Alo—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, January 23,1982
Always room for improvement
Pennsylvania’s farmers have survived
another Farm Show. And, almost amazingly,
this year’s tremendous show was carried out
with nary a hitch except in the draft horse
pulling classes, of course.
When considering a show of the size and
scale of Farm Show, we have to give an ‘A’-
plus to all those who worked together to make
it a success. But let's remember, there’s
always room for improvement. Take for in
stance the weather:
It’s probably taken most of the 66th Penn
sylvania Farm Show exhibitors about seven
days to thaw out from the frigid weather that
enveloped Harrisburg last week.
Even though every Pennsylvanian has been
weaned on the fact that Farm Show week is
destined to be the worst, weather-wise, of the
year, it still seems to catch everyone by sur
prise when that chill Arctic air brings the
inevitable icicles and snow. Driving to and
from the state’s largest agricultural show is
always a challenge.
This year, although the temperatures were
frigid outside the large Farm Show complex,
the atmosphere was warm throughout most of
the barns and exhibit areas. As a matter of
fact, the temperature almost was too warm for
many exhibitors and entries.
In the dairy barn, things were too close
comfort both in crowded conditions and
warmth. Exhibitors complained of the
“shocking” difference in temperature that
they and their cattle experienced when coming
in from the sub-freezing outdoors.
And, the stall occupants were packed in like
sardines this year, despite the fact that many
exhibitors chose to leave a few of their would
be contestants back at the farm. Some of the
cramped quarters was due to the fact that
commercial exhibits lined both sides of the
aisle leading to the main arena rather than just
one side along the wall, as was the case in
previous years.
The dairy cattle shared the squeezed-in
feeling with their counterparts in the beef
barn. Although the temperatures were
somewhat cooler here, exhibitors complained
that their cattle were crowded both in the barn
and outside at night. Although the Farrh Show
Commissioners called for a new tie-out area to
be constructed closer to the complex last year,
the ‘last minute’ facility was built so that cattle
can be tied only to one side but it is new and
in a better-lighted area than before.
Much of the close-quarters in the beef and
horse barn is the result of having to save
spaces for the pulling ponies and horses that
come in for the show during mid-week. These
waiting, empty stalls dividing the drafts and
the cattle are ajconstant reminder of the splace
NOW IS THE TIME
To Peed Efficiently
Cattle and hog producers face
unstable prices for their finished
animals. However, in most cases
the profits must be made from
cheaper gains rather than on the
margin between first cost and
market value. Good management
at all times will help keep down
these costs. The control of
parasites, balanced rations, salt
and minerals, less feed wastage,
and market when ready are all
things that should be handled for
efficient gains. With the price of
Off the
Sotmdi mg
By Sheila Miller, Editor
By Jay Irwin
Lancaster County Agriculture Agent
Phone 717-394-6851
feed grains the cost of weight
should be low enough to realize
some profit when market prices
are favorable. Attention should be
given to the lower cost of weight
gains in all feeding programs. This
is the area where.the feeding
operation can mean profit or loss.
To Make Plans To Attend
Cattle Feeders’Day
Beef cattle feeders are invited to
attend the Lancaster Cattle
Feeders’ Day 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on
Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the Lancaster
Farm and Home Center. Extension
Board
that’s being ‘wasted’ while show boxes,
blocking chutes, wagons, and harness are
shoved into every spare corner.
, In the sheep and swine barn, it was as
crowded as ever. Shepherds and swine
showman each went to their corners to scrub
and spray their entries squeeky clean. And it
was just through luck and Farm Show good
will that the hundreds of hogs and sheep
didn’t come to blows fighting for a wash rack
during the week.
Thd small arena was the focus of some
constructive criticism last week, too. The hog
showmen would like to see half of the small
arfena cleared down to the concrete so. that
judges will be looking at swine entries walking
on a hard- surface. The present situation,
where about 6 inches of tanbark cushions the
floor, allows many unstructurally sound
animals to ‘fake’ their way to the top of their
class.
The sheep showmen also want, changes in
the small arena. They say they’re tired of
getting their entries’ snow-white fleeces
speckled with dark, dirty tanbark the minute
they step onto the small arena floor. Clean
sawdust or wood shavings have been
suggested for a most welcome alternative on
half of the small arena floor.
There seem to be workable solutions to most
of these ’B2 Farm Show woes. The sheep and
swine showmen are working on ah idea that
could be reciprocally' beneficial. And there’s
been talk about improving the beef cattle tie
outs when the parking area is expanded next
year. The too-warm temperatures in the / cattle
barns should be taken care of when the zoned
heating system replaces the central heating
presently in the complex.
