C32—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, February 14,1981 Brief answers to short questions Sheila's Shorts By Sheila Miller In Touch WithNFU Getting the agricultural message across to our urban neighbors is a far-reaching goal for fanners, and one of the toughest chores ahead Having the ideas heard above the roar of consumer groups’ blasts against modern agriculture sometimes makes farm groups feel like their training mules it takes a 2 x 4 to get any attention On the other hand, urban dwellers seem to eat up the rhetoric spat out by consumer groups on how farmers are destroying nature’s delicate balance with pesticides and her bicides, chemical fertilizer, and on and on With well-planned and organized propaganda, consumers lead the way in preaching how modern agronomic practices are poisoning people and the meat is somehow desecrated with chemical ad ditives and preservatives So, how do you reach the millions of city-dwellers to set the record straight’ That question has been the stumbling block of numerous farm organizations, from conservation districts to unions Through media campaigns and speaking engagements, the communications gap has attempted to be spanned But, how do you get people who’ve never seen a cow or a field of corn first hand to understand farming or sympathize with the plight of the' arm«,-’ Sometimes, the city-dweller seeks out information on farming a rarity, of course, but an en couraging fact Just last week, I recieved a post card from Ralph S. Rinker, 415 East 52nd Street (A-4E), New York, New York 10022 who actually subscribes to our farm publication and likes what he reads. Mr. Rmker’s request was for the address of the National Farmers’ Union “I like their views on ag,” he said To keep our urban neighbors happy and informed, here’s the address of not only the national organization, but the Pennsylvania Farmers’ union address too National Farmers’ Union 12025 East 45th Avenue Denver, CO 80252 Pennsylvania Farmers’ Union Suite 008, Locust Court 212 Locust Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 Man O Who? Horses most young children, especially of the female gender, love those four-legged creatures And, I was no exception When I was growing up on my parents’ farm in Hershey, I used to dream of someday having a horse of my own even a pony would do I devoured anything written on horses during my trips to the library, and every television senes or movie on the elegant equmes was on my list of must-see’s. I was fortunate enough to have a neighbor, who also happened to be my best friend, who had a pony of her very own. The brown and white and black Shetland’s name was Senna. On those days when I was allowed to go to stay overnight at Julie’s, I’d almost die with an ticipation until she’d bring out the pony and we’d set to work brushing and brushing the defenseless thing Finally, after our elbows and arms ached and the pony was suffering from ‘brush burns’, we’d give her back to the pasture where she’d immediately roll in the mud When it came time for bed, I’d brush my teeth and sprinkle water on my face but I wash my hands (I hope the dust didn’t come off on the sheets now that I think back) I’d finally drift off into dreams of horses and ponies with Serina’s sweet scent still lingering on my fingers Other lessons on the equine world came from a burro and pony owned by an uncle in Lebanon Stop Breaking Ice!!! Pond Bank Installation • Steel-Reinforced Precast Concrete • • Available from Inventory • • Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed • • Delivery to Your Farm (Additional Freight Charges) • Other Farm Products Available The SMITH CATTLEGUARD® • No 1 In The Country • 12', 14', 16' Lengths Feed Bunks • Centerline and Fencelme Stock Tanks • 200-Gallon Capacity Licensed by EASI SET' Industries County. Sunday trips ‘down-home’ were worth all the long gab sessions of the adults when Mom and Dad would stop in at Uncle Herman’s and he’d saddle or hitch his four-legged fun Finally, when I turned eleven years-old, all my annual Christ mas requests and birthday wishes came true My parents surprised my sister and me with a beautiful horse his coat was chestnut red, his face was graced with a white race, star, and nip, and he had one wmte stocking. My mother picked the name Charlie Horse for him I secretly prefered ‘Luqky Star’ but you know whose name stuck Charlie and I grew up together He put up with a kid who made him swim in puddles and jump over barrels He patiently stood while I practiced qymnastics and stunts I’d seen at the State Police Rodeo most times falling flat on my face Charlie is now a quarter century old (about 125 human years) and has traveled and moved with me since my graduation from college to live in Berks County and Wayne County Now, until our farm’s barn is readied, Charlie is back home again in Hershey and he’s still USE The Automatic Freeze-Proof Our Automatic Freeze-Proof Waterer was developed in Missouri with the help of Soil Conservation Service per sonnel. No external source of energy is required because the hardware in this waterer is designed to keep 100 gallons of water ice-free. The water supply can be 'a pond, dam, or pressure system. A specially built valve arm holds the intake valve above water so there is no backflow of livestock drinking water to the water supply. All Our Products as frisky and full-of-heart as he was the first day I set eyes on him Even though he’s a Quarter Horse, he’s all thoroughbred Speaking of Thoroughbreds, Jenny Cave of Dexter, New York has written to me for information on the greatest race horse that ever lived (and he was the same color as Charlie, with almost identical markings) Man O’ War She writes- “I’m in a program at my school called Learning Lab n and I’m going to write a book about Man O’ War, the race horse. 1 don’t have enough information about him and I was wondering if you would help me get it. I’m waiting for a letter from the Jockey Club in New York City. And I’m going to write to Faraway Farm in Kentucky where Man O’ War was retired. Anything about horses will be greatly appreciated. Jenny, I salute your ambition Writing a book about the greatest race horse in history is no small task. But, I caution you to be careful your book is your book and not someone else’s ideas To help you with reference Waterer • NO ENERGY NEEDED • Simple Installation • Easy Maintenance Please send me information on □ cattleguards □ waterers name address cit hone CONCRETE SAFETY ®Tf tIVIO Route 1095 Pressure System Installation (717 93 material, I suggest you get in touch with your local and state libraries. There, you might sign out periodicals of the times when Man O’ War was racing and standing at stud thousands of magazine stories have been published on the famous red runner. Our Lancaster Public Library’s reference librarian Bob Graham cited several books containing facts on the great race horse As a matter of fact, one book is strictly on Man O’ War that’s the title of a book written by Walter Farley, pubhshe'd by Random House, copyrighted in 1962 Several others include David Alexander’s -book, A Sound of Horses: The World of Racing from Eclipse to Kelso, published by Bobbs-Memll, copyright 1966; Dick Francis’ Sport of Queens, published by Harper, copyright 1969; Who’s Who in Thoroughbred Racing by Ned Welch, printed by Northland Press, 1965, and David Woods’ Fireside Book of Horse Racing, published by Simon and Schuster, 1963 That’s a start Good luck here’s hoping you cross the finish line in record time feed bunks state zip Bethel, Pa. 19507
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers