Ift—Lancaster Farming, Saturday. September 18,1971 Mrs. Houser Is Helping With the West Lampeter Fair By Mrs. Charles G. McSparran Farm Feature Writer This week we salute Mrs. J. Wilbur (Elsie) Houser of 1509 Lampeter Road, Lampeter, who is chairlady of the Baked Goods and Homemade Products De partment of the West Lampeter Community Fair and a fair direc tor. She has served five years as a director and this is her eighth year as chairman of Baked Goods, although she help ed m this department several years prior to being chairman Last year they had 249 en tries in this department which was more than the year before and they hope to have more en tries this year than last year. They not only have baked goods but also candy, noodles, honey, beeswax, potato chips, salted nuts, dried beef, smoked sausage, smoked ham or should er slices, bacon, lard and home made soap. Lampeter Fair, held this year September 22, 23 and 24, is strictly an educational fair and attracts thousands of people. Kenneth Meek is president; David M Huber Jr, secretary tieasurer, Mrs. Robert H. Weav er, recording secretary; Mrs John J. Donnelly, corresponding secretary, and Henry B. Leaman, general manager. Exhibits may be entered Tuesday, September 21 from 7 to 10 p m. or Wednes day from 7 30 a m. till noon Some of the highlights of en tertainment will be a pet show Wednesday from 5 30 to 8 p m , baby beef judging at 7 p.m. and the Lampeter-Strasburg Junior High School Band concert at 8 p.m. On Thursday, there will be a Talent Contest at 7 p.m., Ele mentary School Band concert at 7-45 p.m, Queen Of The Fair contest at 8:15 p.m. and a live stock parade at 9 p.m. On Friday, there will be a baby parade at 10 a.m. and an all western horse show from 2 to 4 p.m and again starting at 6:30 for the evening’s entertain ment. There will be an FFA fat hog consignment sale at 8 p.m. Mrs. Houser serves on the summer activity committee which holds a chicken barbecue in June. She helped about 20 other women directors and local vomen freeze 75 dozen ears of corn and dress chickens for chicken corn soup and make apple sauce for the Community Fair Restaurant which serves hot platters and desserts during the fair. This is a tame of fellowship as well as a project to help the fair. Also, a fair directors picnic is always held in August at the fair grounds. Mrs. Leßoy Andrews and Mrs Isaac Herr have been co-chairladies of the restaurant ever since it started 15 years ago. The Fair Restau rant has a dairy bar. The FHA,' FFA and Varsity Club of Lam peter-Strasburg High School also nave food stands at the fair. Wilbur is chairman of the milk department. They have classes for Holstein, Guernsey, Ayrshire and Jersey raw milk. Housers’ son William is a fair director and chaplain and also serves on a committee. Yes, the Houser family has been active in the fair ever since its inception in 1925. Jacob R. Houser, Wilbur’s father, was a director and always exhibited his cattle and apples. He is still on his farm in Lampeter and exhibits apples. Wilbur and Elsie have always exhibited fruit, vegetables and flowers and Elsie often exhibited canned and baked goods. Their four sons have been entering their Hereford steers for sev eral ’ years and Dwight will exhibit his Charolais steer this year. Mrs. Houser, the daughter of Mrs. Ada S f oltzfus and the late Elmer U. Stoltzfus of Paradise, grew up on a Guernsey dairy farm and always helped with the farm work. She helped to milk when they did it by hand and later with a milking ma chine. She says, “I was always a farm girl and like it.” She grad uated from Paradise High School. She and her husband have always farmed. Mr. Houser is head DHIA milk tester in Lancaster County. He tests in the Lampeter, Wil low Street and Strasburg area. He farmed a dairy farm in Lampeter 11 years, until his health forced him to quit. They then moved to their 12 acre farm where they now live. They have lived here 15 years and he has been a milk tester ever since. About half of that time he has been supervising the other testers in the county. They have about 10 varieties of apples, Bartlett pears, sweet and sour cherries and quinces. They grow all kinds of vegetables on their truck farm and have a stand at Southern Market in Lan caster known as “Houser’s & Sons Fruits and Vegetables.” Wilbur and two sons tend market Saturdays. Mrs Houser helps pick the vegetables, shell beans and prepare things for the market stand. They buy some fresh vegetables and citrus fruit for their market stand so they have a full lane of vege tables all year. They also grow four kinds of peonies and white daisies which are in great de mand for Memorial Day. Many people come to their farm to buy fruit and vegetables. They have raised sheep on this farm. Tem porarily they do not have sheep. Mr. Houser and their four sons have received some very dis tinguished honors. Mr. Houser was the first to get the FFA American Farmer Degree in West Lampeter High School and in the county. The three oldest sons have FFA Keystone Farmer Degrees. Mr. and Mrs. Houser received a citation for having three sons re ceive this degree. All four sons took the ag course in High School and have had 4-H steers and were very active in 4-H. Also, all four sons are active in church work. James is married to the former Ruth Nauman of Manheira. They have one son. They live next door to his parents and he works for Andrews Excavating Inc. of Willow Street. He received many rosettes for his 4-H York shire swine projects. William married Judith Miller of Annville and lives at Jones town RD. He hauls finished lumber for Zeager Brothers who have a sawmill and sell lumber. He spent 2% years in British Honduras doing voluntary ser vice there. Before going there, be was secretary of the West Lampeter Fire Company. Mrs. Houser, who enjoys