812-Lancasler Farming, Saturday, March 27, 1993
ding* recepito? 3 Wolgemuth are all set t 0 take o,f on this combine following the wed-
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
MOUNT JOY (Lancaster Co.)
The season was a bit early for
harvesting, but the combine lum
bering through Mount Joy streets
on the night of March 20 had a spe
cial job to do.
The sign on the front of the
silver Gleaner R6O warned oncom
ing traffic with the words; Caution:
Nervous groom at wheel.
Traffic in back slowed when
drivers noticed the sign in bold let
ters that proclaimed: Just Com
bined Rudy and Reba.
The combine was the mode of
transportation that farmers Rudy
Wolgemulh, Elizabethtown, and
Reba Brubaker, Mount Joy chose
for their getaway from the church
to their honeymoon.
The combine seemed the appro
piate vehicle choice since the cou
ple had spent hours of their court
ship in the combine’s cab as Rudy
finished late night combining jobs
in the area. He and his brother Eric
operate a custom combining busi
ness and E&R Farms in Elizabeth
town. The brothers crop farm
about I,oooacres and fatten steers,
but their main job is custom com
bining in nine different slates of
the wheal bell from Texas to
Idaho.
Reba is a partner on her family’s
dairy farm in Mount Joy. Her
parents are Martin B. Arlene Bru
baker and she works with her
brother Doug in partnership.
The wedding and reception held
at Crossroads Brethren In Christ
Church, Mount Joy, incorporated
much of the bridal couple’s agri
culture background. The cake,
made by sister of the bride Rachel
George of Mount Joy, had a bot
tom layer designed to look like a
field and a replica of the Gleaner
combine at work. The middle layer
had confectioners’ decorations of
cows, milk can. and garden pro
duce. The top had the traditional
‘Just Combined’
bride and groom replica.
The bridal couple made the table
centerpieces, which were heart
shaped candleholders molded with
grain, soybeans, barley, wheat, and
com.
The dinner for about 300 guests
included vegetables and pickles
that Reba had preserved from her
garden.
Before the ceremony began, a
Senior Citizen Farmers
Should Reduce Risks
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) Nearly 33 percent of
Pennsylvania farm fatalities be
tween 1985 and 1989 involved
farmers aged 65 and older.
Unlike people in many profes
sions, farmers often continue
working into old age. Increased
vulnerability to injury and illness
should prompt senior farmers to
reduce safety and health risks,
says an expert in Penn State’s Col
lege of Agricultural Sciences.
“If you are older, be careful not
to exceed your limitations to the
point that you risk injury or ill
ness,” says Dr. Dennis Murphy,
professor of agricultural engineer
ing. “Consider your age and health
when deciding what you can do
safely. Give up tasks that are too
demanding, in the interest of your
safety and that of others.”
Two-thirds of Pennsylvania
farm fatalities involving farmers
65 and older were tractor-related,
with a large majority involving an
overturn, Murphy notes. “This
may support the notion that older
workers lose their abilities to safe
ly operate tractors in many speci
fic situations.”
Senior fanners should have a
physical exam at least once each
year. “Have your vision and hear
ing checked, too,” Murphy sug
gests. “It’s vital to be aware of
your physical limits and not push
slide presentation showed the life
of the couple from infancy to pre
sent with many pictures of their
farming operation.,
The groom’s parents are Earl
and Joan Wolgemuth v/ho operate
a poultry farm.
After a honeymoon to Williams
burg, the couple will get down to
real “combining” business.
them just to get a job done. Your
life is more important than any
task.”
Like any other farmer, seniors
should prepare for a safe day of
work. “Get enough rest, have a
good breakfast and choose the
proper dress and footwear for the
job,” Murphy says. ’’Take work
breaks to conserve and extend en
ergy. Stop when you are tired.”
Find the least taxing way of do
ing things to avoid undue fatigue
and stress on the joints or back.
“Get help rather than struggle with
heavy loads and use mechanical
aids when possible,” says Mur
phy.
Many medical conditions re
quire patients to take prescription
drugs. “Many common prescrip
tions and even over-the-counter
drugs can affect your ability to
safely operate farm equipment,”
Murphy says.
“Ask your doctor about the ef
fects of your prescription on job
performance and driving. If you
take multiple medications, be sure
to ask about the effects of any pos
sible drug interactions.
“If you’re in good health,
there’s no reason to stop farming
just because you’re a senior citi
zen,” says Murphy. “But there are
many reasons to be more vigilant
than ever about hazards on the
farm.”
See your nearest
i\EW HOLLAr\D’
Dealer for Dependable
Equipment and
Dependable Service:
PENNSYLVANIA
Annvllle, PA
BHM Farm
Equipment, Inc.
RDI, Rte. 934
717-867-2211
Carlisle, PA
R&W Equipment Co.
35 East Willow Street
717-243-2686
Davldsburg, PA
George N. Gross, Inc.
R.D. 2, Dover, PA
717-292-1673
Elizabethtown, PA
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc.
Rt. 283 - Rheem’s Exit
717-367-1319
Gettysburg, PA
Yingling Implements,
Inc.
3291 Taneytown Rd.
717-359-4848
Halifax, PA
Sweigard Bros.
R.D. 3, Box 13
717-896-3414
Honey Brook, PA
Dependable Motor Co.
East Main Street
215-273-3131
215-273-3737
Honey Grove, PA
Norman D. Clark
& Son, Inc.
Honey Grove, PA
717-734-3682
Loysville, PA
717-789-3117
MARYLAND
Frederick, MD
Ceresville
Ford New Holland, Inc,
Rt. 26 East
301-662-4197
Outside MD,
800-331-9122
NEW JERSEY
Bridgeton, N.J.
Leslie G. Fogg, Inc.
Canton & Stow Creek
Landing Rd.
609-451-2727
609-935-5145
Woodstown, NJ
Owen Supply Co.
Broad Street &
East Avenue
609-769-0308
Hughesvllle, PA
Farnsworth Farm
Supplies, Inc.
103 Cemetery Street
717-584-2106
New Holland, PA
A.B.C. Groff, Inc.
110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
Oiey, PA
C.J. Wonsidler Bros.
R.D. 2
215-987-6257
Pitman, PA
Schreffler Equipment
Pitman, PA
717-648-1120
Quakertown, PA
C.J. Wonsidler Bros.
R.D. 1
215-536-1935
Tamaqua, PA
Charles S. Snyder, Inc.
R.D. 3
717-386-5945
West Grove, PA
S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc.
R.D. 2, Box 66
215-869-2214
Washington, NJ
Smith Tractor &
Equip., Inc.
15 Hillcrest Ave.
201-689-7900