Sanner Farm Switches To GAY N. BROWNLEE Somerset Co. Correspondent ROCKWOOD (Somerset Co.) Lynn and Debbie Sanner have been fanning for 17 of their 21 years of marriage. Because they used available resources to their advantage, their Holstein dairy herd has grown to 95 head, including dry cows. Heifers number 110. They started with 20. Herd production is now 21,200 pounds of milk, compared to 13,000 pounds in the early days. Fat percentage is now 3.6 and protein stays around 3.2 or 3.3 percent. In 1992, Sanner, whose brother Keith shares the farming responsi bilities, switched to the intensive grazing method and said recently that he is well-pleased with the results. “Everything is going real well as far as herd health,” he said. Sanner said he enjoys learning ways to improve his operation and saving time and money in the process. “The benefits I’ve seen are the savings in feed,” he said. “We always put our cows out in the summer. When the cows start dropping in production, I start feeding the stored feed.” He uses total mix ration. When Lynn and Debbie took over the farm, around 1976, Ban ner had made the choice to quit college after attending the West Virginia University at Morgan town for two years. Nobody else in the family wanted to run it, even though Banner and his brothers were the fourth genera tion on the farm. Lynn said his dad was into the coal business and the farming end was hanging on by a mere thread with Banner’s mother and brother keeping it going. It was a gutsy move for the young couple who lived a mile away from the bam and had to drag the babies along at milking time. With them came the play pen, then the walker, which they tied fast with just enough leash to allow a satisfying mobility for the toddler. Debbie did the feeding and San ner’s mother continued to help them. Memories of those early days are vivid for Debbie. “When we took over,” she said, “there were no silos, they didn’t soil test or These Holsteins line the fence of their pasture to observe a group of people walking a pasture to observe the cow operation. spray. There were only the basics. “We baled 20,000 bales of hay each year,” then, grinning she added, “Lynn’s grandfather taught me to unload a wagon real fast” Today the Sanners put away just 2,000 small bales. Together they worked hard. As the operation grew, and milk pro duction increased, silos were added. There are now three of var ying sizes for haylage, high moisture com and com silage. No till farming was begun 10 years ago. The biggest silo was installed in 1989 for haylage. Its size is 25 by 80 feet. A 20-by 80-foot concrete silo was built around 1984. The first silo, for high-moisture shell com, was erected in 1979. It’s 20 by 55 feet. Sanner said he wouldn’t go back to plowing, but said that no till is not a complete panacea: “You still have to pick rocks.” Herd health is as much a con cern as with any dairying. His veterinarian makes monthly visits to check animals. Consultants are important too. Sanner credits much of his suc cess to a close association with Bob Brown, the county agent “1 use Bob Brown... and AJ. Walk er, two people who have the knowledge,” he said. Walker operates a local farm service business. Banner said that through the years he has continued to educate himself by reading a lot, but a home computer is also a valuable tool in the operation’s record keeping. “They sure are fascinating,” he said. He added a computer in 1983 and said it greatly helped manage die farm. Five years ago, their new house was ..built near the bam. And because she would rather work outdoors than inside, Debbie has planted big, beautiful flower beds all around the well-kept lawns. Their house faces, across the lawns and driveways, the solid stone house of Banner’s parents, built in 1811. Recorded as one of the oldest in Somerset Co., the landmark house was constructed it is said, by a Peter Bradford whose own nearby log house was consumed by fire. Bradford, according to rumor, determined that his next house would not be easily destroyed. Banner and Debbie said they look with satisfaction upon their No-Till, Intensive Grazing Finds Savings Sitting on the porch step of their home, are three members jner family from the left, daughter April, Lynn and his wife Debbie. Not shown are daughters Amy, Christy and Darci. accomplishments. “It’s all come from the cows,” they said. But their conversation reveals their desire to be as self-sufficient as possible in every way. They do much of their own butchering with Sanner curing and smoking hams from several hogs they raise. Home-grown produce from Debbie’s vegetable garden is also preserved for the family. A sawmill beyond the roadway appeared well used. Sanner said it belongs with the farm and is used for cutting wood from their own stand of timber when necessary. Of 500 acres, 275 are actually farmed. The remainder is woodlands. „ In fact, Sanner said it was the farm’s timber that supplied the lumber for both his and his brother’s house. All of it was sawed cm site. Sanner said he plants 120 acres in com, 90 in alfalfa and the remaining land in other grains and hay. “My dad helps when he’s around,” said Sanner. “You really look forward to having him around because'he’s an extra est in entering ag-related work. But they are sports nuts who parti- Debbie, who also operates a cipatc in basketball, volleyball, beauty shop, doesn’t usually help back and others, on the farm anymore unless . . TT • ■„ , there’s an emergency. M attends the‘University of As it now stands, the four San- Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh. Chnsty ner daughters - Amy. 20, Christ- attends Shippcnsburg State Col y. 18. April. 16 and Darci, grade 7 April and Darci are students - aren’t showing the least inter- “*e Rockwood school district NDB Gives Kids Dental Tips ARLINGTON, Va. Snack ing is a favorite pastime for every one, especially kids. Knowing that, the National Dairy Promo tion and Research Board develop ed a packet of materials with snack recipes that include dairy foods. Many kids come home to an empty house after school, and even those that have a parent at home in the afternoon like to show their independence. So the recipes found in “Power Packed Dairy Snacks” are simple enough for kids to make with some supervi sion. Along with the recipe leaflet, a brochure tilled “Snacking and Your Child’s Dental Health” was part of the packet of materials dis tributed to 740 supermarket chains for dairy merchandisers and con sumer affairs specialists to order for distribution to their shoppers. The National Dairy Board joined the American Academy of Pedi alrie’Dentislry (AAPD) to develop that brochure. “Snacking and Your Child’s Dental Health” discusses the caus es of tooth decay and ways to pre vent it as well as the benefits of choosing nutritious snacks, in cluding chocolate milk. This bro chure also supports the chocolate milk promotion being conducted this fall. Each year, the National Dairy Board distributes two supermarket kits with free dairy information materials tailored to a certain sub ject. The “Power Packed Dairy Snacks” kit, also included offers for a cooking demonstration videotape, recipe card with two children-friendly recipes, food re cipe and photo to use in other printed materials like a store cir cular and background information about snacking and nutrition. Su permarket personnel can order un limited quantities to use in provid- , ing information to their .custom ers. “Because we (dairy farmers) care about kids’ health and kids are current and future consumers, they remain an important market target,” said Maynard Lang, lowa dairy farmer and chair of the Na tional Dairy Board’s Public Rela tions Committee. “Since the kits were mailed out in late August, we have filled or ders for more than 800,000 recipe and dental brochures,” Lang said. “That confirms consumer demand for information about and ways to use dairy foods, and that can lead to increased sales for America’s dairy farmers.”
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