A24-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday. March 20 1993 Conservation In Place From ’6os Till Now At Krantz Farm ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff NEW HOLLAND (Lancaster Co.) Narrator Gerald Heistand of the Lancaster Conservation Dis trict repeatedly showed two diffe rent slides of lush, beautifully maintained fields to reveal that the conservation practices evident in the Willis Krantz Farm in the 19605, he said, “are still there in the 19905.” And for a multitude of efforts in order to promote conservation and soil stewardship, the family was honored Thursday night as the 1993 Outstanding Cooperators by the district. More than 120 were present at the banquet, which also honored contributions made by individuals to the district through the years. The Krantz family Willis, wife Mim and sons Jim, Bill, Dave, and daughters Donna Span gler and Debbie Chinworth>, together with hired hand Erik Samuelson farm 268 acres (215 tillable) at Drumore Center in East Drumore Township, near Quarry ville. Willis has been working with the conservation district for 30 years. They milk 102 registered and grade Holstein from a double six parlor and manage 86 heifers and calves. Crops include 113 acres of com (plus 30 acres rye, double-cropped for forage), 68 acres of hay, and 12 acres of rye, and they manage 44 acres of wood lot and 13 acres in pasture. Willis, who went to Lampeter- WANTED Growers of High-Quality Alfalfa Do you consistently grow top-quallty.hlgh-ylelding alfalfa? Whatever your answer, consider CIMARRON VR alfalfa. CIMARRON VR is a proven top producer —in yield and quality — in university tests and in the field. And CIMARRON VR offers consistent performance that's only available from a premium variety. CIMARRON VR is an extra leafy, fine stemmed alfalfa that gives the highest quality hay. It won the competitive commercial hay contest of the 1992 World Dairy Expo, judged the best in quality among all varieties submitted. When quality is important, when high yield is required, ask your seed dealer for award winning The High-Yield, High-Quality Alfalfa Wetsel Seed Company, Inc. 703-434-6753 800-336-5807 Strasburg High School, worked for his father for 10 years, and then rented a farm for six years. In 1962, he purchased the home farm (148 acres) and in 1966 purchased the Bleacher Farm (120 acres) nearby. Since that time, the family has been practicing conservation. In 1991 they installed roof runoff management through the Chesa peake Bay cost share program. In the 19705, a new bam mea suring 208 feel by 68 feet with 134 frecstalls was built. Later on, a 62 fool by 14 fool circular manure storage was constructed, designed for six months of storage. A pond built earlier was not holding water because of the shale parent mater ial, according to the district, so Willis decided to put in a sealed structure instead of a manure pond. The contour strips on the farm is the main conservation practice used to control erosion, according to the district On the southern farm, undisturbed sod is left to serve as a waterway, and on the north farm, constructed waterways are used. Manure is incorporated, except when spread on the cover crops or on a no-till field. They soil test regularly, and have tested their manure. Jim Krantz has been working on the farm since high school, and has now bought more than half of the tiered. Donna is on a crop farm with her husband Dave Spangler in Fulton Township. Bill Krantz works as a carpenter, and Debbie CimarrodVß For a multitude of efforts to promote conservation and soil stewardship, the Krantz family was honored Thursday night as the 1993 Outstanding Cooperators by the dis trict. From left, Jim, Dave, Willis, Erik Samuelson, Mim, Jim Chlnworth and wife Debbie. Not pictured are Jim’s wife Debbie and Donna and Dave Spangler, Bill and wife Melody. Photo by Andy Andnwa. Chinworth is a registered nurse in Lancaster. Dave Krantz recently received his bachelor’s in art from Kutztown University. Willis has been active with the Solanco Young Farmers and received the Outstanding Young Fanner Award in 1968. They arc members of the Mechanics Grove Church- of the Brethren, where Mim has been leaching two-year old Sunday School Class for 30 years. They have been with the Atlantic Dairy Cooperative for 38 years, and Willis serves on the board of the Lancaster County Far mers Association. Other awards Other awards presented at the (Turn to Pag* A2S)
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