Bie-Umcaster Farming, Saturday, January 15, 1994 LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) —Snow, ice, and sleet dimmed the attendance but not the spirit of the 73th annual state convention for The Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania on Monday. About 265 of the society’s 3,148 mem bers braved traveling conditions to attend the convention held in the State Forum building during the morning and afternoon sessions and at the Pfenn Harris Motor Inn for the evening banquet. Highlight of the convention was a presentation by Frank S. Black te Stoner and Trudy Bard, both of Lancaster Society 15. Outgoing Farm Women president Arlene Wltman stands beside a painting of Flora Black, who founded the Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania in 1914. Newly elected officers are Dottle Strieker, president, center front; from left, Darlene Schmeltz, treasurer; Audrey Gilbert, secretary; Lois Hughes, first vice president; and Catherine Schott, 2nd vice president. Grandson Of Founder Addresses Farm Women’s State Convention Jr. who is the grandson of Flora Black, the founder of the Society of Farm Women in 1914. Flora started the organization in her Somerset County home. Flora loved farming and believed that farm women had more to offer the community than what they had lime to do. In the beginning, the men vis ited outside while the women gathered in the home for the monthly meetings. Black said that it was unusual for men to support women in inde pendent pursuits such as these dur ing the early 19145. Among his grandmother’s many pursuits, she was active in the Women’s Suf frage Society, the American Red Cross, Pa. Historical Committee, the Daughters of the American Revolution, Geneological Society and others. Black said, “But she was most proud of her association with Farm Women.” Frank related several feisty sto ries told about his grandmother that reflected her indomitable spir it. After his grandmother had planted a knoll with blackberry bushes, a public road was slated to run through the 230-acre farm. His grandmother raised such a fuss about the proposed road destroy ing her blackberry bushes that public officials diverted the road around the bushes. This created a 90-degree curve in the road that, according to Black, everyone is still paying for today because it has created a graveyard of danger for motorists. He said that no one ever ques tioned his grandmother’s beliefs. She often complained that all the cats in the world could not rid the family’s massive frame house of the mice that lived in the walls. She released a black snake in the base ment because, she believed, it would rid the house of snakes. According to her kin, the snake feasted on mice for weeks and would occasionally slither outside in search of more food. One day his mother returned home to find a vis iting minister killing the snake. “They say that my grandmother horsewhipped him (the minister) down the road, and I believe it,” her grandson reported. In the business session, Arlene Witman, president of the state organization for the past three years, handed the reins of leader ship to Dottie Strieker. Of her association with the soci ety, Arlene said, “Farm Women left footprints on my heart and I will never be the same.” During her term, Arlene set three goals for members by telling them that the key to happiness is caring and sharing. During the first year of her term, members were encouraged to spread happiness in their neighborhoods; the second year, in their communities: and the third year, by raising money for the Frank S. Black Jr., grandson of the founder of the Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania, told stories about his grandmother durii thr ibr Newly elected directors for a 3-year term, from left are Gladys Meyers, Franklin Co.; Barbara Malehorn, York Co., and Barbara Nissley, Lancaster Co. Hei fer Project International, which ers, Barbara Malehorn, and Barba providcs a food-producing animal ra Nissley as directors, to poverty-stricken communities. “There’s nothing I like to talk Recipients then give the first about more than the scholarship female offspring to another family fund,” Naomi Bupp told fellow in need. members. Bupp, who is in charge Farm Women members exceeded the $9,000 goal by rais ing $11,876 for the heifer project. In addition to installing Dottie Strieker as president, other new officers include Darleen Schmeltz, treasurer; Audrey Gilbert, secre tary; Lois Hughes, first vice presi- dent; Catherine Schott, second vice president; and Gladys Mey- The famous Pennsylvania Farm Women Cookbook, with 17,500 copies sold, Is going Into its eighth print ing. Naomi Bupp said profits from sales amounted to an additional $6,000 to be used for the scholarship fund. of the Pennsylvania Society of Farm Women Cookbook, reported that 17,500 cookbooks have been sold as it goes into its eighth print ing. Profit from the sales goes into the scholarship fund. Bupp pre sented a $6,000 check to the Farm Women for this year’s profits. Farm Women members, Jennifer Grimes, Pennsyl vania Dairy Princess, told how hard work on the farm established lasting values In her perception of life.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers