Etimeattar Faming, Saturday, March 21,1M7 Youth Representative Started With An Old Gray Goat BY CRAIG BINGMAN Snyder Comfy Correspondent PORT ROYAL - For the past nine months, Glenda Hockenberry has been doing an excellent job of promoting the dairy goat industry in Pennsylvania. The 17-year-old 1906-87 Youth Representative of the Pennsylvania Dairy Goat Association has traveled to numerous events within the state including Clinton County Fair, Lebanon Valley Mall, Monroe County, Shippensburg, Allentown, Farm Show, and soon Indiana. An application in the Keystone Dairy Goat News initially at tracted the Juniata High School senior to apply for the honor. Hockenberry, the 1987 Youth Representative for the state goat association, holds Glenda, her favorite LaMancha. Addalee, 9 months. Based on accomplishments in the dairy goat industry and oral in terviews, Glenda was chosen and crowned Youth Representative at last year’s Big Weekend at the Huntingdon Fair Grounds on June 14. The daughter of Glenn and Edna Hockenberry of RDI, Port Royal in Juniata County, Glenda takes care of the family’s 25 goats, which includes six Saanans and 19 LaManchas. All the animals are purebred or registered grade. In addition to the 25 goats at the Hockenberry farm, there are four horses, four polled herefords, and a market lamb. “By June we should be milking 12 goats,” Glenda said. “We usually milk at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. everyday by hand.” In the next weds the Hoekenberrys plan to enroll in the Dairy Herd Im provement Record. Glenda now estimates her goat production at six pounds per day per goat. Hockenberry is proud of the fact that their goat’s milk goes to a very good public market. A local doctor started 10 babies on their product who couldn’t tolerate the lactose in whole milk or formula. Every baby responded well to her goat’s product. The Hockenberry farm, also known as Hillie Acres, includes 28 acres of hay and com. The whole family is involved in the farm operation including brother Jason, 15. Though the story of goats eating tin cans may be a bit exaggerated, goats are actually finicky eaters. Glenda supplies her goats a diet of 16 percent dairy pellets along with hay and water. “You have to change hay every so often. Goats are very fussy eaters, but they are very inquisitive and will eat flowers and chew on clothes,” adds Glenda. Glenda’s interest in goats started in 1979 when her father brought home an old gray goat. “My mom did not want goats,” she chuckled. The gray goat had triplets that same night and my mom was hooked. That same goat went on to have three, four, five, four, and two kids respectively. And she never lost one of her kids.” Glenda’s activities in school include: Future Homemakers, Model Rocketry Club, Yearbook Staff, and the class play. 4-H ac tivities include Juniata Sheep Club, Kiddin-around Dairy Goat Club, Teen Council, as well as the Glenda proudly displays her 4-day-old lamb. Pennsylvania Dairy Goat Association. She has earned a variety of awards at shows. In 1963, she won the Blue Mountain Reserve Junior Champion Buck and the PDGA Show Junior Champion Doe. She won the Shtppensburg Reserve I*2l ~t! > 4 V 4 A . Grand Champion Grade in 1965 and more recently the Grand Cham pion Saanan of 1906 from the American Dairy Goat Association. Asked about the future of the dairy goat industry, Glenda an swers optimistically. “It’s growing (Turn to Paw E 9( i s f. 3g 4 > ,* /‘"V., , ♦ :;*,*>
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