82-iancaster Firming, Saturday, August 20, 1994
Ag Progress Spins Dreams For Farmers And Whws
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
ROCKSPRING (Centre Co.)
Dairy farmer Kim Karms finds Ag
Progress Days spins a web of
wishes for him on his annual pil
grimage to it. As he tours the 500
acres packed with machinery, edu
cational and commercial exhibits,
and demonstration plots, he
dreams. Dreams of owning the
biggest tractor and all the shiny
implements that money can buy.
“It’s a place to fantasize," his
buddy Lynn Chamberlain agrees.
“That’s why we come along,”
Kim’s wife Patricia said, “to hold
onto the checkbook.”
But it’s all said in jest, for Patri
cia and Lynn’s wife Genevieve
admit to a little bit of dreaming
themselves.
The two families traveled from
Clearville, Bedford County, with
their eight children who range in
age from 5 months to 16 years.
They, like thousands of other
visitors, find Ag Progress Days
offers something for all ages to
enjoy.
p< pk ~ng sg g
but few travel as far as Suzanne and children Laura, 13, and
Daniel, 10, who came from Spain to visit with grandparents
Penn State Extension Director Emeritus Jay Irwin and his
wife Betty.
Animals, ice cream, and tractors entertain the chi jrenofNelsoi jmerman, ;s
-tal, 12; Chad, 9; Andrea, 5; and Alisha, 2. Nelson works with his brother Paul B. Zim
merman, who sell agricultural equipment from their Lltitz store.
Many find that one day spent
touring the grounds is not enough
if they want to take in the equip
ment demonstrations.
For farmers such as LLoren
Yoder and son Craig, who are for
tunate enough to live close by, they
return for several visits. The Yod
ers live in Belleville. They finish
the morning milking before the
35-minute drive to Ag Progress
Days and then return home for the
evening milking.
But some aren’t as fortunate to
live nearby and find lodging in
State College and other nearby
places.
It was almost an impossibility
for Ann Smith and her husband to
find last-minute lodging.
The Smiths traveled from New
ville, Cumberland County, to
spend three days at Ag Progress.
On Tuesday they served at booths
for the Farm Bureau Advisory Ser
vice. They spent the day talking to
visitors about the advantages of
Farm Bureau councils. On Wed
nesday, they were free of responsi-
(Turn to Pago B 4)
Close friends from ciearville, Bedford County, enjoy touring Ag Progress together.
Lynn and Genieve Chamberlain are on the left with their children Brandon, 16; twins
Lyelce and Lynette, 14; Dereck, 12; and Wendell, 5 months. Lyelce Is a dairy maid for
her county. On the right are Kim and Patricia Karms with children Beth, 10; Sara, 8;
Although strangers, these fellows found they had something in common when they
toured the Pasto Agricultural Museum. The 70* to 82-year-old men reminisce how hard
thrashing, manure moving, and milking used to be when they were younger. From left,
Lee Elsenhart from Wayne County, and George Culllson and Willard Hoff from Man
chester, Md.
Stephen Whltehalr peers Into a microscope while his
family looks on. Parents Ken and Mary Ann from Terre Alta,
w. Va., say they have been coming to Ag Progress Days for
10 years or more. Since they farm, they like to look at the
new equipment to get Ideas.
Jfomestead
Jtotes