\uvVSaf i J -Tii \l| lIIHII VOL 38 NO. 14 At the Pennsylvania Young Farmers’ convention, Ste phanie and Mark Patches, left, and Carla and Paul Witter receive outstanding young fanner awards. Avian Influenza Update VERNON ACHENBACH, JR. Lancaster Farming Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) An interstate quaratine is expected on poultry because of a recent finding of avian influenza in live domestic poultry at 14 mid- Atlantic markets located in New Jersey, New York City and Phi ladelphia, and on one New Jersey farm. According to Gene Schenck, press secretary of the state Depart ment of Agriculture, officials from the several states involved have been working on establishing a set of rules for the transport of poultry to which each state can agree, in the disease control effort. In the meantime, Pennsylvania Pork Bowl Has Roots In Church ‘Quiz Bowls y ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff WEST CHESTER (Chester Co.) Churches in Chester County and the Keystone Pork Congress share something in common. They both love to sponsor and hold “quiz bowls.” According to Cheryl Fairbaim, Chester County livestock agent, “A lot of churches around here sponsor a Bible quiz bowl. So we decided that something that would make the kids leant about hog production yet be fun and competitive would be to have a swine quiz bowl.” That was in 1986, according to Fairbaim, the first year the renowned Pork Bowl was held at the Key stone Pork Congress. This year’s Congress, scheduled Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 9 a.m. at the Penn Harris Convention Cen ter in Camp Hill, will also have a Pork Bowl. In the Bowl, 12 teams, comprising six 4-H and six FFA chapters from around the state, will compete in the Bowl. 01*193 139 V W;?09 PAH EE LIBR«.o _ . r ., UNIVERSITY PORK TA 1 "” c '- *' Five Sections is continuing its temporary suspen sion of poultry exhibitions and transportation of live birds to markets and auctions due to the discovery of the highly contagious and pathogenic disease in a chick en at a Philadelphia live-bird market, after a routine check dis covered that some birds in Pen nsylvania had been exposed to the disease. According to the state Depart ment of Agriculture, the virus was isolated so far in 13 other markets in mid-Atlantic states five in New Jersey and eight in New York City. Despite some erroneous pub lished reports, the disease was not (Turn to Pag* ASS) Keystone Pork Congress Hosts Range Of Programs Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 13, 1993 PYF Recognizes Outstanding Farmers LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff READING (Lancaster Co.) Young Farmers from across the state gathered in Reading for their 33rd annual convention this week. Highlights of the three-day event included naming the Out standing Young Farmer under 30 and over 30, community service couple, and electing new board members. Outstanding Farmer Under 30 Outstanding Young Farmer Junior Holstein Youth Recognized WILKES-BARRE (Luzerne Co.) The 1993 Pennsylvania Junior Holstein Association con vention was held Feb. 5 through Feb. 7 at the Ramada Hotel, in Wilkes-Barre, with many junior members received recognition for their achievements duimg the past Please see the special sec tion called “Corn Talk” that’s part of this issue. Grant Troop is president of the Pennsylva nia Master Corn Growers. Teams head-to-head The game, which puts two teams at a time head to-head, is similar to the TV show “Jeopardy,” where questions are asked and those who hit a buz- zer first have first crack at points. After consecutive rounds, the team with the greatest number of points wins. At the end, the top teams are decided by total number of points. The roots of the Pork Bowl go back to 1983-1984, when the Chester County Swine Club decided to adopt the ideas of the popular church quiz bowls. A few years later, according to Fairbaim, the swine club looked at some of the activities at the 4-H Slate Days and the Horse Bowl and worked out a contest. The Bowl was a big success. “I mean, every kid on the club got on a team, you know,” said the Chester County agent. “We did that for two or three years.” Fairbaim served on the Youth Committee for the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council. Years ago. (Turn to Pago A 24) under 30 award went to Mark and Stephanie Patches of Lebanon County. The couple rent the farm from Mark’s parents, Mark and Alta Patches, and own cattle and equipment in partnership with them. They farm 300 tillable acres and during the past year raised 170 bushels of com per acre and 8 tons of alfalfa per acre. They double crop soybeans after barley. Three Star silos and silage bags arc used to hold TMR rations. The couple milk 105 Holstcins year. Many of the awards earned dur ing the convention were presented during the awards brunch. About 358 members attended the awards event. Winners of the organization’s senior division distinguished junior member award were Duane Noll, son of Janice Noll, Richland, and Miriam Kelly, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Kelly, Tyr one. The two are to represent Pen nsylvania in the national contest to be held June during the national Holstein convention in Rochester, N.Y. Others who distinguished them selves as finalists were Jesslyn Obcrholtzer, Elizabethtown; Kara Tussey, Huntingdon; Scott Youse, of Oley; and Tim Ludwick, of Sugar Grove. All finalists had completed a listing of their accomplishments in Holstein activities, school work, community involvement, leader ship and their ideas of the future of agriculture and the Holstein indus try. They were also interviewed by a panel of judges to arrive at a com bined score. In the intermediate division, winners were Elizabeth Walton, daughter of David and Kathy Wal- Video Boar Sale At Pork Congress Pennsylvania’s 17th Performance Tested Boar Sale has been moved from Slate College to the Penn Harris Convention Center on Wednesday in conjunction with the Keystone Pork Congress. The boars will be auctioned off by video at 3:30 p.m. in the Main Ballroom. Boars can be inspected through the day of the sale at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Meat Animal Evaluation Center in State College. For more information, contact Glenn Eberly at (814) 238-2527. 60* Per Copy with a rolling herd average of 24,000 pounds, 875 fal, and 750 protein. Patches attributes produc tion increase to better cows and replacements, improved comfort and total mixed rations. He keeps strict management records. Patches also does all repairs and service on equipment except for major overhauls. The Patches are members of the Cedar Crest PYF and were Region 7 winners before being chosen ton, of Carlisle; and Wade Stur geon, son of Tim and Kathy Stur geon, of Fombell. In order to compete, all six final ists had to submit a similar scrap- From the left, Matthew Day and Nichol Bozlinski receive the Junior Progressive Breeder award for having bred a herd of high-milking cows. $19.00 Per Year (Turn to Page A2B) (Turn to Page A 32)
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