—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 29. 1976
42
Cooking, baking are hobbies
By JUDY MITCHELL
Berks Co. Reporter
KUTZTOWN - “I think about it sometime,” Jane
Treichler says wonderingly of the honors she and her
husband have received over the years. Noting that their
farm operation in Kutztown R 3 is not big, it seems to her
that size is not everything. “I guess it’s because fanning
is our way of life,” she adds. Feryl Treichler was twice
named Outstanding Young Farmer, first by the Jaycees
and then by the Kutztown Chapter of the Pennsylvania
Young Farmers Association.
The Treichlers are however, equally dedicated to
community action and have shared in the Pennsylvania
Young Farmers Region n Community Service Award,
and most recently, the 1975 Berks County Grange Out
standing Farm Family Award. The Grange award is co
sponsored by the Reading Fair Association and is an
nounced each year at a banquet held just prior to the
opening of the Reading Fair. To qualify, you must beia
member of the Grange and a farm family, Jane ex
plained. Qualified families who wish to be considered
must present a booklet outlining their qualifications to the
Pomona Grange lecturer, and they are then judged ac
cording to their dedication to fanning and contributions' to
their community.
Farming has always been a family affair with the
Treichlers. Jane has helped with the milking “morning
and night... as long as we’ve been on the farm, I guess,”
and also lends a hand during the busy harvest season. The
oldest son Keith, who is 22, tried outside employment but
decided that he liked farming better and is presently
living and working at home. The younger son, Rodney age
20, is married and works as a diesel mechanic; but Jane
points out that “that comes in handy too’' because Rodney
comes around and-keepsthetraetors and equipment in
good repair. The farm consists of about 50 acres, but they
rent additional land and altogether farm approximately
300 acres. The main crops are bay, alfalfa and corn. Their
dairy operation consists of a registered herd of Holsteins
with 52 head of milking cows and about 25 heifers.
Although Feryl belongs to a number of dairy related
associations, Jane says that they are most active in the
Grange and the Young Farmers Association. Although
she has held various posts with the Grance in the past, she
is not presently holding office because her husband is
current Master of the Virginville Grange and it is not
customary for the wife of the Master to hold office. Most of
her community service centers around the Grange, the
most recent of which was the organization of a Senior
Citizen’s Group for Virginville and the surrounding area.
Jane helped get the ball rolling by arranging to advertise
in a number of area papers, and a first meeting tyas
finally organized with 29 senior citizens attending. The
group, which meets twice a month at the Grance Hall in
Virginville, has grown to include about 50 members. “I’ve
alwavs enjoyed older people,” Jane explained,
“probably because I spent so much time around
them.” Her mother was laready 42, she pointed out, when
she and her twin sister, younger members of a family of
eleven children, were bom. Helping organize the Senior
Citizen group was, she said, “one way of showing how I
feel about older people.” Her interest in helping others,
however, also extends to include young people. She says
that she has a little more free time now that her boys are
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
By MELISSA PIPER
grown, and she is looking into the possibility of teaching
cooking and baking to a 4-H group.
A generous spirit is often communicated through a'
person’s manner, but this farm woman’s warm and
friendly nature is such that it seems even to come across
in newsprint. Jane was featured in a newspaper article for
her part in the family’s Outstanding Farm Family Award
last year and a woman she never met read it and decided t
write her. The two women corresponded, eventually
arranged to meet, and have since become friends. In a
prominent spot in her family room, Jane proudly displays
a magnificent geometric afaghan, a personaSy crafted
gift from her new found fnend.
Into her busy life as a farm wife and active community
member, Jane finds time for a wide variety of activities.
Cooking and baking would have to be listed as her
“number one hobby.” She says that she really feels sorry
for women who don’t like to cook, particularly if they have
to cook three meals a day like she does. Her baking has
earned her considerable notice in local contests over the
Jane Treichler looks over some of her many
cookbooks that have provided her Berks County
family with an abundance of home-cooked treats.
years, most notably the grand championship of the
Kempton Fair pie baking division. She won the contest
with an elegant lemon sponge custard pie. Given the
opportunity to sample the prize winning recipe, one can
easily understand how it won her top honors. A
remarkably high chiffon cake stood waiting for Jane to
top it with a cooked coconut icing, a duplicate of the
baking feat which earned her the top spot in a Grange
cooking contest.
