BY ROBIN PHILLIPS Staff Correspondent BETHEL - Berks County farmers are opening their doors this week and as they host city visitors and urban neighbors on their farms as part of the Berks County annual Farm Tours program. Sponsored each year by the Berks County Farmers Association in cooperation with the county 4-H clubs, FFA clubs, extension service and in termediate unit, the tours are designed to educate the public on the big business of agriculture and the dedication of farm people. For over four years, George and Pearl Moyer have greeted hun dreds of visitors to their Mor-Dale Dairy Farm along the Frystown Road, to the south of Bethel. They strive to show the public the dedication that a farm family puts into their work and the quality product they strive to produce. Ralph and George enjoy the ease and efficiency of their TMR feeding system. FARMSTED® II (SELLING BIG) UTILITY BUILDING OR GARAGE • 30’x30’xl0’ F ARMSTEDII with: Colored Walls, Galvalume Roof, Endwall w/16’x9’ Double Sliding Door • 30’x30’xl0’ AG MASTER 2:12 with: Colored Walls, Galvalume Roof, Endwall w/16’x8’4” Double Sliding Door • Prni'-'M.n Vdr\ Prom lo Ami Huildet BUTLER MFC. CO.■ Attn P E Hess VP^* Lt: ”<r ■ P 0 Box 337 Oxford, PA 19363 ■ ASK ABOUT OUR | NEW DEALER PROGRAM I MAIL IN COUPON TODAY | Name ■ Address County City Phone Ag leader to host Berks Farm Tour visitors Mor-Dale Farm, owned by George and Pearl Moyer consists of 225 registered Holsteins with 100 milking and 450 acres of cropland, growing com and alfalfa. Son, Ralph, works full time on the farm managing the cattle and helping with the crops while sons, Curtis, a carpenter, and ivlark, a combine operator, help out whenever they are able. “Basically, it’s a family operation,” Moyer explains about his farm. ( “I would like to keep it that way,” he adds. “Everybody pitches in and works here,” he continues. “The family is the backbone of the operation.” With a very minimum of hired help, Moyer and his son, Ralph, the only full time employee, manage the entire farm chores with the help of their wives, Pearl and Crystal. They are able to do this because research, cost com parisons, and acquired SHOP- STORAGE - GARAGE Prices Do Not Relate To Pictures Shown State $3,680.00 $4,000.00 , Butler Grain Bins, Feed Bins, Grain Legs, Kan-Sun Dryers, Scales, Fans and Heaters S*® mA' 4 ®' HO** The homebred herd of Mor-Dale Farm rests peacefully in the pasture while awaiting their next milking. management skills went into the building of Mor-Dale Farm. Mor-Dale Farm began in 1966 with the purchase of the current farm after having given up operations in Schuylkill County, originally milking registered Ayrshires. Moyer relates that he was 14 years old when he received the responsibilities of the family dairy herd and adds that he has worked and paid for everything that he has today. As he milked the Ayrshires, he became more production-oriented and even tually phased out the Ayrshires to registered Holsteins. Increasing his herd to 50 cows and milking in an 18 stanchion “flat parlor”, Moyer built a milking parlor on his present farm in 1977. A farm accident in 1975 gave this self-made man more deter mination to make his farm even better. “That’s all I did all my life. Why should I give it up?” He (Turn to Page A 34) GRANT'S CONSTRUCTION CO INC R D #1 Buffalo Mills PA 15534 PH 814 842 6540 MYERS BUILDING NAZARETH BUILDING SYSTEMS. INC SYSTEMS INC RD *1 Box 161 • PO Box 47 Clear Spring MD21722 Nazareth PA 18064 PH 301 582 4200 PH 215 837 7700 The milking parlor at Mor-Dale Farm is simple, clean, and very comfortable to work in. AG-MASTER 2:12 WILL GIVE YOU C&M SALES INC RO *1 Honesdale PA 18431 PH 717 253 1612 MO BUK AND Your Agri MANY OPTIO Let Us Do Ask GOMPF CONSTRUCTION CO , INC 1841 Jerry s Road Street MD 21154 PH 301 692 5350 TRI COUNTY AGRI-SYSTEMS R D #1 Box 55 Swedesboro NJ 08085 PH 609 467 3174
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