Farm Bureau banquet scheduled February 11

The Farm Bureau Board of Directors from Clay County, Lincoln County, Turner County and Union County are planning for a combined annual banquet on Feb. 11, at the Centerville American Legion. Special guest speaker will be Jim Woster and musical entertainment will be provided by Dakota Road.

The evening for Farm Bureau members is set to begin at 6 p.m. with the meal served at 6:30 p.m. The Centerville FFA will be providing activities for children attending with their parents.

At this year's banquet, in recognition of Food Check-Out Day, it is suggested that each person attending the banquet bring a non-perishable food item which will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Sioux Falls. South Dakota joins with other Farm Bureaus across the country to recognize Food Check-Out Day/Week. This year Food Check-Out Week is Feb. 3-9 with Food Check-Out Day being Feb. 6. This is the day when Americans have earned enough disposable income to pay for the average family's yearly supply of food. The event celebrates the bounty of America's farms and how that bounty is shared with consumers through affordable food prices.

Several county Farm Bureaus were started and operating as early as 1913. In 1917, the operating county Farm Bureaus formed the South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation. In 1919, South Dakota Farm Bureau participated in organizing the American Farm Bureau Federation. 2008 marks the 91st year of the farm organization in South Dakota, which has become known as "The Voice of Agriculture". Farm Bureau is dedicated to helping farm families prosper and improving rural America's quality of life.

If you would like more information about the Farm Bureau Federation or this specific event, please contact the state Farm Bureau office at 605-353-8050 or visit the web site at http://sdfb.fb.org.