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Students Learn
Pigs Aren’t Stupid
ERIC LEWIS
Special to Lancaster Farming
LITITZ (Lancaster Co.) The
students line up in eager anticipa
tion to see the slightly hairy little
creature. The little animal scarcely
makes a sound as each student files
past and pets the three-month-old
pig on the back and head. Most
laugh, some are expressionless, but
all enjoy the experience.
For some fourth grade students
at John Beck Elementary in Lititz,
it was the first time they saw a pig
up close, let alone pet one. It is for
this reason that Sue Pfautz and
Roger and Grace Moyer volun
teered to participate for three days
recently inr the program called “Ag
in the Classroom”.
“I don’t think people today real
ly know where their food comes
from,” said Roger Moyer, a Lilitz
poultry farmer. “What we are try
ing to do is make the connection
with the food they see in the store
and what they eat to where it comes
from.”
While the Moyer’s showed one
group of fourth graders the process
chickens and eggs go through to
reach the kitchen refrigerator, Sue
Pfautz was explaining to another
group the various uses of pigs and
how pigs are raised.
At the end of Pfautz’s presenta
tion, she surprised the students by
bringing a three month old pig out
and allowing the students to pet the
little animal, while the Moyers’
group had a taste of some hard
boiled eggs.
“Agriculture is the number one
industry in Lancaster County. It is
important in everyday life,” said
Pfautz, coordinator of the program.
“You don’t have to be raised on a
farm to be involved with
agriculture.”
A couple of students admitted
that they really did not know much
about farming and the animals that
they see or hear daily.
Shawn Ryan, fourth grader at
Two Sweep Top Rabbit Awards At Berks Show j
LEESPORT (Berks Co.)
Two New Jersey youths swept the
top rabbit awards recently at the
annual Berks County Wabbit and
Cavy Lovers 4-H Club Youth
Show, held in the 4-H Community
Center.
bons at the Berks youth show.
John Beck, did not realize that the
200 pound porkers he sees in the
area are the third most intelligent
animals behind dolphins and
monkeys. “I always thought that
(pigs) were a little stupid, but they
are really not I also learned how
pigs are raised and how eggs are
produced.”
Bamaby Yoder, another fourth
grader, learned much also. “I
learned how a chicken house looks
and how eggs are produced. I also
found out that pigs are the third
smartest animal.”
The program also held a one
hour tour of the Marvin Winner
farm. Clay Rd, Lititz. Winner dis
cussed milk production and
showed the students the bam,
cows, feed, milking systems, etc.
Other aspects of agriculture cov
ered were types of farm machinery
by Rick Pfautz of Binkley and
Hurst Bros. Milk nutrition was dis
cussed by Lancaster County dairy
princess Jill Hamish, of Christiana
and alternate Heather Becker of
Narvon. The activities and aspects
of FFA (Future Farmers of Ameri
ca) were presented by Donald
Nissley, a senior at Warwick High
School.
Three hundred and twenty-six
fourth grade students from John
Beck, Lititz and Kissel Hill
Elementary schools were involved
in the activities and presentations
that covered portions of a three day
period last week.
“Farming has changed greatly in
the past number of years,” said
Pfautz. “It is a science today. You
have to be very precise to remain
competitive.”
The Moyers’ agreed with
Pfautz. Roger said, “If people
would see the computer systems
farmers have now, they would real
ize how complicated farming is.
The programs farmers use are just
as sophisticated as any other busi
ness computer. It is a business
now.”
A Mini Rex rabbit owned by
Bill Cunningham of Sparta, N.J.,
was chosen best of show and also
chosen best of 4 class. Best of 6
class went to a Satin owned by
Georgia Van Horn of May’s Land
ing, N.J.
)r\ f
Fourth grade students pet a pig during an Ag in the Class room demonstratl
A Brindle White Crested cavy
owned by Lisa Kolb of Perkiomen
yillc was selected as the best cavy,
or guinea pig, in the show. This
one also won best of breed and best
opposite.
Nancy Plushanski, organizer of
the show, said it was the biggest
show the club has had yet. About
32S rabbits and SO cavies were
shown by 70 exhibitors.
The following arc the results of
the rabbit show by breed:
WABBIT AND CAVY
LOVERS 4-H CLUB
YOUTH SHOW
American fuzzy lop; Sky LaFanaia, Tom'*
River, NJ., and beet opposite sex.
Californian: Rachael Mess, Splnnerttown,
PA., and best opposite.
Creme D'Argent: Tammy Brooke, Palmy
ra. PA.
Champagne D'Argent; Rudy Ziegler,
Spring City, PA; best opposite: Jim Harris,
Wfellinglbrd. PA.
Dutch; Alisha Gardner, EHlotttburg. PA;
best opposite; Heather Long, Egg Harbor,
NJ.
English Angora: Ashley Taylor FuHar, Ml.
Holly, NJ., and best opposite.
Florida White; Ruth Ann Baughman, Her
they, PA.
Flemish Glam; Erica Wlnaske, Jonestown,
PA, and bast opposite.
Himalayan; Jesse Romberger, Mlllers
burg, PA, and bast opposite.
Holland Lop; Toby Lee Heinze, Lakewood,
N.J.; Alisha Gardner, Elllottsburg, best
apposite.
Mini Lop: Cheryl Lutz, Spring City, PA; Kel
ly Toon, Cardiff, N.J., best opposite.
English Lop: Jackie Wetzel, Pennsburg,
PA, and bast opposite.
French Lop: Adam Lutz, Spring City.
Jersey Wooly: Khara Murphy, Franklinvil-
Is, NJ.; Neil Baughman, Hsrshsy, best
opposite.
Netharland Dwarf; Mkhael Wade, Skyes
v)la, Md.; Misty GiUbard, Lakehurst, N J., best
opposite.
New Zealand; Jesse Romberger, MHler
burg, PA, and bast opposite.
Polish: Ashley Taylor Fuller, and bast
opposite.
Palomino; Tammy Brooks, Palmyra.
Rex: Matt Baartcln, Hampstead, Md.;
lon.
Nathan Kramer, Bemvllle, PA, beet opposite 3
Mini Rex; Bill Cunningham. 4
Rhinelander: Allen Schaeffer. Lenhartsvil- 4
la, PA; Tammy Brooks, best opposite. 2
Satin; Georgia Van Horn; Nloole Carroll, <2
Dorothy, NJ., best opposite. |
Silver Marten: Rachael Meas, and best |
opposite. m
Tan: Tammy Brooks, and best opposite «
Mixed; Denise Nacharskl, Levlttown, PA; m
Janlna Barrera, Norristown, PA, best 1
opposite. I
Results of the cavy show by breed; 1
American: Ernest Loser, Jr., Lebanon, and f
best opposite. £
Abyssinian: Ernest Loser, Jr.
Peruvian: Kendra Harrold, Lanoka Harbor, t
NJ.: Jackie Wetzel, Pannsburg, PA, bast *
opposite. £1
Silkle; Kendra Harrold, and bast apposite. %
Satin American; David Bates, Cardiff, NJ , %
md b#tt opposite.
Satin Peruvian; Christy Cascloll, Egg Har-1’
bar, NJ.; Jackie Wetzel, bast opposite, fi
Taddy;ChristyCascloli,andbestopposlte. &