82-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 17, 1992
White Rock Farm:
Where Tourists Find Joy in Country Living
lou ann Good
Lancaster Fanning Staff
KIRKWOOD (Lancaster Co.)
Fanning and travel are two
loves that Les and Lois Hershey
share. Before marriage, both Les
and Lois traveled extensively to
other countries. It was something
they hoped to continue throughout
life. Both also intended to choose
farming as a career.
But, it’s almost impossible to
travel when pperating a 150-acre
beef and crop farm unless you
come up with the solution the Her
sheys have chosen. This friendly,
outgoing couple opened a bed and
breakfast in their 1860 farmhouse
in southern Lancaster County.
“We decided to let the travelers
come to us. It’s just like traveling
without leaving home,” Les said of
the opportunity to visit with guests
from around the world.
Many of the guests return again
and again to White Rock Farm in
its tranquil setting surrounded by
woodland and overlooking the
scenic Octorara Creek.
As guests relax on the porch, lis
ten to the crickets sing and to the
occasional clip-clop of an Amish
horse and buggy passing, they
often remark; You’re so lucky to
live where it’s so peaceful and
have no stress, no worries, no
headaches....
Les shakes his head. “If they
Homemade bread, made by Lola and sampled by Lisa, is
always part of the country breakfasts served to guests at
the Bed and Breakfast.
jrshey children pedal corn and puppies arou
that dates back to 1860.
only knew, the challenges we face
as farmers especially the
weather.”
But there is no better place than
at White Rock Farm for travelers
to find out first-hand exactly what
it is like to farm in the 20th century.
“Many guests come with the
concept of living on an “Old Mac-
Donald’s farm,” Les said. They are
fascinated to leant that farming is
big business with computers, long
hours, and record keeping an
integral part of everyday life.
Many of the guests have no pre
vious experience with farm life
and “think that anything with four
legs is a cow.” Sometimes this
concept becomes a bit hilarious.
Les tells of the time a guy with sev
eral degrees behind his name vis
ited the farm. The guest kept refer
ring to the steers as cows. The Her
shey’s five-year-old son
repeatedly corrected the guest. In
exasperation, the guest turned to
Les and said, ‘Tell your sons that
these animals are cows not
steers!”
Guests like to follow Les around
the farm as he completes chores.
At times, it is inconvenient as Les
needs to complete planting and
harvesting schedules. Nonetheless
Les enjoys spending time with
guests and explaining the intrica
cies of farming and the culture of
Lancaster County.
Lea
One of the most asked questions
is “What is the difference between
Mennonites and Amish?
The Hersheys, who are Menno
nite, enjoy sharing their faith and
find that many guests are searching
for spiritual truth. One time, a Jew
ish stockbroker spent hours ques
tioning Les about his faith. Later,
the stockbroker embraced Christ
ianity and quit his job on Wall
Street so that he could teach in an
inner-city ghetto in order to help
others.
From childhood, Les always
intended to take over the family
farm, but when he graduated from
high school, his father, Floyd, did
not need full-time help. Les filled
several years with college, and
with jobs such as crop farming
1,000 acres with a neighboring far
mer, and working in contraction.
“I liked the variety these other
jobs offered me,” Les said, who
found the experience valuable
when he look over the farm place.
Lois also grew upon a Lancaster
County dairy farm, but the couple
did not meet each other until both
had finished college. Lois returned
home to teach physical education,
but always felt that someday she
would marry a farmer.
Ten years ago, her intuition
came true. At first, the Hersheys'
milked cows for a neighboring far
mer. Both loved the dairy industry,
but it was during the dairy buyout
and Les’ father decided to sell the
en,
herd.
A few years later, when Les
took over the family farm, he
wanted to go back into dairy, but it
did not seem financially feasible.
Although the Hersheys adapted to
raising 200 head of steers and crop
farming, they still speak longingly
of someday having their own dairy
herd.
Vfames(ead
c H/Sies
pel jppy
pies at White Rock Farm.
iron,
“I like working long days.
father be milking cows than spend
ing that time on' a freeway,” Les
said.
In the meantime, Les spends
long hours with his seed cleaning
and Ag Bagger, sideline business
es.
(Turn to Pago B 3)