816-Umcaster Farming, Saturday, April 6,1985
BY SALLY BAIR
Staff Correspondent
NEW OXFORD - Rodney E.
Herr is the State Star Farmer, the
highest production agriculture
award in the Future Farmers of
America m Pennsylvania.
For Herr it was the culmination
of many years of hard work,
keeping extensive and accurate
records and filling out project
books. About winning the award he
says,“lt felt great. All these years
were worthwhile. ’ ’
Herr is a senior at New Oxford
High School in Adams County and
served as president of the work he
does in swine and poultry projects.
His record books show the
profitability and the extent of the
projects, but it is Herr’s effort and
determination that tells the real
story of this successful young
farmer.
Herr is the son of Mrs. Erma
Herr and the late Clair E. Herr of
Gettysburg, and he farms Glen
Afton Farm in partnership with his
mother and older brother, Stanley.
Together they operate a 400-acre
farm, marketing about 3,000 hogs
annually, with a herd of 165 brood
sows. They also raise about 50,000
pullets each year, and grow
soybeans and com.
Herr’s FFA projects include 32
brood sows/gilts, 600 head of
market hogs, 17,000 pullets, 13
acres of com and 50 acres of
soybeans. But the responsibilities
of this 18-year-old do not stop with
An automated mixing system makes it easy for the Herrs to
mix their own feed on a daily basis. Here, Rodney enters data
into the computer which controls the mixing operation.
Rodney Herr looks over some of the sows which make up his FFA project and which
contributed to his being named state star farmer.
Effort, determination
his own projects-he is heavily
involved with the entire farm.
His chores are completed before
school, even if that means getting a
very, very early start to find time
for all the extra activities. FFA
has been a family tradition in the
Herr family, with Rodney’s father
having been a member, and his
brother having achieved a
Keystone farmer degree.
The time and responsibilities
don’t bother Herr. He says frankly,
I think I alwajs wanted to be a
farmer. I like the farm and I like
learning about farming.” And, of
primary importance to his future,
he says, “I think you can make a
good living with hogs. ’ ’
Of course he has learned a lot
about his projects and farming
through FFA, and he says he will
continue to be a member after
graduation. But he also says that
he and his brother receive many
magazines which they read to
learn the latest information. They
also attend “a lot of swine schools,
meetings and shows.” All of this
openness to learning has helped
them to build one of the most
modern and largest swine
operations in Adams County.
The farrow to fimsh operation
includes separate facilities for
different ages of swine, as well as a
very modern maternity area.
Contributing to Herr’s success in
the star farmer competition is his
very high degree of success in
raising pigs.
pay off for Star
In Hen a project,.'!, he has 96
percent live pigs at birth, 92
pounds average litter weight, and
9.9 pigs per litter. Herr
acknowledges pride in this success
and says, “One reason is that we
give iron shots and add dry iron to
their feed. Good nutrition helps a
lot.”
To have the best in feed, the
Herrs mix their own with a com
puter system which formulates the
ration for each age group. The
Herr brothers mix feed every day,
and have even begun making their
own pre-mix because it is more
economical. They raise all their
own feed. Herr says they like
mixing their own, adding, “The
fresher the feed the better.”
They market about 80-100 hogs
every two weeks, year round. Pigs
are with sows for about four weeks,
then they go into pens with raised
decks for another three to four
weeks. Herr said, “Even if the
deck is just a few inches off the
floor, the pigs do better.”
Next the pigs go into 4-by-15
pens, 10 to a pen. Herr said that
with fewer pigs in a pen they
exercise more and do better. At
this stage they are fed manually
“ Then we know what they’re
getting,” Herr notes. Once they
move to the finishing pens they are
fed totally on an automatic
system. -
Very extensive record keeping is
important in FFA and helps in
winning awards, but Herr feels it is
necessary in any case. “It helps
you know what’s going on, and how
good your business is doing. It
helps you know where to unprove
and what you are spending.”
