i Nixnutz's Corral "All the news that's unimportant but still interesting.” Pucker up What’s this we hear about someone at the southern end who’s inviting ladies to step forward to be kissed? The incident took place earlier this month when this fellow complete with white hair and glasses found himself to be an award recipient. Since he happened to be the fellow who was handing out the awards in the first place, he decided to give the plaque to his wife and along with it a kiss (her reward for 25 years of fiathfully washing the milkers). This done, he turned back to the audience and cheerfully announced: "If there are any other ladies out there who would like to be kissed, just come right up." Big milk check And you think your milk check is small! How would you like to receive one for just $11.97? No, I’m not referring to the Class I price, I’m quoting figures from a monthly receipt. According to Robert Mc- Sparran, a white-haired, bespec tacled Guernsey breeder from down around Wakefield, that’s a net receipt from the year 1900. The old statement showed that 1,563 pounds of milk were shipped during that particular month; and 66 pounds of butter were made from it. The elder McSparran took three pounds of butter home for his own use, and was paid 19 cents a pound for the remaining 63 pounds. That comes out to $11.97. H The mustard seed in times E becomes a great tree and the H tiny lump of leaven even -11 tually permeates the whole i loaf. The kingdom of heaven E is a great reality that springs H from small beginnings. The s change comes, for the most E part, not with dramatic H suddenness, but slowly, often H imperceptably and un- E noticed. E But behind that growth 1 and change, slight and E plodding though it may E seem, is the immutable § power of God working E toward his purposes. If we do = our part, however small and H insignificant that task may H seem, and if we leave the end = result to him, the kingdom of 1 heaven will come. ..in God’s = own time! H “At the close H of the age” H Once again, in the parable E of the “treasure hidden in a E field,” we are admonished to H “Let God do it.” If we really E put our hope and trust in H God, then we will put the 1 kingdom in undisputed first E place, giving up everything E else, if necessary, for that E one certainty. H Finally, the parable of the E good and bad fishes becomes E quite specific: God alone is || the ultimate judge; H judgement is something we E must “let God do!” We must E not despair because it seems p that evil goes unpunished H and good unrewarded. We E need not attempt to take iiiiiiiii hud min mi ml God ’ 5 role and execute Silent majority No humor column would be complete without a barb directed at the Governor, so here’s one I picked up at a recent meeting which had approximately 160 farmers in at tendance. The Governor was sup posedly praising the achievements and potential of farmers, then hinting that it was partially due to his programs. So, in acknowledging the Governor’s wise policies, the emcee at the meeting declared: “Let's hear it for the Governor!" The entire audience of 160 people remained silent. Noisy bunch There are a bunch of dairymen in the Mount Joy Farmers Cooperative who have found new uses for com mon milk house utensils. At their annual meeting, last week, a group of about 16 or so provided the gathering with some new form of entertainment which probably made Ed Sullivan turn over in his grave because it’s too By BARNEY NIXNUTZ late for him to get them on his show. Believe it or not, the group sang "Dry Bones" to the accompaniment of Hanging, clunking, and Hinging on everything from a clevis to a stripcup and strainer to milk can lid. The audience loved it, but the milk in spector who attended wasn’t too excited about what the farmers thought of their strip cups. $lO an hour A well-known Guernsey breeder from the southern end of Lancaster County was recently found in his barn by a somewhat dimwitted hunter who reportedly gaped at the work going on. While the dairyman, K. D. Linde, methodically went about his work, the visiting hunter became more and more overwhelmed. Finally, no longer able to contain his amazement, he blurted out: “You don’t do this twice every day, do you?" “O, yes," the dairyman replied, “twice every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year." “But you can hire someone to take your place let you have some time off and get away from it all, right?” the stranger inquired. "No, hired help costs too much," the farmer replied curtly* Not easily persuaded to drop the subject and still in awe over what he saw, the hunter said: “But, surely, you can afford to pay someone $lO an hour?” At this, by the dairyman’s own admission, he nearly fell to the ground. “I felt like I was going to fall over, but I was too close to the gut ter!” Linde confessed. I Washington law Victor Ziegler, a dairyman from up in Lebanon County, has had a few visitors to his farm who don’t know too much about farming par ticularly the dairy business. Here’s a tale about one of his experiences, which has previously received comment in the Pennsylvania Mirror, a State College newspaper. A partial reprint follows: The expression on the woman’s face was one of amazement and wonder as she watched a herd of cows being milked in a double-six parlor. Finally, unable to remain speechless, she remarked: "You don’t milk these cows every day do you?" The dairyman responded with his Pennsylvania Dutch accent and humor at its best: “Veil, I haf been milking dese cows tvice a day, every day for 25 years, but ve are in troducing a bill in Vashington later this year vhich vill allow us to skip milkings on veekends!" Have a good day folks! It's getting to write this kind of stuff that makes my day. mm I*.