34 —Lancaater Farmii Commodity queens have a valuable place in agricultural industries according to Kathy Bicksler, the 1975 Pennsylvania Poultry Queen. She says, “A queen can represent an industry so well-it’s much easier for a queen to get attention than a man.” Pretty and loquacious, nineteen-year-old Kathy will Kathy has already received much publicity and many gifts as county queen and in the few months she has represented the state poultry industry. have ample opportunity to prove her point as she un dertakes the task of representing Pennsylvania’s poultry industry. She has already made several appearances. One was presenting a live turkey to the Lieutenant Governor during Farm City Week, an event which was very thrilling for Kathy. She was so awestruck by Ernie Kline, she talked as if she would run his campaign singlehan dedly if he wants to be governor. She was also busy during Farm Show week and made a token presentation of eggs to Governor Milton Shapp. Kathy is a native of Lebanon County, a county which boasts four out of the last eight poultry queens. Lebanon County also has a booming poultry industry, and Kathy’s hometown of Fredericksburg has three poultry processing plants within a mile of each other. Kathy got involved in the county contest when a neigh bor entered her name. In addition to winning many prices as the Poultry Queen, each contestant was given a $25 bond just for participating, so Kathy figured it was a good use of her time. Her father, Lee, has driven a truck for College Hill Poultry, Inc. for 19 years, but Kathy herself is familiar with the poultry industry having started working with College Hill the day after she graduated from high school. She’s working her way through college, so she works during each vacation to earn moneV. According to Kathy, “Everybody in Fredericksburg has worked in a poultry plant at least once.” Kathy says she does any number of things when she’s working, but her most recent job was cleaning gizzards - no small matter when you consider that it’s possible to clean 50 chickens a minute. Kathy classifies the job as “very boring, but it can be upsetting if you get behind.” She added, “I like to do the best I can so I clean the giz zards perfectly clean.” She related that the inspectors Saturda: Kathy Bicksler Penna.’s Vivacious Poultry Queen by: Sally Bair Farm Feature Writer Jan. 25. 1975 Kathy Bicksler talks about what she’ll be doing as the 1975 Pennsylvania Poultry Queen. have told her they try to find a problem with her work, but die’s so thorough they have no complaints. Cleaning a whole chicken is something Kathy un derstands well from her work in the processing plant, and die can explain just what steps to take and how to proceed. A 1973 graduate of Northern Lebanon High School, Kathy is currently enrolled at the Schuylkill campus of The Pennsylvnia State Univerdty where she is studying business administration. In high school die said the “best thing’’ for her was playing in the band. She played flute and piccolo and said, “I really worked hard, and played first chair.” She played ■ in district band and was a member of the senior band council. “I was always busy in the band. We really had to work.” She explained, “Northern Lebanon had a really good band. We were disciplined and I made it my best effort.” Kathy was also a member of the Ecology Club and Student Action for Education, and was elected to the National Honor Society and “Who’s Who in High Schools.” When she went to college Kathy said she substituted the college “chorale” for her band interest. She is also a member of a smaller singing group called the “Good News Singers,” who'perform for various organizations and sing both sacred and secular music. Never one to be idle, Kathy is a member of the Cultural Affairs Committee at college which decides which speakers will be invited to campus. She said she enjoys the committee and finds it “very interesting to help decide how to spend the money that’s available for cultural events.” She Is also a member of her Dormitory Council, an organization which decides policy for the sixty girls who live in the dorm and also takes care of discipline problems when necessary. Kathy is a member of the Keystone Society which is open to students of Commonwealth Campuses who have two or more activities* and a 3.0 or higher grade average. Kathy’s grade point average last year was 3.03 so she was elected to Alpha Lambda Delta, a fraternity for those whose averageis 3.5 or higher in their freshman year. Kathy will probably be going to main campus next year, but she said she “really enjoys a small campus and the bit * of freedom which it affords you.” Kathy is a member of the Fredericksburg United Methodist church where she had been secretary, Vice- Promoting poultry products will be a big part ol Kathy’s job as poultry queen. One of her favorite’s is fried eggs. president and president of the Christian Endeavor, their youth group. While she is at the Schuylkill campus die attends St. John’s United Church of Christ. Poultry Queen is not the first royal title Kathy has acquired. She was Fredericksburg Fire Queen and Jonestown Rodeo Queen. To become Rodeo Queen she had to sell the most tickets to the rodeo, and she says with a , laugh, “Boy did I sell tickets! ” She outsold everyone else ' and won the title. She added,'“l really learned a lot about the Jaycees and their activities while I was their queen.” Enthusiasm and an outgoing personality were certainly key reasons for Kathy’s selection as the state poultry queen. She readily talks about what she sees as her role. One of the most valuable aspects of being poultry queen according to Kathy will be “meeting the people” and having a chance to go places. She adds, “I know I will have more poise at the end of the year than I have now.” She said she is sure she’ll gain ability in composing and giving speeches. Thinking about her value as a commodity queen, Kathy says, “Queens can get ‘in’ with various organizations because they represent youth and are more vital.” She said she is really looking forward to representing the poultry industry and is excited about the prospects open to her as queen. “I sure am learning a lot about the industry. I know chickens and it offers a wide range of topics to talk about.” During her interview with the judges at the state con test, Kathy demonstrated her quick wit by answering that timeless riddle, “Which came first - the chicken or the egg?” With little hesitation she replied, “The chicken came first because God created the animals.” Queens and queen contests are often subject to criticism by the women’s movement, but Kathy says the rewards of being queen far outweigh any negative aspects. Besides, she adds, she only partially approves of liberates women. She said, I believe in women having equal opportunity, but I don’t like being discriminated ‘for’ just because I’m a woman.” Her future plans are to get married and have a family after graduation from Penn State. Her goal is to work after her children are partially grown. She says, “I don’t like my mind being at rest. If I didn’t have a job, time would hang heavy on my hands. I don’t like having too much free time.” Her major in college will probably lead her to a career in marketing, in the promotion and advertising end. Obviously not a young woman to be idle, Kathy keeps up ' her flute playing, and said she likes to read, roller skate and enjoys working with children. She makes it very clear that having children, both her own and possibly some adopted ones, enter very much into her plans for the future. Kathy characterizes herself as “very determined - almost stubborn”, two traits which will surely help her achieve her future goals. And along the way, she will provide sparkle and charm as she spreads good will - and knowledge - for the poultry industry in the Keystone state.
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