A22*Uncaster Farming, Saturday, July 6, 1991
MONTROSE (Susquehanna
Co.) Doyle Thomas, county
extension director for Penn State
Cooperative Extension of Susque
hatma County, will be retiring as of
June 30.
In order to honor Doyle for his
33 years of service to Susquehanna
County, there will be a retirement
reception on Sunday, July 7, at the
VFW Hall in Montrose from 2
p.m.-5 p.m. There will be presenta
tions made to Doyle starting at 3
p.m. A light buffet lunch is
included in the $3 registration fee.
Doyle came to Susquehanna
County in September of 1958 as
the agronomy and 4-H agent. He
became county extension director
in 1976.
After graduation from Penn
State University in 1951 with a
B.S. in agronomy, he served as an
extension agent in Westmoreland
County for two years. Between
September of 1953 and August of
1958, he worked on his family’s
farm in Columbia County, primar
ily growing crops and vegetables.
In September of 1958, Doyle
relocated to Susquehanna County,
where he was assigned as the
agronomy/4-H agent and has
worked in both of these areas
throughout his extension career.
He obtained a M.S. in agronomy
from Penn State University in
1969.
Doyle has been very active in ag
land preservation since 1981.
Because of his efforts, 25 of 27
Susquehanna County townships
have worked on setting up ag sec
urity areas, of which 23 are now
secured. He was also instrumental
in starting the Susquehanna Coun
DOIT
YOURSELF
WITH A
SOILMOVER
Doyle Thomas Retires After 35
ty Ag Easement Board, which
purchases development rights
from farmers in order to help pre
serve Susquehanna County
farmland.
Between 1961-1966, he worked
extensively with the Tennessee
Valley Authority (TVA) demon
stration program. Several farms
were on this program to yield
much-needed fertilizer, and fertili
ty and farm management informa
tion for them as well as for the uni
versity. These farms were also the
site for several county demonstra
tions and field days.
Because of the importance of
good agronomy practices, much
work has been done in this area
through demonstrations, variety
trials, field days, and agronomy
meetings. Many meetings have
been conducted for farmers to
receive pesticide certification cre
dits along with ideas on weed con
trol, pesticide safety, and crop
improvement.
For many years, Doyle has con
ducted income tax and farm record
management educational
programs/woikshops. Throughout
the years, he has been a source of
advice for many farmers in the area
of farm income taxes.
Doyle has been instrumental in
starting the Susquehanna County
Forest Landowners Association
and also working with general tim
ber stand improvement. This has
been very important to the county,
since 62 percent of the land is fore
st. Many educational programs
have been held to educate landow
ners in the proper use of this natur
al resource.
He has worked many years in
the area of farm safety. This has
been accomplished through field
days/meetings and the youth trac
tor safety certification program.
With the sheep and wool grow
ers, Doyle has conducted numer
ous educational programs and has
worked with the county wool pool.
He has also developed a videotape
on general year-round sheep flock
management.
Because of Doyle’s efforts, sev
eral areas have set up lake associa
tions that promote proper mainte
nance of lakes/ponds. He has also
put together a wealth of informa
tion on aquatic weed control and
water quality in general. He has
helped numerous people deter
mine their water quality problems.
Other areas in which he has
helped the county include starting
a Susquehanna County farmers
market, starting a county beekeep
er’s association, working with far
mers and families with estate plan
ning, and starting up a county Mas
ter Gardener program. He has
conducted numerous programs in
small fruits, vegetables, garden
ing, poultry, livestock, dairy, stray
voltage, and many others. He has
also conducted numerous dairy
tours and farm city feasts.
In 4-H, Doyle has been active in
most areas and activities. When he
first started with extension, he was
responsible for the program and
for scoring 4-H members’ pro
jects. During the past several
years, he has worked primarily
with livestock, agronomy, and
vegetable projects, and he started
the 4-H dog and 4-H capon pro
jects. Doyle also coordinated the
4-H program to run in conjunction
Years Of Service
with the Harford Fair since the late
19505, and introduced the 4-H
Livestock Sale.
Radio programs are a big part of
day-to-day extension work. Since
Doyle started his career, he has
averaged more than two programs
per week (more than 3,500 radio
programs to date). He has also
made numerous appearances on
TV programs relating to garden
ing, landscaping, and farm and
home tips.
Doyle has been active in exten
sion associations as well, includ
ing the Pennsylvania Association
of County Agricultural Agents
(PACAA), the National Associa
tion of County Agricultural Agents
(NACAA), and Epsilon Sigma
Crawford Sets Open House
MEADVILLE (Crawford
Co.) — An “open house” welcom
ing the public to the new office
will be held by Crawford County
Cooperative Extension on Mon
day, July 15, from 2 to 4 p.m. and
7 to 9 p.m.
An official ribbon-cutting cere
mony will be held at 2 p.m. The
new facility is located in the front
section of the Crawford County
Industrial Park, formerly the
Avtex plant, on Dunham Road,
Meadville.
Individuals taking part in the
official opening of this facility
will be Dr. Diane Brown, west
region director of Penn State
Cooperative Extension; David
Glenn, chair of Crawford County
board of commissioners: Dennis
Rynd, president of Crawford
County Extension executive com
SCRAPE IT
Phi. With PACAA, he has served
and chaired on numerous commit
tees throughout the years. Some of
these include the Awards and Rec
ognition Committee. Nominating
Committee. Budget Committee,
and Retirees Committee. Doyle
was also awarded the Distin
guished Service Award in 1988
from PACAA.
A book of letters/comments is
being assembled for Doyle and
contributions toward a gift are
being collected at the Susquehanna
County Extension Office.
For reservations and contribu
tions, contact Nick Place, Susque
hanna County Cooperative Exten
sion, County Office Building,
Montrose, PA 18801, (717)
278-1158.
mittee; Jack Rynd, chair of build
ing committee; and Ruth Prest,
interim county extension director.
Exhibits will feature current
and upcoming educational prog
rams related to dairy rations, nitro
gen testing for crops, soil testing
and interpreting test results, a new
Master Gardener volunteer prog
ram to be initiated next fall, the
4-H Ambassador program, the
4-H Interstate Exchange program,
water quality fact sheets and a
flow model. Family Community
Leadership team projects, child
care and parenting newsletters,
family financial management
resources, the Expanded Food and
Nutrition Education Program
(EFNEP), and “Pen Pages” com
puter network resources available
to residents statewide from Penn
State University.
With your tractor and a
Soilmover, you can keep
feedlots cleaner, handle
manure easier ... even
build a complete run
off system or manure
handling facility.