The Board Meeting opened with County President, Kevin Underwood, asking all to stand and recite the Pledge To The American Flag and The Lord’s Prayer.

            Kevin asked for additions or corrections to the November board minutes. Hearing none Sue Leamon made a motion to accept the minutes, Kathleen Miller seconded her motion and it passed. The check register had been sent with the meeting notice and hearing no questions David Korty made a motion to accept, Craig Fuller seconded and it too passed.

INSURANCE – Gary Brownlee, manager, reported they had expanded by three new agents during the last year with the hopes of expanding accounts and new markets. The West Lafayette office is to be updated after several years at that location. He said Life Insurance is up 14%, Auto Insurance is up a little and Farm Insurance is holding it’s own.

CORRESPONDENCE – Dale Workman, 1^st Vice President, read thank you notes from the State Young Farmers committee, for donating to their Silent Auction, from Kathy Vernon, for the invitation to our board meeting dinner, and from Perry Township, for sponsoring their township 4-H achievement meeting.

WOMEN – In the absence of Kathy Bennett, Mary Anne Workman reported on the committee meeting held in December.

YOUNG FARMERS – A total of six from Tippecanoe County attended the Young Farmer Conference held in Indianapolis recently. Craig Spray will chair the Young Farmer Committee in our county this next year. He gave some suggestions of their planned activities.

COMMODITY – Lloyd Leamon gave grain market prices for today. There will be another telemarketing meeting in March or April. Ag Days are April 7^th and 8^th this year at the County Fair Grounds for county 4^th graders.

ENVIRONMENT – George Lumley remarked he wasn’t believing that Global Warming is a real threat with this cold winter weather we have been having.

STATE LEGISLATIVE – Larry Underwood recently attended a District 3 breakfast with local legislatures. He urged all of us to keep on our representatives about Property Taxes since it is estimated that by 2011 bare farm ground could increase to around $1,400 per acre and by 2012 that same ground could be taxed at $1,590 per acre. The EPA also has its eyes set on assessing each head of livestock at a high rate. February 3^rd is the date our county is scheduled to visit the State House. Kevin plans for a car load to go to Indianapolis with him that day.

            With Property Taxes for business owners going up as well as for farmers, we were wondering just how long it will be before businesses may stop coming to Indiana. After much discussion Kenneth Miller made a motion the county do a letter campaign to all Farm Bureau voting members to send a card to our State Representatives. David seconded his motion. After more discussion Lloyd amended the motion to read, "We all send post cards to all three persons" representing Tippecanoe County at the State House.  Roger Verhey 2nd that motion and both motions passed.  Kevin and Janice Deno are to work on getting those letters out very soon.

MEMBERSHIP - Dale had no new membership numbers.

INFORMATION -Ellen DeFreese said cards are going out for the March 2nd Annual Meeting and an information meeting on the new ACRE Farm Program, at the County Fairgrounds, on February 13th from 9-11:30 a.m.  Larry moved the County Farm Bureau share the costs of refreshments for that meeting with the Farm Insurance.  Roger 2nd the motion and the motion carried.