—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Feb. 14, 1976 24 Meet Peima.’s Outstanding Young Farmer By DIETER KRIEG PARADISE A 35-year-old fanner who is happy with his chosen profession and satisfied with prices for his products was recently voted Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Young Farmer by the Pennsylvania and United States Jaycees. He is Charles H. Robrer, who operates a 205 acre bog • dairy - poultry farm near here in partnership with his 24-year-old brother, Allan. Unlike many fanners today, Rohrer has no complaints about his work or the net returns of his business. Confident in himself, his family, and agriculture, be is convinced that God has biased this nation and his individual situation. He believes strongly in the free enterprise system; says a far mer must learn to cope with the ups and downs of marketing situations; and considers farming to be one of the few careers in which there are always challenges and goals. One of the keys to his success and happiness, he admits, is the partnership situation he has always enjoyed since he began farming 16 years ago. A 1958 graduate of Pequea Valley High School, he went into partnership with his father, (J. Arthur) in Jan. of 1959. Three years later his younger “We’re a big oasis in the middle of a hungry world,” “A farmer today needs access to a good accountant , hanker, lawyer.” An equal partnership makes for an ideal set-up. “Dad helped us, but he didn*t hand anything over on a silver spoon. ” brother, Dick, joined the business and both boys gradually bought increasingly larger shares of their father’s en terprise. In 1969, however, Dick decided to move on to the wide-open spaces of Alaska where he is now a hunting guide. He is, incidentally, probably the farthest-away subscriber to LANCASTER FARMING. Charlie purchased his younger brother’s share in the fanning operation and the partnership with his father con tinued on close to 50-50 terms. Allan, the youngest of the three brothers, graduated from high school in 1969 and began helping out on the farm full-time which, in effect, kept the amount of man-power nearly the same as it had been when Dick was there. Five years later Allan decided to join as a partner, and this done, the elder Rohrer went into semi retirement although he is still quite active and helpful in getting chores taken care of. “I prefer a family type partnership—or with the right type of individual,” Charlie said without hesitation, “Agriculture is one of the few businesses where increased production comes as a result of increased efficiency acknowledging the advantages he has found with his par ticular arrangement. He knows that similar situations don’t always work out so well and considers his success and happiness along this line to be one of his blessings. “We divide our responsibilities,” he explained, “everything is on an equal basis, but we don’t keep any graphs or charts on how many hours each of us worked last week, etc.” “Tlie partnership allows each man to have some time off occasionally, but neither of us walks out during the busy seasons,” the award winner explained. Going into a little more detail about the arrangements, Charlie noted that a partnership where each member has an equal amount of money invested, and gets an equal amount of return is conducive to causing each partner to do his best. “It makes for the ideal set-up,” he remarked. Although definite spheres of interests and influence have formed around both Charlie and Allan during the past five years, neither is totally in charge of his “special” programs. “We do things together and make decisions together, even if “I personally know that God has blessed our operation good results always don’t just happen.” ~ A Charlie Rohrer, a Paradise R 1 dairyman, was along with several companies. Rohrer is married to voted the outstanding young farmer' in the state the former Kay Zahn and has three daughters, two last week by the Pennsylvania Jaycees, and United of whom are pictured here. States Jaycees which annually sponsor the contest Charles Rohrer it's Just a simple matter of asking each others’ opinion," Charlie said. As things stand now, Allan’s primary interests are the dairy herd and all aspects of management and work connected with it Charlie specializes in hogs, is strongly interested in the egg business, and does all the welding on the farm. But all decisions are shared nonetheless. Field work is also a joint affair, although special interests have cropped up here too. The purchase and maintenance of equipment u 'Farming is a never-ending challenge and quest for goals. ” including the overhauling of gasoline-powered engines is shared as well, as are days off and vacation time with each giving or taking to make the best use of each partner’s time and special talents or interests. “Dad never put any pressure on us,” Charlie recollected, “I never felt like I had to stay it was my choice.” He noted that the same was true of his brothers. “Dad helped us, but he didn’t hand anything over on a silver spoon,” he con- * > v * * « * »»**» ~ tinued, “we had to earn all of our own money through projects nothing was free, we didn’t even get an allowance.” The lessons have stuck, as Charlie considers America’s free enterprise