84-tancasW Fanning, 1 baturciayl a farm wife v ""* iJHßfii i -And other hazards Joyce Bupp But I don’t have a thing to wear. Thus I debated, rummaging in the dark of early morning through a drawer stuffed with short-sleeved tee-shirts and sleeveless, cotton blouses. Appropriate clothes for late aftemoon milkings in a bam wanned from the body heat of a herd of dairy cows. Not so appropri ate, though, on a morning when lin gering tomatoes shiver under a frost blanket and ice crystals accent the fading zinnia blossoms. And when the turtle-necked, long-sleeved stuff is all still stuck away in some closet. The “in-between” season, fash ion consultants sometimes call these weather transition periods. Cool, chilly mornings, wanning by noon, almost hot in the bam at 4:30 when we start milking chores and temperatures fading as fast as the sun by finish time. Added to a shad ed old house that—unless the woodstove is burning—is chilly inside when the sun is warm outside and warm inside when the night is brisk. Fashion designers may take credit for inventing the layered look. However, this popular style of dressing actually evolved from gen erations of farm wives alternately piling on and shucking off clothes, dependent on the whims of sun shine, shadows, and whatever chore The Farmer lined up next. For instance, you might be out on a pleasant, fall afternoon raking leaves out of the yard, basking in the warm sunshine. Ten minutes later, seated on an open-air tractor seat, helping drag a swamped grain truck out of some mucky wet spot in a low-lying field, you’re wishing It's a factl Contaminated water can have a costly effect on your livestock and poultry performance. Our years of experience plus hundreds of farm related treatment systems has proven the validity and practicality of correcting contaminated water. WATER SYSTEMS Willis Sharp 740 E. Lincoln Ave. Somerset, PA & Myeistown, PA 17067 Surrounding Counties (717) 666-7555 (814)493-5081 Along RlO. 422 548 New Holland Ave. Lancaster, PA 17602 (717)393-3612 Along Rte. 23 between chattering teeth that you’d added a layer or two on the way. Or you’ve been sent to the field to disk cornstalks on a gray, sullen November afternoon. After cocoon ing yourself in thermal underwear, wool socks, insulated coveralls, ear muffs and mittens, you find your self in a tractor cab—solar heated when the sun bursts through the cloud cover. And wishing you could dispense with a layer or two without losing your dignity. Conveniently for this layer-lov ing farm wife, the clothing residue of two now-grown children lingers on in our basement, barn-dressing room. Comfort and practicality long ago edged out vanity as my prime motivation when selecting a farm wardrobe. A variety of sweaters, sweatshirts, shirts old jackets that didn’t “suit” and were left behind by the kids reinforced that trend. Which is why I have two identi cal gray sweatshirts embossed with cow head-ends on the front and cow tail-ends on the back—except that the sleeves of one are chopped off at half-mast. That’s the preferred one for milking, since no cuffs dangle in the udder-sanitizing water and their roominess allows for a long-sleeved turtle-neck top layered beneath. When a sweatshirt is too hot, a matching set of lightweight, navy and white sweaters our daughter brought home from a rural electric cooperative youth conference offer an alternative. Layered over one of the assorted cow-theme tee-shirts she likewise bequeathed to me for bam garb. One of the benefits of a six-foot plus son is that his hand-me-downs tend to be sized “for tall men.” A Water Quality An IMPORTANT Ingredient In tock Management Martin Water Conditioning Co. SPECIALISTS IN FARM WATER TREATMENT Farm Show Seeks Stories, Photographs Of World War II HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) The 1995 state Farm Show is to feature displays and a theme of the role of Pennsylvania agriculture during World War II and a committee is seeking people who farmed during that time who may have stories or photographs they would be willing to share to help make the public presentation as truthful and interesting as possible. According to Fred Walters, pro- worn, quilted red-plaid-flannel shirt not quite good enough to haul along to college is a perfect example. Warmer than most jackets, its over sized, extra length covers my legs almost to the knees and prevents that cold rush of air that hits your back when bending over in a short jacket On really chilly days, a patched, extra large, synthetic down vest emblazoned with an ag pharmaceu tical firm logo can go atop any or all of above—or be the first layer pitched aside as the sun warms the morning. Which highlights the only real drawback to layers: they tend to get scattered hither and yon with the weather’s whims. I don’t have a thing to wear. It’s layered. All over the place. ROLLING ON. JN THE M'S Buy A You Get The Best MEETS THE CHALLENGE FLAT FLAIL SHREDDERS Heaviest gearbox on the market eliminates the number one cause of downtime. Either cup or side slicer knives. 540 or 1000 RPM. HFC FIELD CULTIVATORS The "heart" of any field cultivator is the shank pivot point. A "bulked up" shank bracket made of cast ductile iron instead of the usual formed steel bracket, incorporates a gardened steel bushing AND a zerk grease fitting to lubricate the pivot point to reduce wear. The result is thousands of Coulter gang can be hydraulic controlled to save maintenance dollars. 5,7, 9. Tl, & 13 shank. Available in 2 & 3 bar. Agricultural Life jecl officer, the theme was sug gested by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania World War II Com memorative Committee, a state level affiliate organization *of die national committee, formally rec ognized by the U.S. Department of Defense. Pennsylvania’s committee is chaired by Joseph R. Clclan, Pen nsylvania’s deputy adjutant gener al for veterans affairs, and includes members such as former state rep resentative Sam Hayes, of Blair County, a well-known supporter of agriculture. The theme particularly befits the state Farm Show because the Farm Show Complex itself had been used for military uses from December 1943 to February 1946. However, the stories of what it 16% Ft. to 31% Ft. was like to be a farmer during that time, the incidents, the anecdotes of producing food, fiber and materials during a time when necessities were rationed and farm help was difficult to find would be helpful in making the presentation as meaningful as possible. According to Walters, the com mittee and the general public would deeply appreciate stories or photographs that can be used to help tell the stray of fanning dur ing World War 11. To help, please write to: Fred B. Walters, Press Secretary, Pa. Dept, of Military Affairs, Public Affairs Office, Fort Indiantown Cap, Annville, Pa., 17003-5002. All photos will be returned, Walters said. Ft. Adamstown Equip. Inc. ALLENTOWN Lehigh Ag Equipment BECHTELSVILLE Miller Equip. Co. BELLWOOOCRESSON Hines Equipment Co. BERWICK C.H. Rinehlmer & Sons CARLISLE Gutshall'a, Inc. DOVER ■ George N. Gross, Inc. EASTON Gsorgs V. Seiple ELIZABETHTOWN Mssslek Farm Equipmsnt Co. INTERCOURSE C.B. Hoc bar A Son GREENCASTLE Meyers Implement LANCASTER Landis Brothers, Inc. LEBANON Umberger’s of Fontana LOYSVILLE Gutshalls, Inc. LYNNPOBT Kermlt K. Klstler, Inc. NEEDMORE Clugston Farm Equipment NEW HOLLAND A.B.C. Groff, Inc. OAKLAND MILLS Peoplss Sales A Service OLEY Plkevills Equipment, Inc. 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