BILL GAITHER/The Register-MailProud parents Nick and Amanda Soper stand with their daughter Ella Rose Soper on Monday afternoon in labor room three at Galesburg Cottage Hospital. The Sopers were presented with a gift basket from the Knox County Farm Bureau because Ella Rose was the first baby to be born during the start of Ag Week. Standing behind the Sopers, left to right, are Lori Fink, Josh Gibb and Angela Bates, all affiliates of the Knox County Farm Bureau.
'Ag Week Baby' reaps basket of goodies
Family has fun with Ag Week honor
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
GALESBURG - At 24 hours old, Ella Rose Soper already has an award for her scrapbook.The daughter of Nick and Amanda Soper was born over the noon hour Sunday at Galesburg Cottage Hospital, making her the first baby born during National Agriculture Week in Galesburg. The title of "Ag Week Baby" came with a basket of gifts, many of which are made with farm products.
"My husband keeps up on some of the agriculture stuff and had worked at FS for eight years," Mom said. "I was pretty exited for him. He's a John Deere fan and stuff."
The title has been fun to share with their hospital visitors. Some of them joked with Nick that he may in the running to win a John Deere tractor.
Fun aside, the gift basket was filled with $75 worth of items to help the first-time parents stock up on baby supplies. Amanda particularly liked the homemade blanket, Baby Einstein farm CD and farm toys.
"The finger foods and all of that will come in handy," she added.
The basket of items was a gift from the Women's Committee of the Knox County Farm Bureau. This is the committee's first time honoring an Ag Week baby.
"They always give something to the first baby of the New Year, and we'd like to recognize agriculture in that way and recognize the first baby born during Ag Week," said Angela Bates, Women's Committee chairperson. "It's a little different twist."
National Agriculture Week is March 18-26. It is celebrated annually around the first day of spring to recognize the agriculture's contribution to everyday life, according to the Agriculture Council of America.
