C32—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 7, 1981 York Co. 4-H beef baiKfUei Sprenkle named Citation Award winner BY JOYCE BUPP Staff Correspondent HANOVER A long-time supporter of the agriculture community and rural youth programs was honored last Saturday by the York County 4-H Beef Club. William H. Sprenkle, president 7 and manager of Spangler and Sprenkle, Inc., was named the 1981 Citation Award winner by the 4-H beef leaders and members at the annual awards banquet, held at the Grangerville Fire Hall “Bill has been a tremendous asset to the agriculture community of York County, and someone we can all look up to,” said Tony Dobrosky, extension livestock specialist and 4-H beef leader “He’s been progressive in the improvement of our agriculture and is a strong promoter of our products to the consuming public He is a constant promoter for better agriculture practices for farmers, sponsors educational meetings and donates many awards to the adult programs as well as the youth programs in agriculture ” . This is Sprenkle’s 50th year with the West York feed and gram firm, where he began working as a feed salesman. One of the area’s largest livestock feeding firms, Spangler and Sprenkle originally began as a coal business in the 1920’5, later branching out into feeds as coal heating popularity waned In 1957, Sprenkle went into partnership with owner Irvin Spangler A devastating fire in 1965 leveled the old mill and buildings In the aftermath of the flames, Irvin Spangler retired and Bill Sprenkle took over total managemenet of the rebuilt and modernized office and warehouses, located at South Seward Street and the Western Maryland Railroad Sprenkle and his wife, Lucile, have one son, William Jr , who’s also associated with the feed and gram firm For many years, Spangler and Sprenkle has been one of the largest buyers of steers at both the York-Adams beef roundup and the state Farm Show sale Over twenty Tillage choice can mean profit or loss HARRISBURG Conservation tillage may be the difference between profit and loss for Penn sylvania farmers if the drought continues, reports Graham T Munkittnck, State Conservationist for the USDA Soil Conservation Service Drought makes every drop of water important to the farmei, he says Conservation tillage is an easy way to get more water to soak into the ground •‘Rainfall that soaks into the soil adds to ground water and is available for crop production or to replenish wells and spring Water runoff is lost to the farmer unless, through irrigation, it is pumped back to the land,” he states Lebanon County farmer George Wolff, Myerstown, uses a chisel plow in combination with contour stnpcroppmg and terraces. Wolff reports the ridges on the contour made by the chisel plow effectively allow the water to soak into the soil. “I have checked after a hard ram and find that runoff from the strip, not chiseled completely, soaks into the ground by the tune it reaches the second ridge of the chiseled strip I believe the combination of the chisel ridge and the opening of the soil permits more rainfall to infiltrate the soil years ago, the firm formulated a special ration for 4-H steers being exhibited at area shows and roundups. A supporter from the beginning of the York Fair’s 4-H petting zoo, Spangler and Sprenkle donates all of the zoo’s feed ration needs for the duration of the nine-day exhibit. Sprenkle is also treasurer of York Aire Cooling and Heating Sales Company of York. He’s past president of Penn-Ag Industries and currently heads up Penn-Ag’s Insurance Trust Board Actively involved in numerous civic and agriculture organizations, Sprenkle is chairman of the ad visory board of the industrial office of Southern Pennsylvania Bank, a former president of the West York Exchange Club and a life member of St Paul United Church of Christ During the awards presentation part of the program, tropies went to several beef club members for outstanding accomplishments in showmanship, judging and project activities Leßoy Bowles of Red Lion was presented with a desk lamp set and a $5OO savings bond as top winner m the Keystone Livestock Ex position’s Stockmen’s judging contest Second place went to Lisa Dobrosky, Glen Rock, who won a $250 savings bond and Kenny Sunday, York, placed third The Stockmen competition in cludes a total of 15 various classes of competition, including livestock exhibiting and judging, and meats, feed and equipment identification York County participants claimed eight of the top ten places in the competition, which included over 350 entrants from six states Bowles also earned an impressive trophy as Champion Showman at the York Fair Chris Shive, Seven Valleys, was honored as the champion fitter in the junior division and Bill Wise claimed the senior fitting trophy. A trophy for the highest priced selling commercial steer went to young member John Housner Jennifer Druck, York R 2, earned recognition for the highest rate of than any other method of tillage. In the winter, the ridges trap snow which improves soil moisture conditions ” Wolf is among the strong sup porters of chisel plowing, while other farmers voice support for no till, another form of conservation tillage Jack Clark, who farms rolling land in Northumberland County near the Montour County line, and also works for SCS m Sunbury, reports a yield of 125 bushel per acre for no-till corn planted in a four-year-old sod Corn on the same farm where the soil was turned over by conventional plowing produced only 40 bushel per acre last year. Clark adds another county farmer had yields of 90 bushel for no-till and 