BIG-Lancister
Tranquil Scene Belies Whirlwind Of Activity
BY LOU ANN GOOD
REFTON (Lancaster Co.)
Blue Spruce trees line the winding
drive that meanders off Beaver
Valley Pike to the handsome brick
farmhouse of Ken and Esther
Meek. Brilliant displays of flowers
and huge trees of many varieties
accent the neatly manicured lawn.
Four Harves tores rise above the
neatly painted yellow bams, chick
en houses and surrounding
cornfields.
This tranouil setting belies the
whirlwind of activity stirred up by
the Meek’s 17-year-old daughter
who lives there.
She’s Anita Meek, the PA Poul
try Queen and a freshman at Mil
lersville University. Her involve
ment in the poultry industry, FFA,
4-H, studies and community
affairs brings schedule conflicts,
but Anita does not flinch.
She said, “When 1 decide to do
something, I do my best My goals
might be hard to attain, but I still
try.”
The petite red head is familiar
with hard work and busy sche
dules. In high school she took not
one but three majors—college
prep, ag and business.
She said, I wanted to go to col
lege so I needed college prep.
Since I lived on the farm, I knew I
wanted ag. Plus I wanted a busi
ness background because it’s
needed in daily life.”
To accomplish her demanding
schedule, Anita had independent
PA Poultry Quoen Anita Meek hat more than her anna
full. Her schedule Is packed with poultry promotional activi
ties, 4-H, PFA and classes as a chemistry major at Mlllersvll-
Is University.
9,1989
romps with her Eskimo Spitz.
study in business math and
accounting.
Explained Anita, “Independent
study is when you don’t sit in clas
ses, but you take tests and consult
with teachers if you need help in
studying on your own. To do that,
you need ambition and you need to
discipline yourself.”
It woriced out well for Anita who
said, “The busier I am, the easier
grades come. If I’m not busy, I
tend to avoid the situation. Being
busy makes me more disciplined.”
She made the honor roll all year.
She was awarded the Burrows
scholar for being die outstanding
junior in science. That award has
confirmed that she has made the
right choice to major in chemistry.
She hopes to become a labortory
technition and “to have a little farm
because it would be hard not to live
on a one.”
Anita said, “I tailed my dad
around the farm ever since I could
walk.”
The Meeks raise pullets and
steers. Anita’s chores include
washing light bulbs and water cups
and feeding peeps. She also set up
an IBM computer program for the
farm. And she helps her dad with
mailing letters and selling chicken
barbecue tickets for the Lampeter
Fair.
As poultry queen, she promotes
the industry at schools, banquets
and parades. She said, “I think the
poultry industry has an effective
program because they reach all age
groups. I’d like to stress the variety
and selection that poultry offers
and promote pride in the industry.
There’s no substitute for eggs.”
She has one older sister. Crystal
Evans, who Anita credits with
teaching her a lot and with helping
her with her pageant presentation.
As 4-H secretary, Anita encour
ages fellow members. “Don’t con
centrate on winning, but work for
the experience. Anita said, “As
secretary and committee chair
man, it’s discouraging trying to get
people to work.”
For 10 years. Anita worked hard
in her 4-H projects. As part of the
Red Rose Beef Club, she showed a
steer annually at her hometown
Lampeter Fair. Last year she was
rewarded with a grand champion
ribbon.
Anita remarked, “It was an out
standing year. Even if I hadn’t
won. I’d do it again for the experi
ence. It’s a way to getting to know
others. It builts self-confidence.”
This is Anita’s tenth yearin4-H.
She said, "In my beginning years
as a 4-H member, I had the time,
but not the experience. Now I
know what to do, but I don’t have
the time.”
Anita sees herself as a person
who takes on responsibility and as
“fairly outgoing—but not majoral
ly outgoing.” She likes responsi
bility and organization.
She earned the star chapter far
mer award at the Lampeter High
School Garden Spot Chapter. She
was the FFA representative to the
Lampeter Fair queen contest
where she placed as second
runnerup.
