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We have a monthly publication, which we send to our customers. If you'd like to receive our newsletter by regular mail, let us know. Otherwise, we'll keep the latest version here. These are the articles from May 2004.
The once-famous Truman Pioneer Stud Farm was started in 1878 by English livestock dealer Jonathan Hall Truman, and was later operated by his five sons, four of whom moved to Bushnell. Originally located on West Main Street, the business moved in the 1890’s to a 100- acre tract with a dozen buildings located south of town. The importing and breeding operations were very successful, earning a national reputation. The Truman’s organized the Bushnell Horse Show in 1908, and the yearly show attracted huge crowds. Over 15,000 people attended the first year. Numerous horse breeders exhibited their best horses, buyers came to Bushnell from all over the country, and spectators came from nearby towns, bringing picnic lunches. In 1911 the horse show included over 641 entries.
Now, ninety six years later, the Bushnell Horse Show is being reinstated. With planning for Bushnell’s 150th Anniversary underway, Bushnell Economic Development Corporation, which is an arm of the Bushnell Chamber of Commerce, decided to resurrect Bushnell’s famous draft horse show. The committee believes that the resurrected horse show will be an ongoing tourist attraction for Bushnell and all of West Central Illinois. In today’s fast paced world many people do not have the opportunity to relax on a warm summer evening and enjoy events that represent days gone by. The Bushnell Horse Show for 2004 is scheduled for July 2, 2004. This draft horse hitch show is recognized as a qualifying show on the North American Classic Six Series show circuit. Each year, more than 250 hitch exhibitors travel across the United States and Canada to perform at state fairs and agricultural exhibitions like the Bushnell Horse Show to accumulate points for the Classic Series. The high point exhibitors are invited to compete for the Classic Series All Breed Trophy presented at the Eastern State Expositions in Springfield, Massachusetts, in September, 2004.
All of Bushnell invites you to join us for the evening and enjoy the festivities, as well as all events of our Sesquicentennial year.
Spend Wisely or Save? April 15th is now a date of the past, your 2003 tax returns have probably been filed, and if if you had your refunds deposited directly to your checking or savings account, you are faced with the temptation to fritter away the money you so generously allowed the government to use last year. With a little extra thought you can put your tax refund to good use. Here are just a few wise spending or saving tips:
Recent anniversary celebrations include William and Theda Trout (64 years) of Bushnell, John and Betty Adair (55 years) of Macomb (father and mother-in-law of our own Dan Cortelyou), John and Louise Shanklin (52 years) of Bushnell, former employee Newt and Betty Howard (52 years) of Bushnell, and Clarence and Betty Ackerson (50 years) of Bushnell. F & M extends best wishes to each of you! Birthday celebrations recently observed include Ethel Heidenreich (103), Ruby Dimmitt (90), and Cleda Lynch (92) all of Bushnell, Ivan Morey (82) of Prairie City, and Richard Wolf (81) of Abingdon.
Beverly Naslund, Macomb, recently joined the Carl Sandburg College - The Extension Center in Bushnell as the new Director. Her duties will include overseeing and coordinating day-to-day administrative activities, and she’d like to expand options available to all ages in the surrounding area. Congratulations, Bev! Congratulations to Gerald Kirby of Bushnell on his first perfect (300) game of bowling! The pressure is on to repeat, Gerald! B-PC/Avon senior, Whitney Lowe, was recently named to the 2004 JS Class A Girls All-Star Basketball First Team, and was thrilled. She was even more surprised and elated to be named JS 2004 Player of the Year! Congratulations, Whitney!! And good luck at Northern Illinois University this fall!
Deanna Simmons Nell of Littleton was recently honored and installed as President of the Palomino Horse Breeders of America National Amateur for the 2004-2005 year. At the Palomino Horse Breeders of America Convention in Arlington, Virginia, Deanna had the 2003 High Point Amateur pleasure horse, Kat man gone Gold, and she showed Encore, a 2002 mare belonging to her father Ralph Simmons, that was the High Point Amateur halter and reserve high point open halter mare for 2003. Congratulations, Deanna and Ralph!
 For Your Consideration*...by Shirley Rapp 
Church & Dwight, Inc. (ticker CHD) is the world’s largest producer of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), sodium bicarbonate-based products, and other products which use the same raw materials or technology. CHD sells its products primarily under the ARM & HAMMER trademark through supermarkets and drug stores. Some of the CHD product lines include Brillo®, Scrub Free®, Snobol®, Arrid®, Nair®, Mentadent®, First Response®, and ARM & HAMMER® laundry, oral care, personal care, household deodorizers, and pet care products. Church & Dwight recently traded at $43.33 with a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.5. The 52-week trading range has been $29.98 to $44.54, and CHD currently is paying an annual dividend of $0.32 per share. Sales-per-share have increased from $8.27 to $25.91 from 1988 through 2003, with earnings-per-share increasing from $0.38 to $1.86 during the same time period. Visit the CHD website at www.churchdwight.com for great cleaning and cooking tips inside your house, outdoor tips for cleaning your grill and lawn furniture or improving the clarity of the water in your pool, and other tips too numerous to mention. For further information on Church & Dwight, Inc. or any investment, please contact Shirley Rapp or any of the professionals of Trust-Mart® to help you implement your investment decisions.
*This column is informational only, with no investment advice given or intended. Investments in securities are not insured by the FDIC, and involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Before buying any security, its prospectus should be carefully read. Trust-Mart© is a full-service trust department of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Bushnell, Illinois. The Bushnell Sesquicentennial Museum, located at 454 E. Main, Bushnell, is now open. During the month of May it will feature “Mother’s Day and Prom Dresses” (aprons of the women at home and fancy dresses). Museum hours are Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you have an item that you could loan or donate to the museum, please contact Peggy Hood.
Head just a few doors north and view Farmers & Merchants State Bank’s front window display while you’re up town. It contains many items nearly a century old!
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Bushnell stores were draped in red, white and blue, flags were flown, and local bands played. A big parade was the highlight of the show. Then, the beautifully groomed horses, their tails braided, were led down Main Street and the judging would begin. For all in attendance it was a great spectacle to behold.
