C2—Lancaster Farming, Saturdiy, September 27,1980 Collects flowers, weeds Talented Caroll Kopfer enjoys crafts, needlework BY LAUREL SCHAEFFER Staff Correspondent FLEETWOOD Being a professional hairdresser, craftsman, active farm wife, and mother is all in a day’s work for Caroll Kopfer, R 1 Fleetwood. This busy farm wife, with her husband Robert and two children, operate a farm consisting of 450 acres of crops, a beef feedlot housing between 100 and 120 steers and a daily string of 40 milk cows. Robert and Caroll are known in many circles because of their active participation in organizations such as the Berks County Fanners’ Association, Fleetwood Grange, and 4-H. Caroll also operates her own beauty shop six days a week and is a recognized craftsman in areas such as flower arranging, quilting and making of com husk dolls. Neither of these people were reared on a farm but both grew up in rural Fleetwood. Caroll had aspirations of becoming an artist from as far back as she can remem ber. She learned different crafts from her mother, pinking up other ideas from books and a few classes that she at tended. Robert started his fanning career as a hired hand on a local operation but went on to rent land of his own a year before his marriage to Caroll. Over the years the Kopfers have tried many different fanning enterprises including sheep, hogs, and chickens before settling with their present beef feedlot and dairy. The dairy operation is Kopfers’ newest enterprise. They’ve been in milk production about three years with the acquistion of their second farm. Hairdressing, which is Caroll’s main profession has been a part of her life since high school. She taught hairdressing for six years at die Bryland Institute, Reading, and worked part time as a hairdresser as well when she and Robert began farming. Presently she is still on call for teaching as a substitute at the area Vo-tech School in Beauty Culture. But even though hairdressing is her profession, crafts are her delight. “I could spend all day doing crafts,” Caroll told Lan caster Fanning with a gleam in her eye. Being talented, especially with her hands, Caroll can do anything she sets her mind on. She made her own lamps from ceramics, has sown her own curtains and clothing, and refinished a large part of the furniture in her home. Being so close to nature, Caroll especially enjoys drying her own flowers and weeds from their farm to make beautiful arrangements and collecting com husks, wheat and straw for making many of the other delicate creations displayed throughout her home. Caroll has entered straw wreaths, and dolls in area fairs and has been relatively pleased with her ac complishments. She designs and makes her own quilts starting from scraps of leftover material to imprinted fabrics which she has to embroider before hand. To date Caroll has designed three quilts for the Berks County Fanners’ Association. They were usually sewn by members of the Women’s Committee during agricultural expositions held at the Berkshire Mall, Wyomissing. To help with her quilting this farm wife has two large quilting frames which she uses. So far all of the quilts she has made have been given away. When asked how much time is involved in making a quilt, Caroll could only reply that each quilt takes it’s own time—but, she said, “It’s a long time.” As mentioned earlier, this talented farm wife has also mastered a number of other crafts. These include wheat weaving, natural arrangements, sewing, embroidering, knitting, crocheting, and any number of child crafts which she enjoys teaching. Caroll is proud to be a member of the Berks County Guild of Craftsmen. Caroll tries to make her creations from all things available on the farm. She air dries many flowers and *SR (osttesfead tfifoips Caroil Kopfer likes to ai , her own arrangements and creations found in weeds and flowers to use in making imaginative home at Fleetwood Rl. Working with dried .wheat, Carol! Kopfer ties a plaid ribbon for the final touch in an arrangement which she has created. Caroll is a member of the Berks County Guild of Craft smen, reflecting her interest and talent in working with her hands. weeds by hanging them upside down in an airy place and treats them as necessary. “This is especially important with pine cones,” Caroll explained. To make sure they are insect free, she puts them in a plastic bag and sprays them with an insecticide. In some cases however, such as when pressing flowers, this craftsman will use a commercial silica gel and will purchase things she needs for her arrangements that can’t be found on the tana. Having such a strong desire to keep her things “earthy” she even uses com silk for the hair on her dolls, many of which she has also designed herself. Some of Caroll’s crafts are so delicate and small she has mounted them in tin cookie cutters, often employing tweezers to make them and mount them. Caroll teaches crafts for many organizations and also gives lectures when asked. She teaches for 4-H, Campfire Girls, the YWCA, and at various women’s gatherings. She is also president of District Campfire Girls, en compassing 14 different chapters, and is an organizational leader for the Fleetwood area 4-H Community Clubs which has about 30 members. Caroll has been a 4-H leader for three years, helping 4- Her’s learn sewing and cooking, but she has also taught them how to do several of her crafts and involved the members in a potato project on her farm. This farm woman got involved with 4-H when her daughter, Aim who is now twelve became involved. Ann is also active in many other organizations too. Besides the Fleetwood 4-H Community Club she also belongs to the Eastern Berks Dairy Club and shows dairy cows. Ann collects stamps, butterflies, coins, and dolls, and plays flute in the school band. Ann is in seventh grade at the Fleetwood School District. Even with her many activities she continues to do well with her studies. Ann also has a brother, six year old David who is now in first grade. This young farm lad is already showing the typical qualities of the rest of his family with special in terests in showing cattle. “David is just waiting for his chance to come,” his mother remarked. “He has haltered a calf at the dairy bam and calls it his own. ’ ’ Caroll is not a stranger to the bams either. Even though she only helps milk when Robert is pressed for time she helps out feeding calves and doing other chores when ever she can and as most farm wives do, runs for parts, medicine and other farm necessities. Caroll also finds tune for gardening, lawn care, marketing, and of course, cooking. She freezes and jars i '. vi * $ if ~ e -> ' \ V \ * fruits and vegetables too. The Kopfers have found doing these “books” together, works best for them. “There is so much you need to know in farming, today,” she com mented, “and paper work is getting more and more in volved.” The crops raised by the Kopfers include' 300 acres of corn with the rest planted in soybeans or small grains. They employ one full time hired band and have a parttime helper as well. They participate in an advisory council of the Pennsylvania Fanners’ Association and both have or are serving as chairman of a county committee of the associations. Presently Robert is chairman of the livestock com mittee and Caroll has served as chairman of the Women’s Committee. She has also served two years as Chairman of the Berks County Expo Committee and served on tbf| Dairy Princess Committee as well. ' Caroll has recently been involved with the National Jamboree for Campfire Girls this summer. Over 700 girls from as far away as Marne and Virginia attended this jamboree held for the first tune at the Daniel Boone Homestead, in Southern Berks County. “It was very interesting working on the national level of something,” Caroll explained, “instead of always being on the local level.” To better prepare herself and be of more service Caroll has also taken several courses in camping. She has also had training m CPR and first aid and has served as a homeroom mother for the past seven years, baking cupcakes and as Caroll put it, “what have you.” . Caroll is also a collector, which is probably what got her daughter interested in such hobbies. Caroll’s collections include cookie cutters, antique measuring cups, and some spoons, all of which are carefully decorated with some of her craft creations or hung carefully and displayed throughout her home. The Kopfers are also members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Kutztown. Caroll is active there, too. They have spent 9 years with the Fleetwood Grange and also belong to a fire company Caroll to the auxiliary, of course. Being such a dedicated farm wife takes a great deal of Caroll’s tune, but she finds it very rewarding. “The farm is the best place I can think of for raismg children,” she thoughtfully commented. “There is so much diversity and just so much to offer,” > It seems only natural that two such dedicated people as'* Caroll and Robert Kopfer became farmers. Each can probably appreciate how lucky they are to be able to farm since neither was bom into it. ter fan
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