42—Lancaster Farming. Saturda Homestead Notes 4-H leader is dairy farm partner By SUSAN KAUFFMAN Feature Writer During the month of June, many Pennsylvania 4-H and FFA members travel to Penn State to enter the dairy judging contests. They are encouraged, taught and tested by many advisers and dub leaders in preparation for these contests. Among these local leaders is Jane Pepple of Oxford, Chester County. For the last si* years, Mrs. Pepple has helped to coach the Chester County 4-H dairy judging teams. Her dedication to instructing these young judges is a result and a continuing example of her interest in quality dairy cattle, first uncovered by her own 4-H experience when she was fourteen. Mrs. Pepple unhesitatingly attributes her knowledge of dairy cattle and the unfolding of her skills in judging to the county agent and extension leaders in Blair County, Jim Pound and Tom Kelley, who allowed her to goalong to the 4-H practice judging sessions as an observer and not as a participant. paring these judging sessions the 4-H members in dividually mark their score cards and place the animals in each or age group according to best or first place through last. After the judging is completed, the participants are asked to give written or oral reasons for placing the animals as they did. Many technical and exacting aspects of the animal’s bone structure, size, shape and udder placement are judged and definitely desirable qualifies apply to all these facets of the animal’s appearance which directly relate to the animal’s production potential and general health. This judging process is very complicated and complex and requires a considerable interest in these finer details to excell in it. Having been permitted to attend these practice sessions to judge the animals and not have to be accountable for her decisions gave Mrs. Pepple the opportunity-to learn and build confidence. She first went with the teams when she was fourteen and made the judging team when she was 16. She also adds that part of her enthusiasm for mastering the complexities of dairy judging was a result of having three older cousins close by who made up a judging team. Good confidence - building experience and a lot of practice resulted for Jane in a continuing interest in quality dairy cattle. Jane Pepple grew up on what she described as a “general dairy farm writh a few sheep antfchickens, too.” On this family farm in Sinking Valley, about forty-five minutes west of Penn State, she undertook many 4-H projects. Explaining that the distance from her home to the school prohibited easy involvement in activities there, she naturally became very active in the well-coordinated 4-H programs offered in her area. Among her projects besides dairy cattle were beef, pigs, capons, general gardening, tomatoes and homemaking projects such as sewing and foods. Mrs. Pepple quickly gives her 4-H experience and farm background the credit for much of her understanding and interest in the registered Holstein dairy operation she and her husband, Robert, have engaged in the last four years. Prior to moving to their present home, they had worked for three and one-half years with Robert’s father at Ox- View Farms, Inc. Deciding to farm on their own, they ominously began operating their present farm on Friday, October 13, 1972. Superstition has not affected their venture though. Residing at Pep-L- Lea Farm, Oxford Rl, Bob and Jane Pepple have 70 registered milking cows, raise their own Proud to be a farmer’s daughter By MELISSA PIPER Growing up on a farm lends itself to experiencing many “adventures" and as I am sure you realize by now, I have had my share! Chasing after steers, pampering pet pigs, begging for a pony and working in the fields have all been a part of my life and will remain always as good memories. Working with the agricultural community while growing up, in college and at LANCASTER FAR MING, I have come to realize that the people who still represent the backbone of our country are the farmers who sacrifice so much to help other people continue to live. Although mentioned many times before, it bears repeating that food does not grow June 5. 1976 CountryJuomer Jane Pepple relaxes a moment with one of her replacements, and farm 150 acres of com and hay. In addition to raising their own heifers, they also raise bull calves from their best cows who- are artificially in seminated with top bulls for Ox-View Farms which breeds naturally. Jane and Bob operate the farm themselves except for some custom field work and parttime summer help from an Oxford High School senior Patty Devoe. Their day begins at 5 a.m. when Jane and Bob start the milking. Jane continues to milk in the double-four herringbone parlor while Bob tends to feeding and scraping. After breakfast they both work in the-fields or around the buildings, depending on the time of year and the jobs that' need to be done. Mrs. Pepple says she always was a tomboy and enjoyed the out-of-doors and dairy cattle. She especially enjoys working up ground in the spring. When asked if she felt comfortable with large machinery, she replied she didhjt mind baling or unloading chuck wagons at all. But if anything breaks, she has to wait for Bob to fix it. “I don’t know much about the machinery itself, but 1 don’t mind operating it,” she added. , If someone calls on Mrs. Pepple alter 4 p.m. that person will find her in the milking parlor. While die is there those several hours a day, die is not simply operating machinery. She knows how cows work! Although she admits that she is “just not a Cut-throat and hates to sell a cow who seems to have potential