VOL 31 No. 43
BY EVERETT NEWSWANGER
and
SUZANNE KEENE
ROCK SPRINGS - Officially the
estimate of the number of people
who came here this week to attend
Ag Progress Days was set at 65,000
to 70,000. That’s down a little from
last year because of the rain. But
you couldn’t tell it on Main Street
Wednesday about noon when it
seemed like everyone was stan
ding in line to get something to eat.
When farmers, agribusiness
people and others just interested in
farming weren’t eating, they were
viewing the water quality exhibits
manned by Penn State specialists,
watching equipment demon
strations in the field or visiting the
320 commercial exhibits that
housed more than $2O million
worth of equipment.
Drought Hay Fund
The 1986 Summer Drought
Hay Fund has received a total
of $11,825 to date. So far, $5,400
has been used to buy good
second hay for donation and
$4lO has been used to help
support transportation.
If you want to contribute to
this drought hay fund, make
your checks payable to 1986
Summer Drought Hay Fund.
Then send your check to Lan
caster Farming newspaper, 22
East Main Street, P.O. Box 366,
Lititz, PA 17543, attention Hay
Fund or attention Editor.
Mike King Works to Overcome
Physical Limitations, Help Others
BY EVERETT NEWSWANGER
Managing Editor
Editors Note: In 1978 Mike King, a
Chester County farm boy, had a
motorcycle accident that left him a
paraplegic. The struggle to mature
under added pressure of physical
limitations was climaxed last
rammer when King took a
challenge to travel by wheelchair
across the United States from
Alaska to Washington D.C. and
turned this challenge into a per
sonal triumph.
We heard last week that Mike
had exchanged his wheelchair for
the seat of a Stieger tractor polling
earth-moving equipment to build a
golf course on one of the King
family farms located west of the
Octorara High School. We took the
opportunity to visit with Mike and
learn how a paraplegic and his
family handle farm life with this
hind l r physical limitation. So here
h an update on “The Mike King
Story”.
Q- Mike, so we can learn a little
®ore about you, would you in
troduce your family to our
readers?
A. My parents names are Paul &
Dorotny King. They grew up down
[here in Cochranville, and they
have made it their home for 28
(Turn to PageA2s)
Four Sections
Ag Progress Continues To Progress
Lieutenant Governor William
Scranton visited the state ag event
and praised the work being done by
the state’s agricultural community
and its emphasis on the need for
clean and reliable water supplies.
“Pennsylvania is rich with
natural resources,” Scranton said.
“One of the most plentiful is its
supply of fresh water. Surrounded
by this natural abundance it is
often easy to take it for granted.
The theme of this year’s Ag
Progress Days “Water Quality
and Your Life” accurately
emphasizes the need for each of us
to be aware of the delicate balance
between our environment and life
styles.”
Last week, the “Agriculture for
Scranton/Fisher Committee,” a
coalition of family farmers,
animal health professionals and
representatives from agri
business, announced their en
dorsement of the Republican
ticket. In making the an
nouncement, the group said, “Bill
SctoßtflP jlifafeonly candidate who
has demonstrated a sincere in
tefWf' gyUTllWderstanding of the
issues facing agriculture in our
state.”
Agriculture is the largest in
dustry in the Commonwealth
employing over one million and
generating $35 billion in revenue
annually. During Scranton’s term
as Lieutenant Governor over 50
pieces of legislation designed to
encourage family farms, market
Pennsylvania’s agricultural
(Turn to Page A2O)
Mike King finds he can drive a tractor even though an
accident left him with physical limitations.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 23,1986
On Main Street at Ag Progress. While the weather could have been better, the crowds
still came to see the new equipment and advanced technology on display.
Westmoreland Co. Farmer Sees
Drought Conditions For Himself
BY MARGIE FUSCO
Cambria Co. Staff
Correspondent
The publicity may have died
down, but Bob Gray’s concern
hasn’t. The Westmoreland County
farmer attracted media attention
when he traveled to the South with
a load of hay on August 5 and 6 to
view drought conditions first-hand.
“I guess it all started when I
decided to give some hay,” he
recalls. Because of declining
market prices, Gray had cut back
on his beef and hog operation this
year and found himself with
surplus hay. When the call went
out from the Pennsylvania Far
mers Association for hay donations
for the drought-stricken
southeastern states, Gray was
quick to respond.
But, he admits, he was skeptical.
“I wondered if it was as bad as I’d
seen on TV. And I was leery about
whether the donations were going
where they were needed.” So he
Dairy Farm Recognition
BY EVERETT NEWSWANGER
Managing Editor
STATE COLLEGE A farm
recognition program to enhance
the consumer’s view of the
wholesomeness of milk has been
operating in New York state for the
past three years. And now Stephen
Spencer, extension dairy specialist
at Penn State, wants to begin a
similar program in Pennsylvania.
Called tiie “Dairy of Distinction”
program, dairy farms are judged
by their appearance from the
roadside. And the farms that look
nice are awarded a colorful farm
sign and a certificate. Lancaster
Farming newspaper has joined Dr.
Spencer in the desire to see such a
program designed and put into
operation in Pennsylvania.
Sue Renolds, exo"
secretary of theTNew York
program, told Lancaster Farming
this week that 287 farms have
received the distinction and hold
current award status. The state is
divided into 10 districts. Each local
district has a committee to act as
judges and to present awards. The
awards are often presented at June
$8.50 per Year
asked to go along with a load of hay
that left Westmoreland County,
bound for the Charlottesville, Va.,
area. What he saw there removed
any doubts he had.
“The 400 bales of hay we took
were distributed evenly, with 50
bales going to each of 8 farmers. At
first I took a look around and said,
‘You don’t seem to be as hard hit as
Georgia and South Carolina.” In
response, the Charlottesville
farmers took him to a farm where
the corn, planted in May, stood just
10 inches high.
In an average year, he told me,
he’d get 650 round bales on the first
(turn to Page A3B)
Dairy Month promotions, dairy
princess pageants, or at other
times when media coverage can be;
obtained. k
The farms of recipients are
checked each year to assure the
appearance continues to give a
pleasing impression to the con
sumer’s of milk who drive by the
farm.
A volunteer state committee
forms the backbone of the program
to give direction and to insure a
continuation of the program
Because of the volunteer nature of
the state organization and the local
committees, the work is ac
complished with a very low budget
supported by milk promotion
funds.
In calling a meeting of dairy
leaders and other interested
,persons, Dr. Spencer said, “We
believe that numerous Penn
sylvania farmers deserye credit
for their work and effort. In
Pennsylvania we have some of the
more picturesque farms m the
country.”
A representative of the New
York program is scheduled t >
attend this meeting.