BY DONNA McCONAUGHEY
Staff Correspondent
CHARLEROI - “He traveled
for our Jersey Cow," were the
initial words used by Clyde
Robinson as he announced the
recipient of the Pennsylvania
Jersey Cattle Club Distinguished
Service Award.
In fact, Kenneth “Dutch” Lusk
of Charleroi, Washington County,
will never be able to estimate the
untold hours he traveled for the
Jersey breed. In his 68 years,
Dutch has served the Jersey breed
in many capacities.
Dutch, however, was unable to
accept the award in person as he
has been in the hospital four times
in the first three months of 1984 for
a total of 42 days. Dutch is now
home from the hospital and
recently received clearance from
his doctor to walk outside if the
temperature is 50-60 degrees. As
can be expected, Dutch is finding it
Back home in Washington County
res, a six-acre farm in Washington county is
Pennsylvania's best Jerseys.
BY DONNA McCONAUGHEY
Staff Correspondent
CHARLEROI - “Small but
mighty” describes the impact of
Lusk’s Little Acres and the Robert
Lusk family.
This family has certainly made
an impression in Jersey circles.
Their farm consists of six acres
and an additional few acres of
pasture and a barn which neigh
bors permit them to use for
heifers.
Lusk’s Little Acres is a family affair. Bob and Connie Lusk
and their children, Mike, Lisa and Michelle have developed a
productive, well-bred herd of Jerseys.
‘Dutch’ Lusk travels for the Jersey breed
difficult to stay inside, especially
with the arrival of spring.
The award he received has made
this a special spring despite the
problems. The plaque is now sit
ting on the mantel and will soon be
displayed on the wall above “his
chair." It will claim a place of
honor as has the trophy presented
to him in 1966 by District I Jersey
breeders for his Outstanding
Service to Youth.
Dutch has been active in the
Jersey breed not only in Penn
sylvania but throughout the East
coast. He began farming as a teen
ager and is very proud of the fact
that he started with Jerseys.
Dutch borrowed money from his
father to buy his first cows and also
bought and sold cattle as he built
up his herd. He developed a
business of selling milk to homes in
Cannonsburg and Washington and
worked all aspects of the business,
Small but mighty is Lusk’s Little Acres
Bob and Connie both have roots
deeply imbedded in the Jersey
breed. Bob is the son of Kenneth
“Dutch” Lusk, long-time Jersey
supporter, and Connie is the
daughter of Clyde Robinson. They
showed Jerseys together and
“fought then” reminisces Connie.
They married and purchased their
home and its surrounding acreage
with no intentions of farming.
However, Dutch encouraged
them to consider becoming in-
A family affair
from pasteurizing to driving the
delivery trucks.
He eventually developed his herd
until he was milking 75 cows and
farming 250 acres. That may sound
average today, but in the 1940’s
that was a big herd.
Dutch’s four children all helped
on the farm but his son. Bob, is the
only one who is actively involved
today. After Bob was through
college and the other two sons had
decided they didn’t like to milk
cows, Dutch sold his milking cows
but kept the heifers. He continued
to raise and sell heifers.
This sale of cows allowed Dutch
to travel more, and he eventually
accepted a position as field
representative for the American
Jersey Cattle Club. He traveled in
several eastern states visiting
farms, going to sales, and en
couraging Jersey breeders. He
held this position for four years
during which time he established a
some
volved with Jerseys as then
children became old enough for 4-
H. The beginning of this successful
Jersey herd occurred nine years
ago. The first calves were pur
chased as 4-H projects for the Lusk
children. Intially the cows in milk
were farmed out to neighboring
farms.
Eventually the Lusks had ac
cumulated enough milking cows to
justify the building of a bam. In
planning their building project
they determined that total dollars
invested would be kept to a
minimum. Their facilities include
a three-sided free-stall shed and a
six-stanchion milking parlor.
This family operation is proof
that quality results can be obtained
with minimal monetary in
vestment. The herd average for
1983 was over 13,000 pounds of milk
on DHIR. The Lusks only intended
to milk 15 cows, but like many
breeders, found themselves
milking 31 Jerseys. They have
since sold 15 and plan to “keep it at
that”.
The herd is primarily homebred.
Very few have been purchased
since the original foundation cows
were brought to the farm.
As has been hinted at, this
operation is a family affair. Bob is
employed full time as Director of
Washington County ASCS office.
He particularly enjoys this job as
he is able to visit farms and work
with dairymen in the milk
diversion program.
Connie seems to keep it all
together on this farm. She is the
' < »
Jtc jsk was recently named the recipient of the
Pennsylvania Jersey Cattle Club’s Distinguished Service
Award.
goal of visiting farms which had
never seen a breed representative
before.
Dutch said, “The big established
breeders didn’t need to see me as
badly as the little guy who was
trying to get started. He needed all
the information and en
couragement I could share. ’ ’
It was during this time that
Dutch recalls gathering a group of
219 heifers together for a Penn
sylvania State Sale. “They were a
good group of heifers,” he
one who is home during the day to
be the calf chaser when they get
out, coordinates chores, and keeps
things running smoothly in a
family of three very active
teenagers. Connie also runs a dog
grooming business in her home
which allows her to be on the farm
much of the time.
Milking chores are distributed in
this family. Bob milks the first
group in the morning and Connie
finishes. Michelle and Lisa milk in
the evenings and during the
Production honors
This herd of Jersey cows thrive well in a six-stanchion
milking parlor where they have topped the pail to reap many
production awards for their owners.
Service award
recalled. “It took us nearly three
weeks to pull those together.”
Despite his very busy schedule,
Dutch found time for “the kids”.
He helped the District I
(Washington and Greene counties)
youth group become one of the
most active in the state and
eventually served as youth
chairman for the Pennsylvania
Jersey Cattle Club. Districts were
smaller in those days which Dutch
saw as an advantage. “The kids
(Turn to Page A 36)
summer. Mike is not fond of
milking but is responsible for the
breeding program and much of the
heavy work on the farm.
This family effort has paid off in
many ways. Production awards
have been won by many of their
cows. In fact, Connie proudly
states that since they first had
cows in milk, the kids have won
one or two production awards each
year.
(Turn to Page A 36)