.'~N FFA boosted his By DIETER KRIEG STEWARTSTOWN - Seventeen-year old Dean Miller has an interest in farming because that’s what he grewup with. He became dedicated to agriculture because of his membership in the Kennard-Dale High School FFA Chapter. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Miller, Stewartst own, young Miller has taken vocational agriculture courses since the seventh grade. He has enjoyed each year of it and is already realizing that he will miss school when he graduates in mid June of this year. FFA has meant a lot to the York County youth. Farming has taken on new meanings because of it. FFA, according to Miller, is more than education. It’s a way of growing up and maturing; of developing character and judgement. It helps to find and refine in terests, build careers, leadership, arid awareness. One of the most important benefits Miller has received through the FFA program is the ability to converse more easily in front of groups. As a member of the parliamentary procedures If cows could talk they'd ask for WL 311 WL 318 WL 219 Tons/4 Tons/yr. yrs. Avaragi WL2I9 21.97 5.49 WI3II 21.93 5.41 WI3OJ 20.83 5.21 SARNAC 20.56 5.14 Buffalo 19.41 4.85 Test data available on request * yields at 12% moisture BEACHLEY-HARDY team, he has gained some confidence in speaking, he says. He served his chapter and county FFA group, as secretary last year and has also had the office of sen tinel. Miller appreciates the FFA program because of the friends he has been able to make because of it. In ad dition, he has been able to participate in numerous events, contests, and tours. They’ve combined fun with education. The two men who are largely responsible for Miller’s refined agricultural development are Ralph Travis and Charlie Wright, vocational agriculture in structors at Kennard-Dale High School. Aside from the usual courses of learning, Travis and Wright have included field trips in their students’ study programs. An example is a visit to various test plots put out by commercial or research interests. Students thereby have the opportunity to see first-hand how various crops, chemicals, fer tilizers, or soils perform. They also leam why per formances differ and how they might apply different ALFALFAS WL 311 The most popular variety in Pennsylvania Resistant to Anthrocnose and Bacterial Wilt WL 318—Resistant to phytophtora' root rot High Yielding- Excellent Stand Persistence Rapid growing Dark green color fine stems Excellent seedling vigor and stand establishment Developed by Waterman Loomis Co., specialized alfalfa breeders. Distributed by FIELD and GRASS SEEDS Shiremanstown, Pa. 17091 . f techniques to their in dividual operations. A bonus m the FFA progarm is that there are opportunities to travel to faraway places such as Kansas City and even abroad. Although Miller hasn’t had the chance to take part in the FFA exchange (student) program, he has been to Kansas City for the National FFA Convention. While a member of the parliamentary procedures team, Miller and company placed first in the county, area, and region. A variety of complications just prior to the state contest caused the big state prize to slip out of the team’s reach. The young man has also been on the meat judging team, placing as second high individual in that contest last year. Some of his experience for that event has come from his interest and work with both beef cattle and hogs. During 1977 he fattened 41 market hogs. The family raises steers as well, with many of the caretaking responsibilities falling on the Kennard-Dale senior. A former delegate to FFA Week at Penn State, Miller has also had projects in corn fa and sows. He has kept records on all of his projects and his efforts were recognized this month by the high school when he was named senior of the month. His agricultural record figured strongly in that reward. A year ago, when his FFA chapter held their annual awards banquet, Miller was the recipient of the scholarship and crop production honors. Miller’s parents farm approximately 800 acres in southern York County, and in years to come. Dean hopes to become the operator of his own farm. Until then, he’s figuring on continuing to work with his father. A close knit family, the Millers have all of their immediate family members within just a few miles of them. When the day comes that young Miller will strike it out on lus own, crops, steers and hogs will probably figure uppermost in his inventory. That’s what he’s involved with now and he likes it enough to want to keep at it. He thinks he’ll also follow his father’s footsteps when it comes to planting crops. That would mean mostly ■IKS* j TC Lm6»Stef FtfiniWfc IST- g interest hr A has given Dean Miller of York County tne opportunity to develop casual interests at home into What he now knows for sure he wants as a career. com, with smaller acreages agricultural future with of wheat, barley and enough optimism to want to soybeans. The way Miller face the risks. He says he’s has it figured, he would like not looking for big profits, to raise the crops he needs to just enough to live on. There feed his livestock, and then are other rewards to far sell whatever is left over. ming besides money, the Miller believes that the young man believes. The current farm strike won’t rewards he finds in farming get too much accomplished, include the privilege of being While admitting that prices your own boss, living close to aren’t “excellent,” he work, being out in the maintains they’re sufficient country, and working with to get by on. He looks to his (Turn to Page 41) - I COAL AND WOOD BURNING WATER HEATING STOVES 40 gal. HOT ROCK RANGE BOILER TANKS There are a lot of different wood burning water heaters on the market, but if you haven’t seen one to meet your needs, why not take a look at the KEYSTONE WATER HEATERS FOR COAL & WOOD BURNING HEATERS They are as good as the best and better than the rest. The wood burning stove is designed to work with your present heating system or separate or just heat water for general use through a 40 gal. Hot Rock tank. For more information contact DAVID K. STOLTZFUS 382 Newport Road RDI Ronks, PA 17572 located on Rt. 772, 2 Vi miles South of Leola, PA 29 1 1 V
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