BY JACK HUBLEY
LANCASTER Though far
mers, for the most part, are a
pragmatic group noted for their
down-to-earth nature, there’s a
least one bunch that freely admits
to having a difficult time keeping
their feet on the ground.
But this week more than 500
members of the International
Flying Farmers were quite content
to be grounded at the Americana
Host Farm in Lancaster to
celebrate the organization’s 40th
annual convention.
More than 200 planes from as far
away as the west coast and Mexico
descended on the Lancaster air
port last weekend for a week of
educational and social events
hosted by the Pennsylvania
chapter. A highlight of the week
was a tour of Lancaster County
farm country on Tuesday.
Claiming some 10,000 members
in their 41 chapters across North
America, the Flying Farmers are
not professional pilots, but farmers
who find that air travel permits
more efficient use of their working
and leisure time.
“If your time is valuable, you
can do things in one day in an
airplane that would take you two
days in a car,” says Marietta
member Keith Vogt, adding that
IFF’s membership is made up of
farmers “who happen to use an
airplane like another person would
use a pickup.”
And trading in that pickup for an
Parking spaces were at a premium at Lancaster airport this week, as more than 500
IFF members arrived for their convention.
Flying Farmers 9 grounded 9 in Lancaster this week
aircraft need not be financially
prohibitive, says Vogt, noting that
one of the biggest misconceptions
related to air travel is the notion
that aircraft owners are rich. “For
(5,000 you can buy an airplane that
will serve you well,” asserts Vogt.
The convention’s transportation
chairman, Dave Huber, of Peach
Bottom adds that buying an air
plane can be a sound investment.
“Anyone with a 15-year-old air
plane that’s well maintained can
sell it for more than he paid for it,”
Huber says.
And with the cost of a com
bination chapter and international
membership running “less than
the cost of a tire on a car,” Huber
notes that joining IFF is a good
investment, as well.
To qualify for regular mem
bership, a farmer must derive at
least 51 percent of his income from
agriculture, and at least one
member of the family must have a
pilot’s license. Associate members
must also be licensed pilots, but do
not have to be involved in
agriculture.
The benefits of membership
include a group aircraft insurance
program, and participation' in
group tours throughout the
country. IFF also maintains a
legislative liaison in Washington.
But not all IFF’s benefits are so
easily defined, says Keith Vogt,
who notes that IFF members
always seem to be willing to open
A
Transportation chairman Dave Huber (left) of Peach Bottom welcomed Texas mem
bers to the International Flying Farmers convention in Lancaster this week. From left
are Mr. and Mrs. Milton Grigsby Jr., and their daughter Darla Chappell of Floydada, Tex.
their homes to fellow members
from anywhere in North America.
“It’.s a camaraderie that rivals
anything I’ve ever seen,” says
Vogt.
Lancaster Famine, Saturday, July 20,1985-A33
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