Mark’s Musings – April 8, 2015

Mark Fortune

It’s here! Spring – I think so. But no forsythia yet that I have seen. I do know that baseball season is now here – with the Tribe season opener being tonight (Monday) against Houston. Many are picking the Tribe as a World Series contender. Did I say this same thing last week? Well, it deserves to be said again. Now we will see if the pundits are on target or not. It’s all about pitching and staying healthy as the season cranks up.

Great national semi-final game between the Badgers and Kentucky. An instant classic. It seemed to me that a few calls went the wrong way – which you really don’t want to see in a game of this magnitude. But it was a great game and the matchup between Wisconsin and Duke is sure to be a good one too. It will all be over when you read this column so here’s hoping your favorite team won.

This week’s issue of “The Beacon” has our annual “Down on the Farm” section with some neat articles from our staff and contributed articles. Our farmers are the lifeblood of our community, our state and our nation. Indeed, U. S. farmers feed the world. According to the American Farm Bureau website – one of every three acres planted is for export. 2.2 million farms dot America’s rural landscape. About 97 percent of U.S. farms are operated by families – individuals, family partnerships or family corporations. Farm and ranch families comprise just 2 percent of the U.S. population. More than 21 million American workers (15 percent of the total U.S. workforce) produce, process and sell the nation’s food and fiber.

The website is located at: http://www.fb.org/index.php?fuseaction=newsroom.fastfacts. It makes for some interesting and revealing reading.

The Cubs started the 2015 season with an opening day loss against the Cardinals – at Wrigley Field. The best parts of the game – unless you are a Cardinals fan – were a moment of silence to honor the memory of Cubs legend Ernie Banks and the debut of a brand new video board.

I hope you were able to observe Easter with family and friends. How do you consume the chocolate bunnies? Do you start with the ears or the feet? Save the head for last? Do you prefer the solid variety or the hollow ones? Obviously you get more chocolate (and calories!) with the solid form of bunny. I did not get any “peeps” this year – you know the ones. Yellow outsides with fluffy white insides. They are yummy! And good for you too! Now they’re on sale.

Our community lost a great and godly man last week with the passing of Rev. Ralph Hollingsworth. Many of our readers did not know Rev. Hollingsworth – he served as the pastor at Roscoe United Methodist Church for many years and led the congregation into the new church in Roscoe. Ralph spoke at the 50 year anniversary celebration last October with the energy and passion of a man several decades younger than his 90 years belied. He will be more than missed.

Category: Mark's Musings