Togetherness Marks Family (Continued from Page B 2) child is 20, he or she should have a small herd or at least enough ani mals to get them started in farm ing. Or, if they prefer, they can sell the animals to pay for college edu cation or do whatever business endeavor they want ‘The savings keep multiply ing,” he said. Unfortunately, Sandra, who is the oldest, said that she has had a lot of bad luck with he mimals. Although she does ow. .3 cows, she said that she really should have more, but one calf fell down the hay mow and others suffered simi lar misfortunates. Gross said, “I don’t push the kids into going into farming. I want them to decide what they want to do. Then my wife and I support their decision and do everything we can to help them reach that goal.” But he and his wife, Marilyn, are extremely proud that four high school students from non-farm backgrounds whom they hired part time liked farming so much that they are now in full-time farming. Despite the high cost of farms, kids are able to start up in farming today, David maintains because “someone in their 20s can do almost anything he or she wants if they are willing to put in lots of hours and effort. And if they don’t start up with new equipment and farm in counties with high-priced inks ¥®ffg@.£M© •True 360 zero turning •Finger-tip control of speed, direction and braking •Maneuverability that lets you trim as you mow •Convenient 'out-front' mowing Woods mow’n machine ... ...come in for a demonstration THOMAS POWER EQUIPMENT Avondale, PA 21S-388-2181 R.S. HOLLINGER & SON, INC. Mountvllla, PA 717-285-4838 N.H. FLICKER & SONS, INC. Maxatawnay, PA 215-683-7252 land such as Berks.” The children and the teen-agers who work on the Gross farm, are required to take a farm safety course. “You can never be too safe,” he said. Operating equipment safely also has its recreational advantages. The bookshelves in the family’s home are filled with more than SO trophies for tractor pulls won by Gross and his son Michael. “While most babies take teddy bears to bed, Michael took a trac tor,” Gross said. Gross said that his philosophy for a happy family is dependent upon priorities. “I don’t put myself too near the top. I try to put God first, others second, and me third. That makes it easier for others to live with me,” he said. David and his wife, Marilyn, own 120 acres and farm 320 acres. In addition to 5S Holsteins and 60 heifers, they have 11 pigs, 3 horses, 1 pony, 70 ducks, 2 dogs, and 20 cats. As much as Gross loves farm ing. he almost quit in 1980. That was the year, his herd got infected with bovine lacosis virus. He lost 12 cows in one year. “It’s like cancer • there’s nothing to do to stop it,” Gross said. When he first contacted the Department of Agriculture, he said that they thought he was silly for ECKROTH BROS. FARM EQUIPMENT Now Ringgold, PA 717-943-2131 PIPERSVILLE GARDEN CENTER Pipmvllle, PA NESLEY 215-766-0414 EQUIPMENT CO. Potutown, PA 215-469-6391 BANGOR IMPLEMENT Bangor, PA 21S-888-5924 being worried about the virus. They did not consider it to be a ser ious contagious disease. According to David, it is esti mated that 25 to 30 percent of cows have the virus but only S percent show clinical signs. With those statistics, the Gross family does not understand why the virus was so insidious to their herd. David said, “Back then, I said if I end up with less than IS cows, I’m going to quit farming.” The herd dwindled to exactly IS. David did not quit. “I started selling a lot of hay from the 500 acres I rented.” But David liked cows better than field work. From the hay pro fits, he began slowly to rebuild the herd to 60 head. The memory of that toss brought some changes in the way Gross buys cows. He insists that every cow he purchases be tested for the virus. It costs $7 a head, but Gross is convinced it’s worth it to have a certified-free herd. He believes testing should be a requirement for all catde sold, and that people should be willing to pay more for a certified-free cow and for embryo transplant work. ’ The Gross herd went on test in 1984. They went from 14,000 pounds to 19,000. Gross credits the increase to bet ter feeding and management. Instead of selling his best hay, as he had been doing, he feeds it to his tors, decks -on, nts oods \ine son" ter. LAMBS FARM MACHINERY Thorndale, PA 