Of course, knowing how im
portant records are and actually
keeping them are two different
matters. Herr’s vo-ag teacher
Brian Campbell says he urges all
his students to keep records up to
date, and says he makes specific
time available for students to work
on records. He points out that to be
truly outstanding, the book
requires a complete accounting of
efforts in the projects, including
monies spent and taken in, hours
worked, total assets and net worth.
Campbell credits the awards
programs in FFA in helping the
young people achieve. “The only
way to be motivated is to do well.
The awards give them something
that they want to achieve.”
Campbell expresses special pride
in seeing Herr win the state
recognition because Herr was in
Campbell’s first freshman class.
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vw*
\
Herr credits FFA with more
than just helping him to leam to be
a better farmer. "It has helped me
get to meet a lot of people. 1 used to
be shy and it has helped to leam to
talk in front of people.” Herr has
also served as president of the
Farmer Rodney Herr
KB
■HI
This little pig is just one of many which belongs to Rodney
Herr. He has achieved a high success rate in his farrowing
operation, averaging 9.9 pigs per litter.
county FFA group.
Next September, he will compete
with 16 other state representatives
in an effort to become the Nor
theastern United States Star
Farmer. After that, of course,
there is the possibility of reaching
for that ultimate achievement-
Amencan Farmer.
The state award has meant a lot
Tulpehoeken FFA honors members
at annual banquet
BY ROBIN PHILLIPS
Staff Correspondent
BERNVILLE - The
Tulpehocken Chapter of the Future
Farmers of America honored and
awarded their dedicated members
last week at the annual parent
member awards banquet at the
Tulpehocken High School, Bern
ville.
When State FFA Reporter
Heather Hemley, Lebanon, spoke
to the crowd of FFA members,
family, and friends about getting
the experience in FFA to build a
foundation for the future, she could
have been referring to three
outstanding members of this
chapter. Connie Strunk, Rl,
Mohrsville, Dons Stump, R 3,
BemviUe, and Gary Bicksler, Rl,
Richland, were among those
honored for their efforts toward
their future goals during the
awards presentation.
Harvey Smith, state area
vocational consultant,
congratulated Strunk for earning
the Keystone Farmer Degree.
Strunk, current president of the
chapter, was awarded the DeKalb
award along with a proficiency
award in farm-home improvement
and agribusiness. Strunk is
currently on the work experience
program and works on an area
dairy farm.
Dons Stump was awarded the
Star Greenhand award. The ninth
grade daughter of John and Rita
Stump, R 3, Bernville, Rita looks
forward to participating in more
events throughout her upcoming
years in FFA. The first year
member owns ten Holstein and
to Rodney Herr, and he looks
forward to further competition.
However, his real success has
come in his commitment to his
future as a farmer, and his
assurance that he can make it in
the swine industry. What he
learned in FFA will always help
him as he works and achieves in
the agricultural community.
enjoys showing at local fairs and 4-
H shows.
The Chapter Star Farmer award
went to sophomore Gary Bicksler,
the son of Ray and Barbara
Bicksler, Rl, Richland. Although
he admits to enjoying field work
the most, Bicksler maintains
Holstein cow and calf projects and
looks forward to participating in
the state dairy judging contests.
Learning by working on the home
farm, Bicksler hopes to farm on his
own in the future.
Proficiency awards were
presented by advisers, Barry
Kellner and Lisa Shirey to the
following: Gary Bicksler-dairy
production and judging; Ronald
Crossley-farm mechanics and
specialty livestock; Shawn Beck
creed recitation; Dons Stump
dairy; Troy Koenig-feed grams
and diversified livestock; Thomas
Rausch-extemporaneous speaki
ng, and swine production; Scott
Bohn-dairy production; Connie
Strunk—farm and home im
provement and agribusiness.
Thomas Rausch was recognized
by Harvey Smith for his par
ticipation in the state FFA band at
the Farm Show.
The Tulpehocken FFA Chapter
also designated the following as
Honorary Chapter members:
Jeffrey Kellner, high school
principal, and Oscar Manbeck,
school board and advisory council
member.
Awards of appreciation were
presented to: Wendy Manbeck,
typist: George Moyer, dairy
farmer; Wayhar Farms,Richard
Frantz, English teacher;, 1 and John
Feaser, teacher.