September 3, 2005

Last Week’s Program...
Clint Hardy, Director of Owensboro's Office of The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service reminded the club of the impact that agriculture has on Owensboro, Daviess County and their economies. According to Clint, Daviess County agriculture production is worth $70,000,000 in cash receipts per year. Our county's major production is in grain, with more than $50,000,000 of those cash receipts coming from corn, soybeans, wheat and other grains. Daviess County is the Commonwealth's largest producer of soybeans. Livestock production is the second biggest contributor to our ag economy with tobacco, vegetables and other crops rounding out the matrix. Clint described the farmers' paradigm after the "Tobacco Buyout" as a shift from relying on price supports to that of being a price-taker, if they want to contract directly with the tobacco buyers. Clint said that other than fertilizer price concerns, the farmer is faced with much of the same issues that any business faces - health insurance costs, fuel costs, labor and many others. With a shift from a tobacco-centric ag economy to one that is grain/livestock based and more explorative, many strides and expenditures from the state and federal government from the "Tobacco Settlement" have been made into alternative crops such as produce, cheese, wine and agri-tourism. Between the tobacco buyout and the tobacco settlement from the cigarette manufacturers, Daviess County is likely to see more than $53,000,000 of funds in addition to production revenue flow into the community over the next 10 years. Many residents of this community, ag-involved and non-ag folks aren't aware that with the river, infrastructure and businesses like Owensboro Grain, Owensboro and Daviess County is a big player in the regional and global ag economy. Our local extension service has 5 agents who promote ag education, leadership development, horticulture, 4-H and youth development programs.

Thanks Clint, for an interesting and informative program.

Attendance: 89

Highest Attendance This Year: 108

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Bill Van Winkle

Fellowship Report: Clay Ford

Introduction of Guests: No information for this week.

Thought for the Week:  A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

ROTARY ANNOUNCEMENTS...
None

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
None

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Dean Enrenheim - September 4
Cherilyn Kizer - September 4
Brad Belcher - September 8
John Medley, Jr. - September 8
Wendell Ford - September 8
Jack Barnard - September 9

ROTARY REMINDERS
• Don’t forget to make up your missed meetings at Daviess County Rotary, 7 a.m. on Tuesdays at Heavenly Ham Restaurant in Towne Square North.
• Tom Ed Booth is the program chair for September.
• Terry Brownson will be at the Fellowship Table during September.
• If you have an email address and are not receiving the Impetus online, or you have changed your email address, please send an email to kim@mediaworksadvertising.com and you will be added to the Rotary email address list.
• Log on to Rotary’s website at www.owensbororotary.org. You’ll find our current member directory, photos of new members, past copies of the Impetus, some interesting history, and more!

Please mail any questions, suggestions, or comments regarding the Impetus to:

Mike Wallace
MediaWorks Advertising, Inc.
208 West 3rd Street
P.O. Box 1866
Owensboro, KY 42302
Phone: 270-684-4554
Fax: 270-684-7314
Email: mike@mediaworksadvertising.com

DEADLINE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE IMPETUS IS THE WEDNESDAY PRIOR TO MONDAY'S PUBLICATION DATE.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS
September 14: TBD
September 21: TBD
September 28: TBD

2005 - 2006 OWENSBORO ROTARY CLUB OFFICERS
President: Bill Dexter
Vice President: John Kurtz
Past President: Pat McFarling
Secretary: Tish Correa-Osborne
Treasurer: Bob Nation
Directors: Tim Bradshaw, Patty Ray, Noel Maddox, John Kazlauskas, John Medley, and Sister Suzanne Sims