Vol. 17 No. 26
We Salute Dairying June 3
Dairying is approximately a $45 million a year
business in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania’s most
productive agricultural county. Dairying is also im
portant in neighboring counties.
Lancaster Farming will recognize the area's dynamic
dairy industry in its June 3 Special Annual Dairy Issue.
Lancaster Farming extends a special invitation to
dairy groups and organizations, as well as individuals,
to submit articles and news on dairying for the Dairy
Issue.
Advertisers are invited to make their own appeal to a
large segment of the Southeastern Pennsylvania dairy
market.
To be sure to make the Dairy Issue, please submit all
material by Wednesday, May 31.
Call us at 394-3047 or 626-2191 (ask for Lancaster
Farming). Or write to Lancaster Farming, P.O. Box 266,
Lititz, Pa. 17543.
Reminder on Hiring
Youth for Farm Work
Many farmers are now hiring
or soon will be hiring youth for
summer employment.
Farmers are reminded of
the necessity for youths under 16
years of age to have secured a
special operators license which
enables them to operate and work
around machinery and equip
ment. These permits are ob
tained by taking a course
available through local vo-ag
departments at the local schools
or through the local Extension
office, where offered.
The license is your protection if
an accident should happen to the
youth while working on your
farm. You, as the employer, are
Farm Calendar
Monday, May 22
8 p.m. DHIA Board of
Directors meeting, Farm and
Home Center.
Fulton Grange meeting, Oakryn.
Thursday, May 25
Lancaster County Swine
Producers Board of Directors
meeting, Farm and Home
Center.
In This Issue
Classified Ads 32 thru 35
Editorial Page 10
4-H News 26,27
Market Section 2,3,4
Sales Register 30,31
Thoughts in Passing 17
Women’s Section 22 thru 26
Hogs will play a large part in the future farming efforts of
Roger Lehman. The Lehmans hope to double their hog
production over the next few years.
107 Pnt'fcpo Pi rl rr
Pa. ]Ro«SSv.
in violation of Federal law if
employing youth without first
being trained for hazardous
occupations.
local Extension office, 1383 Ar
cadia Road, Lancaster, 394-6851,
or the vocational agriculture
department in your school
district.
Roger Lehman
A Youth Certain of his Future
This is the time of year when
high school seniors must look into
the mirror of life and ask a fateful
question; What am I to become?
For some, there is no answer.
For others there may be un
certainty. But for young Roger D.
Lehman there is a definite an
swer. “I am going to be a far
mer.”
Roger is typical of many young
boys who have lived on a farm all
their lives and choose to live
there in the future. “I guess I’ve
always wanted to be a farmer,”
said the Pequea Valley senior
who will graduate in a few days.
“My grandfather moved onto this
farm when he was 13 years old,
my father was born and raised
here and I want to live here too.”
The answers to the questions
were slow in coming but definite
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 20,1972
County FFA Chapters Hold
Contests Prior to FFA Week
Working as a team, Merv Bruckhart (left) and Richard
Kauffman captured first place for the Manheim FFA team in
the Small Gas Engines Contest at Elizabethtown Area High
School last week. Here they reassemble an engine, being
judged on speed and accuracy.
in tone. “I’ve never really
thought about doing anything
else. I love the outdoors and
working with animals. Where
else can you get this wrapped up
in one job?”
Roger lives with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Leh
man, on a 90 acre farm at Ronks
RDI. Approximately 60 to 65
acres are planted in corn
although there is some rye. There
are around 500 chickens on the
farm and some steers. The Leh
man’s also raise pigs.
“My earliest recollection of
farm life is gathering eggs,
recalled the tall, blonde-haired
future farmer. “I’ve always had
my chores to do and rather en
joyed them. I never looked on
them as work—you know, the
kind of work you hated to do. I
never minded them.”
In his freshman year at Pequea
Valley Roger joined the FFA. He
also enrolled in the schools vo-ag
course. “I’ve learned a lot about
farming at PV. I’ve had four good
teachers who have helped me to
come to the realization that I do
want to stay on the farm and earn
my living there,” noted Roger.
Still, in this fast moving world
we live in many young people
who have lived on farms all their
lives are learning for other
vocations Why stay’’
“It’s hard to put into words,”
commented Roger “For many
years now we have been taking in
tourists here at the farm. I’ve
met a number of fellows from
New York and other cities
There’s something different
about them I can’t quite put it
Roger Lehman looks out over the scenic 95 acre farm
which has been in the family for three generations.
into words but there is something
different I guess, through them,
I’ve come to appreciate what
kind of life I have here.”
Pigs play a big role in the
future of Roger Lehman “We
have about 35 sows and 2 boars.
About 90 per cent of the pigs were
raised right here We sell around
50 to 60 a month and my dad and I
hope to double our potential in the
next few years We hope to build
a sow house in a few months and
a farrowing house in a few years
We do hope to grow ”
The Lehmans have doubled
their hog production over the past
three years and if hopes are a
stepping stone to the future will
do so over the next few years as
well
$2.00 Per Year
Lancaster County FFA
Chapters have been busily
preparing and competing for the
right to represent Lancaster
County in various contest areas
when FFA Week at Penn State
rolls around June 28 to 30.
Girls as well as boys have been
engaged in seeking the honor of
representing their particular
Chapter in the State Contest, and
hope to continue on to National
contests.
Three contests were held
within the past week. It was a
week full of anticipation, often
'surprises, and occasionally
disappointment, as many youth
found there were still many areas
to be explored in depth until
another year rolls around and
new contests are held.
Gas Engine Event
The Manheim Central FFA Ch
apter small gas engine team won
the area FFA contest at
Elizabethtown last Friday.
The team members were
Richard Kauffman and Merv
Bruckhart.
Six teams participated in this
years competition. Other teams
were- Cloister Chapter, second;
Elizabethtown Chapter, third;
(Continued On Page 18)
“Prices on the hog market
have looked real good lately,”
said Roger “Last month we got
28 cents a pound on the hogs we
sold We raise almost all our own
replacements and watch our
costs so that a reasonable profit
can be made I don’t believe that
too many young farmers are
going into raising hogs in a big
way I know of another fellow
who has a rather large operation
who will graduate this year
Other than him I don’t know of
too many young farmers who
concentrate on raising hogs
Maybe I can corner the market,”
he laughed
Roger was president of the
FFA Chapter, vice-president of
iContinued On Page 19)