but doesn’t produce well,” she shares her husband’s goal to develop a better, not bigger, herd of animals. Knowing very well the finer points of dairy cattle size and shape, she keeps a close eye on the dairiness and type as well. At present, their herd classifies with several Very Good cattle but no Excellent ones. Bob and Jane’s ambition is to breed their own Excellent cow someday. This day may not be far away, judging from the pedigree of the two-month old calf Jane showed this reporter. She is an Elevation daughter born to an Apollo with an excellent mammary system who recently produced 1,000 pounds of fat. If some of you readers don’t comprehend the full merit of this friendly looking calf, ask your husband and he will explain why Bob has called her his “million dollar baby.” Jane added, “She’s probably the most valuable item on the farm!” Besides sharing her energy and enthusiasm with her husband’s enterprise and her leadership efforts with the Chester County Judging Team, Jane has also served as a leader in the Oxford 4-H Home Economics Club and is a member of the Oxford Homemakers’ Club. This last group is a social and service oriented club which meets once a on grocery shelves but is produced by long hours of labor in fields and barns, miles away from the clean artificial surroundings of a city supermarket. Farmers could have been satisfied with producing only enough food for themselves and 25 other people but over the years have doubled that figure and will continue to increase production because food is essential. It is this dedication and responsiveness that makes me proud that “I'm a farmer’s daughter.” As this is my last week at LANCASTER FAR MING, I thank all those people in the southeastern Pa. area who have helped to make my job a pleasant and informative one. -s'. "'> Holstein cal tention. month for an afternoon of conversation, crafts education. Jane remarks she is not “an artsy person” who se out craft shops and booklets but thoroughly enjoys projects the homemakers undertake. Most of the cn are simple in technique and can be completed in one two afternoons. By way of serving the community, the group se cards and flowers to the sick in the area and at ei February meeting the members bring gifts for the C Palate Clinic in Lancaster. Mrs. Pepple explained t several meetings a year are devoted to guest speak ranging from the Cleft Palate Clinic to a foreign exchai student who is staying with a family in the Oxford At Mrs. Pepple echoes the feelings of many farm wives? attend women’s organizations of various types when: remarks, “It is really a nice afternoon away, when ] can forget everything but the people and conversation the moment.”" Among Mrs. Pepple’s interests are sewing and cook She had practical training in these two fields in her projects and graduated from Penn State University 1969 with a degree in Individual and Family Stud previously called Home Economics Education. It wai Penn State that she met Bob who graduated in 1968. Having moved from the dry summers and sno winters of'Sinking Valley to the humid" summers southern Chester County, Mrs. Pepple also sees a grta difference in population density. “Twenty years from n we probably won’t be farming here,” she comment “But we will be farming somewhere! ” Wedged in betwi Route 10 and the new Route 1 by-pass just north of Ozfo Jane says Philadelphia is creeping up Route 1 a Downingtown and Coatesville are pushing their way soi of Route 30. Land development and taxes may eventui force the Pepples out of their present location, but as M Pepple explains, “We are producing a necessary produ there is a real need for milk cheese and ice cr« consumption rises every year. We’ll be farm! somewhere else, but we will be farming.” When asked if she has a favorite dairy product rec she immediately replied that she had a dessert r« which has been a favorite for several years. The reap one time appeared on the box of instant pudding mu she uses it often when having dinner guests because very easy to prepare, takes little preparation time and dessert that is very tasty to most of her guests. The structions for Dessert Lemon Cheese Pie follows: Dessert Lemon Cheese Fie nine inch graham cracker crust 8 oz. package of cream cheese 3 oz. package of lemon-flavored instant pudding 2 cups of whole milk Soften the cream cheese and beat a little milk U until very smooth. Add the pudding mix and morej Beat untQ smooth. Continue to add the rest of the nun beat until it starts to set as for a pudding. Pour inW cold pie shell and refrigerate before serving. Mrs. P< suggests sprinkling a few of the pie crust crumbs ov® top to give a nice appearance to the dessert. Young couples who are conscientious in their daily' and take part in community activities are always I sought out by various organizations. The Robert P® have been involved with the Chester County Extensa) a number of years through Jane’s leadership in the 0) 4-H Home Ec. Club, the dairy judging team wort Bob’s three-year term on the Extension board. Hus winter Bob spent many hours contacting dairymen several neighboring counties in his committee won the Holstein Association in getting ready for the Nat Holstein Sale to be held early in Julyin Lancaster C$ If you go calling on Mrs. Jane Pepple this will more than likely find her driving a tractor or k«j a close watch on the cows as she milks them. No nj where you find her you will be greeted by a very plej soft-spoken young woman who enjoys dairy animalj working in the out-of-doors. I res. A friendly cat al Iso vies for al
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