I was amazed to learn that Jane had also baked bread
There are infinite advantages to growing up on a
farm but the everyday chores coupled with
unexpected happenings often lead to a hectic day
and the longing for a vacation in the city.
Country Comer
size, was determined to make us do a little extra
work such as running, jumping and bounding over
numerous obstacles.
On one of the hottest days of the summer several
years ago, Licorice decided that his pasture was
just a little too restrictive and leaped (but not
cleared) the wire fence surrounding the pasture.
Tearing down yards of fence, posts and con
nections, the steer roamed about the farm with an
arrogance befitting a king. It was about this time
that I decided to finish my chores and heading for
the barn I sighed loudly “Oh No 1 ” For Licorice was
heading toward our neighbors lawn and the
destruction he had in mind was far beyond con
templation.
Our neighbor had just settled down in a lawn
chair to enjoy a cold drink when a brown and white
rmssle flew past his house, afraid of being dumped
unto the ground, the man jumped and scrambled
for the porch. Licorice tore through the maze of
lawn furniture and circled behind the house
I knew our newly purchased beef calf “Licorice"
was going to mean trouble the day we brought him
home from the neighbors. My sister said he looked
“kind of wild" and I realized she was correct when
he kicked me getting into the truck 1
As usual, I had been “volunteered" to hold the
burly calf so he would not jump around on the ride
home and the one-half mile trip seemed just too
long to wrestle with such a lively animal.
Even before he was old enough to peer over the
boards of his pen, Licorice was getting into trouble
and when summer rolled around we decided to put
him outside where the grazing was good. But the
calf, which had sprouted up to almost a miraculous
The joys of farm life examined
of farm wife
before my arrival and was still planning to
shoo fly pies later in the day. It seems that i
baking coupled with her generosity insure. l
seldom goes anywhere empty-handed. The bal
done that Friday would be distributed here a
she and her family in their travels during thi
She told me that even though sick people are oi
to eat them, she always takes some home b;
with her when she visits a shut-in. The cake oi
the family of the sick person, she explained, “to
out.”
In addition to her cooking and baking, Jai
large garden in the summer and is busy c;
freezing fruits, vegetables and sauces for
months. Although she normally cans close to 31
year, she says she will have to cut down this
size of her household growing steadily small)
mentioned, Rodney is already married and ’
from home, and Keith is planning to be man
summer. Jane is already planning to he busy m
however, with her latest interest which is qr
recently completed her first quilt, a white
stitched in a beautiful rose pattern. She had 1
friends who showed her how, and her son who
quilting frame for her. Next winter she will
orders for two more quilts, one for each of her sr
The latest happening in the lives of the Treic]
centers around a young man from New J<
haven’t told any of our friends about it yet,”
“so this will be kind of an announcement.” M;
is a high school senior who is interested i
agriculture next fall at the University of Ni
Since he does not live on a farm, he has been 1<
farm family who he might live and work with'
' to be surethatfarmingis what he really wai
was referred to the Treichlers by the Berks
tension Center. The family had the opportuni
Mark recently and it has been agreed that he
the coming summer with them. He is due to:
farm on June 20. Jane said that the young man
could have room and board in return for his hf
farm work, and she and Feryl agreed. It
Mark can be easily accommodated in the
large farmhouse, and one thing for sure with
kitchen, he will most certainly be well fed.
Society 31
Farm Women Society 31 Dairy Princei
met at the home of Mrs. Murl Solanco Fair
Aument, Quarryville on May and the Internal
17. Roll call was answered by Youth Exchan)
each member telling about
an unwanted article they A fun night >
have in their home. for the evening
Scavenger hunl
The business meeting was which result
conducted by Mrs. Robert makings for oui
Kauffman. Donations were band. The next
given to the St. Joesph be a family pici
Cardiac Unit, Lane. Co. at Muddy Run
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
heading for the flower beds and strawi
My shouts for help had brought se’
members to the front lawn and in a sei
resembled the funniest Walt Disney
entourage of people took out after Licoi
The steer’s imagination led us thr
nearby orchard, down over the steep b;
around the barn and it was not until a
that he quietly stepped back across I
' fence and began to munch the grass m ti
To this day I am still amazed that we
chase that steer around for such a
without collapsing. And as I began to
fence I made a definite decision never
another animal or at least buy another wi
steer My resolution however was short
for walking back to the house I saw a br
mass chomping at the apples in our yard
Dusty, had slipped his halter, once agaf
joys of being a farm girl were quickly
started one more chase!
Homestead Notes