BZ-Lancwter Fuming, Saturday, January 18, 1992 Happiness Reigns As Pennsyivania Farm Women Hold 73rd State Convention LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Fanning Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) The Pennsylvania Society of Women were ecstatic when Naomi Bupp presented a $20,000 check to Arlene Witman, president of the state Society, for the organiza tion’s scholarship fund. The check is the profits from the Society of Farm Women of Penn sylvania Cookbook, which Naomi personally funded. “In 1970, my daughter got a Farm Women scholarship. That was the day that I decided that someday, somehow, I would give back to the scholarship fund,” Naomi told the 392 members gathered for the 73rd annual state convention. When Naomi served as presi dent of the state organization from 1985 until 1988, she started the cookbook project. But the dream to publish thousands of recipes from Farm Women members across the state was slashed when money was not available for the project. Also, the tedious hours of proof reading and typing the more than 2,000 recipes were overwhelming. Of the past years, Naomi said that she learned, “When the going gets tough, give it over to divine providence,” Believing that “the Lord works in mysterious ways,” Naomi kept searching for ways to make the cookbook a reality. Numerous vol unteers helped compile, sort, and organize the cookbook, but it was Naomi who depleted her own sav ings and borrowed the $17,500 needed to have the cookbook published. The first issues arrived hot off the press in time for the annual Farm Women Spring Rally in May 1991. Since then, sales have been brisk. “The success is unbelievable,” Naomi said. With the sale of 10,300 cookbooks, Naomi has paid off the money borrowed from the bank, replenished her savings account, and has a $20,000 profit with a promise of more to come to give to the scholarship fund. In addition, the cookbook will be going into a second printing. (The cookbook is available from Naomi Bupp, Route 2, Box 157, Glen Rock, PA 17327, for $l5 plus $3.50 for shipping). Since 1960, the Pennsylvania Society of Farm Women awards four scholarships annually to members’ children and grandchil dren majoring in home economics, Mary and Amos Weaver, a Pennsylvania Dutch Comedy act, examine Items in the basket presented to them by Mar garet Smith, center, of Cumberland County. home management fields, culinary arts and hotel management Since additional funds have been added to the fund, the board will need to decide how to disperse the money. They may increase the amount given individually or they may increase the number of recipients. This year, five scholarship win ners received $5OO each. They are Crystal Oellig, a food science major from Dauphin County; Pat ricia Bupp Bacha, a home econom ics major from York County; Amy Fyock, an apparel design major from Lancaster County; Kathy Esbenshade, a fashion design major from Lancaster County, and John Brenneman, a chef major from York County. Another highlight of the Farm Women Convention was the “Naming of the Heifer Contest” President Arlene Witman started this project last year when she pur chased a stuffed cow to represent the Heifer Project, which Farm Women are supporting by raising $9,000 to provide heifers and other animals to help third-world countries. Judges for the heifer contest, Margaret Smith of Cumberland County and June Hertzler of Perry County said 255 names were sug gested for the stuffed heifer. The judges selected two winners and combined the suggested names to make one name. Ar-Wit’s Happi ness Holli stands for Arlene Wit man’s name plus the Farm Women’s theme, “For Happiness” and their flower Hollyhocks. The two members who suggested the names are Shirley Wenger of York County and Mary Fizz of Berks County. During the business session, members elected Darlene Schmeltz of Dauphin County as treasurer and Barbara Hamper as Farm Women member Arlene Maule enjoys a laugh during the Farm Women’s annual banquet. director. Both will serve three-year terms. Although 79 new members joined Farm Women Societies, 184 members died in 1991, which brings total membership to 3,371. Those counties with new mem bers included Adams, 2; Berks, 4; Cambria, 2; Dauphin, 7; Franklin, 12; Inidiana, 1; Lancaster 15; Somerset. 9; and York 21. This was the first year that the Pennsylvania Society of Farm Women held a one-day convention instead of the traditional two-day event Morning and afternoon ses sions were held in the State Forum The evening banquet was held at Penn Harris Hotel with a vocal jazz ensemble from Messiah College providing the music and Dr. Ken neth Markely speaking on the marks of a happy woman. County Farm Women presidents Include from left: Cindy Thoman, Perry Co.; Joan Loeb, Berks Co.; Barbara Malehan, York Co.; Fem Hitz, Lebanon Co.; Pamela Glen, Fulton Co.; Laurene Tate, Adams Co.; Sharon Engle, Franklin Co.; Corinne Nlssley, Lancaster Co.; Ruth Chilcote, Huntingdon Co.; Audrey Gilbert, Somerset Co.; Hannah Bender, Cambria Co.; Bailee Straub, Dauphin Co.; Fran Westbrook, Cumberland Co.; and Donna Good, Indiana Co. At the annual Pennsylvania Farm Women Convention banquet, members clapped as Dr. Ken Markley of Narramore Foundation listed the five marks of a happy woman. Teary-eyed, Arlene Wittnan, president of the Pennsylva nia Society of Farm Women, right, accepts a $20,000 check from Naomi Bupp for the scholarship fund. The money came from the cookbook project that Bupp planned. wmesiead tA/etcs r* V
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