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Fifteen years of Meals in the Field

For each of the past 15 years, Farm Credit Illinois has taken the message of farm safety – along with a meal – to farmers across the southern 60 counties of the state. Mike Loyd, Vice President, Marketing, tells Brownfield the program began as a way to give back.

“We wanted to be able to do something for the industry and the community of farming,” said Loyd. “We know how accidents and accidental deaths can effect the industry and the families. It has become so much more than that. It has become commmunity-centric for Farm Credit Illinois.”

Farm Credit established the “Meals in the Field” program in 2000 to promote farm safety during the harvest season, in conjunction with National Farm Safey and Health Week. All Farm Credit Illinois regional offices select at least one farm family to receive lunch on each weekday of Farm Safety Week. The Farm Credit staff serves the food wherever the farmers are working. Each “Meals in the Field” family is provided a Farm First Aid Kit compliments of Farm Credit of Illinois.

Although Loyd says success is not about the numbers, the numbers are impressive. Between September 22 and October 3, 2014, approximately 1,000 meals were provided. Farmers selected to receive a meal from Farm Credit Illinois are encouraged to invite neighbors and family. Mike Loyd tells Brownfield that the safe farming message is not just for the recipients of the meals in the field, but for everyone.

Reflecting on the 15 year history of Meals in the Field, Loyd has good memories.

“It’s been just joyful,” he said. “One of those things you look forward to every year. It’s been very good. It’s been very rewarding. We’ve been on all kinds of operations throughout our 60-county area. Everyone has just been so gracious, welcoming and genuinely appreciative of what we are doing. That really reinforces the importance of it.”

For many of these past 15 years, Brownfield Ag News has tagged along for a Meal in the field.  The photo above was taken at Adwell Farms Greene County farm.

Farm Credit Illinois is a farmer owned and directed agricultural lending cooperative with 14 regional offices in the southern 60 counties of Illinois.