***' iM** I* LETGOD DO IT! Lesion for February 1.117< Background Scripture: Matthew 13 Devotional Reading: Psalms 78:1-8 “Let God do it!” can be either an ezpreasion of profound faith or abject irresponsibility. It all dep ends upon the context in which it is said. For example, “Let God do it” is the response some people make to any task or challenge which is put in their hands. It springs from an unwillingness to do the things we can do, to do the things God has equipped us to do. It is the ultimate “cop out” and “passing of the buck.” It stems from a failure or unwillingness to understand that God does not do for us the things we can do for ourselves. Thus, in his famous prayer, theologian Rheinhold Niebuhr prayed: “Lord, give me the courage to change the things that can be changed. ..” like “seeds” s and “leaven” s But there are times when 1 letting “God do it” can mean H simply that a person H recognizes his human H limitations and posits his H faith in the God who’s “... M got the whole world in His H hands.” Sometimes it is a H matter of letting God be 1 God, of acknowledging that s there are some things that |j only He can achieve . H We see this theme running s through much of Jesus’ H teachings. It is implicit, for H example, in the parables of H the mustard seed and the H leaven. Both of them are E parables of hope that seek to H encourage the response of s faith. I To Repair Fans Machinery The beat of tbe afternoon sun reminds us that in tbe next 6 to 8 weeks there will be action out on tbe land in preparing for tbe 1976 cropping season. The con dition of farm machinery as the season begins is very important in order to avoid costly breakdowns and loss of expensive labor. No doubt most farms have already given attention to tbe ser vicing and repairing of tractors and other machinery. However, if this has not been done, then it is time to give some attention to this important winter-time chore. The proper timing of plantings and of harvesting is very important to get maximum yields of top quality products. Don’t hie delayed by servicing and repairs that should be done before spring weather arrives. To Straight- Seed Alfalfa Many alfalfa producers have experienced good results in making straight seedings early in the spring. This can be done in this area and fall or winter-plowed land should make it possible for earlier seedings. Late March or early April seeded alfalfa seeded without a nurse crop, with proper weed control, could give two or more cuttings the first season and be ready for greater yields next year. Proper liming to correct the acidity is important in ad vance of seeding and we strongly suggest the band seeding method as one of the best ways to get the seeds into the ground. Plans could now be in tiie making for this seeding because the ground could be ready in 6 to 8 weeks. To Control Johnson Gnus ..This rank-growing weed is becoming too common in this part of the state. We urge farmers to give attention to its eradication without delay. Johnson Grass resembles sorghum in its general appearance and will grow 6 to 8 feet high; the roots are very thick and are pinkish, flesh-colored rhizomes that grow rapidly 2 to 6 inches under the surface of the ground. This weed is a very rank-growing weed that will take over most crops and spread each season. We suggest the use of Eradicane this spring by discing it into the soil and chopping up the roots as it is incorporated in the top 6 inches of soil. Details are available and vengeance upon those who God seems to overlook. Although we must be zealous for both justice and righteousness, still we must leave the ultimate reckoning to the kingdom of heaven and “let God do it!” (Based on outlines copyrighted by the Division of Christian Education, National Council of the Churches ,of Christ in the U.S.A. Released by Com munity Press Service.) NOW IS THE TIME... Max Smith County Agr. Agent Telephone nw-fitGl included in the 1976 Agronomy Guide. Farm Calendar Feb. 9 Beef Cattle Management Seminar, Schuylkill Campus of Penn State, 7:30 p.m. Dave Kantner, county' agent is guest speaker. Twin Valley Adult Fanners hold welding class at high school, 7:30 pan. jl) Feb. 10 1 Annual Meeting of the Lancaster County Ex tension Service 6:30 pjn. at the Farm and Home Center. Adult Fanner Meeting on swine farrowing facilities and housing; Ephrata High School, 7:45 p.m. Atlantic Breeders District 8 meeting, held in con junction with Franklin County Dairy Day at Lemaster’s Community Center, 10 ajn. Feb. 11 Atlantic Breeders District 3 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in Lennie’s Restaurant, Halifax. Atlantic Breeders District 7 meeting, held in con junction with the Cum berland County Darll) Day at the Huntsdale - Fire Hall, 10 a.m.' Lebanon County cattle feeders meeting, 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. at the Ex tension Office ‘in the Municipal Building, Lebanon. Les Burdette from Penn State will discuss latest in cattle feeding and update cattle situation. Feb. 12 Atlantic Breeders District 5 meeting, United Methodist Church, Quarryville, 7 p.m. Atlantic Breeders District 6 meeting, for York County, at the Dover Fire Hall, 10 a.m. Atlantic Corn Research Conference, 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the Hunt Valley Inn, Cockeysvil^ Open House at C. B. Hoober’s Farm Equip ment, Intercourse, 9 a.m. to S p.m. E-town Young Farmers meeting at the high school, 7:30 p.m. Subject: income taxes. Feb. 13 Pennsylvania Egg Marketing Association meets at the Sheraton-, Conestoga, north of Lancaster, 7 p.m. Henk Wentink of NCEN is guest speaker. Atlantic Breeders meeting for District 7 (Adams Coimty) at St. John’s Church, New Chester, 10 a.m. Held in conjunction with the Adams County Dairy Day. Feb. 14 Travel and Adventure Serk\ program sponsored a/ the Paradise Rotary Club, “Rio Colorado” at 7:30 p.m., Conestoga Valley H.S.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers