fTlje Dairy , Business * Newton Bair Asked how she is able to hold up under a multitude of troubles which always seemed to plague her, a wise old woman replied, “When trouble gets too heavy, I meditate.” Pressed for more explanation, she replied, “O’course, when I meditate, I usually fall asleep! Then when I wake up it’s time to milk the cow.” March is nearly half over, and our time for meditation and con templation is getting mightly short. So let’s set right down and get on with it, because it will soon be time to wake up and face sprung head on. Each winter month has it’s special moods. December is the tune to look forward to a quiet, restful winter, especially if the bam and silos are full, and the cows are fall-fresh and rarin’ to milk. With no hay to make, no com to harvest, no land to plow or prepare, and no planting to get done yesterday, December sort of eases us past Christmas and into the real wintery New Year. But we’re usually too full of Fall’s energy and Winter’s anticipation WBSTFAUA Stop By Our Exhibit At LANCASTER COUNTY DAIRY PAY, TUBS., MARCH 11th Become More Acquainted With Westfalia’s High Tech Line Of Dairy Equipment. Or Call Now And Let Our Experience Work For You! .AVI . FISHER & THOMPSON, INC. Milk Equipment Sales & Service ' .A o>i 127 Newport Ed. Leola, PA sO' . C OO P 1 24 HR. SERVICE s©*'*' to do much meditating. January and February can be quiet months, keeping the bam comfortable, everybody fed and bred, and watching the calves enjoy the fresh air while we hurry to get back into the warm kitchen. It’s meeting time, when we can overeat on banquet fare, get fat on chicken, ham, and potato filling. (Anything learned is incidental to the feast!) I’m only kidding. Our minds also had a feast, if we didn’t meditate too much and fall asleep. Once past January, February flies so fast that March appears before we’re ready for it. But once here, the time for meditation behind the kitchen stove is short and precious. If you only have time for a quick one before milking time, here are a few suggestions that you can work on. Encourage the kids. Help your 4- H’er to keep tl)e record books up to snuff. That heifer is doing great, and ought to show well at the Fair. But record books never were high in Junior’s priority. So show them how it’s done. Check the seed catalogs, if Ma SYSTEMAT, > V Amos Fisher (717) 687-8871 "■4,-t i I " 4 hasn’t already sent in her order. At least make a show of interest in it, knowing full well that it’s her garden after you spread the manure and plow it up next month. Read Brockett’s Farm Management Column. Sure, it’s more fun to read the comics and cartoons in the paper, but your brain needs some real meat along with the sweet stuff, just the same as your stomach does. The people who read good solid stuff are the winners in life’s tough battles. Be a volunteer leader. The Grange, Farmers Association, 4-H clubs, your Church, and the School District, all need good, sound thinkers and leaders. If you don’t feel up to leading, at least volun teer your service as a supporter with a free will or a strong back. Attempt something new. How about a short course in Mechanics, or Economics, or Computers? You're never too old to leam, and it could slip you right out of a muddy rut. Might even try to play a tune on the old piano. Ever visit the Library? Once you get started, it’s a habit that’s hard to stop, and one of the most rewarding uses of extra time. Or how about packing up the spouse and the kids and taking them out for lunch? You’d like Sizzlin’ Steaks, or Ponderos pines, and the kids would love Mc’Chickenburgers and Dairy Queen shakes. If none of the above turn you on, try some plain old fashioned meditation. Of subjects on which to meditate there is no end. The meaning of Easter. How to make the work load easier come spring. Clean up the trashy feed entry (mentally first, then get the hired man to work on it). Tell the kids they are the best. Give the hired hand a pat on the back. Hug the They’ve Been Acting Like That Ever Since They Found Out That We Just Ordered All New WESTFALIA MILKING EQUIPMENT From FISHER & THOMPSON! VS u * M . \ \ Guernsey breeders finalize LEBANON Guernsey breeders from across Penn sylvania will convene in Lebanon for their 55th Annual Meeting. This year’s meeting starts with an informative presentation by John R. Moulton, Director of Operations - FMBA Service at PA Farmers Association. He will discuss “Can the Guernsey breed survive present dairy economics?” In his speech he will look back at why things happened in the last 19 years. He will then proceed to suggest ways the Guernsey breeder can survive coming years through changes in management and marketing. This promises to be an upbeat enthusiastic start to the annual meeting. It will be followed by several meetings and the Annual Awards Banquet. This banquet features production awards, open and junior AU-PA awards, PA Queen Contest and an auction of Guernsey novelty items. Dieter Krieg will be the featured speaker. Day two begins with a farm tour to Lebanon Valley Farms, Annville where the Robert B. Smith family has developed a distinguished herd of Guernseys. head of the household. Dream of far away places. Put an extra buck on the collection plate for the hungry. Give thanks for winter, and pray spring. * * %s, * (717) 656-3307 Rick Thompson (717)627-1162 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 8,1986-A35 Annual Meeting and Sale The eighth annual Blue Halter surviving the for an early Policyholders of: UNITED REPUBLIC Has An Agent Recently Reviewed Your Policy To Explain Your Options. You May Be Eligible For The Following: 1.10.75% Interest On Your Current Cash Value 2. Increased Life Insurance Protection 3. Lower Premium Payments Calf Sale and Annual Meeting Bred Heifer Sale conclude the meeting Saturday afternoon. This sale will be held at the Lebanon County Fairgrounds at 1; 30 p.m. This sale features 35 calves and bred heifers catalogued from such high PD bulls as Big Tex and Fayette. These animals come to this sale from across the state. The calves which will be sold have both type and a pedigree that spells milk. Several of the dams of these calves have records of 20,000 pounds of milk. The bred heifers entered in the sale also have excellent pedigrees and are described as animals the buyers can take home and make money with. Ruth Ann Johns, Assistant Business Manager for the Penn sylvania Guernsey Association is encouraged by the results of other recent Guernsey Sale. She feels this sale offers buyers animals that will be a sound financial in vestment. All interested buyers are en couraged to attend both sales and youths interested in a Guernsey calf as a project, should remember the 10 percent discount they will receive on any animals purchased for a youth project. Milking school set DOYLESTOWN - Bucks County will hold their annual Milking school on March 17 and 18,1986, at Delaware Valley College. This school will be beneficial to dairymen desiring a refresher on milking skills and mastitis. Farm employees who are responsible for milking, equipment cleanliness, and young men and women with little farm experience who will be employed as summer help. Topics which will be covered include: anatomy of the udder, physiology of milk secretion, how a milking machine works, mastitis, and milking techniques. To register or for further in formation about the milking school, contact Michael Fournier at Neshaminy Manor Center, Doylestown, PA, 18901, 215-348- 6000. ATTENTION LIFE NORTH ATLANTIC INVESTORS LIFE (NAI2) HARVEST UF FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL COLLECT: (717) 354-6850 (717) 354-6750