That event posed a scheduling
conflict, but Anita, being resource
ful pulled through. While she was
competing for Fair Queen, the
steer competition was in process.
A friend showed Anita’s steer and
while Anita answered the judges
questions, she kept one eye on the
nearby steer competition and
learned the steer won grand
champion almost simultaneously
with her placing.
This year she needs to appear as
the state poultry queen at a fair and
at the banquet at die same time that
she is scheduled to show-in 4-H
steer competition. *TTI manage
somehow,” Anita promises. “It
may be hard, but I’m going to do
the best I can.”
She may be a whirlwind of
activity, but everything remains
under control when Anita is in
charge.
See your nearest
I\EW HOU.AISD
Dealer for Dependable
Equipment and
Dependable Service;
PENNSYLVANIA
Annvill*, PA
BHM Farm
Equipment, Inc.
RDI, Rte. 934
717-867-2211
Beavertown, PA
B&R Farm
Equipment, Inc.
RD 1, Box 217 A
717-658-7024
Belleville, PA
Ivan J. Zook
Farm Equipment
Belleville, Pa.
717-935-2948
Canton, PA
Hess Farm Equipment
717-673-5143
Carlisle, PA
R&W Equipment Co.
35 East Willow Street
717-243-2686
Chambersburg, PA
Clugston
Implement, Inc.
R.O. 1
717-263-4103
Davidsburg, PA
George N. Gross, Inc.
R.D. 2, Dover, PA
717-292-1673'
Elizabethtown, PA
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc.
Rt 283 - Rheem's Exit
717-367-1319
Gettysburg, PA
Yingling Implements,
Inc.
3291 Taneytown Rd
717-359-4848
Greencaatle, PA -
Meyers
Implement's Inc.
400 N. Antrim Way
P.O. Box 97
717-597-2176
Halifax. PA
Sweigard Bros.
R.D. 3. Box 13
717-896-3414
Hamburg, PA
ShaiHeavllle
Farm Service
R.D. 1, Box 1392
215-488-1025
Honey Brook, PA
Dependable Motor Co.
East Main Street
215-273-3131
215-273-3737
Honey Grove, PA
Norman D. Clark
& Son, Inc.
Honey Grove, PA
717-734-3682
HughaavlHe, PA
Farnsworth Farm
Supplies, Inc.
103 Cemetery Street
717-584-2106
Loyaville, PA
Paul Shovere, Inc.
Loysville, PA
717-789-3117
New Holland, PA
A.B.C. Groff, Inc.
110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
Olay, PA
C.J. Wonsidler Brbs.
R.O. 2
215-987-6257
Pitman, PA
Schreiner Equipment
Pitman. PA
717-648-1120
Quakartown, PA
C.J. Wonsidler Bros.
R.D. 1
215-536-1935
Quarryvlllo, PA
C.E. Wiley & Son, Inc.
101 South Lime Street
717-786-2895
Rlngtown, PA
Ringtown Farm
Equipment
Ringtown, PA
717-889-3184
Tamaqua, PA
Charles S. Snyder, Inc.
R.D. 3
717-386-5945
West Grove, PA
S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc.
R.O. 2, Box 66
215-869-2214
MARYLAND
Churchvllle, MD
Walter G. Coale, Inc.
2849-53
Churchvllle Rd.
301-838-6470
Frederick, MD
Ceresville
Ford New Holland, Inc.
Rt 26 East
301-662-4197
Outside MD,
800-331-9122
Hagerstown, MD
An tie tarn Ford Tractor
301-791-1200
NEW JERSEY
Bridgeton, N.J.
Leslie Q. Fogg, Inc.
Canton A Stow Creek
Landing Rd.
609-451-2727
609-935-5145
Washington, NJ
Frank Rymon 8 Sons
201-689-1464
Woedstown, NJ
Owen Supply Co.
Broad Street A
East Avenue
609-769-0308