—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 14,1978
106
Showing Holsteins
joy for Arlen Keener
By DIETER KRIEG
RHEEMS - If it weren’t
for the Robert Kauffman
family, 16-year old Arlen
Keener may never have
become interested in
Holstein dairy cattle and the
show circuit. Placing a show
halter on one of the two
animals he was prepar
ing for the Pennsylvai '
Farm Show. Keener a.-
nounced he wanted to first of
all publically thank the
Kauffmans for the op
portunities they have given
him.
Young Keener positioned
the halter and began to
brush his heifer’s head for a
picture. “The Kauffmans
gave me my first heifer a
couple of years ago,” Keener
began, “they’ve really been
good to me.” Although that
first heifer died just a day
before it was due to go to one
of the major shows in the
area, the enthusiastic young
dairyman is building a herd.
He has three Holsteins -
none of them milking yet -
but two thirds of them are
show circuit stock.
Keener’s heifer stood well
for the pictures despite the
blinding flash. She appeared
ready for the excitement and
distractions of the arena in
Harrisburg. Keener
removed the halter, turned
off the bam lights, and we
headed back to the comfort
of the Kauffmans’ kitchen.
“My parents farmed
Auto Service Tips
Cylinder numbers on the
cap and matching number clips
on wire plugs make it easy i
to keep spark plug wires in I
correct order when you k
change plugs '
for about 25 years and sold
out seven years ago,” the
young man explained as we
stepped into the dark night.
“I’ve kept close to farms
anyway - working for
several farmers in the area,
including the man who
bought the home farm” he
continued.
Keener’s relationship with
the Kauffmans and Holsteins
began shortly after his
family moved within
walking distance of the
Kauffman farm. The
Kauffmans’ son, Steve, and
Keener became friends, and
before long the transplanted
farm boy was spending
much time in his adopted
family’s home, barn, and
fields.
Although he has no set
work schedule with the
Kauffmans, he helps out
when needed and as his
schedule permits. This past
Tuesday he helped clip the
family’s show string, in
cluding three of his own.
Showing top quality
Holsteins is something of a
tradition for the Kauffmans,
whose championship ribbons
and trophies would easily
number into dozens. The
winning formula is being
shared with Keener, as he is
making a mark for himself
among young Holstein en
thusiasts in Lancaster
County and neighboring
areas.
fO
4 -18
J i—.
is a
“Aden is very interested
in Holsteins and their
pedigrees,” offered Mrs.
Kauffman from the far side
of the table. Keener con
firmed the by
revealing his plans for the
future. “I’d like to be a
herdsman on a dairy farm
and have the opportunity to
keep a couple Holsteins of
my own,” he said. He’s
presently a member of the
county, state and national
junior Holstein associations,
the Lancaster County 4-H
club, and the Elizabethtown
FFA Chapter.
Keener regards his
present showing experiences
as being valuable stepping
stones to the future he has in
mind. Also, he believesthat
show ring honors will help
him merchandise his own
animals once that time
comes. Beyond that, he likes
the fun of meeting people
and learning how to fit dairy
animals properly.
The son of Mr. and Mrs.
Walter Keener,
Elizabethtown R 3, the young
man believes halter training
and leading an animal are
the most difficult tasks of
show preparation. But these
same duties can also be the
most enjoyable once the
animal’s confidence is won,
he adds.
Both of Keener’s Farm
Show entries for 1978 have
won All-Pennsylvania
honorable mention distinc
tion. The younger of the two
is a junior yearling out of the
Robert Young herd,
Elizabethtown R 3. The other
is a 2-year old purchased
from Tom Scheaffer at
Carlisle.
This week, Keener tried
for the ribbons which the
Kauffmans have inspired
him to win. He came away
with two second place rib
bons and a fourth, competing
both in the youth division
and against the seasoned
veterans.
; r?a
„
Arlen Keener, Elizabethtown R 3, is studying the art of showmanship and
fitting at the home of one of the most outstanding show strings in Pennsylvania --
Penn-Springs Farm at Elizabethtown.
IS
DAIRY ANIMAL
HEALTH MEETINGS
tE MUR |NG:
DR. MAX LOWE, DVM
DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL SERVICES. ANCHOR LABORATORIES
MONDAY, JAN. 18,1978
IP.M.
Bally Fire Hall Basement
Bally, PA
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18,1978
1 P.M.
First National Bank Fairfield
Rt. 30, Fayetteville, PA
ANIMAL MEDIC INC.
SPONSORED BY:
MANCHESTER. PA.
717-266-5611
I p
</*•/ > r
TUESDAY, JAN. 17,1978
IP.M.
Refton Fire Hall
Refton, PA
PLAN NOW TO
ATTEND THE MEETING
IN YOUR AREA
NO CHARGE
J