The FFSC Annual Conference was a great time, as always. You can download the full report, or check out a few highlights below.
FFSC Pro-Am Golf Tournament
Sunny skies greeted the duffers at the Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington. The losing team of Jim Kelm, Joe Daughhetee, Mary Kelm and Ken Hilton (left) lodged a formal complaint against the winning team of George and Janet Moriarty, Owen Thompson and Gregg Howell (right) for allowing “gimmies” to qualify as winning putts.
All were encouraged to visit Clonmel Ireland, home of Merrys Irish Cream, to carry on their arguments with the governors at that organization. Great interest was shown, but no flight reservations were made.
At left, “Hole-in-One” Hilton shows off his expertise with his sand wedge — look carefully. Good shot, Ken! Notice how he kept his head down.
Twin Groves Wind Farm
Those visiting the Twin Groves Wind Farm received an up-close and personal presentation by Karen Buss, a local landowner who happens to have one of the giant towers on her farm. The towers reach nearly 400 feet at the tip of the turbine arc and were the largest available when the farm was built in 2008. A total of 240 towers are on 130 different properties and provide enough electricity to power 109,000 average Illinois homes each year.
The concrete walkway replicates the dimensions of a 67-meter tower. The main towers at this farm are 80 meters tall, not including the blades.
Opening Reception
Kent and Karen Meister opened their home to a casual opening reception. The food was great and the weather fantastic, although locals would have loved to have seen some rain. At left, Kent (far right) and Jeff Bushey (center) visit with Teruhisa Homman, a Japanese student current studying at the University of Oregon.
Online Education Program
Janet Schneider, Stewart Peterson Company, discussed the online education programs her company currently offers to vocational agriculture instructors around the country.
Alex White provided an update on the status of the feasibility study he is doing regarding launching an online education program sponsored by the Council. His final report is due in early September.
He noted that if the Council proceeds with developing the program, structural changes within the Council itself may be required to provide staffing to launch and manage the effort on a continuing basis.
