At No. 2, Jim Bowen carries a scar from a cottonmouth bite, but when he crossed paths with two leviathan-size timber rattlers, it was almost more than he could handle.

At No. 3, a recent Tax Court indicates farmers can decide how they want to farm without the IRS disallowing those expenses. However, it also shows you need good records. CPA Paul Neiffer explains.

At No. 4, is the story of a 10”-tall clay pot, its unlikely survival and the incredible contents that provide an extremely rare window to the past.

At No. 5, is the news of another record for farmland sales. In Sioux County, Iowa, 73.19 acres of high-quality farmland sold for $30,000 per acre during an auction on Nov. 11.