56—Lancaster Farming. Saturday. Oac 13, 1975
For Pequea youth . . .
Variety is the spice
of life and income
By MELISSA PIPER
PEQUEA VALLEY -
"Variety la the spice of life"
and for Dale Miller, a young
FFA'cr, it is certainly no
exception, especially in
project work
While many youths con
centrate on one specialized
project during their FFA
work. Dale has been quite
successful in carrying out
four projects in different
areas of livestock.
For the past three years,
the youth, who is a member
of the Pequea Valley FFA,
has taken beef finishing,
dairy heifers, swine fat
tening and capons.
Dale bves with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn G.
Miller, Gap Rl, on their 117
acre general farm and has
been “doing a little bit” of
every kind of farm work for
the past several years.
Dale noted that keeping
four livestock projects has
been a challenge but it has
its advantages also.
“It is hard to work in four
different areas, but one good
aspect is that it allows for
income at different times of
the year.”
“If I only had one project
then the money would have
to come in at one time, but
this way I can put the dif
ferent incomes into buying
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portunity arises "
Dale's father has about 30
milking Holslcms and the
youth has helped with that
enterprise for several years.
This year. Dale chose a dairy
heifer as a project and is
hoping to Increase his in-
terests in the dairy field.
Beef finishing has been
another project Dale has
become Involved in and
currently raises several
head of Charolais crossbred
steers.
“Feeding takes much of
the time in beef production,”
Dale explained.
"We’ve been giving them a
grain ration with hay to start
because the beginning
rations are really important
for growth.”
Dale bought the steers as
calves and is finishing them
out to market weight and will
probably sell them at nearby
markets.
The third of Dale’s four poultry venture and was
projects is swine fattening awarded the outstanding
and the youth has several poultry production award for
head of feeder pigs which he his chapter last spring,
is raising for market. While his project work
“I’m trying to get them to keeps Dale quite busy, the
market weight (about 225) youth has also taken on
pounds then will sell them much responsibility by being
around Februaiy or March.” president of the Pequea
Dale expressed his con- Valley FFA.
fidence in the pork industry As president, Dale has
and noted that “it’s been found the work ‘‘most
January 1,1976. 5% discount on 25 ton orders. Also baler twine 46.50 per bale delivered.
WE ALSO HAVE AVAILABLE
good so far and I hope it
continues."
The youth's swine fat
tening project has been a
good money making en
terprise and the youth has
returned the profit into
buying more livestock and
feed.
Also Raises Poultry
Living in the Pequea
Valley, noted for its poultry,
Dale has also taken capons
for this FFA project. Some
200 head come under his care
and the FFA’er noted that
they require the most work
of all his livestock en
terprises.
“Capons really take the
most work because you have
to keep bedding loose and
clean.”
The birds have given Dale
some profit as he sells them
live or dressed, but it does
take extra tune and effort.
The youth has been sue-
cessful however in his
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Oiey RDI, PA. (Yellow House) 215-689-9896
challenging" and explained At school, Dale is a won’t be able to keep
that it takes time and real member of the student production going in my
concentration. "The most council and is active in the estimation,” the youth
exciting part is trying to Calvary Church Youth stated,
organize everything,” he Group.
stated. As a junior, Dale hasn’t “People will still rely on
‘‘Making sure decided bn a career, but the the small fanner.”
parliamentary procedure youth expressed his interest Although Dale has had
goes smoothly at every in remaining in agriculture, much experience in many
meeting can be quite dif- “I think agriculture has a fields of livestock produc
ficult,” future,” the youth noted, tion, the youth seems to be
Dale has also served on “we may see more corporate leaning toward dairying as a
numerous committees in- farms but there will stUl be a career,
eluding the leadership place for the individual “I like dairying but I guess
committee responsible for farmer.” I’ll have to wait and see what
much of the program work. “Corporate farms just another year will bring.”
Some of Dale’s FFA ac
tivities had included being on
the FFA dairy judging team
and softball team at Penn
State. The youth was also
chosen as the first place ,
urinnpr in thp area tractor A girl named Lizzie Stroud pitched m the old Atlantic
Sfne contest held at « the 1890 s and for a while was a great sensation
ManhehnFair as the only female player in organized baseball.
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Even a pet on the neck wouldn't calm down
Dale's new dairy heifer. Perhaps it was the camera
or all the unwanted noise in the barn which
disrupted this heifer’s day.
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