■nw? Tl vujl# .'tbuj’frg •Lancaster Farming Saturday, July 17, 1993 Potential Judges, Practicing Breeders Find Benefit From Conference VERNON ACHENBACH, JR. Lancaster Fanning Staff NORTH LEBANON (Lebanon Co.) The Pennsylvania Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (PDCA) recently held its annual judging conference in Lebanon County; with participants review ing 13 full classes of different breeds of cattle in two days. Ken Raney, secretary-treasurer of the PDCA, said that, of the 3S participants at this year’s confer ence, many are seeking inclusion on a list of PDCA board recommended cattle judges. Many of the local-level shows draw upon such lists in order to select judges for county fairs and other local shows, he said. Others who attend the confer ence gain a better understanding of cattle evaluation ahd can benefit from better being able to evaluate their own cattle. Conference official was Jason Myers, from New Windsor, Md. The way the conference works is that everyone scores the animals and, those who wish to, give rea sons. In effect, everyone is com peting against the official. Lebanon County is known for being home to top-quality dairy cattle herds of several breeds. While a complete list of all those who supported the conference by cleaning and clipping and hauling some of the best of their herds to provide judging classes is unavail able, Raney said all are to be com mended for their help. ✓ ' ***■ ai ** flying reasons at (he Purebred Dairy Cattle Association Judging Conference is a shared ei fence evr has an It. .. jeymovefctochi on straightness of the. >coi jnce participants rub chins and contemplate the characteristics of the Brown Swiss breed. Among those were a number of Holstein breeders, such as Loving- Meadows Holstcins, Eugene and Kathleen Martin, Richard Krall, etc.; suppliers of Brown Swiss were Gary Lee Mase, Bruce Heil inger, and Mike Kunkle; Ayrshires were provided by Dale and Pattie Maulfair; and Guernsey, Robert and David Smith. Raney said anyone else not mentioned should not feel slight ed, for their effort was very much appreciated. The two-day event began at the Lebanon Area Fairgrounds with a review of Brown Swiss and some Holsteins. And despite the high humidity and official heat warning in effect, two of the pole-barns used for showing at the fair grounds provided adequate protec tion and comfort. Many particip ants dressed for the heat, also. While some people are unfamil iar with the PDCA judging confer ence, the fact that it occurs about the same time of the year at the Pa. Holstein Association’s Junior Judging Schools does not mean it is designed specifically toward youth. In fact, according to Raney, it is dcfmctly designed toward adults, those beyond 4-H and FFA, for a more intensive judging experience. The PHA Junior Dairy Judging Schools are designed for youth, with more explanation, a detailed review of basics and support for those shy about speaking up and » A"* * » Garrett Mate leads one of his family’s Brown Swiss around the show ring, while John Foster 111, wearing a white cap, jots down his score. In the foreground is Alan Hostetter, also well known among the Holstein cattle breeders. Behind Foster is Duane Molt. giving reasons. The PDCA conference on the other hand, wastes no time in get ting down to judging and attracts well-known breeders and judges from around the state. However, for advanced youth and for the average cattle breeder, the experi ence is fulfilling, Raney said. - *~V *3p m >1 £-J “It is geared toward adults,” Raney said, “toward (those) trying to get on the approved (judges) list, or trying to improve on their evalu ation skills.” All the scores from participants are recorded, and every body gets their scores sent back to them. In January of each year, the PDCA Board of Directors meets and reviews scores and applica tions for inclusion on its list of approved judges. Association Presents Clean Water ALTOONA (Blair Co.) Farmers from Blair, Union, and York counties received the Penn sylvania Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Farm Awards at the quar terly conference of the Pennsylva nia Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) on July 22. The awards, sponsored joindy by Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Resources, recog nize farm operations that excel in water quality protection. Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Boyd Wolff, and Ar thur David, secreatry of the De partment of Environmental Re sources, presented this year’s three recipients: • In Blair County, near Martins burg, the 163-acre farm of Randall and Karen Huntsman, a dairy operation within the Clover Creek Watershed. • In Union County, near Mif flinburg, the dairy of Mark and Sue Mapes, who farm 161 acres. • In York County, close to Dillsburg, a 95-acre dairy that has recently been converted to a beef operation owned by Rolla and Es ther Lehman. These farmers have worked diligendy to install and maintain farming practices that protect their land from soil erosion and prevent excess nitrogen and phosphorus from entering their local streams and underground water supplies. Applications of manure, fertiliz- ers, and pesticides are controlled Raney said the conference was a success, but more people could be accommodated in the future. “Overall, Lebanon did a tremen douse job in hosting the school,” Raney said. “Lebanon County breeders did a fantastic job, from the standpoint of supplying catle and good classes. They were excellent classes the whole way through.” For more information on the school, call Raney at (814)» 234-0364. Awards and managed so that timely and exact amounts are used, curtailing the amount of runoff carrying ex cess nutrients and pesticides into our water sources. These practices are implemented without sacrifi cing peak production. The three farmers received a large blue and white “Clean Water Farm Award” sign as evidence that Pennsylvania’s agricultural community is working to protect and conserve our precious soil and water resources. . In addition, the formers will vis it the Chesapeake Bay on a skip jack formerly used for oystering to see first-hand how their water conservation efforts are helping to restore the Bay. There are 67 counties in Penn sylvania. Slightly over half are lo cated within the Susquehanna River basin, which supplies SO percent of the fresh water running into the Chesapeake Bay. This year’s award recipients were nom inated by their county conserva tion districts who were among representatives from all over the state gathering to honor them at their regular PACD quarterly business conference and banquet. HELP FOR A BUDGET ygjgN, HEADACHE WAtfRADS
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