A2O-Uncasttr Farming, Saturday, November 26, 1994 VERNON ACHENBACH JR. Lancaster Fanning Staff MYERSTOWN (Lebanon Co.) About 150 people attended the annual meeting of the Lebanon County Dairy Herd Improvement Association, held Tuesday at the Myerstown Church of the Brethren to review the orga nization’s activities over the past year and elect directors. An affiliate of the Pa. DHIA, the county organization’s president Ken Sellers, of Annville, intro duced members and helped present production awards. Elected as directors were Jay Good, Phares Musser, and Jay Weaver. Dale Hoover, with a farm near Sellers, is on the 14-member state board of directors. Hoover talked about the efforts of the state organization to provide premium services at competitive costs, while at the same time attempting to reduce overhead costs. The state organization has had a number of personnel changes, including the hiring of Ted Brown as state director of finance and per sonnel, and with Dixie Burris being named to head the state laboratory, located in State College. Other significant changes include paying off the property debt at the main state office/ laboratory at State College, which it had been renting from Penn State University. He also announced “fee adjust ments" that went into effect Oct. 1, “Because the last two years, we’ve been operating at a deficit,” and Lebanon also because, “A detailed analysis showed that most rates were not reflecting costs,” Hoover said. In particular. Hoover said that mostly the twice-day testing prog ram users would get the biggest adjustment, while not much change would affect those using the AM-PM program. He also announced that the state annual meeting has been set for March 10 in State College (more details to be announced later) and has been planned as a one-day event, rather than a two-day event, as had been the tradition. David Shenk 111, regional mana ger, told the group that they should stay in touch with their techni cians, especially with respect to scheduling testing times. He said that communications of informa tion such as times that are inconve nient for testing, is important to maintaining efficiency and service. He also announced that the state is offering a Westfalia Dairy Plan computer program for use in dairy herd management. He said it is a good software package, although more training programs are to be held. Previously, before significant changes in personnel at the state level, Pa.DHIA had promoted the use of another computer program. This new program is being offered for sale to members with a free trial period. Shenk said members should ask their technician about the program, or call the state office at (800) 344-8378 and ask for Dan Smith, or Pat Tonelli. In other business, Kenneth Winebark, county extension agent. DHIA Members Meet From the left, in the front, Vincent Wagner of Ju-Vindale Holateins, holds his two DHIA production awards earned for low herd somatic ceil count and high protein, while Curvin Good holds two awards he received for high milk production and protein production by a individual cow, which also topped the state for milk production. In the back row, from the left, are county directors Dale Hoover and George Ungemach, Pa. DHIA Director of Finance and Personnel Ted Brown, county board chairman Kenneth Sellers, and Kenneth Winebark, county extension agent. announced to the group that he would be leaving extension service after 10 years working in the coun ty, with an emphasis on helping develop its youth programs. In a farewell address, Winebaik National Show Lamb Title MIDDLETOWN, Md.—Paula Davis, 18, was awarded the East ern National Livestock Show junior market lamb title. Paula is a member of the Mid dletown FFA livestock judging team that placed first in the state and went to Kansas City for national competition. told the group that he is going to . * s 1° devote continue to work with youth, but himself to doing as much as he can through a youth ministry. For helping these children that most some time. Wine bark has been agencies or organizations can’t working with troubled children.' attract or don’t want. Paula is active in Frederick County 4-H for 11 years and is a member of the Middletown FFA. She is attending Frederick Com munity College with a major in veterinary science. She has won many champions in classes such as breeding sheep, market lambs, and leadline show ing from county fairs to state and national competition. She has a sheep farm of about 90 head of registered Hampshires and regis tered Suffolks. Paula is also a National 4-H Youth Congress delegate for Maryland and sells club lambs to help with college funding. She works at Glade Valley Animal Hospital.