PFA’s sweethearts charm their legislators By JOANNESPAHR HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania's legislators got a surprise Valentines Day gift in the form of ap proximately 150 sweethearts from the Pennsylvania Fanners’ Association when that group organized a two day legislative conference for its female members last Tuesday and Wednesday at the Penn Harris Motor Inn, here. Designed to educate the women on legislative procedure, policy development, and policy implementation, the con ference also featured a meeting with legislators on Capitol Hill as well as a dinner with them. For the majority of the women present, the meeting on the Hill and at dinner presented an opportune time to become personally-acquainted with their representatives and to discuss Key issues. Marlin Miller, director of Field Services for PFA, pointed out that this con ference was the first of its kind, in that just women, alone, have never been encouraged to come to Harrisburg to meet with the individuals in government. “We do have annual state legislative tours in March,” he explained, but noted that WEIRED Thrifty farmers to cash in on John Deere’s preseason Roundup of Haymaking Bargains Want to talk price about a hay or forage machine 9 We're ready with special discounts listed below You can cash in two ways during this limited-time Round-Up of Bargains Get the John Deere equipment you want PLUS the instant cash discount No waiting for a rebate to arrive And no waiting for a good deal we’re ready now with these pre-season discounts MACHINES 336 and 346 Balers ISA and 16A Choppers 100 Stack Mover 25 and 34 Forage Harvesters 1207 1 209 and 1214 Mower/Conditioners 800 and 830 Wind rowers 466 Baler 35 and 3800 Forage Harvesters 100 Stack Wagon 200 and 300 Slack Movers Hydrostatic Windrowers 200 and 300 Stack Wagons Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters 230 Stack Shredder/ Feeder No finance charges imposed until the next use season Ask us for details H dealer inventory of any product listed above is exhausted it can be ordered Agway, Inc. Chapman Equipment Center Chapman, PA 215-398-2553 Evergreen Tractor Co. Lebanon, PA 717-272-4641 this particular conference was set up to encourage more women to become active in policy develop ment. “We hope these women will go home and get others involved,” Miller com mented. He also pointed out that it is of great importance to have both the partners in a family farm operation in volved and concerned with legislation. Many times home discussions foster ideas that lead to policy development. “I hate to admit it, but women can do a better job at this,” he also remarked. That statement was mirrored by many of the men coordinating this two day event. Chester Heim, public affairs director for PFA, noted that when the women in the organization get involved in a project, there is usually a high rate of success. The majority of women attending the con ference believed that this comes about because of the extra time which they have to devote to their activities. Miller also noted that this sweethearts legislative conference is not intended to become a yearly event. It is simple part of an ongoing Neuhaus’es Inc. Glen Rock, PA 717-235-1306 Johnson Bros. KretsvtDe, PA 215-681-4766 education program for the members of PFA. “WeTe growing at such a rapid pace,” he stated, “that we have a definite need for education of the members.” As a result, next year the focus of the conference will be on another facet of the organization such as marketing, public relations, etc. The highlight of Tuesday’s schedule of events was a meeting with represen tatives at the Capitol. Prior to the visitation, a legislative briefing was held and 11 key issues were stressed after which the women boarded a bus and went to the Hill. Later in the evening ap proximately 55 or 60 legislators dined with the ladies at the Penn Harris. For this particular event, approximately 190 women were present to meet and greet their representatives. Kent Shelhamer, newly confirmed Secretary of Agriculture, was the guest speaker for the evening. His topic was an educational one on the roles and respon sibilities of the Secretary of Agriculture. He explained to the group that the Department of Agriculture is comprised or approximately 700 in- DISCOUNT UNTIL 28 FEB 1977 $195 $390 $520 $650 $t 040 $1 950 $2 600 Landis Bros. Inc. Lancaster 717-393-3906 Adamstown Equipment Inc. Mohnton, RD2, PA 19540 (near Adamstown) 215-484-4391 Miller’s Sales & Service Stewartstown, PA 717-993-2470 DISCOUNT 1 MAR 1977- 30APR 1977 $9O $195 $260 $325 $520 $975 $2 600 Pennsylvania Secretary of chairman of the Pennsylvania Far- Agriculture Kent D. Shelhamer mers’ Association women's com speaks with Helen Wivell, vice mittee. dividuals with a secretary, two deputy secretaries, and eight bureau chiefs. The bureau chiefs are heads of several areas. Of these areas the most controversial, according to the Secretary, is the dog law. “We get more complaints in this area than in any other,” Secretary Shelhamer explained. Other departments governed by the Department of Agriculture are plant industries, markets, animal industries, foods and chemistry wage and rural affairs. Immediately following Secretary Shelhamer’s speech, the conference adiomed for the day. Wednesday’s events in cluded a panel discussion on key PFA legislative issues such as marketing and bargaining, land use plan ning, and taxes. Following a question and answer period. BEACHLEY-HARDY Lancaster Farming. Saturday, Feb. 19,1977 — the group broke up into session, Senator Stapleton, workshops to study policy hin of the c enate development, indentation, chairman ot tne senate and the legislative process. Agriculture Committee, During the afternoon addressed the group. us never forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor-of man. FIELD and GRASS SEEDS 51 DANIEL WEBSTER
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