D2-Lancaster Fanning Saturday, Fabraary 15,1986
W. Pa. Wool Growers name top fleeces
BY BARBARA RADER
Staff Correspondent
HARLANSBURG - Attendance
records were broken at the
Lawrence-Beaver-Butler County
Cooperative Sheep and Wool
Growers’ mid-winter meeting on
Feb. 1, with 145 members turning
out for a full day of activities.
Held at the Liberty Grange in
Harlansburg, the meeting featured
a lamb dinner, results of the an
nual wool contest, youth wool
judging and the crowning of the
Tri-County Lamb and Wool Queen.
Janet Stuck, 19, the daughter of
Joe and Letitia Stuck, New Castle,
was crowned the 1986 queen by
outgoing queen Rachel Hixen
baugh.
Two age divisions and two
classes of wool fleeces provided
numerous opportunities for young
exhibitors to win ribbons and
trophies. For the third time, 10-
year-old Bridget Whiting captured
top honors in the junior division for
ages up to 14. Other winners in the
junior division included: Robbie
Baron, Annie Shuler, Andrea
Musser, Kelly Chaffee, Frances
Shick, Wendy Hixenbaugh, Wayne
Hixenbaugh, Dan Musser, Jessica
Senior fleece competition winners at the Western Pa. Wool
Growers meeting were (left) Rachel Hixenbaugh, second;
Becky Shick, first; Bonnie Pearce, third.
'Colonel' kicks off Lebanon
LEBANON-The Hull’s Hill CR’s
Friendly Market rt. 72 north of the
Turnpike entrance was the site of
the Lebanon Area Fairgrounds
Baby Beef Benefit Raffle kick-off.
Carlos and Georgiana Leffler of
Richland, owners of Leffler’s
Petroleumn, Inc., and CR’s
Friendly Markets hosted the event
on Saturday morning.
Also on hand was a delegation of
Lebanon County 4-H and FFA
youth, and Lebanon County's 1986
Farm Show “baby beef” middle
weight champion, “Colonel”.
“Colonel”, a favorite in the 1986
Farm Show steer arena, was sold
by owner Leigh Hitz, an 11-year
old 4-H’er from Annville, at the
Farm Show’s Youth Livestock
Auction. “Colonel” was purchased
there by Leffler Petroleum, Inc.,
and CR’s Friendly Markets and
donated to the Lebanon Area
Exposition Corporation to benefit
the fairgrounds and facilities.
Dennis Grumbine, Myerstown,
chairman of the Exposition Cor
poration Finance Committee,
states that raffling the steer off in
the form of “freezer ready beef”
was chosen as the best alternative
to merchandise the steer.
County 4-H and FFA members
are offering an opportunity to win
one of 20 prizes in the Baby Beef
Benefit Raffle. The prizes range
Top three junior fleece winners were (left) Robbie Baron,
second; Bridget Whiting, first; Annie Shuler, third.
Whiting, Maggie Whiting and
Drew Pearce.
Becky Shick topped the senior
division for ages 15 to 19. Other
senior winners were Rachel
Hixenbaugh, Bonnie Pearce, Julie
Maxwell, Carl Shuler, Beth
Spence, Stacey Pearce and John
Shuler.
Bob Dunn of Chicora won the
open wool show with his low-
II WMVkSfr
Leigh Hitz brought her fancy Farm Show steer named
Colonel to Lebanon's C.R.'s Friendly Market last Saturday to
initiate a fundraiser for the Lebanon Fairgrounds. From left
are market manager Larry Frataroli, Bob Blecker of Carlos R.
Leffler, Inc., and Lebanon Valley Exposition Corporation
chairman Harry Bachman.
from a complete hindquarter of
beef, to steaks, roasts and ground
beef. All prizes are cut, wrapped
and frozen, and ready for the
freezer. The 4-H and FFA’ers will
be offering a book of six tickets for
a donation of $5 or $1 per ticket.
“We’re looking forward to a good
raffle,” said county extension
agent, Ken Winebark. “We have
over $l,OOO working for us already.
quarter fleece. He also won tne
half-blood class.
Class winners in the three-eighth
blood class were: Bob Burry,
Lloyd McCracken, Rick Dunn,
Linda Mosley and Wally Spence.
Linda Mosley, along with Rick
Dunn, were the winners in the low
quarter class. The wool show was
conducted by county agents Curt
Hughes and Lee Miller.
Election of association directors
also highlighted the day’s events.
Seven directors were chosen by
members to serve a one-year
term: Don Musser, New Mid
dletown, Ohio; Robert Burry,
Ellwood City; Robert Dunn,
Chicora; William Fullerton, Enon
Valley; Gerald Thoma, Ken
sington, Ohio; Keith McConnell,
Volant, and Dave Whiting,
Edinburg. Officers will be chosen
at a later date at a meeting of the
directors.
The late Bob Peoples was
honored with a moment of silence.
Peoples served as director of the
association for 50 years, and was
the last of the surviving directors
of the 69-year-old cooperative.
Concluding the day’s events was
a sheep shearing demonstration by
director Dave Whiting.
benefit
*ST
Improving our Exposition
facilities can do nothing but
strengthen our community and
youth programs.”
“Colonel” and Lebanon County
4-H and FFA members will be
making appearances at the
following CR’s Friendly Markets
from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the
following Saturdays: February 15,
Mushroom Hill CR’s near the
Hershey Medical Center;
February 22, Avon CR’s, Rt. 422
East of Lebanon; March 1,
Campbelltown CR’s, Rt. 322 West
of Campbelltown; March 8,
Schaefferstown CR’s, junction Rt.
501 and 897.
The Business of
Recent developments in farm
policy and the regional emphasis
on expanding the sheep industry
has some farmers interested in
sheep production as an alternative
enterprise.
Choosing sheep or not can best
be decided by, first, looking at
some of the pros and cons of sheep
production and, second, evaluating
available land resources and
facilities for developing a
profitable enterprise.
Many Pennsylvania farmers
could profit, in my opinion, by
including sheep in their existing
farm enterprise. Sheep produce
meat as well as fiber, and today
the demand for these products far
exceeds the supply.
Sheep can utilize practically all
types of forage. There are many
acres of farmland throughout the
state, principally the western third
and the northern half of the state,
that could efficiently ac
commodate a pasture/forage-base
sheep enterprise. This abundant
grazing base is one key to
profitable sheep production. In
addition, the successful producer
must hava a genuine interest in the
business, as well as management
skill and labor to care for the
sheep.
Following are some advantages
of sheep production:
•Sheep are a low-investment
enterprise.
•Sheep production does not
require elaborate facilities and
equipment.
•Sheep consume roughage as
their primary feed.
•Sheep provide two sources of
income: wool and meat.
•Sheep do well where soil and
water conservation practices are
germane to the farm plan.
•Sheep can be managed
profitably on small acreages of 30
acres or less.
•Sheep provide a quick return on
an investment.
•Sheep production systems can
be altered to accommodate a
defined local market.
On the other ( hand, there are
Sheep Producers Calendar
.fan i, to Feb. 28 —Nomination period for Ram Lamb Performance
Test program
Apr. 15 —Receive ram lambs at Penn State Test Station.
May 5 —Pa. Sheep and Wool Growers Assoc, annual meeting,
Southridge Motor Inn, State College, 1; 30 p.m.
May 5 —PSWGA banquet, Tussey Mountain Inn, Route 322,
Boalsburg, 5:30 p.m. For tickets call 814-863-3668.
May 6 —PSWGA Wool Sale, Assembly Room, Nittany Lion Inn,
State College, 9 a.m.
July 8 to 10 —PSWGA Lamb and Wool Crafts Festival, Ag Arena,
Penn State.
July 11,12 —PSWGA Keystone Stud Ram and Ewe Sale, Ag Arena,
Penn State.
Aug. 2 —Performance Tested Ram Lamb Sale, Meat Animal
Evaluation Center, Penn State.
Oct. 2 to 6 —Keystone International Livestock Expo, Farm Show
Complex, Harrisburg.
H &
Flock
Forum
by
Clair Engle
Penn State Extension Sheep Specialist
Raising Sheep
some disadvantages to raising
sheep.
•In general, sheep require more
management and attention than
cattle.
•Sheep require good perimeter
fencing. This investment is
necessary before sheep can be
raised.
•Sheep are subject to predation.
Dogs, coyotes, foxes and bears can
put you out of business.
•A prerequisite for a successful
sheep health program focuses on a
rigid preventive health program.
•Sheep do not fare well on poorly
drained pasturelands.
The sheep handling facility and
related equipment are among the
potential sheepman’s best in
vestments. Portable panels permit
the construction of temporary
corrals which are economical and
serviceable for small farm flocks
of 35 to 50 head. The facility should
be designed so that sheep work
naturally, whether you are sorting,
marking, treating, weighing,
shearing or loading them.
The loading chute should be the
primary focus in planning an
overall sheep handling facility.
After you have selected the loading
chute site, the corral and other
equipment can be built around it.
For ease in working sheep through
chutes, they should face north and
uphill, when possible. Sheep do not
drive well toward the sun.
Another important item of
equipment found on a good sheep
operation is a well-trained dog. It
can be difficult to operate a 100 to
200-ewe flock without canine help.
A well-trained dog will prove to be
more valuable than several per
sons.
Training sheep dogs is a highly
skilled profession. Fortunately,
Pennsylvania and the Eastern
United States continue to be
recognized nationally for having
competent professionals capable
of producing and training working
sheepdogs. At present, the Border
collie seens to be the most popular.
However, many breeds are used in
the sheep business.