60 bushels for regular plowing on less sloping land “Local conditions will dictate whether no-till or chisel plowing is the better,” Munkittnk observes. “The fact that is both are effective conservation tillage practices that reduce rainfall runoff and soil erosion when compared to con ventional moldboard plowing.” Farmers desiring more in formation on the merits of no-tiil farming or chisel plowing should contact their local conservation district or SCS office York 4-H baby beef members honored William Sprenkle as their 1981 Citation Award winner. Making the presentation, from left, are extension agent Tony Dobrosky, 1980 beef gam on her project steer Jenny’s Sunmental averaged a gam of 3 225 pounds per day Average for the county, figured over a 209-day feeding period, was 2 128 pounds daily Other top rate-of-gain winners were Wayne Stough, Jr., Sun mental, with a 3 1 gain; David Better, Charolais-Hereford, 2.95 pounds, John Eaton, Jr , Hereford- Angus, 2.575 pounds; Andy Beahng, Hereford, 245 pounds; Joe Druck, Hereford, 2 425 pounds; Lisa Gross, Sunmental cross, 2 4 pounds; Kristi Kohr, Chianina cross, 2 375; Brenda Walter, Hereford-Angus, 2 32, and Deb Hoffman, Angus, 2 3 pounds A roll call award went to Emily Livingston, Dover, for her out standing presentations are regular club meetings and project management Others honored for roll call participation were Brenda Walter, Tammy Eisenhour, Robert Livingston, and Bill Wise For the first time, recognition was also given to “rookie” roll call, eligible for members 11 and under. Winner was Cathy Shive, Seven Valleys Joann Rishel and Ag day WASHINGTON, DC. - “Agriculture. It’s Your Hearbeat, America'” This is the theme for the nationwide observance of “Agriculture Day” scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 1981. Volunteers from all part of the country will join together in a coordinated effort to tell the story of what agriculture - the nation’s biggest and most important in dustry - means to America. Agriculture is the heartbeat of our nation’s economy - it’s a story of which every American can and should be proud,” commented Agriculture Day Foundation President Robert Lanphier. “that’s why we feel every citizen from both farm and non-farm backgrounds - should take part in the Ag Day Program ” Staffing and administrative coordination for the project will be provided by the Agriculture Council of America as part of its overall program to communicate what modem agriculture means to America. Ag Day is supported by a broad range of companies. jr 'OS' v» Top three honors in the Keystock Livestock Exposition Stockmen's contest went to Lisa Dobrosky, Leroy Bowles and Kenny Sunday. Jenni Druck were chosen runners up. Also featured on the program was a salute to this year’s graduates of the beef club, Chris Sunday, Emily Livingston, Leßoy Bowles, Brenda Werner and Brenda Walter plans set for 1981 organizations and individuals throughout the United States The centerpiece of the obervance will be nationally coordinated communications program em phasizing the “Heartbeat” theme to package creative messages in a form that anyone, anywhere can use to communicate the facts about agriculture effectively The “Heartbeat” message is depicted visually by an electrocardiogram with a mirror farm image. Lanphier noted the Ag Day project should receive a big boost from the passage of House Joint Resolution 560 which would of ficially proclaim March 19,1981 as the first “National Agriculture Day.” The resolution has not passed the U.S. House of Representatives, and it’s expected to pass the Senate and be signed by President Carter this fall “Agriculture is the cornerstone of the U.S economy. It needs, and based on its performance has a right to expect, the full support and understanding of the American people,” continued Lanphier “It’s essential that the American public understand that their economic future is tied directly to the health of our agricultural system ” In addition to Lanphier, officers of the Agriculture Day Foundation are: Treasurer - John Davies, International Harvester, Chicago, club president Brenda Walter, Mr. and Mrs. William Sprenkle, and 1981 beef club president Bill Wise. Entertainment tor the evening included a presentation on the Bowen-McLaughlin York’s beef promotion program for employees and an educational demonstration on hypnotic power by West York High School teacher Robert Bowers ILL; and Secretary - Connie Townsend, American National Cowßells, White Sulphur Springs, Mont Other Board members in clude Gene Atkins, Catalytic Generators, Inc, Norfolk, Va.; Dave Bennett, Miller Publishing Company, Minneapolis, Minn; C W Blodgett, Hunt-Wesson Foods, Fullerton, Calif, Rod Brannen, Ad/Creaton DeKalb Ag Research, DeKalb, 111.; Kent Christensen, Food Marketing Institute, Washington, D.C ; Roger Coleman, National Food Processors Association, Washington, D C , Noah Perry, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, Charleston, W. Va ; and Don Tindall, Southern States Cooperative, Inc., Richmond, Va. Lanphier said Jim Eskm, ACA’s director of Communications, would serve as Ag Day Staff Coordinator Agriculture Day was begun in 1973 as a nationwide project to recognize and salute agriculture’s contributions to the U.S. economy. Grassroots activities are spearheaded by the National Agn- Marketing Association’s 16 regional and 14 student chapters. Anyone interested in finding out how they can get involved m Ag Day ’Bl, should write: Agriculture Day Foundation, Box 23421, Washington, DC 20024. _ f* / "‘vfc -
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