AlD—Lancaster Firming, Friday, December 24,1982
What was the best present you ever
received for Christmas?
Answering that question would take some
thought, because all the gifts I’ve received
from parents and loving friends and relatives
over the years have been so very special.
But, if I had to narrow it down to the "very
best" present, it would surely have to be the
present that was too big to wrap and came two
months before December 25. What was it?
Why, it was the chance to buy our farm.
Some folks might not consider that much of
a gift, considering that it took six years of
planning and saving for my husband Mike and
me to come within arm's reach of owning a
farm. But for us it was the culmination of a
goal, a heart’s desire, a childhood dream.
This will be our second Christmas on the
farm. Holiday decorations don’t abound since
our rat-race pace keeps us pouring most of our
efforts into “must-do” chores before heading
off to face the challenges of our respective
jobs, but the thankful spirit the season sparks
can still be felt without all the glitter and
garland.
We, like other farmers across the state, take
a few moments at this special time of year to
extend season’s greetings to friends and
neighbors. Whether through a colorful card or
telephone call, a Christmas “hello" brings a
smile from anyone on the receiving list.
And, if the rest of the world shares my
NOW IS THE TIME
To Review Partnership
Agreements
There are a number of ad
vantages to establishing farm
partnerships, but an annual review
of the agreement and its value in
relation to current needs is
essential.
I would like to offer a few
suggestions for those who have
entered into farm partnership
agreements.
Once a farm partnership is
drawn up, the agreement should be
reviewed at least once a year. This
should be done for two reasons.
First, to see how well each of the
partners is meeting his
obligations... and secondly, to
carefully evaluate the agreement
to see if it is doing its intended job.
Then too, farming is a rapidly
changing business. So don’t be
surprised if the agreement you set
up just a couple of years ago isn’t
entirely adequate to meet today’s
needs.
So, review that agreement
carefully. If it doesn’t quite
ons
"twas Thie night Before.
CHR&TW& WO Ml TWJOO6W Pi HUNGRY
Off the
Sounding
By Sheila Miller, Editor
The very
By Jay Irwin
Lancaster County Agriculture Agent
Phone 717-394-6851
measure up to current needs, plan
to make the necessary changes
before 1983 rolls around.
To Control Livestock Parasites
The winter feeding programs are
underway and parasite infested
livestock are poor money makers.
Body lice are often found on nearly
all species of livestock. In cold
weather the heavy hair coats make
it difficult to eradicate these pests.
For best results, use two treat
ments at 12 to 14 day intervals.
Some cattle operators will have
automatic louse control devices
filled with an insecticide. This is
excellent and efficient - if the
materials are kept in the equip
ment. In milder weather cattle can
be sprayed with the material using
cold water. Stomach worms should
also be eradicated in order to make
the best use of feeds. The local
veterinarian can check fecal
samples to determine the in
fection. You can not afford to
operate with parasite infestation of
any kind.
To Consider Machinery Purchase
Machinery manufacturers and
Board
best gift
sentiments, it is so much more inviting to open
a mailbox stacked full of envelopes when not
one of them is a bill.
Not only are our Christmas greetings ex
tended to friends of the "human” sort, but we.
like most farmers, can't resist sharing our
holiday cheer with our animals slipping in
an extra slice of hay to the horses, and dipping
a little deeper into the grain barrel for the
cattle. Even the canine “freeloaders” that lead
dogs’ lives on the farm find a hidden biscuit in
their normally unadorned dog food dinners.
These holiday "spoilmgs" of our livestock
reflect the special feelings most farmers have
for their animals. And, it’s only fitting since
animals were a special part of Christ’s birth,
too.
How honored farmers can be, knowing that
of all possible settings for the miraculous
birth, God chose a humble manger.
Surrounded by sheep, cattle, and donkeys, the
Christ child entered this world. Not only kings
and princes witnessed the event, but
shepherds who were watching their flocks that
night traveled to Bethlehem to see Him.
