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FFA Youth Project
Loan A Success
SPRUCE CREEK (Huntingdon
Co.) When Allen Behrer, then
age 14, Spruce Creek, and his
parents Michael and Linda Behrer
first discussed the possibility of a
sizeable loan for Allen with
FmHA Loan Supervisor Bruce
Homing, one could imagine the
reaction to a 14-year-old student’s
desire to become a borrower.
Young Behrer’s idea to borrow
$3,000 for the purchase of dairy
steers seemed too good to be true.
How could the teenager succeed
in paying off this size loan when
most 14-year-olds are stuck with
Nintendos and immaturity?
Having learned about the
FmHA Youth Project Loan Prog
ram through his agriculture
instructor/FFA adviser, William
C. Harshman of Tyrone Area High
School, the Behrers asked Bruce
Homing of Huntingdon’s FmHA
office to stop by the farm with the
needed informational documents.
Allen and his father supplied the
necessary financial data, while
school lessons and individual ses
sions with Harshman helped to
develop a sound cash flow projec
tion for the enieiprise, which was
to last five months.
Seeing that a sound financial
plan was in place. Homing then
approached his county loan com
mittee members. Members had
not dealt with a 14-year-old before
and deliberated the matter thor
oughly. When all parties were
convinced of the thought and
actions planned for the dairy steer
enterprise, approval was granted.
Behrer’s financial challenge
included purchase of SO healthy
Holstein bull calves, paying for
(rucking, housing, medication and
feed, and labor for when he was in
Allen Behrer, Tyrone Area High School FFA, Tyrone,
right is shown with Bruce Horning, FMHA loan supervisor,
Huntingdon, as they discuss the youth project loan of the
Farmers Home Administration. Behrer Is a sophomore FFA
member who Is preparing for a career on his family’s dairy
operation. He will also study agriculture In Poland for six
months In 1994 with an exchange opportunity through his
FFA chapter.
school. Of course, FmHA charged
interest as well. Since calves were
housed, with his father’s dairy
steers, it was agreed ahead of time
that whatever mortality rate
occurred in the whole system
would also be reflected in the final
count for Allen’s project The sale
of feeder steers to a feedlot in
Nebraska and subsequent pay
ment of his outstanding loan to
FMHA resulted in a profit for the
youngster’s efforts. That profit
has already been reinvested in
further calf-raising initiatives.
When questioned about his goal
for the project, Allen Behrer, also
an active 4-H club member, said,
“I see the 4-H and FFA projects
that I conduct as being my tuition
toward a college education in agri
culture. I hope someday to farm
with my parents.” Allen also sug
gests to other youth that produc
tive credit is wise, but consump
tive credit can make you a slave to
those whom you owe money.
Allen Behrer has enjoyed much
success as a 3-year member of the
Tyrone Area Vo-Ag/FFA prog
ram. He has participated in state
legislative leadership conferences,
county creed speaking competi
tion, county FFA record book con
tests, ag mechanics contests, and
carries projects in capons, gourds,
pumpkins, Indian corn, field com,
alfalfa, sweet com, soybeans, and
work experience besides his dairy
steers. He has exhibited champion
animals and vegetables at the
Huntingdon County Fair and the
Sinking Valley Farm Show. His
FFA interests have led him to be
accepted into a six-month
exchange program to Poland in
1994.
Shorthorn Steer Makes Champion Rounds
* 3
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FLEETWOOD (Berks Co.) "Frosty,” a Shorthorn steer owned by Tom Newpher,
Fleetwood, and exhibited by K&K Cattle Company was a big winner at a lot of shows
this year.
Right now, the steer is on his way to Canada to the Toronto Winter Fair, after com*
pletlng quite a round of championships throughout the state. “He is probably the
most winnlnglst Shorthorn steer in the country,” said Kenlanne Raiick, K&K Cattle,
Fleetwood.
The steer won champion overall at the Klmberton Fair In Chester County, overall at
the Pennsylvania Fair In Bensalem, and champion overall at the Kutztown Fair. The
Shorthorn also placed champion overall at the Schuylkill County Fair; champion over*
all at the Sussex County fair, In Sussex, N.J.; champion overall at the Warren County
Fair In the open Jackpot show; champion overall at the Duchess County Fair, In
Duchess N.Y.; and champion overall at the Eastern States Expo, West Springfield,
Mass.
In most cases, It was the first time a Shorthorn steer was the champion in several
fairs’ history, according to Rarlck.
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For information on new contracts being
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Pennsylvania's authorized master distributor
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Ph; (717) 569-2702 1-800-673-2580 BE!
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• Hog Finishing:
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A V