (DAS) held January 20 and 21, where farmers and ranchers learn about legislative issues, advocate policy with lawmakers and engage in valuable conversations to be the Voice of Agriculture. Hotel reservations are due by January 6, so if you’re interested in attending, contact Kathy O’Brien at the office at 620-331-0826.

Did you know December is National Eggnog Month, and this is a favorite drink for many families during the holidays? Eggnog dates back to the 13th century. Eggs are the starring ingredient, and the FDA recommends using a recipe with a cooked egg base to avoid any possibility of foodborne illness. Personally, I just buy a carton of the already made stuff because I’m the only one here who likes it. However, there are numerous recipes online for you to try. And remember, some might think that adding alcohol to eggnog kills any bacteria, but this is false! I prefer mine without.

I see that December 9 is National Llama Day! If you have a llama, give it a big hug for me.

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable upcoming holiday season.

Buy local, support your small businesses.

Until next month,

Chuck Voelker