Berks Co. To Honor Conservationists i, LEESPORT - The Berks County Conservation District, along with the Berks County Agricultural Stabilization Con servation Service will again be sponsoring a banquet to honor conservation efforts in Berks County. This year it will be held at the Kutztown Grange Hall on Friday, April 3, at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Maurice K. Goddard, former D.E.R. Secretary for Penn sylvania, will be the featured speaker for the evening. Jack Gounder of WEEU who is also a district director will act as master of ceremonies. District Chairman, County Commissioner Vernon K. Shaffer will conduct the opening and make some in troductions. To be honored as Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year will be Lester W. Gelsinger of North Heidelberg Township. He has a family dairy farm and has been using conservation practices on his land for many years. They milk 100 cows and several family members are involved in the operation. Among the conservation practices used by the Gelsingers are; contour strip farming, diversion terraces, conservation tillage, grass waterways, a manure storage facility, cover TIMMERMAN ■sseks:?? 717-354-9611 MANUFACTURING CORP. CALL FOR PRICES AND YOUR LOCAL DEALER UTILITY TRAILERS Zimmerman Rugged -Jfc. . ■*» Heavy Duty Wagon Gear Available in 6,8 &10 ton sizes. jp \ Also 12 ton tandem axle unit. \ Options include adjustable quick hitch tongue, various * size wheels and tires. ZIMMERMAN AUGER SYSTEMS FOR EMPTYING MANURE PITS Efficient Economical and requires less Horsepower than most systems Stationary or Portable cropping, and a conservation crop rotation. Mr. Gelsinger has been an ASCS County Committee Member for many years. Four other farmers to be recognized for their conservation efforts are Lee J. Katz of Penn Township, David Braucher of Bern Township, William T. Mitchell of Centre Township and Norman Lamm of Heidelberg Township. They will all receive Berks Con servation District signs for their farms. The Outstanding Con servation Educator of the Year is Lowell Thomas who teaches in the sth and 6th grades in the Hamburg School District. He has been a part of their outdoor education program for 15 years. This past summer he was the director of the Youth Conservation Leadership Camp which is sponsored by the Con servation District at Camp Joy. Robert Murton, who has been a concerned sportsman for many years and has held offices in the Federated Sportsmens Association and the Izaak Walton League will receive the Outstanding Con servationist Award. The Berks County Conservancy will be honored for all their many efforts as the Outstanding Con servation Organization. The Forestry Award Winners for AIR-O-MATIC VENTILATION SYSTEMS m lie, leal OR ■ ’ Wall Fan With Hood And Painted Galvanized Cabinets • Rust Resistant For Long And 'orn Life • Sizes 20” Thru 48” Direct Drive Variable Speed And Belt Drive (w/Ball Bearing High Efficiency Motor) Models Available 1986 are James and Beverly Geiger of Ruscombmanor Township who have been carrying out a woodlot management program on their 84 acres. They also won the Regional Award m the M.K. Goddard Forestry Contest. John A. Lutz and Sons will be recognized for the Conservation Tillage Farming Award. This is the first time the district has awarded such an honor. The Lutz’s have been using no-till farming practices for many years and have been generous in sharing the knowledge they have gained. For tickets call the Berks County Conservation District office by March 27 at (215) 372-4655. No tickets will be sold at the door. The Kutztown Grange Hall is located just south of Main Street at the east end of Kutztown. Gross Cap. 3,000 to 24,000 lbs Variety of Sizes Made to Order 1 \ m I u Stationary Lancaster Water Clinic To Offer Free Nitrate Screening LANCASTER - Concerned about the quality of drinking water in your home? Does the quality of the water your livestock drink affect their health and per formance? If you are a homeowner or farmer and depend on your own well or spring, these are questions you should be asking yourself. “The quality of water from a private supply is the responsibility of its owner,” says Dr. William Sharpe, water resource specialist at Penn State University. “If you don’t test your water, no one else will.” Farmers and homeowners of Lancaster County will have an opportunity to learn about managing their water supplies. Water quality experts Dr. Bill Sharp and Joe Makuch along with Dr R'fhqrd rr°v'o nt Biometr , c«! Lab in QuarryviUe will speak and be available for consultation at the “Safe Drinking Water Clinic” to be held at the Farm and Home Center in Lancaster on March 24. The program will run from 1 to 4 p.m. and be repeated at 7 to 10 p.m. On March 25 the same program will be held in the “all-purpose” room of the Blue Ball School from 7 to 10 p.m. only. These programs are free to the public and free nitrate screening tests will be offered to all program par ticipants. Bring in a sample of your water for testing. In addition local water testing labs and treatment equipment dealers will have exhibits. For more information contact the Lancaster County Cooperative Extension Service at 394-6851.