A24-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 1,1986
Mike King shares his story with Lancaster Farm and Home Foundation
BY SALLY BAIR
Staff Correspondent
LANCASTER - It was a
Challenge of a Lifetime for Mike
King when he began the 5,606 mile
trip by wheelchair from Fair
banks, Ala., to Washington, D.C.
last summer. The trip is now
successfully behind him, but he
says, “The challenge has actually
just begun.”
Speaking to a record 240 people
attending the 22nd annual meeting
of the Farm and Home Foundation
of Lancaster County, Mike King,
who grew up on a dairy farm in
Chester County, brought the in
spirational story of his dramatic
response to a motorcycle accident
which left him paralyzed in 1978.
King’s story was told in song, in
a talk and through slides of the trek
from Alaska. Throughout, King
emphasizes the role that God has
played in his recovery and sub
sequent commitment to en
couraging other disabled people.
King said, “I’m only as han
dicapped as I let myself be.” In
fact, he said he prefers the word
disabled. He added that he doesn’t
think of his disability until he
comes upon a physical or ar
chitectural barrier which reminds
him.
Stressing that everyone has
some handicap, King said, “Mine
may be obvious, but each of us has
something that makes the day
harder to get through.”
Mike King is welcomed by some who attended the Farm and
Home Foundation annual meeting this week. He sang, gave a
talk and showed slides.
BIG DISCOUNTS
FERTILIZER AND PESTICIDES
NOW!
Atrazine
Banvel
Bicep
Bladex
r sat sa»B{,rr cows m wiw m m
CHEMGRO UNION MILL
Fertilizers Fertilizers
East Petersburg, PA • (717)569-3296 Belleville, PA 4 (717)935-2185
He said it was encouragement
from family, friends and
acquaintances which helped him
continue, and he wants to give
others similar support. The
dramatic trip from Alaska in
corporated many visits to
rehabilitation centers to meet with
disabled people.
King said he traveled from 30 to
80 miles daily on the trip, and
usually went about 10 miles per
hour. Once he went 70 miles per
hour traveling downhill, but
usually didn’t go over 45. He was
on the road for 106 days, and had
scheduled 15 rest days into the trip.
During that time there were five
days of rain and one of snow. The
trip included 200 miles of gravel
highway in Alaska.
Through various efforts the trip
raised $70,000 for Hope for Life, the
non-profit agency which supported
his trip. That money will be
divided among five rehabilitation
organizations across the country,
King said.
King admitted that after the
accident he thought his life was
over. “It was pretty devastating.”
He now is working on his master’s
degree in social work at the
University of Pennsylvania, and
hopes to work in hospital
rehabilitation.
Seven directors were elected
during the business meeting.
Newly elected were Mark
Nestleroth, a hog farmer from
Counter
Dual
Furadan
Lasso
CHECK US OUT FOR 810 SAVINGS
ON
Lasso-Atrazine Pounce
Lorsban Princep
Paraquat Prowl
Plus Other Pesticides Available
Seven directors were elected to three-year terms of the Farm and Home Foundation of
Lancaster County. From left are: Mark Nestleroth, Manheim R 5, swine breeder; Mary
Martin, New Holland, R 2, farm woman and homemaker; J. Clayton Charles, Lancaster
R 2, dairyman; Elam Bollinger, Manheim, R 7, dairyman; Henry Reist, Mount Joy, R 3,
owner of Reist Seed Company; and Raymond Witmer, Willow Street, Rl, dairyman. Also
elected was Richard Kreider, Manheim, R 5, of Kreider Farms. Nestleroth and Kreider
are beginning their first terms; the others were re-elected.
Manheim Rl, and Richard
Kreider, Kreider Farms, Manheim
R 5.
Re-elected were Elam Bollinger,
dairyman from Manheim R 7; J.
Clayton Charles, dairyman,
Lancaster R 2; Mary Martin,
homemaker, New Holland
FLEMINGTON, NJ - A
program of outstanding speakers
and commercial and educational
exhibits will highlight the up
coming “Grain and Forage
Producers’ Conference and Trade
Show,” scheduled for Wednesday,
Feb. 12.
The event will begin at 10:00
a.m., though the exhibit area will
be open at 8:30, says Fred Clucas,
Oldwick grain farmer and member
of the planning committee. The
place is the spacious National
Guard Armory, Eggerts’ Crossing
Rd., north of Trenton. It’s easily
accessible from 1-95, routes 31,206,
andl.
Speakers include O. Elwood
Hatley, Agronomist at Penn State
University. His topic will be “The
Henry Reist, ReistSeedCo., Mount Manheim, for their service to the
Joy, R 3; and Raymond Witmer, Board.
dairyman, Willow Street, Rl. All she also announced that a $3,155
directors will serve a three-year contribution from Lancaster
term. County’s Farm Women Societies
President Evelyn Hess thanked
retiring directors Roy Brubaker,
Lititz, and Clarence Keener,
Grain, forage show slated
Economics of Grain Production.” Forage Producers’ Assn, of N.J.,
Gill Griffith, a representative of and seek support from grain and
the American Soybean Assn., will forage farmers present,
discuss grain marketing from the Tickets are $2 each and includes
growers point of view. a box lunch. Agri-businesses
Other topics are “An Up-date on serving the area have been
Crop Research at Rutgers,” by Dr. generous in supporting the project,
Stephen Kleinschuster, Cook says Clucas, underwriting much of
College Dean; “Changes in DEP the expense.
Regulations,” Mark Robson, Brochures describing the
Research Scientist with DEP. program and tickets are available
Fred Clucas will discuss the - in the county Extension offices in
formation of a new farm the state and from many agri
organization, The Grain and businesses. Ticket sale deadline is
Wednesday, February 5.
PRE-SPRING SPECIALS
During Open House Days
February 20th & 21st
Bolens lawn-boy
GREATEST SAVINGS
OF THE ENTIRE SEASON
Mower attachmtnt optional
will be used to purchase new
drapes for the auditorium.
, Vf'
J <
/
v J '* '