Alt— Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 27,1952
Ayrshire Breeders donate $5OO to Ag Arena
BY BETH HEMMINGER
Staff Correspondent
CARLISLE Hie Pennsylvania
Ayrshire Breeders voted
unanimously to donate |5OO to the
Penn State Ag Arena fund during
last Saturday's annual meeting,'
held here at the Embers
Resturant.
During the meeting, J. Douglas
Dodds, executive secretary of the
National Association, reported to
the assembled breeders on the
financial and future outlook for the
State and National Ayrshire
Breeders. He reported that the
Association closed their books in
the black this year, with the
Ayrshire Digest pulling the
Association through with a plus of
$1,900.
Dodds encouraged the group to
commit themselves to sampling
young sires. He said, ‘"Die future
of the Ayrshire breed hinges on
every breeders sampling com
mitment.” He added that “only
when breeders begin to use young
bulls will we get a proper sampling
and find the outstanding genetics
in each.”
Dodds suggested every breeder
commit 40 percent of their herd to
sampling the young sires. He
stated, “These young bulls should
be genetically better than any of
the bulls already proven today. We
are not sampling the young sires
for our own health, but for the
health and well-being of the
Ayrshire breed. So, by sampling
them, you will help the breed and
yourself.”
The executive secretary pointed
out that all breeding services like
Carnation, Atlantic, Mid-West, etc.
are standing behind the Young Sire
Sampling programs and have
already been adding Ayrshire bulls
to their lists. “Since the beginning
Penn State Hort Club adds to Ag Arena fund
Wayne Mortensen, center, president of the Horticulture
Club at Penn State, presents a $5OO check in behalf of the
organization, to Dean Samuel Smith, of the. College of
Agriculture, as a contribution to the Ag Arena Building Fund.
With them are, from left: Milford Heddleson, coordinator of
environmental quality affairs in the College and co-chairman
of the fund raising campaign; and Roland Daniels, associate
of A. 1.40 years ago, this is the most
exciting time for any Ayrshire
breeder,” he said.
Dodds commented on the
Association’s conversion to
computerization during the past
year. He said the process of
registering and transferring the
cattle has not speeded up at all. “It
will still take approximately four
weeks to complete the process due
to the fact that the mam terminal
is in South Carolina." He
acknowledged the computer has
eliminated much of the manual
labor involved in the process. He
reminded the group that the
Association’s special rush service
for registering and transferring
has been reinstated for a nominal
fee. It will cost the breeder $lO per
rush application.
Dodds pointed out to the
members that in the next few
months the directors will be
wrestling with several very im
portant topics which will effect the
future of the Association.
First, he said, the directors are
going to take a hard look at joint
field work with other high protein
breeds. And along the same lines,
said Dodds, the directors will be
looking seriously at type
evaluation work. In both of these
areas, the directors hope to discuss
ways m which one person could be
used in one general area for all
breeds.
In reference to the evaluations,
Dodds remarked, “There are a lot
of good cattlemen out there who
can judge all types of cattle. I think
it is a topic all breeds will be
looking at and discussing.”
Dodds expressed his concerns as
well as the directors’ concerns for
the last topic—occupancy. He said
the directors are going to be
discussing possibilities of joint
l urine annual meeting
, . ig , - nyrs> ,e breeder in Cum
berland County, takes a break during the Pa. Ayrshire Assn,
annual meeting last Saturday. Ocker is a new director and
member of the Youth Committee.
occupancy. Dodds said that'all
members should realize that the
Association is maintaining a large
structure. “With the cost of
utilities and main tan ce, is it
financially economical for the
Association to continue the upkeep
alone?” he asked.
Earl Keefer, a Pennsylvania Keefer remarked that the Ar
member and the president of the drossan Farm of Villanova,
National Association reported on donated the bull to the young sire
the Pennsylvania Young Sire program. After the testing and
Program. He stated that Ar- units of semen are realty for
drossan Star M.M. Ross is being - sampling, the bull will be taken
tested at Atlantic Breeders and has
passed all the preliminary testing.
Keefer said, “The bull shows a
good pedigree and genetic base,
his sire being Oak Ridge Star Man
and his dam Ardrossan Albi’s
Roster, classified 88.”
P n -i is
Ernest Bergman, professor of horticulture, also co-advisor of
the student group. The Ag Arena, a 19,000-square-foot
facility to be constructed adjacent to Penn State's Beaver
Stadium, will provide for classrooms, student activities, and
statewide shows and events. The Horticulture Club pledged a
total of $3,000t0 the fund.
back to the Ardrossan Farm.
However, he said any breeders
who donates a bull for testing and*,
sampling has a privilege of maiding
a contract with Atlantic
Breeders. Keefer expressed his
excitement about the bull and is
hoping that by mid-Summer the
units will be ready for sampling.
Taking the sire program from
present to future, Keefer told the
breeders that be sees the program
eventually buying young sires for
sampling. He stated, “It is m the
distant future, but it is something
that every Ayrshire breeder should
think about. I believe the young
sire program is of great value to
the breed, now and for our future
as Ayrshire breeders.”
Milton Brubaker, secretary
treasurer of the Pennsylvania
Association reported that David
Paul, an FFA member and Ayr
shire breeder was selected in
January to receive the Out
standing FFA Ayrshire Award.
David has seven registered Ayr*
shires and is a senior in HigHM
School at Garret. The young 2 *
breeder raises crops such as
wheat, barley, oats, and com to
support his animals. According to
Brubaker, Paul said he would use
the award of |lOO to purchase
another Ayrshire calf.
Wrapping upthe annual meeting
was the election of officers. John
Ocker, 111, was voted in to serve as
a director, while all the other of
ficers and directors remained the
same. They are as follows: J.
Garrett Hunter, president;
Charles Gable, vice president;
Milton Brubaker, secretary
treasurer; and Ed Turulo, Harold
Kulp, Sam Diehl, Wilda Kline,
Riduu-d Lyons, Paul Kemerer,
Carol Scfaurman, Barbara Bader
and Dale Maulfair, directors.