■2—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 7,19tl Former "oily girl" fin career in By LAUREL SCHAEFFER Staff Correspondent This summer a new face was added to the Berks County Agricultural Stabilization ahd Conservation Service office, whom many countians may have met already that of Mercedes Seman. Mercedes joined the local staff in mid-July, coining from West moreland County, located directly across the state in western Penn sylvania. Now a very enthusiastic soil conservationist, Mercedes would never have dreamed just four or five short years ago that she would be holding such a position. Raised in central Pennsylvania, m New Cumberland a town located near Harrisburg, this young lady ad mitted that she never even knew that such services as ASCS existed until she entered college. “I was never on « farm until 1 went to college,” she said in all honesty. Continuing, the soil conservationist also admitted that she didn’t even know anyone who was from a farm while growing up. However, not to stop deter mination, this “city girl,” planning to pursue a career in business switched gears and decided to follow her instincts instead. “I knew I really wanted to be in agriculture,” she explained, “and found agronomy the most - in teresting.” The crop aspects of agriculture drew her attention when reviewing the various agriculture majors at Penn State" University. So after being enrolled in business as a freshman, this student switched majors a decision she has never regretted. “While 1 was studying business courses, I had friends enrolled in forestry,” she explained." I realized that they were studying subjects and doing something that was more like what 1 really wanted to do even if the job market wouldn’t be as strong.” Mercedes graduated in May 1961 and went to work as a full time soil conservationist She had only completed one soil course when she was hired as a summer trainee with the ASCS between her sophomore and junior years of - y * Mercedes travels on field visits in her faithful truck. She says field experience is just one of the enjoyable aspects of her job. “I've agronomy college. Placed in Westmoreland County, this young lady didn’t even know what the job would be like or mvolve until she started. But she soon discovered that having a job in her chosen major and doing and learning something she really enjoyed was one of the greatest things she could imagine. During the next two summers she was taught a little about everything at the ASCS office. This included working on farm plans, conservation strips, diversions, waterways, and stnpmme work. Here she helped those farmers that were interested in protecting and reclaiming the land. All of these- experiences in volving many different aspects and types of farming have been new to this soil conservationist. She is always trying to learn more about different type of farming and admits there's so much she still needs to learn. “I’ve learned a lot from books while at college, but experience is what teaches,” she said. “A person can learn just so much from a book, but experience is what backs it op.” Mercedes noted that this first hand education, she is obtaining about the different aspects in volved in farm operations is one of the features of her job that she likes best. “1 also like the fact that the ASCS is an advisory organization and not a service that is directly costing farmers anything,” she saidemestly. Another aspect enjoyed most by this soil conservationist is being able to meet different people. After having grown up in the middle of the state, Mercedes has enjoyed being placed m both western and eastern Pennsylvania. People from different areas have different customs and even speak dif ferently, she related. They also have different problems because they are fanning in different types of areas. Having the opportunity to move to different offices across the state provides more experience and broadens knowledge of various conservation practices too, she -V*. *■" ***•* learned a lot from books while at college, but experience is what teaches." .man, ,rks County’s new soil reviews some conservation pr conservationist with the Agricultural cedes joined the staff in mid-July, coming from Stabilization and Conservation Service, Westmoreland County. said. “First band experience is the best way to learn.” Mercedes also noted that she feelsit is very important to get to know the people in the county. Presently she is usually working with an experienced member of the ASCS staff while she is perfecting her own skills. She has enjoyed Berks County and especially likes to be outside on assignments where she can see the beautiful countryside. “Berks looks like a busy county,” she stated. It is very interesting and there always seems to be something going on with farming or industry," she said. Mercedes also noted that the volume of agriculture seems much greater here than in her previous location. The ASCS office is larger too, because the county’s agriculture is greater. In Westmoreland County the topography is much more mountainous, the hills are much steeper and run-off is more of a problem. In Berks County however, with the flatter, rolling lulls, Mercedes has learned dif ferent conservation practices more appropriate to the terrain. Here she has learned how to build terraces, something she never had the opportunity to do.in the steeper farmland. She has also been exposed to many more animal waste holding facilities, but noted that they are increasing m popularity in all areas of the State. While m Westmoreland County, Mercedes helped to design many more diversions; especially near the strip mines. A diversion, Mercedes explained is deeper than a terrace, having a greater water carrying capacity while terraces are broader and in many instances can be farmed over. “With terraces, not as much fanoground is being lost to production and run-off water is being returned to the ground and not carried away as it is in diversions,” she explained. Because the stnpnmung in western Pennsylvania is usually done on steep slopes many diversions are being employed to ease run-off. Much of the land is being refilled after mining but is very unstable, loose and suscep tible to washing. It is usually replanted into grass, Mercedes explained, and used for pasture. Some, however, has been mowed for bay. Mercedes explained that it takes quite a few years to reclaim the refilled mine areas and get them back into production. She has seen oats grown on reclaimed land but believes that it would take perhaps as much as fifty years to get the soil into suitable corn production. “The land needs to be stabilized first,” she explained. This new but very knowledgeable soil conservationist also explained that she has worked with sewage sludge by applying it to the reclaimed land. She quickly admitted that is wasn’t very popular with the people of the area but did prove to be of value to the soil. “The reclaimed land can use all the fertilizer and organic matter it can get,’’ she explained. Another aspect of the sludge not appreciated by the people of the area was that the sludge was coming from Philadelphia where treatment plants are equipped to handle the sewage m the needed form. “They (the area residents) felt that if sludge Was going to be used it coukh at least be local sludge,” Mercedes noted lightly. Mercedes is presently going over the more than 3,000 conservation plans in the Berks County files to bring them up to date. Some of homestead > •* ~ i '-<«• which date back to the 1940’5. She is especially interested in con tacting the owners of the land to see if they are interested m revising their plans or updating them. This gives ho- another op portunity to meet new people and see different farming operations. She would also like to sign up new people and feels it is im portant that land owners become aware of the conservation prac tices available to them and what would be practical for their operation and farmland. “Every little bit of conservation helps,” she stressed. Mercedes had previously expressed her desire of being able to produce the best possible crops from what soil was available as being another major reason for studying agronomy. , This twenty-two-year-old con servationist also enjoys other * things besides her job. She is presently engrossed in decorating her newly found apartment, the first she has ever had. Mercedes also enjoys many different crafts. She has been crocheting since third - grade. She also knits, enjoys drawing, and re finishing furniture. At this time she js trying to catch up on her “loose-ends” before starting another project., She hopes to start making a quilt soon though. Most of her craft skills have been picked up as she grew, noting that she wasn’t involved m - 4-ti even though she wishes there was a club in her area while she was younger. Mercedes feels quite lucky to have found a career in her chosen field so quickly. “Before I switched my major while m college, 1 didn’t believe a girl from the city could possibly get a foothold in agriculture,” she explained seriously. “1 even worked as a bank teller before working for the ASCS,” she continued. Mercedes expects to be in Berks County for approximately one year. “It could be shorter or longer however,” she explained, dependmgon the needs of different areas and the ASCS positions available.” tf/etes
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