124-lancatter Farming, Saturday, August 2,1986
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25 Years of People Power
Life is a series of experiences
and thresholds. Recently, I just
crossed my 25-year threshold of
working for the Penn State Ex
tension Service, and what a
wonderful experience it has been.
I consider it a privilege to have
had the opportunity to work with so
many interesting people and to
work so closely with agriculture
these past 25 years. To all of you
who helped to fill my life with
wonderful memories and ex
periences I say “Thank you; it’s
been great.” Hopefully, I’ve been
able to contribute as much to your
lives as you’ve contributed to
mine.
Life as an Extension Agent isn’t
ail a bed of roses. In addition to the
long hours, the irregular hours and
the weekend details, there also is
the nuisance of paper work,
reports, committee work,
governmental policies, budgetary
crunches, help shortages,
misunderstandings, and too much
to do with too little time to do it.
Sounds like farming, doesn’t it?
But overriding all of this is the
reward and satisfaction of working
with and helping people. They’ve
taught me so much, and they’ve
kept my batteries charged.
If there is one thing I’ve learned
in these 25 years it’s that there are
a lot of great people out there. Most
of them are very appreciative of
what you do for them, and are
supportive of worthwhile
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programs.
I’ve always been impressed by
how willing people are to share
their experiences, their time and
their talent in an effort to help
someone else. This may be in the
form of lending a helping hand to a
neighbor in need, serving as a
volunteer leader or as a member of
an advisory committee. Others
host tours and bam meetings or
perform as speakers and panelists
on programs.
It has also been rewarding to
watch young people grow up into
mature, responsible citizens. What
a thrill it is to see a shy, young 4-
H’er develop the poise and con
fidence necessary to give a win
ning set of oral reasons in a state
wide judging contest. It’s great to
observe how young people set
goals, develop skills and then
become role models to other young
people, with whom they freely
share their talents.
I can also remember when a 4-H
club was concerned about the
hungry people in Ethiopia. They
conducted a show halter raffle at
our 4-H dairy show and donated the
proceeds to an Ethiopia project.
Their actions inspired others to
contribute, and the judge was so
moved by their concern and efforts
that he also donated his
honorarium to the cause.
It’s fun too, to watch young
people leam how to work together,
to conduct their own club meetings
and to democratically arrive at
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group decisions. In the arena of
competition, young people leam to
set high standards of achievement
for themselves. It is also satisfying
to watch these young people share
their skills with other young
competitors, and to watch them
become humble winners and good
“losers” we try to get them to
not think of themselves as losers.
I have a lot of faith in young
people, and it’s a great feeling to
know that you’ve been involved
with programs like 4-H that have
helped people become excellent
examples for others to follow.
I have also had great satisfaction
in working with farm families
helping young people get started in
farming, helping more mature
(more experienced) members of
the family phase out of farming,
helping farmers through rough
financial and emotional situations,
and helping them with a variety of
herd and crop management
concerns. I’ve also been fortunate
in having many opportunities to
work with friends in ag industry,
agricultural organizations, and in
the news media; they have been
very supportive.
These thoughts may not do much
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to help you manage your herd,
your crops or your finances. But,
there is more to life than cows,
crops and money; occasionally, we
need to reflect on our life’s goals
and our relationships with people.
'Dus might sound like I am
writing my farewell. Not so. I’ve
Va. Apple Butter Contest
Set For Sept, 20
WINCHESTER, Va. - The
Virginia Championship Apple
Butter Making Contest will be held
Saturday, Sept. 20, in the Win
chester Recreation Park. The
annual event is held in conjunction
with the Rotary Club’s Apple
Harvest Festival and offers par
ticipants an opportunity to win
over $7OO in prize money.
The contest is sponsored by the
Frederick County Extension
Service and the Win
chester/Frederick County
Chamber of Commerce in con
junction with the area apple
had 25 great years, and I hope to
have many more. It’s just my way
' of saying thank you for the good
times; there are many great
people in this world, and I am very
fortunate to have been associated
with so many of them.
producers and support businesses.
The apple butter must be made in
the park on the day of the contest
and can be sold on both Saturday
and Sunday during the festival.
If you are interested in trying to
unseat the 1985 Virginia Apple
Butter Making Champions, John
and Sherry Smith from Bunker
Hill, W. Va., contact the Frederick
County Extension Service by
writing to Second Floor, Frederick
County Courthouse, Winchester,
VA 22601, or phoning 703-665-5699,
for rules and entry forms.