Bl6—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 10,1981 Michelle Bankert is outstanding 4-H’er, swine producer BY JOYCE BUPP Staff Correspondent HANOVER Operating a swine farm of her own is the goal of this year’s York Fair outstanding 4-H exhibitor, Michelle Banker! Michelle, 18, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Bankert, R 3 Hanover. A 4-H member for seven years, Michelle is a veteran hog showman m both youth and open classes. She’s also exhibited beef and sheep during her 4-H career, as well as carry a variety of other projects, including cooking, sewing, vegetables, forestry and crafts. Although the Bankert family has been breeding and marketing purebred Durocs and Chester Whites for several -years, the family only moved onto the farm a half-decade ago. As a small girl, - Michelle frequently accompanied her dad to the bams to help tend., the herd, absorbing invaluable information about the pork production business. “Most of my hog knowledge came from my dad,” credits Michelle. “He got me interested in judging, too.” A member of the county’s 4-H livestock judging team, Michelle earned enough points earlier this summer in state competition to place fourth high individual in the Penn State contest. In 1979, she was part of the county team SEPTIC TANKS Drain Fields - Filter Beds Specializing in Sewage Systems rrlsßSsi&jC ill All Types on Lot O Dynamic Masonry Contractors GORDONVILLE finishing in the state 4-H runner-up position. A high point in her 4-H judging efforts, though, came in 1980 when the county’s meats judging team topk state honors, and she traveled with her three teammates to the Royal Livestock Exhibition in Kansas City for national com petition. Ironically, Michelle laments that she does her judging on hog classes, gaining considerably more points in the sheep scoring categories. Within the relatively few years she's been studying the art of livestock evaluation, ideal hog" type traits have done a tur nabout. While judges once looked for a large, thick-topped animal with lots of body, today’s hog is more preferred long, narrow in dividual, with less body depth. About 200 head of purebred breeder and market animals fill the assortment of pens in the Bankert" bams, with Michelle employed full-time on the operation. Among her respon sibilities are helping with the feeding, and with moving groups of hogs within the series of pens. “My dad moves more pigs around than anyone else I know.” she quips with a grin. A June graduate of Spring Grove Area High School, Michelle is also employed part-time in the offices of the Thomasville Livestock Auction. After a year of assisting MIKE FISHER & LARRY HERR 687-6801 SPECIAL FARM PRICES FREE ESTIMATES with the hog operation, she plans to enroll at Harrisburg Area Com munity College for computer programming studies. With just one year of 4-H remaining, Michelle plans to continue focusing her main efforts toward hog production, while stepping into greater leadership with the younger members of the 4- H clubs. She’s president of the Jefferson Community Club, active in the county swine club and for mer officer of county council. A year ago, the attractive, hog enthusiast won the crown as the county 4-H queen. Along with 4-H king Bill Wise,, she’s made numerous appearances promoting the 4-H program within the organization and to the general public. As the fair’s outstanding 4-H’er, Michelle may select an expense paid trip within the country to some event related to her project activities. She’s chosen to attend the Duroc Classic, part of the International Livestock Exposition scheduled for Louisville, Ken tucky, in mid-November. Now, for many young women, a trip to a hog show would be no major thrill. But for Michelle Bankert, youthful in age but mature in her knowledge of the pork industry, the Louisville Expo is just one more Wold Guard ffiOfflOraaO OoDsoaffame© SaDDopam^ Lancaster, PA 717-569-5361 "Friend of Farmers since 1896.” s' O'.' !< %.« • • ........ '> • » ./•. a a-/- s ■"ssv* Our highest priority is to provide the best fire and casualty insurance to farmers in Pennsylvania. Our agent in your area will gladly give you a proposal without any obligation. NANCY S. BRATTON R.D. #l, Millerstown, PA KENNETH A. KING R.D. N 2, Millville, PA EN6LE HAMBRIGHT & DAVIES, INC. 115 E. King St.. Lancaster, PA H. NORMAN FISHEI & SONS, INC. 32 N. Main St., Red Lion, PA Michelle Bankert, selected as the York Fair’s outstanding 4-H'er, puts the finishing touches to a 4-H promotional exhibit at the Bankert family's swine pens. Hogs are Michelle's favorite animals. logical step up the ladder to “Michelle Bankert’s Purebred hanging out a sign that reads, Swine.” MO/SSm mmmom. S7/HL Tfc* HbrMt tl feilutfCfcaia Saw STOLTZFUS WOODWORK RD Gap. PA Box 183 1 MileKorth Rt 897 From Gap MARTIN HARDWARE & EQUIPMENT Co rn 50) JVi Miles South ol Schaefferstown, PA Phone 717*949-6817 WES STAUFFER SALES & SERVICE RD3 Ephrata, PA Phone (717) 738-4215 ' Ephrata Exit New Rt 222, Vi Mile West on Rt 322 Turn left onto Pleasant Valley Rd. 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