XSsiincaster Saturday, August 30,1986
Columbia Co. Farmer Empathizes With Drought Victims
BY HELEN KEICHNER
Columbia Co. Staff Correspondent
While Pennsylvania fanners
were experiencing generous
shower activity in the north central
part of the state, Duane Shuman of
Mainville, Columbia County
imagined himself in the shoes of
Southeastern farmers who were in
the midst of a record drought.
His concern culminated in 8,000
bales of donated hay!
By way of the local radio station,
newspaper and Columbia County
Conservation Office, Shuman got
his message around to farmers
from three counties for surplus
hay. About 75 farmers donated
anywhere from a pick-up truck
load to five farmers who each
donated an entire trailer load.
Shuman’s Millville farm seemed
to generate the most dropoffs, but
there were various other locations
throughout Columbia County
where large pick-ups were made.
Haylift ’B6, a farmer to fanner
“bale-out,” was hailed a
resounding success in this area.
Shuman couldn’t believe the
response. When he launched his
appeal, he hoped for two or three
loads. As it turned out, he expects
10 large trailer loads or 8,000 bales.
The first three loads with 800
bales each pulled out of the
Shuman farm on August 8. Five
days later, two more loads were
sent out and the end of the week,
two vans loaded up. There’s a
couple thousand more bales to go.
The Virginia Dept, of
Agriculture provided tran
sportation.
The latest pick up was by two
vans donated by Virginia Power
Co. each with a capacity of 500
bales.
The response has given this
farming community an emotional
boast. Hap Schatz, a Mt. Pleasant
Twp. farmer said, “Columbia
County farmers have problems,
but it doesn’t prevent them from
lending a hand.”
Many of the farmers con
tributing hauled their loads in that
first day and just stayed to help
load the trailers. They worked
hard, but had a good tune. Shuman
was impressed in more ways than
Spencer Wins
Dairy Award
The first annual American
Cyanamid Company Dairy Science
Award was presented to Stephen
B. Spencer, an extension specialist
of Pennsylvania State University,
for his contributions to improving
the efficiency of dairy products.
The award was presented at the
American Dairy Science
Association’s annual meeting at
Davis, California by David S.
Walton, marketing manager for
bovine somatotropin at
Cyanamid’s Agricultural Division.
“Spencer’s technical expertise
and enthusiasm for com
municating his knowledge makes
him a very appropriate choice for
the first American Cyanamid
Dairy Science Award,” said Mr.
Walton. “He has provided
producers with more efficient
milking systems, improved
milking techniques, and better
milk quality and mastitis control. ’ ’
Spencer has been active in many
professional associations including
ADSA, the International
Association of Milk, Food and
Enviornmental Sanitarians, and
the National Mastitis Council.
American Cyanamid established
the Dairy Science Award to
recognize “significant con
tributions in research, teaching,
extension, and/or industry (in
cluding technology transfer) in the
assimilation of new milk
production technologies.” The
award carries a $1,500 stipend.
Selections are made by ADSA.
with quantity at the results of his
appeal.
Schatz didn’t have any hay to
donate, so he provided 30 lbs. of
ground beef for more than a dozen
hungry workers. Shuman’s wife
Betty along with another con
tributor’s wife, Eva Esslinger
made up barbeque and provided
pastries and cold drinks.
Dick White, agricultural ex
tension agent from Brunswick
County, Virginia was on hand to
witness the haylift. He said the
first load would be dumped in his
county and parceled out to other
areas. Some Virginia farmers like
Joe Hamelin who accompanied the
trucks to Pennsylvania said he
can’t wait for the help. He has little
jfeed left for his cattle.
Another farmer, Billy Temple,
said he won’t take any of the hay.
He said others need it more than
he. With what he has left over from
previous seasons, he’ll get along by
cutting back his herd. Temple
came to Pennsylvania just to meet
their benefactors.
Bob Houston, Columbia County
Extension Agent expressed sur
prise at the amount of hay donated.
“We’re overwhelmed by the
turnout,” he said.
Contributions came from
Columbia, Montour and Luzerne
Counties.
Hay was stored at Duane Shuman's farm where it was loaded with the help of a
conveyor. Tracy Martenas, Betty Shuman and John Esslinger load the conveyor. Duane
Shuman is out of sight and Irvin and Dale Martenas are on the receiving end in the van.
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