816-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 16, 1993 Farm Women Compared To Energizer Batteries LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) —“Farm Women are like Energiz er Batteries,” said Fem Hitz, presi dent of the Lebanon County Socie ty. ‘They just keep going and going.” Indeed, as the county societies reported on the activities of their 3,285 membership, it was evident that they have been spreading hap piness across the state with numer ous projects for the needy. “But it isn’t all work,” said Bar bara Malehom, York County Soci ety president, of the many fund raising events. “The only way to have and keep happiness is to give it. And the more we give, the more we have.” Members from across the slate convened in Harrisburg on January 11 to tell how they have spread President Arlene Wltman put aside the new dress she had purchased for the ban quet and wore this T-shirt instead to remind members to participate In the Heifer Project during the upcom ing year. The Melody Moms prov. afternoon. From left areTorle Hostetter, pianist; Jean Zurin, Mary Emrlch, and Sandy Yocum, all of Lancaster County. The Hollyhocks, farm women members from Dauphin County, provided special music during banquet. They Just Keep Going And Going happiness, elect three new board members, and listen to inspiration speakers. Although it was the 74th con vention of the Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania, it was the first time the convention was held for one day only instead of the cus tomary two-day event. The day-long meeting began at 9:30 a.m. in the Forum and ended with an evening banquet at the Penn Harris Inn, Harrisburg. During the business session, members elected two new direc tors, Lois Laffey of Chester Coun ty and Janice Kress of Green Coun ty. Audrey Gilbert of Somerset County was elected secretary. Lois Hughes, second vice presi dent of the organization, reported that the societies lost 59 members, mostly through death during this past year, but gained 68 new mem bers. which makes a net gain of Joanne Hershey encour ages members to celebrate life. State officers of the Society of Farm Women are from left, Becky Swallon, Somerset Co.; Darlene Schmelts, Dauphin Co.; Lois Hughes, Cambria Co.; Dorothy Strickier, Berks Co.; Arlene Witman, Lancaster Co. Standing, from left, are Audrey Gilbert, Somerset Co., and Janice Kress, Greene Co. Sollst Helen Williamson, moved from Kentucky to York County six years ago when she and her husband purchased a farm. Helen joined Farm Women, who soon learned of Helen’s musical talent. She is now kept busy singing for chur ches and organizations. Helen said that her mother used to say that the neigh bors did not need alarm clocks because Helen would wake up them with her singing. Twenty members observed 90-year-old birthdates for which they were honored with a Farm Women pin. President Arlene Witman, who heads the societies, reported that she logged 3,500 miles as she traveled to county meetings. She Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Crystal Swelghoffer and Jan Harding, director of Pennsylvania Promotion and Dairy Princess Services, made an appearance at the Farm Women Convention. check from Naomi Bupp, right, as Joyce Bupp, left, looks on. challenged everyone to participate in the heifer project with at least $3 a member donated. Heifer Project International works to alleviate world hunger, one family at a time, by giving a heifer or other livestock to a needy family who then passes on one of the animal’s offspring to a needy neighbor. During the afternoon session, a memorial service was held for' members who died during the past year. Naomi Bupp, who spearheaded the Farm Women’s Cookbook, presented a $lO,OOO check for the scholarship fund. To date, $44,000 has been donated to the fund. Six scholarship winners who each received $l,OOO this past year include Lancaster countians Amy Fyock, Kathy Esbenshade, and (Turn to Page B 17) Jeffrey Balzer told of his rescue after he was lost for three days while climbing Mt. Washington.
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