B2—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, February 6,198 - -
New Farm
president selves
"For Happiness"
BY BETH HEMMINGER
Staff Correspondent
SHIPPENSBURG - Marie
Baughman, the newly-elected
president of the Society of Farm
Women believes in the
organization’s 68-year-old motto,
“For Happiness.”
She said, “That is what the
organization was founded upon and
now in 1982 as president of the
organization of over 4,000 mem
bers I plan to stand by that motto
and continue to make it an
organization of happiness.”
Marie said that was one of the
reasons she joined the-organization
some 20 odd years ago, because
she knew so many farm women
who found joy, fellowship and
happiness in the farm group.
Marie has been a Franklin
County farm woman member for
over 20 years, but she didn’t
become a member until after she
left the dairy farm. She stated,
“While we lived on the farm, the
chores were endless and I felt I
didn’t have the time to devote to
the organization.”
After Marie and her husband.
Merle, and their four children left
the farm, she knew she would have
ample time to be a part of the
group.. She said, “I didn’t want to
lose touch with the farming world
because it bad been my life ever
since I was a child, being raised on
a dairy farm and then marrying a
dairy farmer.” Becoming a
member of the Farm Women’s
Society was one way she said she
could keep in touch with the world
she knew best-farming.
After settling in their home of the
main farm, Marie took little time
in joining the society in Franklin
County, Group 7.
“Farm Women have always enjoyed crafts and handiwork,”
said Marie Baughman as she shows a footstool made by a
Franklin County group who presented it to her when she held
the office of county president. The footstool is appliqued with
the Society of Farm -Women emblem.
Women
' “After that first meeting, the
Society of Farm Women became a
major part of my life,” she stated.
It didn’t take Marie long to
become an intricate member in the
society and she rapidly began
climbing N the ladder of leadership
rungs in the organization. Marie
has been the Charter President of
Group 7, Franklin County
treasurer and county president;
and in the state circle she has
served as treasurer, second state
vice president and first state vice
president, and is now serving a
three-year term as president.
Because Marie has made the
Society of Farm Women a major
part of her life, she has felt it
necessary to learn the history or
basis for the organization of the
group those 68 years ago.
She said, “Flora Black, as all
members know, was the founder of
the Society in 1914. Mrs. Black
began the Farm Women group
with 20 charter members in her
county of Somerset. The group met
in the homes of the members one
day a week to exchange new ideas
for the homes new sewing
techniques, new recipes or even
when a new shipment of fabric that
had arrived at the general store.”
revolutionary thinker for her time,
when women rarely spoke or
thought in public or in groups. But
she had a, grand idea that caught
cm then and now as one can see by
the growth of the organization
from 20 to 4,000 members,” said
the President.
However, everything changes
with the passing of time, said
Marie, and the Society of Farm
Women of Pennsylvania has also
changed. She said that the groups
discuss pertinent topics in far
ming, work on a variety of
projects, and accept not only
women living on 'a fsrm, 'but'
women with a farming background
who are interested in the
agriuclture community. But she
said the main purpose of the group
over the years has stayed the same
as stated in the constitution: “It
' shall be the purpose of this
organization in all of its activates,
to contribute to the power and
influence of the farm home; to
contribute to the community ac
tivity of farm women; to develop
leadership and to promote better
living and working conditions in
the farm homes of Pennsylvania.”
As the 18th President of the
Society, Mrs. .Baughman sees
some additions she would like to
make in the organization during
her term.
Her first concern is mem
bership. She stated that even
though there are a total of 4,015
members across the state, she
feels there are more women out
there who have a farming
background, but just need to be
asked to join. She remarked, “I
plan to encourage all the members
to tell the women in Pennsylvania
about the Society and encourage
those interested in agriculture to
join the ranks of a fine
organization.”
Secondly, she is concerned that
there is no memorial for those who
have served the Society for many,
many years. Marie stated, “I
would like to see a memorial book
added to the group’s collection of
momentos and traditions, where
we can honor those who have
served.”
“The first term in office will be'
busy for me,” remarked the new
president. “Being president of a
large organization like Farm
Women, you are on call at all times
—it is a full-time job.”
Her first major responsibility in
her new post will be the Executive
Board meeting with all of the
county presidents and state of
ficers. Then several weeks later,
. —--^*-•:» «'■»<••.**«*
Marie added that the Farm
Women group was also known for
its work in .education, discussing
and working towards better ways
to educate their children and other
children in the rural community.
And too, the women worked
towards improving farming
conditions and easing the load for
their husbands.
“In those days,” Marie noted,
“farming had little conveniences
—it was hard work.”
“Flora Black was a
Marie Baughman. President of the Society of plate embossed with the Society’s emblem, thi
Farm Women is proud of her many Farm hollyhock surrounded by a rural scene.
Women momentps, like this sterling silver
homestead
fann women, yiß. Vair rp*«3«j%*arip
•58pi<ngHj|>1Ty- t 10 - 1 make thousands and,
Marie remarked, “These two thousands of french friea all week , ;
events will keep me very busy for long, and tbe-group has a great 1
the next few months. And, along time. It is an event I look forward
with the major events, there are to every year.” j',' ,-i ‘
always the meetings to schedule or “Among all the committees,
a committee to organize and my meetings and French Fry corn
local group to help.” mittees,” said. Marie the most
Marie added, “Just because I cherished moments by all. the j
hold' a state office, lam not going members is the host of friends and
to abandon my local group. I have fellowship everyone enjoys and
too much fun in it!” shares in the Society.”
She said that she enjoys the “It seems like Ihave talked little
speakers, craft days, historical about myself and mainly about the
tours and the French Fry com- organization that lam a part,’but
mittee of the local group. the Society of Farm Women fe me,
She explained that the french it is my career and I couldn’t think
Fry Committee of Group 7 of a better occupation or a better
operates a food stand at-the way to spend a day or a lifetime!”
Lancaster Co. Society 2
Lancaster Society 2 held 'their
January meeting at the home of
Edna Loose of Penryn.
Twenty-one members answered
roll call by donating a get well and
sympathy card stamped and ready
for mailing.
Ruth Waltz was initiated as new
treasurer, replacing Elizabeth
Lancaster Co. Society 11 ,
Lancaster Society 11 met
January 28 at the home of Grace
Ann Chase.
Roll call was answered by 10
members telling a resolution they
intend to keep this year.
For the evening’s entertainment,
cfa/im
Societies
Shenk.
Opal Ruhl, 1981 county president
was guest speaker for tbe evening.
Ruhl was bom on a cotton farm
in South Carolina and gave each
member seeds to grow for fun.
The next meeting will be held
February 13 at the home of Esther
Farrell of Manheim.
Helen Shaub conducted a general
information quiz and a spelling
bee.
The February meeting will be
held February 25 at the home of
Esther Wood:
(Turn to Page B 4)
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