215-269-2676 cows. “It seems to work a lot better that way than trying to make up the lack with feeding supplements,” he said. Progressive changes have been made since Gross took over the family farm in 1963. He put in a pipeline and put up silos. He feeds a total mixed ration and is making a switch to a registered herd. “Housing is coming from every direction,” Dave said about the encroachment on their farmland. “I’m not sure that I want to be the last farm in the neighborhood.” They strive to maintain friendly neighborhood contacts by warning neighbors that they will be spread ing manure so the neighbors do not hang out their wash or plan out door cooking. Duck manure is spread on the fields. “It really makes crops grow and it’s a lot cheaper,” Gross said. “It also smells like the pits.” Some of the neighbors told him, “We will pay for your fertilizer if you promise not to spread manure. Dave said. “1 told them it will cost $4O to $5O an acre for fertilizer.” Needless to say the neighbors withdrew their offer and vowed to put up with the smell. “If my children want to farm, there isn’t room to expand here,” Gross said. “I may need to sell to help them buy farms in a more rea sonably priced county.” Whatever the future holds. Gross said, “The farm belongs to the kids.” Marilyn said the farm’s names, SMAK-B, is derived from the first initial of each child’s name. For many years, it was called SMAK Farm. “Then Brian came as a sur prise,” she said. Marilyn said that as a former city girl, she found it easy to adapt to working with the animals, but she has never been able to adjust to early rising. Although David goes 6> the bam at S a.m., Marilyn waits until after the children are at school before she feeds the heifers and helps in the bam. Her enthusiasm for farm life spread to her parents who moved from New Jersey to live within a •1/43 scale • diecast metal • side with “Agway, Your Country Va 2nd Edition Is 3 1992 Agway Bank •.1912 Open Express Van • 1/26 scale x_ • diecast metal p 7 *99 LIMITED QUANTITIES - NO RAIN CHECKS! AGWAT Ist EDITION SLURRY WAGON $16.99 SEE OUR NEW TOY DEPARTMENT! Many Christmas Specials! HENRY B. HOOVER, INC. 1731 W. Main St., Ephrata - 733-6593 ,™n STORE HOURS: MON.-THURS. 7:30-7:00 iis~! Lf*-! FRI. 7:30-8:00; SAT. 7:30-4:00 ,-^i I ... ami Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 12, 1992-B3 mile of the Gross’s farm Marilyn said. “My dad helps out by fixing things he is the mechanic.” David’s parents live in half of the farm house during the summer months when his father works as a hired hand. In the winter, his parents vacation in Florida. Sandra said, “If I didn’t live on a farm, I would be lost Everything I do FFA, dairy princess respon sibilities, 4-H it is all centered around farming. It makes me feel good to know that I am filling my time with something worthwhile that will help me in the future.” Sandra received the FFA Key stone and Star Chapter Farmers Degree. She is secretary of the Tulpe hocken FFA. At school, Sandra is a member of the National Honor Society and the Prom Promise committee. Sandra was one of 10 members of the Pennsylvania Council of Cooperatives who was sent to compete nationally at Colorado where she was chosen to be in the top five who will return as a leader next year. She is active in the Mohrsville Church of the Brethren choir and youth group. Fulfilling both Berks County and Pennsylvania alternate dairy princess duties takes precedent over everything else for Sandra. She said, “I have other years to do other things, but this year I want to keep as busy as possible doing promotions. The worse thing for me is to sit at home without a promotion.” Sandra said, “Dreams take work. My goal as a dairy princess is to educate people, especially kids, about milk. Many children believe that milk comes from the supermarket.” She tells the children that the cow is responsible to keep the milk fresh, but once it is in the carton, it is our responsibility to put it in the refrigerator to insure its great taste and freshness. She takes a bag of things used around the farm such as strip cup, balling gun. pill, syringe and tells 7th Edition J IsLa QJXi Agway • 1930 hevrolet Panel y Truck raphics Ist IN A SERIES SPEC CAST PENNY BANK $19.99 (Turn to Pag* B 4) Dime Bank $11.99 .While Supplies Last 1753-653)