View from the Cab: A busy new year

Now that the calendar has officially turned to 2017, many are wondering what to do since the holidays are over.

Not me. I know what I am going to be doing for at least the next three months: covering ag meetings. Yes ladies and gentlemen – this is the time of year for endless buffets and a smorgasbord of knowledge by experts in the industry. Here are just some of the meetings I have on my calendar and maybe you should pencil them in as well.

• Livingston County Farm Bureau Agronomy Day, Jan. 13 from 9-3:30 at the University of Illinois Extension Office in Pontiac.

• Precision Planting winter conference Jan. 17, 18, 19 or 20 in Tremont.

• Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs annual meeting at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield Jan. 20-22.

• Midwest Ag Expo at Gordyville USA Jan. 25 and 26.

• Illinois Pork Expo Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center of Springfield.

• Soybean Summits hosted by the Illinois Soybean Association, Feb. 3 in Effingham and Feb. 16 in Peoria.

• National FFA Week Feb. 18-25.

• McLean County Chamber of Commerce Ag Award Dinner Feb. 23 at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center near the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington.

• 37th annual Prairie Central FFA Farm and Home Show at the Prairie Central Upper Elementary School in Forrest Feb. 25.

• McLean County Chamber of Commerce Ag Awareness Breakfast Mar. 23.

• 2017 Illinois Land Values Conference in Bloomington Mar. 23.

I know there will also be several other events along the way, such as FFA auctions and dinners at several area schools. I hope to see you at one of the above meetings this winter. Hopefully, we will all learn a thing or two heading into the next growing season which will be here before we know it.