And, hopefully work will soon begin on a new
ventilation system that will help clear the air at
Farm Show and make the event more en
joyable for livestock, exhibitors, and visitors
alike. The smoke that cast a bluish-hue
throughout the complex last week was not
from burned-up exhibitors or from the hot
ideas of Commissioners solving Farm Show
headaches, nor was the burning tobacco an
entry in a contest.
Until the Farm Show directors find an air
pollution solution, perhaps all non-exhibit;
tobacco should be kept outside the Farm Show'
doors.
Of course there’s always the cry for higher
premiums, closer parking, and cheaper food.
Solutions to these problems come about as
close to being solved as the chance of finding a
show judge that everybody agrees with we '
all know just how ‘easy’ that would be, right?
Agent, Glenn Shins, mentioned
that this year’s theme is “Feeding
and Marketing Cattle
Economically”. Extension
Specialists, cattle - feeders,
marketing personnel and ag loan
officers will discuss a variety of
topics relating to the cattle, feed
and money situation, costs of
production, hedging, buying and
selling cattle and feed, feeder
cattle marketing programs, plus
feeding and managing cattle for
profit. Participants will have an
(Turn to Page Al 2)
TELL ME AGAIN!
January 24,1982
Background Scripture:
Luke 3; 15-22; 4:14-44;
7:19-23.
Devotional Reading:
1 Corinthians 7:5-13.
Sometimes the Gospel records
tantalize us with what they do not
tell us. For example, they do not
tell us what happens in the mind of
John the Baptist between the tune
of Jesus’ baptism and the days that
just preceded John’s execution by
Herod. But something did happen:
that much is obvious.
In Luke 3 we find him down by
the River Jordan, baptizing the
multitudes that come to him. But
this tune bis message is different:
"I baptize you with water, but he
who is mightier than I is coming,
the thong of whose sandals 1 am
not worthy to untie; he will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and with
fire” (3:15,16). Having announced
the coming of Jesus, John baptizes
him and we are told, “the heaven
was opened and the Holy Spirit
descended upon him as a dove, and
a voice came from heaven, 'Thou
art my beloved Son; with thee 1 am
well pleased” (3:21,22).
Are You the One?
Luke doesn’t tell us that John the
Baptist heard the heavenly voice
or saw the vision ot the dove, but
all the gospel accounts lead us'to
believe that John recognized Jesus
as the long-awaited Messiah, It
must have been the high moment
ot his life, for it represented the
fulfillment of his mission to
“prepare the way” for the
Messiah One wotdd think that that
OUR READERS WRITE,
AND OTHER OPINIONS
Farmers needn’t fear
In the article on the proposed
cruelty to animals bill (Jan. 2,
1982) you'stated that some of the
“sins” are already dealt with in
existing law. However, you failed
to point out which ones these are
and that failure along with the
quoted words of the spokesmen of
the Pennsylvania Farmers
Association and the Pennsylvania
Farmers Union give the im-
HAV HAWS
iu try I can’t geta word
experience would serve to anchor
hisfaitji for the rest of his life.
Apparently, however, it did not.
For when we come upon Luke 7,
we find that John the Baptist is
now uncertain about Jesus. H<]
sends two of his disciples to Jesus
to inquire: “Are you he who is to
come, or shall we look for
another?” (7:19,20). What has
happened to his faith in Jesus in
the tune period covered by the four
intervening chapters? We can only
speculate about what took place-m
John’s mind and heart, but
perhaps it is not really all that
difficult to understand. First of all,
we draw the conclusion that since
the baptism by the Jordan, John
the Baptist has been languishing in
prison. In other >vords, since that
great day of conforming Jesus as
the Christ, John the Baptist has .
been having his faith in God
severely tested. Gone are the
multitudes who came out into the
wilderness to hear him. Is it so
hard for us to conceive that under
these circumstances, he might
have had second thoughts about
Jesus?
Tell What You See
I can sympathize with John, for
there are tunes m my life when,
despite wonderful experiences that
have lifted my faith, 1 haven
allowed myself to wonder
God, Christ, the Kingdom, the life
beyond. These are the tunes when 1
say to God, I know what your
answer is, but tell me again. 1 need
to hear you telling me what 1
already know. 1 need to be
reassured that what my life is built
upon, is solid rock.
And when 1 make that request,
God answers just as Jesus an
swered the disciples of John:
“Go and tell John what you have
seen and heard: the blind receive
the sight, the lame walk, lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf bear, the
dead are raised up, the poor have -
the good news preached to them”
(Luke 7 ;22). It is what 1 personally
have „seen and-M heard that*
reassures me. ' 4
pression that ear cropping of dogs
and failure to milk cows are new
proposals in the law.
In fact .they are part of the
easting law and have been for
many years, as has the section on
hours of labor for horses.
The bill certainly does not
“jeopardize” the fanning industry
since the deprivation of shelter ha&<
(Turn to Page Al 2)
•ut of him."