What is going on in December?

New Farmer’s Guide to the Commercial Broiler Industry

New farmers who wish to enter the commercial broiler industry by buying or building a new broiler farm face certain challenges and must make numerous decisions. The New Farmer’s Guide to the Commercial Broiler Industry is a five-part series that explores the different aspects of the business: farm types and their estimated business returns; commercial poultry husbandry and biosecurity basics; purchasing an existing farm; building a new farm; and business and financing. The series includes practical information enhanced by charts, graphs, and images.

How the FFB Poultry Lenders Go the Extra Mile for You

Typically, if you are looking for a poultry loan, you have to travel to a bank’s office to meet with someone who is dressed in a suit and shiny shoes. Or, you fill out an impersonal set of web forms for a bank that only exists online, and you never meet a human being. Regardless, it’s about doing things the bank’s way and in their setting. And even when you are working with a specific human being, it’s hard to tell if they’ve ever even set foot on a commercial poultry farm. First Financial Bank Poultry Lenders do things differently.

Introducing: Melissa Randall

1. Role at FFB: Ag Office Manager

2. Family: David (Husband), 7 Dogs (Smokey, Maple, Taffy, Annie, Oakley, Zoey, and Max), and 2 Cats

(Frankie Blue Eyes and Crush)

3. Hobbies: Traveling to bucket list destinations with my hubby as well as fishing, kayaking, and just being outdoors. Also, anything that has to do with Star Wars!

4. What is your favorite thing about working at FFB? The bond we form with our customers is something I've never seen anywhere else. It makes me proud to know that we are a big part of the agricultural world.

5. Do you have an unknown talent? I learned how to play guitar when I was 8, and music is my life! Also, I can talk like Chewbacca.

6. Favorite place you have visited? Belize, Mexico snorkeling in the second-largest coral reef!

7. What is one thing you would like to learn more about? The universe and all its wonders.

8. Words you live by?

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." -Wayne Gretzky

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why." -Mark Twain

9. Funny story about you? We can't be friends if you can't handle me randomly blurting out song lyrics that relate to what you just said.

Christmas Day Chicken

Ingredients

16 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)
2 cups sour cream
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons celery salt
2 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1-1/2 to 2 cups crushed butter-flavored crackers
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions

Place the chicken in 2 large shallow bowls. In another bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Pour over chicken; turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350°. Drain and discard the marinade. Coat chicken with cracker crumbs; place in 2 greased 13x9-in. baking dishes.
Combine oil and butter; drizzle over chicken. Bake uncovered, until a thermometer reads 165°, 30-35 minutes.