—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 5,1977 24 Two from Garden Spot By JOANNE SPAHR NEW HOLLAND - This year two of Pennsylvania’s 22 American Farmer can didates originate from the same Future Farmers of America Chapter - the Grassland Chapter of Garden Spot High School. Ray Martin, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eli W. Martin, New Holland Rl, and J. Kenneth Ken) Groff, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Groff r Route 23 and Tower Road, New Holland, share that honor and will also be sharmg a car in the up coming days as they head to Kansas City to pick up their degrees. Martin, age 21, is m partnership with his father on their 68 acre farm on which they finish about 100 head of steers and own 55 head of dairy cattle, 24 of which are milking. According to Martin, the dairy cattle were his idea-he decided four years ago that he wanted to get started in that line of business. So, they converted a barn used to store potatoes, the crop Ray’s father had been raising prior to the change and made it into space for their dairy cattle. Because of the size of the farm, the Martins buy their feed, and since com prices were low this year, Ray beheves that there wasn’t much difference between producing the crop them selves and buying it. This father and son part nership also supplements its income through jobs on the side. For instance, Ray works part tune at the Farmersville Equipment Company where he sets up new equipment. Although he is one of a small per cent of FFA members who ever achieve the highly coveted degree of American Farmer, Ray states pointedly that he is not a “special” person. “I’m not out to unpress anybody with this degree,” Ray pomts out. “I’m not that outstanding-I just came at the right tune and had the best opportunity,” he states matter-of-factly. In fact, Ray admits that the American Farmer degree has not even been a driving force in his life. “It is a goal that’s always in the back of your mind,” he reflects “But, my attitude has changed drastically since I was in school-I don’t strive for awards like I once did ” Explaining his statement, Ray notes that since his high school days he has come to realize that he has been given a good opportunity. “What I mean, m a way, is that your can’t let glory like this go to your head. You have to give the glory to God because you just can’t handle it yourself,” he qualifies The “opportunity” Ray is speaking about is the fact that he is the only son in the family, (he has one older sister, Rhoda) and is therefore, the child with the most direct interest in working the farm Because of this, he is the one who could go into partnership and eventually gain full control of the operation. He believes it is his investment in the farming operation that helped him earn the Now in partnership with his father Eli W. Martin, Ray Martin (above) has earned the America Farmer degree from the Future Farmers of America and will be traveling to Kansas City shortly to receive it. American Farmer degree, since it is a requirement of the degree that candidates earn at least $lOOO by their own efforts through their occupational experience program and must have their earnings productively mvested or deposited m a bank. “Our farming operation is not overly outstanding, really,” Ray continues. “We just keep after the land the best we can.” The Martins do double cropping - this year they planted rye, put it m the silo for the steers, and planted com after it. Also, after they harvested their wheat, they planted Sudan grass. Another crop they raise is alfalfa. Some ot Ray’s activities in FFA while he was still in high school include holding the office of sentinel one year as well as president of the chapter his senior year. While in FFA, he was in volved in public speaking - the aspect of the organization which he ap preciates the most now, since he frequently relies on the skills he acquired. “FFA does teach you practical skills in the classroom,” Ray reflects, “but, I have to admit that I must give as much credit to my dad as to the ag department when it comes to what I know about farming.” Ray also believes that, today, the FFA is meeting the needs of people involved in other areas of agriculture as well as those in produc tion. “It really benefits the agn busmessman as' well as people who are just in terested in learning more about agriculture, in general” he says. J. KENNETH GROFF One agri-businessman that FFA really benefited was J. Kenneth Groff, the second member of the Grassland Chapter to earn the American Farmer degree this year Unlike Martin, Groff’s degree was in the area of agri-business Ray Marlin and Ken Groff honored At present Ken is a full time herdsman for John E. Kreider, Trout Spring Farm, Willow Road, Lancaster. Like Martin, Ken, who is 21 years old, never really aimed directly for the American Farmer degree, but simply achieved it through his natural progression in the agri business world as well as his activities while he was still in high school. For Ken, bemg m the ag course at school wasn’t as easy as it was for other farm boys interested in this curriculum. He is actually m the Conestoga Valley school district, but since that district doesn’t offer vo-ag or FFA in the school, he commuted to Garden Spot for his four years of ag education. “They paid the tuition,” Ken explains, “but I had to find a way to get there.” For the first few years he hitched a ride, but when the tune came that he could drive, he went on his own. His projects while in high school included steers, heifers, and chickens. He had one heifer that “showed pretty good” in his estimation--she took the reserve junior champion title at the Southeast District FFA show. While m school, he held the office of chaplain for two years After he graduated, he kept his FFA projects, and now uses the milk from his dairy animals as an “unofficial” payment for room and board at his parents’ home. “Dad gets the milk,” Ken explains,” and I get to keep the calves.” For a person who has only been out of school a short tune, Ken’s ventures m the agri-business world have been varied by his own choosing. He worked for Atlantic Breeders Cooperative for one year after high school. He also worked at home and part time for his father’s cousin. For the most part, when he worked for his earn to relative he planted corn and filled silo. Then, in August of 1976, he got his present job as herd sman for John E. Kreider. At the Kreider farm, he milks approximately 40 registered Holstems, operating three units at a tune with the pipelm milker. He also does a good portion of the field work for Kreider. However, Ken does not intend to always be in the agri-business end of agriculture. His eventual goal is to own a farm of his own. In an age when a 114 acre farm to be kept in agriculture can sell for over a half million dollars in Lancaster County, and in an age when most young men are pessimistic about their futures m the business, Ken is optimistic. “I thmk a person can do it,” he says positively. “You can rent a farm for a while, and if you want to do it bad enough, you can own a farm. Of course, I’m not saying I can do this right away or even for quite a while, but “sometime” I hope to be able to.” (Continued on Page. 3 8) THINKING ABOUT RENTING OR BUYING MORE LAND? You Can, With This Big International... Ready To Move Into Your Fields! ★ EASY OPERATION * ROOMY COMFORT CAB ★ HARD LUGGING POWER * TRACTION FOR ALL CONDITIONS LET US SHOW YOU HOW YOU CAN PUT INTERNATIONAL 4-WHEEL DRIVE POWER TO WORK ON YOUR FARM... ON YOUR TERMS! rii H INTERNATIONAL* TUft OICIIV ■ AGRICULTURAL IH-WWim I equipment coiiiiecnoßi SWOPE & BASHORE, INC. FFA degree As herdsman for John E. Kreider, Trout Spring Farm, Ken Groff milks approximately 40 head of Holsteins. 4386 Tractor Frystown, RDI, Myerstown, PA 17067 717-933-4138 I
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers