BMancastw Farming, Saturday, May 27,1989
Teen’s Life Is A Tribute
To Her Mom And Dad
BY MARIANNE WALKER
Centre Co. Correspondent
CENTRE HALL (Centre Coun
ty) —At this time of year, with the
celebration of Mother’s Day and
Father’s Day, those of us who are
blessed to be parents are brought
face to face with the enormous
responsibility with which we’ve
been entrusted. We examine our
style of parenting, “Am I pushing
her too much?” or, “Am I spending
enough time with him?” or, “Does
she know how much I care for
her?” And then we ponder, “What
type of person do I really hope this
child becomes?” Recently I met a
young woman who embodies
those characteristics that I desire
for my daughter.
At age 18, Lori Cash demon
strates enthusiasm, ambition, ma
turity and a caring, “down home”
nature. Best of all, Lori attributes
the person she’s become to her par
ents, Dr. and Mrs. Erskine Cash.
Lori’s dad is a professor of Ani
mal Production at Penn State’s
main campus. He and his wife
raise a herd of 25 Angus cattle on
the 40-acre farm they purchased
eleven years ago. Lori apparendy
either inherited from her father or
learned by his example the first
rate care for catde. She and her
brother, Chad (now 23), have both
shown beef animals since the age
of nine.
“Dad has had a big influence on
Chad and myself,” Lori explains.
She quickly added that her father
never made her feel compelled to
work with their catde, she said, “I
never felt like I had to do it.”
But show cattle Lori did, and
how she has shown those cattle!
Last summer she was the winner of
the National Junior Angus Show
manship Contest held in Spring
field, Mo. At the same time, Chad
was president of the National
Junior Angus Association, making
1988 a year for Dr. Cash to be quite
proud of his children.
With two representatives from
every state, the national competi
tion is a stiff one. This modest
“show woman” never dreamed
she’d claim the honor. She laughs,
“I did not expect to do well. I was
the youngest one (competitor). A
girl seldom wins it” In fact, Lori
was the only female in the top five
•I Junior Apgus Showmanship Contsst last ysar In Spring-
competitors.
“Through so many years of
showing, I have come across so
many difficult things that can hap
pen,” Lori exclaims.
What is the secret to her show
ing success? “Dad always told me
to be calm,” she attests. That placid
exterior is a must when a steer
you’ve never laid eyes on is hand
ed to you in the show ring.
To imply that Lori’s life centers
only on cattle is quite a fallacy, for
there is so much more to her than
cows. The animal she prefers
working with the most is her quar
ter horse/thoroughbred mare. Lori
has shown horses in 4-H for many
years, concentrating her efforts on
western riding, western pleasure,
trail; but most of all, grooming and
showmanship. Her show record,
here again, is not a shoddy one: in
1985, she was third in the state
competition for junior showman
ship; in 1987, sixth in the state in
the same class. Lori’s eyes rill with
tears when she says that she will be
selling her mare and her two-year
old filly in order to start college
this year.
Completing her “show string”
of farm animals are Lori’s
crossbred hogs. She has been rais
ing hogs for many years, selling
them in the late summer at Centre
County’s Grange Fair.
For a senior in high school to
handle the care and showing of
seveipl steers, a horse, and a few
with them she has won
numerous show awards
Including third In the state
competition for Junior
showmanship.
pigs is commendable. Lori rises at
3:30 a.m. daily, handling the feed
ing and bam chores before catch
ing a 7:30 bus. At 4 p.m., her bam
duty is repeated. Her weekends are
occupied with clipping, preparing
the animals for shows, and the ine
vitable duties of a farm woman.
Lori’s schedule becomes even
more astounding to a listener when
she gives an account of her high
school activities. A member of the
National Honor Society, she was
vice president of the Student
Council at Penns Valley High
School this year. She was also
president of the Girls’ Varsity
Club and co-captain of the basket
ball team.
Basketball has been a real
source of accomplishment for
Lori, whose team was 22 and 2 this
year and made it to finals competi
tion two years in a row. Lori’s been
a cheerleader since the sixth grade,
and this year she won the Poise and
Appearance Award in Centre
County’s Junior Miss pageant. She
sings in the school chorus and
landed a lead role in her school’s
annual musical. Lori is also active
in her church, singing in the choir
and teaching Bible School.
In the ’Bos we’ve been deluged
with campaigns against the ills of
today’s youth, but here is a young
woman who has resisted those
temptations and done so much in
her short lifetime. “I like to stay
busy,” Lori admits with a grin. “I
like to keep active and involved
and in touch with things.”
She explains that her parents
required that both she and her
brother pay for their college educa
tions. “Mom and Dad said ‘you
can raise the animals and sell them
or get a job,’ and I chose this and
I’m glad I did. I like it!” she
exclaims.
One can only expect the bright
est of futures for Lori Cash. She’ll
be a freshman at Penn State this
summer. In keeping with her ambi
tious attitude she’s not waiting to
start in the fall! She has strong
interests in marketing and commu
nications and she hopes to become
active in the Block and Bridle Club
and the Equestrian team. “I have
no idea where I’ll end up or what
I’ll do,” Lori muses. “I do know I’d
really like to stay in the country,”
she adds.
Lori never felt that she missed
anything because she was busy at
home on the farm. “My best friend
homestead
In addition to caring for her steers, horses, and pigs, Lori
is active In high school. She is a member of the National
Honor Society, student council, and the basketball team.
She al?o won the Poise and Appearance Award In this
year’s Centre County Junior Miss pageant.
y w
year Lori sold a litter of eight puppies.
shows cattle and pigs,” she says. If
her other friends want to see her,
they visit her at the barn!
By most anyone’s standards,
Lori’s a model young woman. She
believes that it’s her parents who
have molded her into this person
who has such a zest for life.
wfps
“I attribute it to my mom and
dad,” Lori says with emotion. “I
really feel I owe them a lot
They've inspired and pushed me.
When I look back. I’m just thank
ful they put up with me.”
What more could a mother or
father ask for?