Young Farmers gather in Berks County
BY ROBIN PHILLIPS
Staff Correspondent
LEESPORT Pennsylvania
Young Farmers gathered in Berks
County last weekend as the Berks
County chapters hosted the 25th
Annual Pennsylvania Young
Farmers Summer Conference at
the Ag Center, Leesport.
The host chapters, Conrad
Weiser and Kutztown Area,
treated the 250 farmers and wives
to a weekend of farm tours, dan
cing, volleyball and horseshoe
competition and fellowship at the
4-H Center and on farms
throughout the county. Displays
and exhibits by local businesses
were also featured in the 4-H
Center for farmers to browse
through on their free time.
After registration on Friday,
Ontelaunee Orchards and Willow
Creek Animal Hospital were
toured while the Executive board
and Committees held their
meetings. At the orchards, visitors
viewed the controlled atmosphere
fruit storage building and also the
retail operation. Willow Creek
Animal Hospital with its nine
veterinarians and staff, displayed
the in-patient and out-patient
facilities including a pharmacy, x
ray room, diagnostic lab, en
viornmentally controlled
examination rooms, operating
room, recovery room, and a large
animal treatment area.
Following lunch, afternoon tours
were arranged in either the Conrad
Weiser area or the Kutztown area.
The Conrad Weiser tour featured
Big Springs Farm, Robesonia;
Robesonia Flowers, Robesonia;
Mark Wolf skill Dairy/Beef Farm,
and United Associated Grocers,
Robesonia.
Big Springs Farm is the tem
porary home of many soon-to-be
outstanding race horses. Dr.
Thompson provides a special
veterinary service for these race
horses from the United States and
Canada who have racing
disabilities. The 135 acre rail
fenced farm also raises Stan
dardbred horses from foals until
ready to race. a
Robesonia Flowers is a family
operated greenhouse covering
15,000 square feet with two poly
houses and one glass house. Highly
automated, they specialize in
inding below Young Farmer banner are Kenneth Sanner,
left, president of the host Kutztown Chapter, and Harvey
Krill, past officer of the Conrad Weiser Chapter.
annual tlower, vegetable, ana
special perennial plants through
direct marketing.
The Mark Wolfskill dairy/beef
operation utilizes bull calves from
the 95 cow milking herd plus
purchases from various brokers.
The herd maintains an average of
19,500 milk and 725 fat, and 290
head of beef animals are finished
annually at 1400-1500 pounds. High
emphasis is also placed on water
and soil conservation.
The final stop on this tour was
with United Associated Grocers,
the distribution and warehouse
facility in Robesoma Ui.;.
328 stores in 18 counties. The
company features 184 employees
and 65 trucks to facilitate delivery
of a quality product.
Marstellar Farm was the first
stop on the Kutztown area tour.
Housing 900 head of beef cattle at
all times, the farm featured three
25 x 80 Harvestores, two 30 x 85
stave silos, and a slurry store
manure storage system.
Vista Grande Dairy Farm was
also visited. Founded in 1936 by
Alpheus and Miriam Ruth, the
farm is currently operated by
Joseph and Joanne Ruth and David
and Phoebe Bitler. The opeation
consists of 463 acres of cropland
and a 85 head milking herd of
registered Holsteins. A small herd
of Jerseys is also housed on the
farm.
The Rodale Research Center in
Maxatawny Township, east of
Kutztown, was also viewed. The
agronomy, new crop, and
aquaculture areas were featured
on the tour.
The last stop was the Giorgio
Foods, Inc. mushroom plant. The
largest canner of processed
mushrooms in the nation, the 150
acre Giorgio plant includes their
own canning company,
warehouses, and fleet of delivery
trucks.
Friday evening highlights in
cluded the annual banquet and
hoedown dancing after the catered
meal. After greetings by Kenneth
Sanner, Kutztown YF president,
and Eugene Brubaker, Conrad
Weiser YF president, State
Senator, Michael A. O’Pake, spoke
to the state’s young fanners.
Saturday’s agenda featured
more tours including; Hidden-
View Farm, Robesonia, Oaken-
The Eastern Pennsylvania Pork Producers prepared the noon meal for Young
Farmers. Helping out at the grill are Dennis Cooper and son, Lenhartsvilie; Michael
Moore, Oley; Paul Myers, Fleetwood; Melvin Burkholder, Fleetwood; and Lloyd Cooper,
Lenhartsvilie.
bound Holsteins, Richland,
Hedlund Martin, Inc., dairy in
dustry equipment, Mil-Joy Farms,
Virginville, Rothrock Golden
Holsteins, Kempton, and Peters
Brothers Meat Market, Lenhart
svilie.
The Eastern Pennsylvania Pork
Producers prepared ham steak for
the afternoon lunch break.
Volleyball and horseshoe contests
followed the noon meal as the
Young Farmers concluded their
conference.
The state president, Thomas
Zartman, Ephrata, was on hand to
remind everyone of the Mid-Winter
convention scheduled for February
6 and 7 in Somerset County and the
1985 Summer Conference to be
hosted by the Ephrata Chapter.
Twining heads
Md. ag unit
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Dr. Paul V.
Twining of Princess Anne was
elected Chairman of the Maryland
Agricultural Commission at their
last meeting which was held at the
Department of Agriculture in
Annapolis. Twining an in
dependent poultry management
consultant and contract broiler
grower represents the poultry
industry on the Commission.
The Agricultural Commission is
an advisory group to the Secretary
of Agriculture. The 17 members
represent almost every com
modity group throughout the State.
Twining succeeds George Kemp,
also of Princess Anne who stepped
down after four years as Chair
man.
Secretary of Agriculture, Wayne
A. Cawley, Jr., presented citations
to two retiring members, F. Grove
Miller and C. Rodman Myers.
Cawley expressed his appreciation
to both retirees for their dedication
both to the Commission and to
Maryland agriculture.
Miller of North East was one of
the original members when the
Commission was created in 1969
serving as the representative of
the State Board of Agriculture. His
term expired in 1971, however, he
was reappointed in 1978 to
represent the Maryland Farm
Bureau.
Myers of Thurmont has
represented the Maryland State
Grange for the last six years. He is
a dairy farmer who has been'a
very active member of several
organizations and currently serves
as president of Maryland Ajg Week.
Guests from across the Commonwealth enjoyed the Pa.
Dutch fixin's at Young Farmer gathering.
and Ken Sanner, Kutztown president.