As this Christmas season finds us milking
while others drink eggnog, and feeding
livestock while others dine at Christmas Eve
parties, we need to remember that stable
where so long ago a baby was born.
.. . Yes, come to think of it, the chance to
buy a farm was only the second best gift I ever
received. Merry Christmas.
dealers are beginning to work
down stocks of machinery. Most
dealers still have a long way to go,
though, as they will tell you in a
minute. But one of these days the
very attractive deals that are
currently available will no longer
exist. In fact, the USDA outlook
claims that the time is coming
when you'll probably have to order
major items rather than buy them
off the floor. That time, judging
from the current and near term
farm economic climate, won’t
occur for a while. If you have the
financial strength to handle the
deal, now is a very good time to
acquire, either through purchase
or lease, equipment you really
need, claims Chester D. Hughes,
Extension Livestock Agent.
Your trees and shrubs will be
able to withstand the winter
.conditions in better shape - with
a little help from you. Some winter
protection might help save your
valued trees and shrubs.
Thin-barked trees can be
To Protect Trees and Shrubs
(Turn to Pace Al 2)
REASONABLE
TEMPTATIONS
December26,l9B2
Background Scripture: Luke 3:21
through 4:15.
Devotional Reading: Luke 3:15-20.
There are essentially two things
that we must understand about the
temptation of Jesus as recorded in
Luke 4. The first of these is that
they were real temptations.
Lots of people have tended to
regard the temptation of Jesus as
more of a drama than an actual
temptation, as a setting simply for
a confrontation between Jesus and
Satan. It is hard for these people to
think of Jesus as really being
tempted.
HE WAS HUNGRY
“Really being tempted” means
more than just having an at
tractive offer. It means having a
yearning to accept that offer. Luke
wants us to understand that the
temptation in the wilderness was
for Jesus a real temptation: he not
only perceived the attractive offer
from Satan, but he had some
yearnings to accept that offer.
That is why Luke tells us, “And he
ate nothing in those days; and
when they were ended, he was
hungry.” His hunger made the
offer from Satan attractive.
Secondly, we must realize that
the temptations were appealing
because they were so reasonable.
A temptation that is not reasonable
Farm Calendar -q|S/
Saturday, Dec. 25
MEKKY CHRISTMAS
Monday, Dec. 27
Lancaster Conservation
District meeting, Leola
Family Restaurant, 10
a.m.
is no temptation at all. Note that all
of the offers that Satan made to
Jesus followed a kind of logic:
Jesus was hungry, so if he was the
Son of God, why not use his power
to save him from collapse from
hunger? There was nothing
illogical about it And when Saw
showed him all the kingdoms of the
world and offered them to Jesus if
he would worship him, there was a
logic to that as well. No less logical
and reasonable was the challenge
to prove his Sons hip by throwing
himself down from the pinnacle of
the temple. The tempter was
calling his Sons hip into question;
was it not reasonable therefore to
attempt to prove it?
ITIS WRITTEN...
You and I never have to wonder
if our temptations are real. We
know they are. We know how
reasonable they seem, how logical
their invitation. That is why it is
important for us to know that the
temptations of Jesus were real
temptations, for only thus are
assured that he can understand
what it means to be tempted.
And because of the way Jesus
responded to his tempter, you and 1
know that we too can resist temp
tations and fmd redemption when
we have failed to resist it. Jesus
fell back for support on what he
knew about God. £ach time, he
said, “It is written...” and
remembered important truths
from God that had been handed
from on generation to another;
“Man shall not live by bread
alone,” “You shall worship the
Lord your God, and him only shall
you serve,” and “You shall not
tempt the Lord your God.”
Defeated for the moment, the
devil departed. But be would be
back at an "opportune time.” Just
as be returns again and again to
us. . .
Thursday, Dec. 30 -
Columbia Coumty Annual
DHIA Meeting, noon,
Lightstreet Grange Hall.
Saturday, Jan. 1
HAPPY NEW YEAH