A2O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 5, 1988 By Craig Bingman Snyder Co. Correspondent BLAIRS MILLS (Huntington) —J. Richard Speer is not only fol lowing in his father’s footsteps in dairy fanning, he also is repeating a feat accomplished by the elder Speer in 1958. “Rich” Speer, like his father, James Speer Jr. 30 years ago, is the FFA Eastern Reg ion Star Farmer. The 1985 Southern Huntingdon High School graduate is one of four regional star farmers being considered for the title of Star Farmer of America at the FFA National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri on November 10. The convention runs from November 10th through the 12th and expects to draw more than 22,000 FFA members, advisors, supporters, and guests from 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Speer Ls the son of Henrietta and James Speer, Jr. “I’ve been interested in fanning ever since 1 was knee high to a grasshopper,” says Speer. “When I was 8 years old, my dad gave me my first calf.” Farming by a 50-50 partnership with his father since January of 1985 when he was a high school senior, Rich has swelled his cur rent net worth to $172,337, started from a loan and money earned from his Supervised Occupational Experience Program in FFA. The partnership includes two farms totaling 260 acres of com, wheat, alfalfa, and oats. The father and son team manage 100 head of holsteins, of which 61 are current ly averaging near 18,000 pounds with a 3.8% test. “Wc own 180 acres tillable and rent 80 acres,” adds Speer. Their S6O total acres are divided between Juniata and Huntingdon Counties, where the Tuscarora and Shade Mountains surround their Speerette Farms. While in high school and after graduation, Speer was quite active in FFA activities. Among his FFA offices, honors, and activities are: Chapter Star Farmer, chapter sec retary, treasurer, vice president; DeKalb Agricultural Award; state FFA band; chapter public speak ing, dairy judging, parliamentary procedure; state FFA treasurer; state star farmer; state dairy pro duction proficiency award; East ern States Star Fanner. Community activities include; Holstein-Friesan Association local, state, and national member; PA Farmer’s Association; South ern Huntingdon Young Farmer’s; Lions Club; Sunday School sec retary and elder; Sire Power Inc. member; Atlantic Breeders Cooperative member; Maryland Virginia Milk Cooperative member. Each of the regional star farm ers will receive $l,OOO from the National FFA Foundation, with the national winner receiving an additional $l,OOO. The four reg ional stars were selected from can didates nominated for the Ameri can Farmer Degree, which is awarded to less than two tenths of one percent of the organization’s 404,500 members. “They judge the interviews and the content of the application for Star Farmer,” says Speer. “They (judges) even ask you to bring your record books from 9th grade until the present.” Speer is a farmer that pays spe cial attention to today’s agricultur al innovations. Using the embryo transfer (ET) successfully, he has Star Farmer Sets Sights On National Honor J. Richard Speer nation skills, he also has been able 1° breed your cows, you’re stuck Also, Speer introduced a new witnessed the result of two heifer t 0 increase breeding efficiency, with when they breed them. If Ido feeding system that allows for lac „„ivps cnnerior bloodlines “With AI, timing is everything,” it myself, I can breed them when tating cows to be fed grain indivi be says. “If you set someone else they need to be bed.” nt,mt.P w „l) ' father. Make work fun... with the John Deere AMT’6OO Transport and the new AMT 622. Your Full-Service John Deere Dealers ADAMSTOWN EQUIPMENT INC. Mohnton, PA (naar Adamstown) 215-484-4391 CLUGSTON BARRETT EQUIPMENT IMPLEMENT, INC. Smlckaburg, PA Chambaraburg, PA 814-257-8881 717-263-4103 BARTRON SUPPLY, INC. Tunkhannock, PA 717-836-4011 teer, shown here getting ready to harvest haylage, is a full partner with his CLUGSTON FARM ENFIELD EQUIPMENT INC. H.R. GUTSHALL & EQUIPMENT Whltaford, MO SONS, | NC . Naadmora, PA 301-452-5252 Cartlala, PA 717-573-2215 717-249-2313 DEERFIELD AG & TURF FOSTER EQUIPMENT CENTER, INC. SALES Wataontown, PA Elmar, NJ 717-536-3557 609-769-1535 EVERGREEN TRACTOR CO., INC. Labanon, PA 717-272-4641 A.B.C. GROFF, INC. Naw Holland, PA 717-354-4191 ROBERT G. HAMPTON, INC KERMIT K. KISTU Shiloh, NJ Lynnport,* 609-451-9520 215-298-20I 1 I.G. SALES! Silvardalt, jj 215-257-slJ| JESCO, ll* Thraa Bndgi* 201-782-4**
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