—Lancaster Farming. Saturday, July 9. 1977 78 Flying farmers honor their duchess By JOANNE SPAHR Pennsylvania Chapter of Pottstown, Pa. - The Flying Fanners, conditions were perfect for a Then came a large and picnic. The weather was difficult decision as to clear and balmy, the cooks whether she would run for had excellent reputations, the highest postion for and the company was in- royalty in the organization - ternationally renowned for the international duchess, its hospitality. With the help and en- So, last Sunday, ap- couragement of her family, prozimately 160 farmers she decided to give it a try. couldn’t resist the temp- That competition took tation to gather in a wooded place in Saskatoon, picnic area near Limerick, Saskatchewan, and much to Pa., to share in a covered her amazement, she was dish luncheon held to honor chosen the international one of their favorite com- duchess, patriots. “I often point out just how And, since it was such a much of a family good day, they came from- organization the Flying miles around - from as far Fanners is,’’ remarks Mrs. west as Minnesota, as far .Rothenberger with a north as Ontario, Canada, generous and gracious and as far south as Virginia- smile. “After all,” she all to return the same night continues, “I’m a grand to the destinations from mother, and what other which they’d come. As far-fetched as it may sound, for the ISO In ternational Flying Farmer organization members and their families, the flights from the various stattes that day were the equivelants to “Sunday afternoon drives,” for earthbound agriculturalists. But, the real drawing card for the day was the person of honor - the International Flying Farmer Duchess Betty Jean Rothenberger, the first duchess ever to be chosen from the state of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Rothenberger, who has reigned for nearly a year in this highest position of honored royalty in the organization, is the wife of Maynard Rothenberger, a dairy farmer and drug store owner and operator from Worcester, Pa. In March Rothenberger was chosen the Pennsylvania Flying Farmer of the year in Gettysburg. During her reign ' As duchess of the international organization, which included the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Mrs. Rothenberger has traveld well over 50,000 miles., touching down in Vermont, Minnesota, New York, Ontario, Maryland, New York, Ohio, California, and Indiana, to name a few of the states she has visited. According to Mrs. Rothenberger, her reign all began in 1976 when she was named the queen of the Also Royal MH-30 FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT US organization, would let a grandmother- reign as duchess?” Mrs. Rothen berger is a mother of five and a grandmother of one. Her offical work as duchess is to serve as the international hostess for the organization and to promote the “landit” prgram as well as just generally encourage women to become interested in aviation. As hostess, she traveled to regional and chapter con ventions to crown the new chapter queens (chapter organizations are state groups in the flying farmer structure). One of her first official visits was to the Ontario, Canada, Flying Fanners convention. From there, she moved on to New Jersey, Maryland, California, and Kansas conventions, to name a few. And, wherever she went, she always encouraged the women present to obtain their own pilots’ license or at least acquire a “landit” certificate. This certificate is earned after the individual completes a supervised solo flight and he or she lands the plane. “A landit is the best in surance a pilot can have,” says the duchess with vigor, “because this means his wife is able to land the plane in the case of an emergency. ” Mrs. Rothenberger does not have her own pilot’s license but she does have her certified lanit certificate. During most of her 50,000 mile track record she ac- -30 THE DEPENDABLE TOBACCO SUCKER INHIBITOR complished this year, her “Fortunately for us, he’s husband has accompanied having a ball traveling,” her on her travels. exclaimed Mrs. Rothen- - **C < * ' * When you get a group of flying farmers together, you can expect a few surprises like these parachutists who performed for the group of over 100 international flying farmers who gathered to honor Betty Jean Rothenberger at the Pottstown- Limerick airport last Sunday. THE BULK MILK COOLER THAT HAS EVERYTHING including ' AUTOMATIC WASHING SYSTEM! The “MW” is one of the Lowest pouring Height Bulk tanks. Check with us all the added new features of the “MW” bulk tank. If you are in the market for a bulk milk cooler and you don't check all the advantages of the Mueller Models “OH”, "MHL," and “MW" you may be buying an obsolete cooler. 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