Fanjiag, Saturday, November 3,1978
Jeff Rutt accepts challenge of farm ownership
BY DEBRA STRICKLER
WAKEFIELD—Owning
and managing a two hundred
acre dairy farm south of
Wakefield is a special
challenge for 21 year old Jeff
Rutt, recently nominated to
receive the American
Farmer Degree. As a 1976
graduate of Solanco High
School, Jeff has owned his
own farm for nearly a year.
Jeff and his father,
Kenneth Rutt, worked to
take care of the operation
while he was still in high
school After graduation, a
partnership was established.
This past January he pur
chased the farm. Jeff says,
“I give a lot of credit to Dad
for encouraging me in
farming and letting me help
in making management
decisions early.”
Jeff readily admits that it
is “hard to get started.”
“When 1 decided to buy the
farm I knew it .wasn’t going
to be easy and it isn’t. But
with a lot of faith and
assurance that I’m doing the
Lord’s will I know I can’t go
wrong,” added Jeff. He has
accepted his task as a
challenge in the life he was
given.
With the assistance of two
hired men, Jeff manages the
field work and milks 75
Holsteins. Taking a keen
interest in their production,
Jeff has made a few
operational changes in the
Taking semen from a nitrogen storage tank is a
part of the artificial insemination techniques Jeff
has mastered since graduation from high school.
past year that has improved
his herd’s production.
Dividing the cows ac
cording to their average
production, he permits the
better producers to eat
higher concentrated feed,
while monitoring the lower
producers on a totally mixed
ration program.
He has also built 12 calf
hutches for the newborns.
Removing the calves from
their mother as soon as
possible, he takes the calves
outdoors to their individual
hutch. The calves appreciate
the fresh air and sunshine.
Jeff feels that the individual
pens protect the animals
from diseases that may be
encountered in the barn.
After graduation from
high school he began to study
techniques for artificial
insemmination and is
presently -*esponsible for all
the cows bred on the farm.
He was interested in lear
ning the breeding
procedures because he never
liked the idea of a stranger
handling his cows, and finds
the process convenient and
less expensive.
While at Solanco, Jeff
served as newsreporter and
president of the local FFA
Chapter. He was active in
the parlimentary procedure
team, having participated in
local, regional and state
'competitions.
He appreciates all the
support and encouragement
received from Dr. William
Fredd and Mr. Ron Althoff,
his vocational agricultural
advisors.
During the summer
months, Jeff enjoys playing
softball on a local league. As
an active member of the
Mechanics Grove Church of
the Brethren, he is presently
serving as chairman of the
Commission on Witness.
They have recently
established a radio ministry.
Jeff and bis fiancee,
Suzanne Groff, will be flying
to the National PFA Con
vention next week . The
award will be bestowed to
789 outstanding FFA
members throughout the
nation in special ceremonies
on November 8.
Carroll
WESTMINSTER, -Md. -
Area members of Maryland
Cooperative Milk Producers
will have a chance to
exercise their voting powers
at the District Three Annual
Membership Meeting
Monday, November 5, at the
Carroll County-Agricultural
Center.
The 141 member
producers "will nominate a
director to be ratified by the
total membership at the
cooperative’s annual
meeting in March, for a
three-year term from March
1980 through February 1983.
Melvin E. Leppo of
'Qtele
Steal Corporation
► LOWEST FILL HEIGHT
► DOUBLE BOLTED CONSTRUCTION
► 24” DIAMETER DISCHARGE
► TAPERED ALL WEATHER BOOT
This 19 to 85-ton bulk tank is designed specifically for wet
grain holding and big capacity feed storage. Rack and pinion
gear slide valve and 24” discharge are standard. Eight legs
lend extra support to this “big boy" of bulk feed tanks.
Ryder supply
i u '
Jeff Rutt, an American Farmer Degree recipient, is proud of his two day old
calf. All his calves are kept outdoors in calf hutches, on his 200 acre farm south
of Wakefield.
dairymen to elect director
Sykesville is the incumbent
director whose term expires
in February 1980.
The program, to be kicked
off with a dinner at 7 p.m.,
will consist of reports to
members on national and
local milk production, sales
and price trends, and the
current status of the Holly
Milk Plant in Carlisle, Pa. In
addition, members will
review the financial con
dition of the cooperative,
including its operating
divisions.
All of Carroll County is
included in District Three.
Current directors are Leppo
5 *>*■
and Herbert W. Wessel Jr. of
Hampstead. Field,
representatives'for the area
are Jerry A. Ensor of
Westminster and L.
Raymond Hoff of Baltimore.
Ralph L. Strock, business
manager of the cooperative,
said, “The Annual District
Membership Meetings are
extremely important as an
information source for
members and all are urged
to attend.”
Maryland Cooperative
Milk Producers Inc., the
largest Maryland-based
dairy cooperative,
BULK FEED
TANKS
CAPACITIES
TO 85 TON
or 2700 BUSHELS
6’, Vh\ 9’, 12’
DIAMETERS
RRB, P.O. Box 219
Chambersburg, Pa.
17201
Ph0ne:717263-9111
I
f #
represents more than 1,000
dairy farmers in Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Virginia and West Virginia.
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