814-Unc«st*r Fanning, Saturday, March 7,1992
‘Sisterly Caring’ Shown By
Cumberland Farm Women
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
BOILING SPRINGS (Cumber
land Co.) Cumberland County
Farm Women president Fran
Westbrook has nothing but praise
for members of her society. “We
are like sisters. When one has a
problem we all share in it,” she
said.
Recently, Fran recalled two
times when she desperately needed
the support of the members. The
first time was when she was a
young mother with four children.
When the oldest was only IS
months old, she had twins. Then
her youngest daughter was bom
with a dislocated hip. The daughter
was hospitalized for several years
at the Elizabethtown Children’s
Hospital. It required many trips
between the Westbrook’s Cumber
land County farm to the Lancaster
County Hospital.
After that daughter and the other
children became adults, Fran again
needed the support of Farm
Women members when one of her
grandsons was bom prematurely
and permanently blind eight years
ago.
Now that the initial shock of fac
ing this disappointing news has
faded, Fran credits this grandson
for helping her find her place in life
that as a member of a parent
support group for the blind and
hearing impaired.
The joy that this happy, well
adjusted child brings into life
infuses Fran. Remembering the
support she received from Farm
Women members while she
grappled with the adjustment
brings nothing but praise from
Fran’s lips.
She said, “Farm Women mem
bers are just like having extra sis
ters to help you cope.**
Fran's involvement with the
organization began early. Her
mother, Pauline Kreitzer, was
Cumberland County president at
one time and organized a new
group. Because ho- mother was
deeply involved and happy with
Farm Women. Fran said, “My
mother was thrilled to death when I
was installed as county president
on November 9. She was too ill to
attend the installation, but I think
that was the one thing that caused
her to hang onto life as long as she
did.”
Fran’s mother died on Novem
ber 21.
Fran heads 22 societies with its
356 members in Cumberland
County. She has helped organize a
younger group composed of
daughters of Farm Women. Her
daughter-in-law, Kathy West
brook, is president of Group 22.
“It’s a problem getting younger
ones to join," Fran said, “but
unlike many other organizations
that have each family member pur
suing their own interests. Farm
Women encourage family activi
ties by sponsoring family picnics
and Christmas gatherings. And.
they are always helping families in
need. Recently, die Cumberland
County societies donated funds to
a young man from Shippensbutg
facing a heart transplant The
societies also help support foster
parenting for delinquent teens.
Fran said that she is one of three
sisters who grew up on a farm.
“We did all the farm work just like
the boys would have done if there
had been any,” she said. “We did
the milking and the field work.”
After her marriage, she and her
husband Galen farmed 300 acres
Fran Westbrook
Cumberland Co.
Farm Women President
for 13 years until her husband
began a water drilling business.
They purchased a 70-acre farm
that they continue to live on and
cash rent the fields.
The Westbrooks’ children are
now married and they have seven
grandchildren. Two sons own and
operate an excavating business on
the family farm. A son-in-law
works in her husband’s well drill
ing business.
During her children’s child
hood, Fran said that she was active
in everything that her children
were involved In.
“I spent more time at school
than home,” she said. “I’m happy
to have raised the children on the
farm. There are so many benefit'
such as responsibility and oppor
tunities that come with farm life.”
Fran believes it is important for
mothers to be home with their
children. “After they had grown
and were away from home, they
often remarked how nice it had
been to come and have baking
smells in the house and have me
home.” Fran said.
Her children have also made
being an at-home mom a priority.
When one of her daughters who
was about to have a baby asked
Fran, “Mom, what do you think I
should do? We really need the
money from my job.”
Fran answered, “It depends on
your priorities. If you feel you
need new clothes and furniture,
then keep your job. But if you
believe it is more important to be
with your children because you
can never regain that time, stay
home.”
Fran said that her daughter
chose to quit her job. “It was tough
financially for them at first, but in
the long nm it’s been a big bene
fit," Fran said.
She is grateful that her children
and spouses are “wonderful
mothers and fathers. We don't
have any family problems that so
many other families have today. I
have a fantastic husband and we
have been married 37 years,” Fran
said.
Those physical handicaps that
her daughter and grandchild face
have brought rewards. Fran said.
