(K-UhwiK »«wqb aturii), fiprti u., iy/8 Her allegiance is at home with family and sheep LANCASTER - Family and lambs are the two things which dominate Mrs. Clyde Brubaker’s life, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Dorothy, who lives at 2418 Harrisburg Pike. Lancaster, feels there is nothing more important than being at home supporting her family. “I am not involved in anything that takes me away from home in the evenings,” she says, “We are too organized, with too many meetings away from home.” It is not surprising to hear her talk about their sheep operation as a family occupation. “We have a home life where everybody helps each other. When we get ready for a show, we all help, and when we are at a show we all work together. Our accomplishments are enjoyed by all of us.” “All of us” includes not Just Clyde, but the Brubaker children Kenneth, 19, and Sarah, 16. Kenneth is a fresh men at the York campus of The Pennsylvania State University, majoring in animal production, and Sarah is a sophomore at Hempfield High School. The Brubakers also raise a few goats for market along with their sheep. Driving school bus twice daily “breaks up” Dorothy’s day, but allows her freedom to be at home with the livestock. She enjoys the twice-daily chore, saying, “I enjoy children." By Sally Bair Staff Writer I 'OX ~ V ,JV’ Bottle feeding iambs is fun~especialiyior 2 - and her lambs~a great experience for everyone in 3-year-olds. Mrs. Brubaker occasionally takes volved. groups of children onto the farm and shows them The fanning operation includes about 50 tillable acres which support com, alfalfa and wheat. The Brubakers have 50 brood ewes, registered Hampshires and nearly that many young animals. They began their enterprise with a “small flock” of six ewes and have grown by “adding a few each year.” Since Clyde .holds a full time job as field manager for Vigortone pre-mixes, most of the daily checking of the livestock falls to Dorothy - and she doesn’t mind it one bit. “My biggest time is lambing time,” she said. Lambing runs from September to May 1. She explained that they time their breeding program so that very few lambs give birth in December, but added, “Our biggest block of lambs will be bom in January because we want them bom to be right for the age classes in shows. Lambs also are bom anytime, night or day. Because of this, there are "Occasionally nights of little sleep, but Dorothy feels that’s just part of the obligation of having sheep. “There are always a few who can’t do it themselves. It is all in where you put your priorities. The more time and effort you put in the more reward you’ll have,” she ex plains. And as she points out, with lambing the reward can be monetary: “If you lose one it is out of your pocket.” Homestead Notes Dorothy views a small portion of her flock of Hampshire sheep. Showing their lambs is very important to the Brubaker family. “It is a fun experience to meet and learn to know people from across the country at shows. Showing helps to know what improvements you need in your flock.” They keep about 10 animals for fairs and other shows, and often will take four or five animals to breeding stock shows and sales. While they are in the business of selling stock, oc casionally they purchase a ram. “When buying a stud ram it is important to keep improving the breeding stock. We like to bring in different bloodlines. But it is not necessary to buy the first or second place animal in a class when you select a new sire.” * The whole family is enthusiastic about 4-H. Both Clyde and Dorothy Brubaker showed lambs.and steers in 4-H, Kenneth just “graduated” and Sarah currently active. Clyde is a leader, and Dorothy is a supporter and helper in many ways. “I think the 4-H club is important if it works out for the whole family program. You must be as interested in tb£ program as your child. It is the parents’ responsibility vr help. The child wants to learn and the parent should learn with them,” she states. (Turn to Page 84)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers