CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 428,403,272	$ 318,757,352	$ 360,797,232
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	93,321,192	96,568,443	99,112,019
Gain on disposal of assets	(355,544)	(70,736)	(488,750)
Loss on disposal of assets	443,373	28,424	230,933
Gain on sale of investments and equity method investment income	(5,492,269)	(392,040)	(1,379,538)
Loss on sale of investments and equity method investment losses	11,476,947	2,104,907	307,490
Deferred income taxes	(17,735,110)	(17,777,777)	(41,694,751)
Stock based compensation expense related to employee stock options, employee stock purchases and restricted stock	39,197,422	30,228,606	27,421,645
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(45,251,116)	(26,698,846)	35,135,429
Inventories	2,127,242	(88,092,828)	(89,975,599)
Prepaid expenses and other	(4,101,866)	(28,788,331)	(20,241,994)
Accounts payable	40,951,490	37,423,488	7,266,309
Accrued liabilities	(5,735,441)	14,909,867	(14,322,863)
Net cash flows from operating activities	537,249,592	338,200,529	362,167,562
Activity in available-for-sale securities:
Sales proceeds	58,847,341	37,429,595	56,237,427
Maturities and calls	17,445,000	3,500,000	27,690,000
Purchases	(97,849,498)	(18,194,193)	(100,301,699)
Purchase of technology investments	(71,083,511)	(45,743,460)	(12,902,500)
Plant and equipment additions	(183,678,460)	(146,433,123)	(68,835,047)
Proceeds from sale of plant and equipment	292,723	313,917	2,577,855
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(18,936,539)	0	(12,071,546)
Increase in other assets	(4,453,376)	(3,611,244)	(5,501,445)
Net cash used for investing activities	(299,416,320)	(172,738,508)	(113,106,955)
CASH FLOWS USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of common stock from stock plan transactions	29,398,272	16,602,274	29,808,787
Cash dividends paid	(112,150,060)	(113,091,921)	(115,285,625)
Repurchases of common stock	(147,401,103)	(112,529,406)	(324,643,135)
Net cash used for financing activities	(230,152,891)	(209,019,053)	(410,119,973)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH	7,680,381	(43,557,032)	(161,059,366)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, Beginning of year	218,754,638	262,311,670	423,371,036
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, End of year	226,435,019	218,754,638	262,311,670
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Change in Property and equipment in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$ 6,927,750	$ 14,608,665	$ 6,292,196