“Our children benefitted because
they knew what it was like to be
handicapped. They always stuck
up for the underdog. They learned
to do that because of their sister
when so many other children were
cruel. Even though her leg was a
problem, the experience taught
and instilled values in our family.”
Shortly after the birth of her
blind grandson, Fran, as dairy prin
cess chaperone, accompanied the
Cumberland County dairy prin
cess to a local school. Unknown to
Fran beforehand, the presentation
was to a class that was visually and
hearing impaired. “It was very
emotionally healing and fulfilling
to see how the children were cop
ing,” she said. “It gave me hope.”
Her grandson, who is now 8,
attends the school where Fran had
accompanied the dairy princess.
“We arc so devoted to him. He
takes piano lessons and we’ve
attended several recitals. We are so
proud of him,” she said.
During Fran’s tenure as county
president, she hopes to incorporate
fundraising for blind. That’s my
special interest,” Fran said.
Fran docs the bookwork for her
husband. She is extremely proud
of her youngest daughter who was
out of school for five years before
she decided to go to college. She is
now a certified public accountant
I think the determination she deve
loped because she was hand
icapped helped her earn her CPA
within a short period of time," Fran
said.
In her spare time, Fran bowls
and golfs. She participates in a
water exercise club three times
weekly. And, she finds her Farm
Women activities fulfilling.
“1 just can’t imagine what it
would be like without Farm
Women. We have so much joy
helping others,” she said.
those who would like to know
more about the Cumberland Farm
Women societies, may call (717)
2SB-6403.
Here is Fran’s husband’s favo
rite chocolate cake recipe that has
been handed down through the
family. It is a moist cake that tastes
best with peanut butter icing.
FISHERVILLE CHOCOLATE
CAKE
4 squares unsweetened baking
chocolate
1 stick margarine
1 cup boiling water
Melt chocolate and butter in
boiling water.
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
Mix together in liquid. Add 'A
cup sour milk, 2 eggs. 1 teaspoon
vanilla. Blend and bake at 350
degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.
Cool. Frost with a basic peanut
butter icing that may be made by
adding peanut butter to taste to
vanilla icing.
See your nearest
(SEW HOLLAISD
Dealer for Dependable
Equipment and
Dependable Service:
PENNSYLVANIA
Annvllle. PA
BHM Farm
Equipment. Inc.
RDI, Rte. 934
717-867-2211
Carlisle, PA
R&W Equipment Co.
35 East Willow Street
717-243-2686
Oavktoburg, 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 Taneylown Rd.
717-359-4848
Halifax, PA
Sweigard Bros.
R.D. 3, Box 13
717-896-3414
Honey Brook, PA
Dependable Motor Co.
East Main Street
215-273-3131
215-273-3737
West Grove, PA
S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc.
R.D. 2, Box 66
215-869-2214
MARYLAND
Frederick, MD
CeresviHe
Ford New Holland, Inc.
Rt. 26 East
301-662-4197
Outside MO,
800-331-9122
Hagerstown, MD
Antietam Ford Tractor
301-791-1200
NEW JERSEY
Bridgeton, NJ.
Leslie G. Fogg, Inc.
Canton & Stow Creek
Landing Rd.
609-451-2727
609-935-5145
Woodstown, NJ
Owen Supply Co.
Broad Street &
East Avenue
609-769-0308
Honey Grove, PA
Norman D. Clark
& Son, Inc.
Honey Grove, PA
717-734-3682
Loysville, PA
717-789-3117
Hughesvllle, PA
Farnsworth Farm
Supplies, Inc.
103 Cemetery Street
717-584-2106
New Holland, PA
A.B.C. Groff, Inc.
110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
Oley, PA
C.J. Wonsidler Bros.
R.D. 2
215-987-6257
Pitman, PA
Schreffler Equipment
Pitman, PA
717-648-1120
Quakertown, PA
C.J. Wonsidler Bros.
R.D. 1
215-536-1935
Tamaque, PA
Charles S. Snyder, Inc,
R.D. 3
717-386-5945
Washington, NJ
Smith Tractor &
Equip., Inc.
15, Hillcrest Ave.
201-689-7900