On being Bf ’*s W&*** -> mm JM I j^B Joyce Bapp " ™ JBHI a farm wife -And other hazards Weathermen call them the “three Hs.” Hazy. Hot. Humid. Com thrives on the “three Hs” gorwing what seems like inches every day, so long as adequate moisture is available in the ground. When it isn’t, whole field populations of com plants curl their leaves tightly, making less surface exposed to the blasting heal and concerving what mois ture is in the plant. It’s what makes corn in areas under drought-stress look like Hawaiian pineapple fields. People can’t curl themselves up tightly to resist the heat. Instead whole populations stampede en mass to snatch up air conditioners. Room-size air conditioning units at local retailers are reportedly as available this mid-July as snow shovels and sale were in February. While we scrounged along with the rest of the population last win ter for salt to keep the milk truck from sliding downhill backwards into the dairy bam, we managed to avoid the air conditioner rush. Our old brick farm home, sur rounded by high, shading maple KEYSTONE NATIONAL RIB COOKOFF & MUSIC F£ST This Event Sponsored by The PA Livestock Association For more info, call 610-767-5026 trees, is a blessing that helps make that possible. So is the lone win dow Tan we set up in an upstairs window for an hour or two before bedtime on the hottest nights, to pull in slightly cooler evening air. Every time The Farmer sleeps in air conditioning, he pays for it the next few days with a sore throat. Besides, we’re just not air conditioning people. During the “screen season,” with the house windows and doors opoen to the outdoors, we can keep better track of what’s happening around the farm. Like the sound of the milking system humming away at the dairy bam. Running at normal times and at normal noise level, the compressor units that can be heard at the house are reassuring that all is functioning as it should. Regular rounds of field equipment also confirm that the tractor and mower or baler are at least not “broke down” for the moment. Screens bring to our ears the distress calls of a calving heifer or the exuberant baaing-sound a calf makes when it escapes a pen and KEYSTONE NATIONAL RIB RIBS This ad sponsored by LEIDY’S PACKING CO. COOKOFF & MUSIC FEST Thursday, July 28 Friday, July 29 Saturday, July 30 Sunday, July 31 Enjoy Musical Entertainment All Day Long! Craft Show, Children’s Area, Jackpot Show & More! FR£E AT THE N 0 Parklng YORK FAIRGROUNDS C oo!ersTpete YORK, PA • MUSIC • FUN goes running about the farm, kick ing up its heels. Hearing it is al ways easier than catching it Most of all, though, we like an open house for the sounds of na ture around us. Even before day break the birdsongs begin, as the mockingbirds taunt the rest of Mother Nature’s critters for still living abed. Eating breakfast early one re cent morning, I heard the chatter ing of baby-chicks. Our little brown hen’s nine offspring have their adult-color plumage, yet still make hatchling noises. Though I’d never seen this clan in the yard, the sound of clucking mo ther hen and answering babies was definitely coming from the area of the basement porch. Which is where they were. With a whole farmstead of fields and pasture to roam, they hang out on the porch. Go figure. Repeated, short, irate chirps - cardinal complaints - announce that the birdfeeder is empty. And the lyric, beautiful song of the liny house wren, who solos outside the kitchen window is suddenly silent. Is she quietly nesting? Loud hoonking over the pond, followed by splashdown sounds, signals the return of our now grown Canada geese family. After paddling to the pondbank, they pa rade, single-file, to the com field, to graze on tender shoots. At dusk, fat bullfrogs in the cat tails announce the day’s end with throaty croakings. One lingering robin answers back a good-night. And the sound of evening tran quility slips in through the win dows on a gentle breeze. Maybe we’re just old fashion ed. But we enjoy the screen sea son. JULY 28, 29, 30 & 31 11:00- 10:00 DAILY $4 ADMISSION PER DAY lives who promote veal throughout Pennsylvania. Veal Ambassadors Promote Industry HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Again this summer, the PBC is working with college-age students to conduct numerous in-store cooking demonstrations and to staff exhibits which promote veal at various community events. Krista Byers, of Perry County, an Andy Smeltz, of Dauphin County, are representatives for the veal industry at several consumer promotions throughout the state. Most recently, they staffed farm city tours in Bradford and Tioga Counties as well as the Lancaster County farmers’ market. Both in dividuals are students at Penn State University and possess an interest in animal agriculture. Byers and Smeltz began their internships with a comprehensive training program which exposed them to each major step in veal production. From a personal tour The Charlie Daniels Band Three Dog Night Jefferson Starship Ronnie McDowell & Shucks Lancaster Farmli of a veal farm to on-site inspection of the processes practiced at the packing plant, the two were then instructed on the nutritional ad vantages of veal so that they may effectively understand and pro mote the product to the vast con sumer market. An overview of the entire process also allows them to use first-hand experience to dispel many of the common misconcep tions that consumers may have about veal. “I’m excited about the oppor tunity to represent the industry and I’m eager to answer consum er’s questions,” said Byers. Smeltz shares equal enthusiasm in the program and adds that the face-to-face interaction with con sumers will provide valuable feed back for a sharpened focus on pro duction and marketing issues. 1994-B3
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