system to be one of his blessings. Reflecting on his upbringing and past experiences, Rohrer advised youths to not leave the farm too quickly “I’ve seen too many examples of boys leaving and then their Dad selling out.” He points out that oftentimes the boys decide later to farm, but by then it’s too late. “If you have an opportunity to farm, take it, it’s a great life,” he affirmed. The Rohrer Brothers’ 265-acre spread actually consists of two farms, both of which join each other approximately four undies east of Strasburg. The second farm, including an old 17- room estate home, was purchased by Charlie several years ago. With both partners actively managing the business, and the elder Rohrer pitching in with field work, etc., the trio takes care of 15,000 laying hens, 50 Holstein cows, 40 head of youngstock, and approximately 250 hogs. All but 15 acres of their land is tillable, with corn, alfalfa, and wheat being the main crops. Charlie’s wife, Kay, keeps the record books in order. But there’s more to fanning than physical labor. “A far mer today needs to have access to a good accountant, banker and lawyer,” the award recipient advised. Furthermore, he recommends having a good veterinarian and feed representative and using their services wisely. “Also take advantage of the services from the extension office and soil conservation people,” Rohrer continued, “that’s what they’re there for.” Turning his thoughts over to his religious convictions, Rohrer said: “God has blessed our nation it was founded on religious freedom and the free enterprise spirit. I per sonally know that God has blessed our operation good results always don’t just happen. I believe that if I’m faithful to Him, He will be faithful to me this is a very definite part of my life. I ask for wisdom in the morning and give thanks for a good day in the evening.” A Jaycees member for a number of years and a former president of the Pequea Valley ' chapter, he says be has found a true meaning in the first line of the Jaycce Creed: “Faith in God adds meaning and pur pose to human life.” Farming to Charlie is a never-ending challenge and quest for goals. “It’s like the Olympics,” he explained, “they keep pushing on and on and you’d think there’s a limit as to how fast that mile can be run, but they keep breaking records.” Outgoing, friendly, and enthusiastic, Charlie finds that the same is true in farming. “You’re never without a goal,” he said quite simply. “Whether it’s breeding, feeding, or management, we’re always striving to improve upon them. This concept of reaching for higher goals not only makes farming more worthwhile for Charlie, he considers it to be a necessity of a healthy economic system. “Today’s farmer is being rewarded for his efforts from a financial standpoint,” Charlie declared. “We have to take the ups and downs and need some poor years to keep the supply situation in balance. Too many farmers forget their good years. If a farmer looked at his three-year average, he’d be surprised if all three years were bad.” Rohrer believes that some bad years are essential to maintain a steady relationship between supply and demand and to keep producers on their toes. “Even if things really get bad, you can stay in business if you’re in the top ten per cent there’s no way you can go broke," he exclaimed. Management is the key factor but that alone won’t do it either, it must be combined with work. Work is a subject Rohrer, who was an Outstanding Young Cooperator for Inter-State Milk Producers Cooperative two years ago, can speak on for more than a few “Agriculture is one of the few businesses where increased production comes about as a result of increased efficiency,’’ he began. “We’re going for bigger volume and less man hours when pretty near everyone else (other forms of business) is going the other way. In other segments of our economy it’s often true that a worker only gives his employer four hours’ worth of work in an eight-hour day, and then he still thinks he’s overworked!’’ Critical of both unions and government fiscal irresponsibility, he blames both of these giants for inflation. Rohrer is bullish on American agriculture, however. “We’re a big oasis in the middle of a hungry world,” he ex claimed. “The rest of the world is relying more and more' on us for food. Russia has land but can’t produce ... Japan doesn’t have enough ground to be able to feed herself. Agriculture is the main thing we have in abundance and it’s what keeps our international trade in the black. Besides that, what do we have that the Japanese can’t produce cheaper?” he asked. “And they can do it because they’re willing to give nine hours’ worth of work in an eight-hour day.” Modest about his accomplishments (he says that there are many farmers in the state who are at least as good or better than he is), and generous in his attitude towards the needy both here and abroad, Rohrer is an outspoken critic of government aid to loafers at home and the wrong hands i Continued on Page 26] “There's nothing else I'd rather do,~ regardless of pay. “Today's farmer is being financially rewarded." He cautions that farmers could price themselves out of a market. Rohrer has no complaints about his work . '&)
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