taking care of her roses holds an Americana rose. Thomas and Dwight live at home. Thomas is a mechanic for L. H. Brubaker who handles G.E. appliances and farm ma chinery. Dwight is a freshman, enrolled in FFA at Lampeter-Strasburg High School. He has a 4-H steer and a buddy steer. He belongs to Red Rose 4-H Baby Beef Club and_ Garden Spot 4-H Community Club. He has had three steers. Both boys help with the market stand. The whole family is active in the Lampeter Fire Company. James is president, Thomas is v secretary and Wilbur is chaplain. Wilbur, James, Thomas and Dwight are fire fighters. Housers have a monitoring set in their home for the fire company and Mrs. Houser takes calls. The beys call home from work when the siren goes off to find out where the fire is and go direct ly to it. Mrs. Houser is vice president of the West Lampeter Fire Com pany Ladies’ Auxiliary. They serve suppers, serve meals at the Lancaster Kennel Club dog show and have a flea market to make money They use their money to help the Fire Company. Housers belong to Willow Street Mennomte Church. Mrs. Houser is news co-ordinator for the church bulletins and secre tary of the Daily Vacation Bible School which is held two weeks in July. Mr. Houser was Sunday School superintendent several years" He was assistant super intendent of their Bible School when it started many years ago, then superintendent a number of years. He is a substitute teacher now for their Bible School, teaches a Sunday School class and is on the church coun cil. He sings in a church quar tette with his brother Jacob Houser Jr., Glenn and Carl Herr. They sing not only at church but also for other groups. Elsie is vice president of the church Junior Sewing Circle. They sew for relief work. Some is sent to foreign countries and some to Florida mission stations. They rolled a lot of bandages and knotted comforters last win ter. They meet once a month and make dresses and layettes. They made 38 layettes last win ter. There are- about 30 in the group. Girls from about 10 years to teenagers meet at the same time and make scrapbooks and favors for trays at state hos pitals. Mrs. Houser also helps the Senior Sewing Circle sew gowns at the hospital. They make dresses, suits, pajamas and quilts. Mrs. Houser does - a lot of freezing and canning. They sometimes make apple butter and sell it in pint jars. She says, “I enjoy sewing. I used to do most of my own sewing. I Wilbur Houser, Lampeter, chairlady of the West Lampeter Community Fair Baked Goods and Homemade Pro ducts Dept., also supports the fair in many other ways. enjoy taking care of my roses.” Another of her hobbies is keep ing a scrapbook of community activities Here is a recipe that won Elsie a first prize at the West Lam peter Fair. FEATHER SPONGE CAKE 6 egg yolks % cup cold water IVz cups sugar Vz teaspoon vanilla Vz teaspoon orange or lemon extract 1% cups sifted cake flour V* teaspoon salt 6 egg whites % teaspoon cream of tartar Beat egg yolks till thick and lemon-colored; add water; con tinue beating till thick, about 5 minutes in all. Gradually beat in sugar, then vanilla, or orange extract. Sift flour with salt; fold into egg-yolk mixture a little at a time. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar till stiff peaks form. Fold into first mix ture, turning bowl gradually. Bake in ungreased 10 inch tube pan in slow oven (325 degrees) about 1 hour. Invert the pan to cool. APPLE-CINNAMON TARTS Boil to a syrup (about 5 minutes): 1 cup sugar 1 cup water % teaspoon red food coloring if desired Place in a greased shallow 8" X 12” baking dish: \Vz lbs. tart apples (4 to 5 medium-sized apples, peeled and thinly sliced Pour syrup over apples. Sift together: lVz cups sifted flour 2 teaspoons double-action bak ing powder Vz teaspoon salt Cut in with pastry blender or 2 knives or a fork until mixture looks like meal V* cup short ening. Stir in to make soft dough % cup milk. Drop 12 spoonsful of dough on top of apples and make a dent in top of each. Place in dented dough a mixture of 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine, 2 tablespoons sugar and Vt tea spoon cinnamon. Bake 25 to 30 minutes in hot oven (450 degrees). Serve warm, with cream or rich milk if desired. Serves 8 to 10. CRACKER PUDDING IVz qt. sweet milk 1 cup grated crackers, rolled not too fine with rolling pin (Eagle Brand crackers pre ferred) Vz cup grated coconut 1 cup sugar Yolks of 2 eggs, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla Scald milk and add gradually to beaten egg yolks and add sugar, cracker crumbs and coconut. Cook in a pan on top of stove, stirring constantly un til cracker crumbs are soft and mixture-is thick. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour into buttered baking dish. Spread with meringue made by beating 2 teaspoons sugar and Vs tea spoon vanilla into stiffly beaten egg whites. Bake until meringue is golden brown at 350 degrees. STRAWBERRY SHORT CAKE Vz cup butter 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, well beaten Vz cup milk 1 % cups cake flour % teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons baking powder % teaspoon vanilla Cream butter, add sugar. Add eggs and beat briskly. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with milk. Add vanilla. Blend well. Pour into buttered square 8” baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ripe strawberries, raspberries or peaches. ROOT BEER BRINK WITH GINGER ALE 1 bottle Hires Root Beer extract 8 cups granulated sugar' 13 qts. cold water 6 qts. ginger ale Shake bottle of root beer ex tract well before using. Pour contents over sugar and mix well. Add water and stir to dissolve sugar. (To chill quickly sub stitute ice for water.) Add ginger (Continued on Page 19)
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