AROUND THE COMMUNITY: Hoffman gets Wisconsin Farm Bureau accolades

Christa Hoffman was selected as the winner of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist Outstanding Agriculture Professional Award at the organization’s 103rd annual meeting on Dec. 4.

Hoffman is a business development administrator at URUS. She manages grant-funded projects focused on improving cattle management practices on farms in emerging markets. Working for a global cattle genetics company, her primary focus is establishing new commercial markets while providing access to artificial insemination to make long-term impacts on production and profitability of farms. Hoffman and her husband, Brad, raise two young children on the family’s dairy farm in Gresham.

“This contest recognizes Young Farmer and Agriculturist members going above and beyond for agriculture and within their communities,” said WFBF President Kevin Krentz. “Christa is a shining example of the impact Farm Bureau members have in rural areas.”

The Outstanding Agriculture Professional Award is presented to a Farm Bureau member between the ages of 18 and 35 who has not derived a majority of his or her income from a farm for the past three years. Examples of occupations of ideal applicants include agricultural education instructor, fertilizer salesperson, veterinarian, farm employee, journalist or marketer.

Hoffman serves on the Shawano County Farm Bureau board of directors and is the co-chair for Brunch on the Farm.

She will receive $1,500 courtesy of Growmark Inc., the opportunity to attend the 2023 AFBF Fusion Conference in Jacksonville, Florida, and is eligible to participate in the 2023 YFA Washington, D.C., Fly-In.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation co-sponsors this contest with Growmark Inc., and Rural Mutual Insurance Company. This is a new Wisconsin Farm Bureau award replacing the Excellence in Ag competition.

Auditions open for ‘War of the Worlds’ radio play

The Machickanee Players are holding auditions for their upcoming production of “War of the Worlds” at 6 p.m. Dec. 15 and 10 a.m. Dec. 17. Auditions will be held at the Park Avenue Playhouse, 408 Park Ave., Oconto. The performance dates are Feb. 10-12 and Feb. 17-19.

“War of the Worlds” is a radio play, only now the audience will be able to watch how a live radio production occurs. In 1939, this radio program swept the country as listeners truly believed that aliens had invaded the earth.

This production will need 10-15 actors and actresses of various ages for this performance. Call 920-834-4353 or email susie.machickaneeplayers@gmail.com for more information.

Gillett library plans Cookie Crawl, other activities

The holidays are just around the corner, and Gillett Public Library has a variety of programs planned for December.

A cookie fundraiser called the Cookie Crawl is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 10. Boxes of cookies will be $5 and available for people to pick their own cookies. Bags will be available for $2 for those preferring smaller portions. Santa will make an appearance from noon to 2 p.m.

Highlights of upcoming adult programs include the Aging and Disability Resource Center hosting a Memory Café in the Gillett Library Community Center, 204 E. Main St., Gillett, from 1-2:30 p.m Dec. 20, where visitors can make a holiday ornament, decorate holiday cookies, play bingo and listen to holiday songs provided by Joe and Colleen Wicker. Call 715-526-4712 or 715-526-4708 to RSVP by Dec. 16. Oconto County Health and Human Services provides job and GED assistance from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 22.

For kids, liven up your tree with a do-it-yourself gingerbread house ornament from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 19 in the community center. A Teen Tuesday from 4-5 p.m. Dec. 20 will be DIY ornaments. Snacks will be provided.

During winter break, the Gillett library has a variety of activities for families.

From 12:30-1:30 p.m. Dec. 26, visitors can make treats for the Oconto County Humane Society. On Dec. 27, the library will kick off a new program called Full STEAM Ahead, also 12:30-1:30 p.m, where children K-2 will learn about shapes through reading and fun activities. On Dec. 28 from 1-3 p.m., Pathfinder and Community Board Games will be held in the Library Community Center. Dec. 29 from 11-11:30 a.m., the library will showcase another puppet show. Dec. 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., families can make bird feeders to feed their feathered friends in frigid temperatures.

Shawano County Library eliminates fines system

Beginning Jan. 1, Shawano County Library will be fines-free on all books. This means that books will no longer accrue a daily overdue fine when items are not returned by the due date. Two years ago, the library removed fines on children’s and teen books.

In 2019, the American Library Association passed the Resolution on Monetary Library Fines as a Form of Social Inequity. The resolution outlines that removing fines tends to increase library card adoption and usage while retaining fines leads to barriers in access to materials and resources.

Items that are never returned, lost or damaged will continue to be billed to the patron account. Movies, video games, music and other all other media will continue to accrue daily fines at this time.

For information, contact the library at sha@shawanolibrary.org or 715-526-3829.

Hillside Assembly to present Christmas show

Hillside Assembly of Gillett will perform its Kids Christmas Musical at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the church, 5890 State Highway 22, Gillett.

The half-hour musical is full of fun and meaningful arrangements and includes new songs from Dove Award-winning children’s writers Anna Lampe, Alisen Wells, and Nick Robertson, along with some favorite Christmas carols.

There will be a gift for all who attend. For information, call 920-855-2962.

SNBT donates to Oconto County Commission on Aging

This October marked 148 years that The Stephenson National Bank and Trust (SNBT) has been servicing the needs of the community.

SNBT may no longer hand write its ledgers, or use bank notes as currency, but the long-lasting bank continues to be involved in its local community.

“Our Chairman’s Challenge has become an annual staple of employee support for local non-profits,” said Daniel Peterson, SNBT president and chief executive officer. “This year it marks our 148th anniversary, and I can think of no better way to celebrate this milestone than by giving back, because the success of the bank has always stemmed from our community. Our most important mission is to help our customers and the community in achieving their goals — no matter what they may be.”

To kick off the holiday season, all SNBT branches participated in a collection drive during the months of October and November. The Oconto office donated its collected items to the Oconto County Commission on Aging Inc.