VERNON ACHENBACH JR.
Lancaster Farming Staff
CAMP HILL (Cumberland
Co.) Up to 165 delegates repre
senting 54 county affiliates of the
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau are
expected to attend the organiza
tion’s annual meeting set for Nov.
15 through Nov. 17 at the Hershey
Convention Center, in Hershey.
All farmers encouraged to
attend all sessions, according to
PFB spokeswoman Janet Carson.
She said that a lack of meal ticket
should not deter anyone from
attending any of the programs
planned. Meanwhile, the deadline
for meal reservations is Nov. 4.
For those unfamiliar with the
PFB, only recently and without
fanfare has the statewide agricul
tural organization changed its
name from the Pennsylvania Far
mers Association to the Farm
Bureau.
The name change came as a
result of members desiring a name
in line with the national affiliate,
American Farm Bureau
Federation.
Originally, when the organiza
tion formed, there was already an
existing commercial enterprise
with the name of Pennsylvania
Farm Bureau, therefore Pennsyl
vania organizers adopted the diffe
rent name, while other states used
“farm bureau.”
Although Farm Bureau Presi
dent Keith Eckel had indicated that
such a name change would be
coming, a date for the actual name
change was not set. However, late
this summer, news releases began
carrying both names. Now, the
association has stopped using its
previous name.
According to published reports,
the annual meeting is to be high
lighted by a “meet the candidates”
forum set as a luncheon starting
11:45 a.m., Monday, Nov. IS, to
which all announced gubernatorial
candidates have been invited.
Those invited who are affiliate
with the Republican Party include
state Sen. Earl Baker, of Chester
County; state Sen. Mike Fisher,
Allegheny County; Barbara Hafer,
current auditor general, who lost
against outgoing Casey in last
race; Sam Katz, Philadelphia
businessman; Ernie Preate Jr. from
Scranton, controversial current
attorney general; and U.S. Con
gressman Tom Ridge, of Erie, who
was first to announce an intent to
serve as governor.
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Among the Democratic. Party
candidates invited were state Rep.
Dwight Evans, of Philadelphia;
Catherine Baker Knoll, current
state treasurer from Allegheny
County: state Rep. Robert
O’Donnell, from Philadelphia; Lt.
Gov. Mark Singel, who has been
acting governor since Casey’s rare
heart and liver transplant; Charles
Volpe, insurance businessman;
and Lynn Yeakel, of Delaware
County who lost in bid against
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.
Also during the convention an
election for the state vice president
and eight board members is slated
for Nov. 17, along with an official
announcement of eight appointees
to the PFB Women’s Committee.
However, while the schedule of
programs is full, there are some
other highlights scheduled.
The PFB Board of Directors
starts the three-day event with a
breakfast meeting Nov. 15 from 7
a.m. to 9 a.m.
Registration is to run from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m.
From 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., two
concurrent programs are
offered “The Business of
Farming,” with speaker Andy
Place, president of the Green
County Farmers’ Association,
who is to discuss the opportunities
available in niche marketing; and
“Animal Issue and You.” with
speakers Karl Brown, who is presi
dent of Pennsylvanians For
Responsible Use of Animals, and
Norman Wilkinson, executive
director of the Pa, Society for
Biomedical Research.
In the first afternoon, from 1:45
p.m. to 3:15 p.m„ is to be a “Farm
Financial Planning” seminar with
a speaker panel including Fred Dil
ner, and educator; Bill Hughes,
cive president, of ag lending at
Meridian Bank; Phillip Kimmel,
president of Keystone Farm Cre
dit; and Charles Marshall, state
director of farmer programs for
PFB Farm Management.
' From 3:30p.m. t04:30p.m. is to
be a PFB marketing cooperative
meeting, while almost concurrent
ly is scheduled a discussion meet
ing lead by Steve Gross, with the
Young Farmer and Rancher
Committee.
From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. is to be
the county presidents’ dinner with
speaker Louis B. Sallie, PFB admi
nistrative secretary. At the same
time, a convention buffet dinner is
to be held in another room.
From 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., there
is an awards program with guest
speaker Joachim Wemer, who is
northeast fieldman for the Ameri
can Farm Buruea.
From 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. is
to be a square dance and auction
with Chales Benner, president of
the Snyder County chapter serving
as dance caller.
On Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 7:45
to 8:45 a.m., there is to be a break
down of the delegates into separate
district caucuses to discuss policy
matters, which are to be voted
upon during a session from 9 a.m.
to 11 a.m.
For those who are nokdelegates,
from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. there is to
be offered a program on the
“Health of Farm Families,” fol
lowed at 10:45 a.m. with an hour
long presentation on “Citizens
Against Crime.”
From 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. is sche- A president’s reception is to fol
duled a president’s luncheon with tow from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Keith Eckel, president, speaking On Wednesday, Nov. 17, a far
and presenting the annual Young mer breakfast is set from 7 a.m. to
Farmer and Rancher award. 7:45 a.m. followed by delegate
From 1:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. dele- voting from 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
gates are to be voting, while sever- While the PFB annual business
al other seminars are to be held for meeting is to run from 11:30 a.tn.
nondelegates on topics such as to noon, followed by a meeting of
insurance, agricultural literacy in tiie PFB board of directors, at
the classroom and an advisory 12:30, there are several other
council seminar. activities interspersed.
From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. a PFB From 8 am - to 9:15 a.m. the
member reception is scheduled Women’s Committee is to hold is
followed by a member recognition business meeting, followed by a
banquet with speaker Ben Burton, program on child safety from 9:30
a humorist, followed by the pre- am - to 10:45 a.m.
sentation of recognition awards, For more information, contact a
All Star awards, and a distin- local affiliate representative, or
guished service award. call the state office.
Offices Realigned
County has been formally
assigned to the Centre County
Office. Any resident of Clinton
County seeking assistance with
the rural housing and/or farm
program divisions should direct
their inquiries to Mildred L. Tur
ner, County Supervisor, 414 Hol
mes Ave., Suite #2, Willowbank
Building, Bellefonte, PA 16823,
(814) 355-1553.
BELLEFONTE (Centre Co.) —
Farmers Home Administration
has recently realigned two county
offices with different servicing
areas.
In the past, residents of Clinton
County contacted the Lycoming
County Office for Rural Housing
and Farming Loans in
Williamsport
As of October 12, Clinton