84-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, April 22, 1995 Family Togetherness (Continued from Page B 2) ping after teat dipping milking and dry treating cows. “I wanted to try it because it sounded promising. Dad was a bit skeptical at first But he soon saw a big difference with less mastitis and higher milk production. We’ve been continuing the prac tice ever since,” Harry said of the family’s priority to keep somatic cell count down. “Last month we had it down in the 80 range, and we’re trying to figure out what we did different ly,” Harry said. “The only thing we can figure out is that we’ve been keeping the cows on their feet longer during milking time by feeding them more before milking.” The difference in feeding prac tice requires Annette to man the milkers longer. But the city-girl turned loyal dairy farmer loves working with the cows. She said, “I wouldn’t want to go back to the city.” Before the two married, Harry wanted Annette to know what she was getting into. So she teamed to milk cows before she said, “I do.” Fortunately for both, Annette liked the cows so much that within two months of marriage, she quit her hospital job to become a full time farmer. From the beginning of married life, Harry and Annette lived on the family farm. The house had been used as a two-family resi dence off and on throughout the years. Within a few years of Har ry’s and Annette’s marriage, Har ry’s parents built a house on the farm land. Since then, the Bucks have switched the two-family farmhouse dwelling into a one family. Every couple of years, they remodel a room. Although there were six siblings in Harry’s family, Harry said that he was fortunate to take over the family farm. He said, “I was the one with the most interest in farming.” Alfalfa, com, wheat, and soy beans are crop farmed. Seasonal grazing is used on a large pasture that has a creek running through it Otherwise the cows are fed a total mixed ration with com silage and high moisture com. “We only started using high moisture com about one and a half years ago. We saw an immediate increase in milk production,” Har ry said of the cows average of 21,400 pounds. All grade cows are used except for the children’s 4-H dairy projects. Annette and Harry do all the field work and the morning milk ing. A hired man helps with the evening milking. Both Stephanie and Jarod help with the milking and calf feeding. Even 10-year-old Kathryn helps by giving the calves a bottle. While the girls like the cows, their brother prefers field work. Stephanie has been showing cows for four years at local shows. A 10th grader at Palmyra High School, she cannot participate in FFA or vocational agriculture because the school does not offer it. She is thinking about switching to another nearby school that does offer the course, but that school’s commitment to agriculture is shaky and Stephanie fears the program will be eliminated after she makes the switch. Her extra-curricular activities include soccer and band. Stepha nie and Jarod are Junior Holstein members. And. after seven years of piano lessons, Stephanie now teaches piano. Her duties as dairy maid requires about one promotional event weekly. As a member of the Dairy Bowl team, Stephanie was delighted to be a part of the Lebanon County team that placed third in the state this year. The team practiced twice weekly and required a lot of studying. “I think my grades—especially Spanish suffered a bit until the Dairy Bowl season was finished,” Stephanie said. After accomplishing the Dairy Bowl victory, Stephanie quickly B&B SPRAY PAINTING SANDBLASTING SPRAY - ROLL - BRUSH Specializing In Buildings, Feed Mills - Roofs - Tanks - Etc., Aerial Ladder Equip. Stone - Barn - Restoration 574 Gibbon’s Rd., Bird-In-Hand, Pa. Annrering Service (717) 354-5561 GOOD FOOD OUTLET STORES See Our Original Line Of Golden Barrel Products Plus All Kinds Of Beans, Candies, Dried Fruit, Snack Mixes, Etc. At Reduced Prices * BAKING MOLASSES * MAPLE SYRUP jAv a, A BARBADOS MOLASSES A PANCAKE & WAFFLE * BLACKSTRAP SYRUPS ~ MOLASSES * SORGHUM SYRUP * CORN SYRUPS A LIQUID & DRY SUGAR A HIGH FRUCTOSE A PANCAKE & WAFFLE SYRUPS SYRUPS ■W A CANOLA OIL / I A COCONUT OIL ]l . I A CORN OIL 7