D44j master FarmingS^turday, September 6,1986
Remembering Jim
Berks County Establishes A Memorial Fund In Honor Of One Young Man’s Contributions
BY ROBIN PHILLIPS
Berks Co. Correspondent
FLEETWOOD - The 1986
Kutztown Fair, held Aug. 11 to 16,
is now history. There were new
faces and familiar faces; first time
winners and repeat winners. But
there was someone missing.
Well known in county and state 4-
H and FFA circles, as well as an
exhibitor at the Kutztown, Oley,
Allentown and Reading Fairs, and
also the Pennsylvania Farm Show,
this friend was missing from the
pictures and the laurels of the
fairs. Jim Heffner, Fleetwood, lost
his life in a swimming accident in
May of this year. He was 19 years
old.
Perhaps best known to the public
for his winning efforts showing
sheep, Heffner was well respected
for his service to 4-H and FFA for
the past ten years. Heffner was
named champion sheep showman
of the 1985 Pennsylvania Farm
Show and also won sheep titles at
the county roundups as well as all
the county fairs.
Jim Heffner began showing
market lambs in 1977 and added
Dorset breeding ewes to his herd in
1978. He also raised a few Hamp
shire, Suffolk, and Shropshires in
his 20-plus herd, and gained ex
perience raising and showing a few
steers, and goats.
The son of Wilson and Mary
Heffner, Jim graduated from Oley
Valley High School in 1984, and
Elizabethtown Fair Names Open Sheep Champions
BY JACK HUBLEY
ELIZABETHTOWN - This fair
is noted for its large, competitive
sheep shows, and 1986 was no
exception. After wrapping up its
junior competitions, the
Elizabethtown Fair capped a busy
week of livestock shows with open
breeding sheep and market lamb
shows last Friday, Aug. 29.
Shown by Elizabethtown’s Mark
Tracy, the event’s grand champion
market lamb managed to top the
event on a full stomach. “The night
before the youth show he jumped in
with our Southdowns,’’ said Mark,
adding the 128-pound Suffolk
helped himself to the chow meant
for his other sheep. Even with the
extra measure of feed, the Tracys
were able to get their champ
trimmed down to fighting weight
by showtime.
The son of Gerald and Helen
Tracy, Mark chalked up an en
viable record at this year’s sheep
events, taking champion and
reserve honors in both the youth
and open Southdown breeding
sheep shows. After showing the
youth show’s top sale lamb, he
accepted a record bid of $6 a
pound.
At reserve in the open market
show was a 106-pound Suffolk-
Dorset cross named “Tiger.” The
lamb’s owner, 10-year-old Carrie
Groff, explained that the lamb's
unusual name was a product of its
Carey Donches
remained active in both 4-H and
FFA. As a member of the Oley
Valley FFA and in the Berks
County 4-H program, Heffner
served on many committees,
participated with success in many
contests, an held numerous offices.
He served as president of the
Berks County FFA in 1983 and 1984.
He was named Star Chapter
Farmer in 1983 and in 1984
received the Keystone Degree. In
1984 he was selected as the DeKalb
Award winner, and was also named
1984 Outstanding FFA Boy of the
Reading Fair.
After graduation, Heffner
worked for a time for a contractor.
When the opportunity arose to
work with sheep, Heffner changed
jobs and cared for sheep for WEY
New York Names Beef Council Members
ITHACA, NY - The New York
Beef Industry Council is being
incorporated as the state
organization to be certified by The
Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and
Research Board to act as ad
ministrator and collector in the
state of the national $1 per head
check-off assessments.
Eleven members representing
all aspects of the beef industry
from veal, dairy and beef to
livestock marketing and meat
processing will serve on this newly
formed non-profit New York Beef
Industry Council.
uncivilized behavior “It jumps
over the fence a lot," said the
daughter of Joseph and Ginger
Groff, of Elizabethtown. Evidently
fence jumping was just what this
lamb needed to get in shape for the
fair.
Judge Don Witt of Champion
Acres, Somerset County, also
placed entries in five breeding
sheep divisions before moving to
the market classes. The top
breeding sheep included
•Champion Cheviot - John Martin,
12, son of John and Marilyn
Martin, East Earl.
•Champion Dorset - Angela
Schildt, 14, daughter of David and
Bonita Schildt, Elizabethtown.
