90—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 13,1979
Ry|pi..i.-—' i* - I • * „ f • f
1 hey went from catching chickens
awn multi-million dollar farming enterprise
WASHINGTON BORO -
Fifteen years ago, two Lan
caster County brothers were
Cafcning cmcKen m the even
ing for a local broker to earn
extra spending money while
fanning during the day.
Today the two, Abram G.
Barley, of Washington Boro
Rl, and John E. Barley, of
Conestoga R 2, operate a
multi-million dollar faming
enterprise consisting of 1115
acreswith 402 Holsteiircows^
600 young cattle, 800 acres of
com, and 165 acres of
alfalfa-grass hay.
And for their expertise in
managing one of the most ef
ficient farm operations in
the state, they have been
named to receive the
coveted Master Farmer
Award sponsored by the
Pennsylvania Farmer
Magazine and the
Cooperative Extension Ser
vice of The Pennsylvania
State University.
Their meteoric rise to
ownership of the large farm
ing operation with eight full
time workers has caught its
share of attention. Their suc
cessful deliberations to save
58 acres condemned by the
Lancaster Area Refuse
Authority made statewide
headlines.
The Barleys won Penn
field’s Outstanding Dairy
Award three times and they
were recognized by the Pen
nsylvania Dairymens
Association for high butter
fat average. Television
commercials featuring the
Barleys have been viewed by
large regional audiences.
And, John has made news
by being named Outstanding
Young Cooperator in 1975 by
Inter-State Milk Producers
Cooperative and won the
Pennsylvania Jaycees’
Outstanding Young Farmer
award in 1978.
Although the brothers
Signapawand
Buyer" season and you’ll
save $250 on the No. 1
giant round baler in the
field. Three models to fit
your specific hay
harvesting needs With
the new "instant start”
open throat design Built
by the folks who invented
the one-man hay system
Backed by experienced
factory-trained farm
dealer representatives
Hurry l Supply is limited
Vermeer
TRIPLE H FARM
Clift Holloway
Rtl
Peach Bottom, PA 17563
■* X. ~
have different mailing ad
dresses, their farms adjoin.
John 33, serves as herdsman
and Abram, 38, specializes in
machinery and crops.
Abram’s wife, Pattye, helps
take care of the calves; and
John’s wife, Jane, keeps
farm financial accounts.
“We would never have
made it without borrowing
money,” John Barley says
“In fact, we financed our
-first—tobacco - crop. ” —That
was in 1983 when the
brothers rented a 70-acre
farm near Millersville.
With one year as farm
operators under their belt,
they next rented the home
farm. In 1966 they borrowed
more money and purchased
the farm. However, a tur
ning point occurred between
1968 and 1971. By taking care
of 46 cows, 40 acres of
tobacco, and 150 steers, they
didn’t feel they were making
money.
Tobacco took too much
labor and beef prices were
not high enough to support
two young families.
“We went back to the
bank for money to finance a
200-cow free-stall bam and
then went on a buying spree
for registered Holstein
heifer calves,” Abram
Barley notes “Again in 1975
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reinforced on the edges to assure stability... adjustable bottom rail... maximum handling ease
through doors which can be opened from either direction.. .welded steel bars, by eliminating nut
and bolts, make cleaning easier... 16 gauge square steel tubing with smooth edges to protect
hogs from injury... adaptable to either dry or liquid feeding (feed front also serves as a d00r)...
adjustable backup bar to prevent injury of pigs at birth... epoxy coated for easy cleaning and long life.
Abram and John Barley, left to right, two in the state. Their multi-million di \r farming
Lancaster County brothers have been chosen to enterprise consists of 1115 acres with 402
receive the Master Farmers’ Award. The Barleys Holstein cows. 600 young cattle, 800 acres of corn
operate one of the most efficient farm operations and 165 acres of alfalfa grass hay.
we financed a 106-stall ex
pansion* to the bam and
modernized the milking
parlor. It meant we could
handle 150* more cows with
the same labor force.”
CONFINEMENT HOG PRODUCTION
Master Farmer
The Barleys took no
chances when they set up the
complex partnership
agreement. To make sure
the survivor can keep the
farm in case of the death of a
EY EQUIPMENT
OMPANY, INC.
to their
partner, they set up a buy
sell agreement and pur
chased a life insurance
policy on each other. They
each have wills drawn and
established trust
SYCAMORE INDUSTRIAL PARK AUTHORIZED
255 PLANE TREE DRIVE _ -
UNCASTER.PA 17603 I /)
(717)393-5807 LIU 1 Vts
DISTRIBUTOR
Route 30 West At
The Centerville Exit
agreements to protect their
wives and children.
The new Mdster Farmers
plan to add more cows,
making a total of 500. In the
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