BY BARBARA MILLER Lycoming Co. Correspondent HUGHESVILLE (Lycoming) “They should have set the fair up a couple weeks ago then we would have gotten some rain soon er,” was a tongue in cheek com ment echoed again and again by farmers and fairgoers alike at the rainy 118th Lycoming County Fair. The fair was held from July 14 to the 23 at the Hughesville fairgrounds. Ironically, at the start of the fair officials expressed concern about possible fire hazards because of the long dry spell and also consid ered the possibility that some far mers would not bring animals because of the heat. But a two-inch rainfall on the third evening of the fair and showers nearly, every day thereafter cooled things off and silenced any remaining fears of fire hazards. All barns were filled to capacity. Wilbur Rogers, sheep manager, reported a substantial increase in the number of sheep entries this year and the swine section repor tedly could have used more space. And in this year of the drought, such wet weather nuisances as wading in mud and carrying an umbrella were performed with nary a complaint by fairgoers, grateful for the life-giving rains. Holstein Open Dairy Show Major prizes in the Holstein Open Show on July 20 were gar nered by Ritter-Ridge Farms, Muncy, for showing the grand champion Holstein and winning the premier breeder and premier exhibitor awards. According to Paul Ritter, there is a special delight in having their two-year-old, Ritter-Ridge Tempo Cotton, take the grand champion trophy this year. “This cow is a descendant of my first 4-H project I brought to the fair 28 years ago,” Ritter relates with a happy smile. Cotton’s dam won honorable mention in the All Pennsylvania Contest, Ritter says, and Cotton won the junior champion trophy at last year’s fair. Currently, he adds. Cotton is producing 70 pounds of milk'on test and is projected at 18,000 of milk for the year. No slranger to the winner’s circle, the Ritter family of Ritter- Ridge Farms has won the grand and reserve awards along with the premier breeder and premier exhi bitor banners at the Lycoming County Fair several times during the past 10 years. For 28 consecu tive years, the Ritter family has been showing their cows at the Lycoming County Fair. Ritter-Ridge is a 250-acre fami ly farm. The Ritters farm an addi tional 250 rented acres to feed their 250 head of cattle of which they presently milk 106 cows. They maintain a RHA of 18,600 pounds with 650 pounds butterfat. The farm is operated by Hilda Ritter, son, Paul, and his wife, Linda, with some help from a daughter, Janet Ritter Stackhouse. The reserve grand champion Holstein trophy went to a four year-old owned by Robert Cross, Unilyville. Cross said his entry, Gar-Sher Penn Candy, averaged 26,000 pounds of milk with a 4.1 fat test and 1084 pounds of fat as a two-year-old. He added that Can dy was purchased at the New York State Bred Heifer Sale and her dam averaged 22,000 pounds of milk with a 4.7 test. Lycoming County Fair Dairy Show Results the Lycoming County Fair. Wendy Kulp and Bob Cross milk 65 Hols tein at their Unityville farm. Judge for the Holstein Show was Norman Hill, Woodbine, MD. Colored Breed Show In the Colored Breed Open Dairy Show held July 21, the grand champion trophy in the Ayrshire division went to a 10-year-old named Star’s Delight owned by Betty Staman of Valley Bell Farms, Montgomery. She won best udder of her breed. According to Staman, she is an Oakridge Commanders Star daughter and has a DHIA rating of 13,401 pounds of milk with a 3.9 percent fat and 522 pounds of fat. She had won the grand champion ship and the best udder awards pre viously at another fair. Although a grand champion, Star’s Delight is one Ayrshire among 62 Holsteins at Valley Bell Farms, Montgomery. “I had her before I got married,” Staman explained. “My husband got a package deal.” For next year’s fair, Staman said, her husband, Burt Jr., who didn’t fare as well in the Holstein competition, had one request —he wanted her to leave her Ayrshire at home. Valley Bell Farms is a 200-acre family farm owned and operated by Burton Staman Sr. and Burton Staman Jr. and wives, Marjorie and Betty, respectively. The reserve grand champion trophy in the Ayrshire breed went to 15-year-old Todd Russell of Lov-Dale Dairy Farms, Linden, for his five-year-old entry, Penn Springs M.B. Gloria. According to Russell, Gloria in previous years has won reserve grand and grand championships in 4-H competition, the grand champion trophy at districts and placed second in her class at the state show. This year Russell swept the 4-H competition by win ning the grand championship with Gloria and the reserve champion ship with another entry, Lov-Dale Liberace Sweet P, a summer yearling. V <s 4 THIS NEW STEPS TO SUCKER CONTROL. Now you can save time and get application. Just spray Prime+ over of over the top application, effective sucker control by spraying the top at the early flower to It’s the way to grow quality Prime+* over the top and following elongated bud stage. Wait a week, tobacco. Of course, applying Prime+ up later with an application of MH. then apply MH. You’ll get great by hand with a dropline, by back- It’s a simple, sequential sucker control plus the convenience pack sprayer or from the jug is still li Ritter-Rldge Farms’ Paul Ritter accepts the trophy forthe grand champion Holstein, while Robert Cross, right, receives the reserve grand champion trophy. Beth Ann Cooley, Lycoming County dairy princess, and Carolyn Cline, alternate dairy princess, look on. Gloria is out of Penn Spring D. Gail and was sired by Madge’s Boy. She was purchased from Ronald Marlin of Penn Spring Farms, Mill Hall and averages 16,000 pounds of milk. Concerning his win in the open show, Russell remarked, “I was kind of disappointed because my main competition wasn’t there.” At Lov-Dale Farms, Russell says, they milk about 130 cows, mostly Holsteins except for 20 Ayrshires, and farm between 600 and 700 acres. Twin four-year-olds owned by Ernie and Wanda Derr and Curtis Muffley, Cogan Station, took the top honors in the Jersey breed. Swingles Saint Futti and Swingle Saint Tutti, earned the grand and reserve grand trophies respective ly. Swingles Saint Futti, the grand champion, has a record of 10,000 pounds of milk with 5.2 percent fat. The Derrs purchased the champions’ dam already bred by John and William Swingles of Canton. The Derrs’ Jersey entries have captured the grand champion tro phy several times at the fair during the past nine years, according to - g .ipiv gu -.ip» Jerseys are owned by partners Ernie and Wanda Derr and Curtis Muffley of Cogan Station. Curtis, second from right, hold the grand champion, while Ernie and Wanda pose with the reserve grand champion. Standing by are Beth Ann Cooley, Lycoming County dairy princess and Don Koontz, judge. Wanda. She noted she and her hus- judge, unaware he was comparing band have been showing cattle for twins, remarked with some puzzle a combined total of 22 years at the ment, “There’s just a lot of similar- fair. About winning “It’s nice to and Muffley farm 160 acres, keep be recognized when you have a 75 head of Jerseys, and currently good animal,” Wanda comments, milk 48 cows. She reports during the competition Grand and reserve grand tro she had to restrain a smile when the phies in the Guernsey division ities between the two.” The Derrs **> w $ M V’i
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