•Champion Hampshire
Kauffman, 15, Remholds
•Champion Suffolk - Carey Don
ches, 15, daughter of Joseph and
Susan Donches, Manheim
•Champion Southdown
Tracy
Results of the market lamb show
are listed below
Breeding Sheep
Cheviot Champion Doug Martin
Cheviot Reserve Doug Martin
Dorset Champion Angela Scheldt
Dorset Reserve Darryl Coble
Hampshire Champion Tracy Kauffman
Hampshire Reserve Ellen Lewis
Southdown Champion Mark Tracy
Southdown Reserve Mark Tracy
Suffolk Champion Carey Donches
Suffolk Champion Carey Donches
Market Lambs
Lightweight Dtv
Class 1
Tracy Kauffman
To The 4-H And FFA Programs
*'E:
Jim Heffner
This state council will serve as
the collection agency, beginning
Oct.l, for the $1 paid by the seller
each time cattle change owner
ship. Up to 50 cents per head may
be credited to the New York Beef
Industry Council to be used for in
state promotion or to be re
invested in national promotion
through the Beef Industry Council
of the National Livestock and Meat
Board. It is estimated $250,000
could be available to the New York
Beef Industry Council with the first
moneys received in December.
Henry Bono of Richmondville is
1 R/an Tracy 2 Jane Endslow 3 Diane
Musser
Class 2
1 Ryan Tracy 2 PhtlYeagley 3 Joelleßoll
1 Tncia Musser 2 Came Groff 3 Aaron Groff
1 Jane Endslow 2 Andrea Mylm 3 Ellen
Lewis
Class 5
I Peter HoHmes 2 Tracy Bollinger 3 John
Martin
Class 6
1 Tim Engle 2 GarvCnlls 3 GaryCnlls
1 Came Groff 2 John Marlin 3 Lisa Sadler
Mediumweight Champion
Came Groff
Reserve Champion
John Martin
Heavyweight Div
Class 8
1 John Martin 2 Lone 801 l 3 Scott Mylm
Tracy
1 Mark Tracy 2 Curt Engle 3 Chrys Horning
1 Mark Tracy 2 Kathy Esbenshade 3 Gret
chen Frederick
Class 11
1 Mark Tracy 2 Janetta Shirk 3 Jeff Martin
Mark
Heavyweight Champion
Mark Tracy
Reserve Champion
Mark Tracy
Grand Champion Market Lamb
Mark Tracy
Reserve Grand Champion
Came Groff
Pen of 3
Class 1
1 Tim Engle 2 Gary Cnlls 3 Kathy Esben
shade
1 Mark Tracy 2 John Martin 3 TnciaMusser
Class 3
I Jeff Martin 2 PhilVeagley 3 JaneEndslow
Class 3
lightweight Champion
Ryan Tracy
Reserve Champion
Tncia Musser
Mediumweight Oiv
Class 4
Class 7
Class 9
Class 10
Class 2
Champion Pen
Mark Tracy
Reserve Champion Pen
Came Groff
John Martin
Farms, Dryville.
“I’ll remember Jim for his many
admirable qualities, his academic
abilities, the leadership he
provided, his enthusiasm, and as a
young man who cared for others,”
stated Jim Howe, Oley Valley FFA
Chapter Advisor.
To further Jim Heffner’s per
sonal contributions to the Berks
County FFA and 4*H programs, the
Heffner family is establishing a
memorial scholarship fund in
memory of Jim.
To date, over $l,OlO has been
collected and will, along with
future contributions, be placed in a
trust account. The interest will be
used to sponsor student par
ticipation in th&FFA Washington
Conference Program and the 4-H
a member of the New York Beef
Industry Council and one of the two
New York Beef Cattlemen’s
Association representatives. He
has also been named to the
National Cattlemen’s Beef
Promotion and Research Board.
Bono is vice-president of the New
York Beef Cattlemen’s
Association, chairman of the
organization’s legislature and by
laws committees and a member of
the Bull Test and Direct Marketing
committees.
Another member of the New
York Beef Industry Council, Ralph
Mark Tracy's homebred Suffolk took grand champion
honors in the Elizabethtown Fair's open sheep show Aug. 29.
Angela Schildt
Citizenship Washington Focus.
Both of these programs are
designed to develop leadership and
citizenship qualities. Students are
provided with opportunities to
work effectively in both their local
clubs and communities.
Since Jim Heffner did par
ticipate in both of these programs,
the Heffner family feels it is fitting
that other Berks County youths
have the same opportunities.
Contributions may be sent to the
Oley Valley FFA Chapter, c/o Jim
Howe, Oley Valley High School,
Oley, Pa. The Heffner family and
the Berks County FFA and 4-H
organizations offer their sincere
thanks for this show of support in
memory of Jim Heffner.
G. Mitzel of Lancaster, one of the
New York Farm Bureau’s two
dairy representatives, is also a
member of the National Cat
tlemen’s Beef Promotion and
Research Board.
He is a member of the New York
Farm Bureau Dairy Committee,,
director of the Niagara Frontier
Milk For Health Council and
president of the Erie County Milk
Producers Cooperative. He has a
450 acre farm and a 75 cow
Holstein herd with a 20,000 pound
herd average.
(Turn to Page D 5)
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Mark Tracy