82-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 10, 1994
The Patches Family
With Two Dummies
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
LEBANON (Lebanon Co.)
Chris and Cindy Patches have two
adorable daughters and two dum
mies who live on their farm.
The dummies names are Tony
and Kenny. But they aren’t the
brothers of Ashley, 4, and Alissa,
1. Instead the dummies are stuffed
in suitcases, ready for Cindy, a
ventriloquist, who entertains
crowds with her ability to carry on
conversations with the dummies in
a way that seems as if the words are
spoken by them instead of by her.
' Ventriloquism takes a lot of
practice of which' Cindy has had
plenty. She got her start 25 years
ago, when she was nine years old
and her parents gave her a dummy
for a present. Cindy practiced talk
ing without moving her lips by
looking in a mirror.
At this time, Cindy sang with
her family, The Boshnaugle Fami
ly. In the middle of the program,
Cindy came on stage to do what
she calls “my own thing.”
It was good experience for her.
As Cindy got older she developed
more voices in higher and lower
pitches to use in her ventriloquist
act.
Her expertise has gained in
>pularity and Cindy now is kept
isy entertaining both adults and
hildren. This is an especially busy
me for her as she performs for
Ihristmas programs, banquets,
arties, and at church functions.
She estimates that she has at
east 18 different themes and will
;ear her entertainment to fit the
iccasion and the ages of the
ludience.
Ashley gives a kiss to her favorite dummy, while her mother
qulst act and Alissa watches.
Chris and Cindy Patches and daughters, Ashley and Alissa, live in this 200-year-old
farmhouse that was first purchased by Chris' grandparents.
Her husband gets in the act by
lugging the suitcases, and he
thinks up jokes to incorporate in
her acts. Cindy gathers materials
“here and there” and puts it all
together.
Cindy grew up on a Lancaster
County steer and tobacco farm.
She met Chris at a roller skating
rink.
“My sister dragged me there,
but I guess it was worthwhile even
though it took Chris forever to ask
me out,” Cindy said.
Chris considers himself a more
cautious individual who doesn’t
like to rush into things unless he is
confident it is the right decision.
When the couple married, they
moved on the Lebanon farm,
which had been in Chris’s side of
the family for three generations.
On the 130-acre farm, Chris raises
100 head of steers and finishes
4,000 hogs annually. Wheat, com,
alfalfa, and soybeans are raised,
but his biggest crop is quality hay
that he raises for the horse market.
Since the couple’s children have
been bora, Cindy’s time is litnited
in helping with the farm work but
she continues to find some time
helping with the pigs, unloading
hay, and driving tractor.
Her main area of interest and
expertise is decorating the
200-year-old stone farmhouse.
The 14-room house at one time
was a double house, but the Patch
es have had the whole house for
their use since the beginning.
Each year they choose one room
to remodel. So far they finished
eight rooms and are working on
another one. One room that they
finished had not been in use for 40
years. They add electric and heat to
each room as they complete it The
couple do most of the finish work
themselves. Cindy enjoys choos
ing the wallpaper, paints, and
country accessories for the house.
Chris, who focused on the horti
cultural side of FFA while in
school, now puts his knowledge to
work by landscaping focal points
around the farm. Both Cindy and
Chris consider “keeping the out
side looking nice” as their hobby.
Chris limits his outside involve
ments so that he can devote as
much time as possible to Cindy
and his daughters.
Cindy considers herself a full
time mother who fills the role of
church secretary and ventriloquist
on the side.
For those interested in schedul
ing a ventriloquist program, Cindy
may be reached at (717) 949-3261.
» *
Ashley and Allssa spend lots of time In their play room. A
favorite toy is their kitchen setup.
Homestead
Notes
Above, Chris and Cindy
with daughters, Ashley, 4,
and Allssa, 1. In addition to
farming, performing ventrilo
quist’s acts with the dum
mies, and doing all the other
things families do, the Patch
es find time to remodel one
room a year In their 14-room
farmhouse.
On the right, Cindy uses
dummies, Tony and Kenny,
for her ventriloquist’s acts,
which she has been perform
ing for 25 years. According to
Cindy, the monkey Is more
difficult to manipulate than
the boy. Cindy has developed
different voices to use as she
swiftly and smoothly carries
on conversations among
them.