—Lancaster Famine, Saturday. September 13, 1975 46 Lancaster Co. gals selected as 4-H Queens Palsy Mengle and Kim Weaver are the 1975 4-H queens and together they boast 12 years of 4-H work and enough enthusiasm to keep the 4-H program going strong for twice that many years. Kim is 13 and is Junior Queen and Patsy, 18, is Senior Queen Both girls won their titles at 4-H Achievement Day and they are both delightfully outspoken about the benefits of their 4-H experiences. Patsy, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis 1. Mengle, New Holland Pike, Lancaster, represented the Garden Spot Community Club in the contest and is also a member of the Conestoga Valley Home Ec Club. She's been a member for seven years and says she joined primarily because “my mom got me interested." Mrs. Mengle says she thought it would be good for Patsy, and obviously she feels it was the right decision. Patsy says she feels part of her job as queen is to en courage others to join 4-H. She said, “I certainly feel one Patsy demonstrates how she uses the blender to make fresh peach milkshakes - a family favorite. Country Comer Pork producers hopeful for Early in the spring of 1974 many pork producers were still dreaming that perhaps someday they would see that elusive 50 cents per pounds that they had been waiting for so long. It had to be near within reach but how far away no one really knew But after a year’s wait the 50 cents per pounds reached the markets and left just as quickly as it had come, often being replaced by 60 cents per pound and more And just as suddenly pork producers began looking toward to a future of break even they had rarely seen in months past As in any production cycle where success looks eminent, the supply usually increases tremen dously thus once again lowering the demand, but as yet pork has not slid downward quite as fast In asking why the market has not yet been glutted with the commodity, one factor remains evident Raising hogs like any other farming operation is hard work - a job that might require 9 hours a day or 14 hours a day no one ever knows Plus the capital for equipment and initial stock has offered little hope for those individuals hoping to get started from scratch If such a dreary outlook why then begin at all 7 Well, besides the cost, time and anxiety pork production often incurs, some individuals still think it is worthwhile and are willing to take a chance in raising the agricultural commodity that has per sisted so long One such person is Kevin Rohrer, a young man in the Mt Joy area Kevin graduated from Manheim High School last spring and began a swine operation on his father’s (Jay) farm. Not a Kevin Rohrer, Manheim R 7, examines a pig from a newcomer to the swine industry, Kevin took newborn litter. The youth has just started in the hog several projects for while an FFA member. business and hopes it will prove worthy of the effort. By Sally Bair Feature Writer reaaon kids should join is to see what it's all about They learn leadership and responsibility as well as meeting new friends They also leam new skills from all the projects ’’ She added what is obvious. “I enjoy every minute of it." In the Garden Spot club this year Patsy has taken a handyman project where the built a "lemon table " It was a duplicate of one she taw in a magazine, and she built it from plywood without benefit of a pattern, and then added a lemon pattern on the top She alto had indoor gardening as a project In other years she took other handyman projects, photography and outdoor flowers In her home ec club she hat taken all the sewing projects and this year in her free lance project she made a pair of slacks, a cape and a homespun blouse which she enhanced with lovely hand embroidery of her own design She was a teen leader in the cooking projects in other years, and was a member of 4-H County Council Patsy also participated in Leadership School as part of 4-H Gub Congress at Penn State. In the finals for the queen contest Patsy was asked what her most rewarding 4-H experience had been. She recalled saying that being in county dress revue was the highlight for her. She said, “You get to see all the girls from Lan caster County and the fashions they sewed. We also judge Homestead Notes each other, and I learned so much from that. Last year I went to district dress revue and it was really great to see what the girls from all over the region came up with in their clothes. I was in dress revue three years, and meeting all those people is really a rewarding experience. Patsy is a sophomore home economics major at Messiah College and she said she decided to pursue home economics because of all she learned from 4-H. “I love to work with anything that has to do with sewing. I make almost all of my wardrobe.” “Satisfaction,” is the key reason she enjoys sewing, she said, but added, “Prices nowadays are so tremendously high. When I see a garment in a store I think ‘I can sew that for at least half the price.’” But sewing isn’t her only joy. “I love to work in the kitchen and try new reapes.” Mrs. Mengle added that she and her daughter often try new recipes and the men in the family “love to sample all the new things.” Patsy has a 14- year-old brother, Lewis. Sewing is what she mentions first when asked what she does in her spare time. But, she said, “I also like to do , crafts - leather and any kind. If I see something in a magazine I like to try to make it.” Embroidery is another love. It started with “em oroidery kits for Christmas,” she said, “but then I started drawing up my own patterns. She said she loves to em- Following his graduation in May, Kevin began buying up stock for a breeding herd and had a farrowmg-nursery center built Optimistic you say 7 Well, Kevin explained his decision in this manner ‘ I wanted to stay on the farm because I like being able to make my own decisions " “We do have other livestock but I’ve always liked working with hogs as livestock and decided to take , Jfi pf Kim autoharp. aver demonstrates her ability on the hellish her clothes with designs which she makes and embroiders herself. There is not much spare time, Patsy says, “But I like working with kids and taking care of my flower garden.” All Patsy’s talent does not lie just in homemaking skills She “loves” music and has played the piano for nine years, the organ for six years and plays the clarinet. She is the proud owner and player of a recorder, an early form of flute. At college she is learning to play the pipe organ. At Messiah Patsy has a minor in music and sings with a singing group which performs special music for churches and organizations. She sings alto and occasionally ac companies the group. She also plans to sing in the chorus this year. A member of Grace Evangelical Congregational Church in Lancaster Patsy teaches the high school department new songs. Patsy is a hard worker and during her summer vacation she is working in Penney’s stockroom. That job did not materialize until the middle of the summer so earßer she (Continued on Page 48] a new future on the operation ” "I’m just getting my feet wet now and hope everything will turn out okay” Kevin is primarily raising feeder pigs for sale and keeps 44 sows He is presently using a Duroc- Yorkshire cross and would like to add a Hampshire cross later Kevin, like many other young men involved in farming and FFA work, has seen agricultural prices dip and fluctuate for almost every commodity. Also having a flock of sheep, and raising steers, the young man knows that agricultural prices are never really steady “I came into the hog business at a good time and I guess I was just lucky," Kevin explained while examining a pig from a newborn litter. "This is my first batch of feeder pigs and this will be the first time I’ll be heading for the market.” When asked if he was concerned about the pork production business, Kevin took a look at his new building and then across the farm acreage. “I suppose I’m a little afraid but I enjoy working on the farm and that is why I decided to stay in stead of looking for other work." Hopefully, there are many other young men across this country such as Kevin, who are willing to stay or begin in the hog business out of sheer determination and a dream that prices will be adequate For if not, we may see a time when artificial foods become the more economical way of having ham and bacon. Fora commodity that has persisted so long while suffering from prejudice and low returns this would certainly seem a great loss. , it I. “
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