82-Umcaster Farming, Saturday, March 11, 1995
Dauphin County Farm Women Reminisce
So Many
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
DAUPHIN (Dauphin Co.)
“Remember when Lois got lost on
her way to a Somerset County
Farm Women’s and stopped to ask
directions?”
‘That was time when she was
dressed in a gown and children
pelted ears of shelled com at her,”
someone answered above the din
of voices as Farm Women
reminisced.
These memories and many more
were fondly retold during a recent
gathering of the Dauphin County
Farm Women’s Past President’s
Club.
The club is an informal gather
ing of previous members who have
served as president of the Dauphin
County Society of Farm Women.
This close-knit group of friends
share an affinity for the Society of
Farm Women of Pennsylvania,
which was founded in 1914 in
Somerset County. It wasn’t until
1931 thr the fr
Margaret Zimmerman
recalls the time her husband
tried tr *»t - t r >1 cakr
alike but share a dedication to Farm Women.
Former presidents of Dauphin County Farm Women Include, seated from left, Mar
garet Zimmerman, Ethel Cline, Pat Baum, and Darlene Schmeltz. Standing are Betty
Shlreman, Darlee Straub, Lois Erb, Martha Reed and Mary Pankake.
Rich Memories . . .
formed in Dauphin County, which
now has 14 societies with 233
members.
Through the years, changes in
health, moving to another resi
dence, and death have caused the
group to flunctuate in size. But
regardless of how far away these
past presidents are spread, all
make it a priority to attend the
scheduled gatherings.
Lois comes the farthest Four
years ago, she and her husband
moved to the state of Virginia to be
closer to their children.
"But I come back to the area six
times a year for Farm Women
meetings. I have many dear friends
all over the state,” Lois said.
She added that being pelted with
com wasn’t the only time that she
and her traveling companion had
trouble trying to locate a Farm
Women’s convention in a distant
county. One time, she and Ethel
Cline traveled for hours trying to
follow a hand-drawn map. Much
later, to their chagin, they discov
ered they had the map turned
upside.
Most of the members joined the
Society of Farm Women after a
friend or a neighbor invited them
to a meeting.
Members take turns holding the
monthly meetings in their homes.
The agenda often includes an edu
cational program or making a craft
project together.
Margaret Zimmerman remem
bers the time members made towel
cakes and decorated them with
whipped waxy soap. The orna
mental cake looked so authentic
that her husband tried to slice a
piece.
But her husband was supportive
when it'came to Farm Women.
One time after he designed a patio
at their home, he remarked that it
would be a great place for a wed
ding. Farm Women members
planned a mock wedding on the
patio. The bride and groom (both
females) looked so realistic and the
evening was so much fun, that the
bridal pair decided to have a cup of
coffee at a local restaurant That
was in the days before such shena
nigans were suspect
“Remember the time when we
had a Come as you are party? I was
dressed in the worst clothes
because I was helping my husband
sow wheat” lamented Martha
Reed of Halifax.
“Some people showed up in
housecoats.” someone else
recalled.
Showing up in wom-out clo
thing was considered disgraceful
in the era before tom jeans and
oversized clothing became vogue.
“Those were the days when
women didn’t leave the house
unless dressed in their Sunday
best We always wore gowns to the
conventions,” said Lois, hi fact,
she hand knit a whole gown to
wear to one of the conventions.
While the individual societies
have their own projects and meet
ings, they do work together on
joint projects from time to time.
“Hosting the Spring Rally in
1975 was the greatest fun in the
world,” said Pat Baum.
About 1,400 women from
across the state showed up at the
annual event which rotates among
counties with Farm Women
Societies.
Most of the women have
mementoes of the years associated
with Farm Women. Doralee
Straub of Millersburg has a quilt
with a patch completed by each
society in the county. She pur
chased it after giving the highest
bid at a silent auction.
Farm Women are known for
quietly meeting community needs.
For years Dauphin County societ
ies have made grooming kits for
the patients at Harrisburg State
Hospital four times a year. They
also bake cupcakes and donate clo
thing to the hospital.
They have held bake sales and
fundraisers to purchase a sound
system, tables, chairs, and other
items needed for the Dauphin
County Agriculture and Natural
Resource Center.
The group also has hospital
equipment that they loan to those
in need.
Darlene Schmeltz said, “Farm
Darlene Schmeltz’s bouncy, vibrant personality spreads
a contagious enthusiasm for life among her Farm Women
friends.
Women band together whenever a
need arises. We lake a collection
whenever a need arises and some
times we dig a little deeper.”
Caring is evident among the
close-knit group.
Lois said, “We have so many
rich memories with lots of busi
ness and fun.”
While the camaraderie that
exists among members is an incen
tive to keeping in touch, the rea
sons are much deeper than fun and
games.
Darlene Schmeltz said that the
caring members showed toward
her during tough times has forever
cemented a bond among them.
Their concern coupled with her
faith in God brought her through
the distress of losing two babies, a
long recuperation from an accident
that resulted in a shattered back,
when both her parents died within
eight days, and the trauma of hav
ing her only son diagnosed with a
brain tumor.
“Other than a loss of hearing in
the left ear, Bryan is doing pretty
well,” said Darlene of her son’s
recovery from brain surgery in
1991.
(Turn to Pago B 3)
Ethel Cline served as
president from 1975-1976.
Homestead
Notes
Since Betty Shlreman
served as president In 1969,
she has seen membership
dwindle but sisterhood
remain strong among
members.
Lois Erb collects spoons
from countries around the
world, but her favorite Is a
spoon that was formed from
a Farm Women’s pin.