812-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 6, 1995 Now that Mel Wenger has sold his farm supply store and his faim, he puts his ener gies into helping nonprofit organizations such as Krayblll Mennonite School. He soli cits businesses to donate Winross trucks and toy tractors to be sold at the school’s annual benefit auction. Agribusinesses Donate To School’s Benefit Auction LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff MOUNT JOY (Lancaster Co.) When it comes to helping the community, agribusinesses often generously donate items, money, and talent Some of this generosity surfaced recently in preparation for the annual Kraybill Mennonite School Auction when Landis Brothers Inc., a John Deere dealer, and Mel Wenger, a retired farmer and agri business owner, pledged donations to the school’s Winross truck auc tion. The Winross truck sale is part of the annual benefit auction to be held on the schoolgrounds on May 12-13 at 598 Kraybill Church Road, Mount Joy. For many years Wenger has been in charge of contacting businesses to donate Winross trucks and toy tractors for the auction. The monies earned at the auction provide funds for the ongoing costs Phil Wlmer shows off the prototype of Lai others toon*, rest flatbed hauling two tractors —a 1928 Modal D and a 1995 modal ' This prototype Is the only one available and will go the highest bidder atihe Krayblll Mennonlte School Benefit Auction on May 12. of the school. Wenger and his wife Marian have four sons that attended the school. Now five of his 11 grand children are students at the school. “1 believe in providing good teachers and a good education with a Christian emphasis,” Wenger said of his interest in the school. In 1951, Wenger had purchased a 95-acre dairy farm in Mount Joy. After IS years, he sold the herd but retained the cropland while con centrating on managing his farm supply and animal health store, called M.W. AgriServices. About three years agd. Wenger sold his farm to a son and his business to another agri-service business. For many years, Wenger had donated shovels, forks, brooms, scrapers, boots, and numerous other items of interest to farmers to Kraybill’s Benefit Auction. Then “Winross fever” swept the agriculture community. The trucks brought high prices at auctions. Wenger saw the interest in Win- ross trucks was a way to help the school make some profit. Through trial and error, Wenger has learned that Winross trucks bring a much higher price if the quantity is limited. He had 800 trucks made with his company logo. “If I had it to do over, I wouldn’t have made so many,” Wenger said. “They sold but at lower prices. Flo rin Feeds made only 125 trucks. The demand is so intense that prices for one of those is $1,000.” A brand new .Winross truck with two tractors will be available for the first time at the Kraybill School Benefit Auction. PhQ Wimer, one of three owners for Landis Brothers, said that his company has been donating toys to the auction since 1988. This year, the business is donating a pro totype of their soon to be released Winross flatbed hauling two trac tors a 1928 Model D and a 1995 model 7800 cab tractor. (Turn to Page BIS) SEE YOUR NEARE & DEALER FOR DEPENDABLE EQUIPMENT & SERVK Annvllle. pa Honev Grove. P BHM Farm Norman D. ( Equipment, Inc. & Son, Inc. RDI, Rte. 934 Honey Grove, P 717-867-2211 Carlisle. PA New Holland. P R&W A.B.C. Groff, Equipment Co. 110 South Railrc 35 East Willow Street 717-354-4191 717-243-2686 Elizabethtown. PA QIW. PA Messick Farm C.J. Wonsi Equipment, Inc. Bros. • Rt. 283 - Rheem's Exit R.D. 2 717-367-1319 215-987-6257 Halifax. PA Sweigard Bros. R.D. 3, Box 13 717-896-3414 Honey Brook. PA Tamaaua. PA Dependable Charles S. Motor Co. Snyder, ln< East Main Street R.D. 3 215-273-3131 717-386-5945 215-273-3737 West Grove. PA S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc. R.D. 2, Box 66 215-869-2214 Frederick. MD Ceresville Ford New Hollam RL 26 East 301-662-4197 Outside MD, 800-331-9122 NEW JERSEY Bridgeton. NJ Leslie G. Fogg, Smith Tract be. Equip., Inc. Canton & Stow Creek 15 Hillcrest Ave Landing Rd. 908-689-7900 609-45J-2/27 609-935-5145 ICWHOUAN) S YLVANIA 717-734-3682 Loysville, PA 717-789-3117 Pitman. PA Schreffler Equipment Pitman, PA 717-648-1120 in. Ni Woodstown. NJ Owen Supply Broad Street & East Avenue 609-769-0308
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