Sale Time
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Partners & Friends,
We just completed a successful first-ever online goat sale here at Hess Livestock. There was a lot of active bidding, and the goats are headed to many different places, including Wisconsin and Iowa. We’re hoping for a great show season for everyone and for more opportunities to share superior genetics with others. The next show is in Denver next week. Show your stuff, Harper and Abbott!
This is the time of year when the winter doldrums tend to set in. Cloudy, wet days aren’t very uplifting, so we’re focusing on office and shop projects. Year-end analysis, tax filings, 2026 budgets, input ordering, project planning, and overall business management are all front and center. We’ll be attending several meetings this month and next that should provide useful analysis and data to apply on our own farm. The slower pace of this season can also be refreshing and renewing—for both our souls and our personal goals.
There’s no shortage of national events keeping the news outlets busy. Protecting interests in the Western Hemisphere seems to have taken on a larger role in national defense. Commodity markets remain in very tight trading ranges. Index funds are in a period of serious rebalancing and reweighting. History and perspectives surrounding the Capitol riots appear to be in the process of being rewritten, with some factors minimized or erased. Perhaps the uncovering of major fraud schemes will bring more accountability to government. Illinois legislators are also gearing up for the 2026 legislative session.
Phyllis’ knee surgery is on hold while we wait for dental clearance. College classes are restarting, and first-semester results have been very positive. We’re still trying to wrap up Christmas visits with our kids. It was a wonderful holiday season celebrating the birth of Jesus and the relationships we cherish.
Fall Prices:
Corn: $4.31
Soybeans: $10.36
Steve
