A3O-Lancas*r Famrino, Saturday, Junt 10,1995 Maryland, RESIGN, Vi—Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Coopera tive Association recently sponsor ed its annual Young Cooperator Program in College Park. Mary land at the Holiday Inn. The As sociation served as host to 12 Young Cooperator participants from across its membership area. They are listed here in alphabeti cal order John S. Burket, East Freedom, Pa.; Gary M. and Crystal A. Dell, Westminster, Md.; William D. and Anne L. French, Maurertown, Va.; Dale N. and Diane R. Leh man, Chambersburg, Pa.; Wade D. Louthfen, Rippon, W. Va.; Mel vin G. and Barbara L. Marks, Air ville. Pa.; Danny C. Moser, Mid dletown, Md.; John M. and Susan W. Myers, Union Bridge, Md.; Thurman E. Nesbitt 111, McCon nellsburg. Pa.; James J. and Terrie S. Stup, Walkersville, Md.; Paul E. and Carla E. Witter, Shippens burg, Pa.; and Mark E. and Lois Yoder, Imler, Pa. Maryland and Virginia’s Pro gram is held in conjunction with a similar program sponsored by At lantic Dairy Cooperative, South ampton, Pennsylvania under the umbrella organization of the Pennmarva Dairymen’s Federa tion. The Association’s program is open to anyone affiliated with any of its member farms between the ages of 21 and 35. Each applicant in the Associa tion’s program is asked to fill out a four-page application which de tails personal data about the appli cant’s fanning information about their individual dairy operation and an essay on “Cooperative Marketing of Milk.” At the program each applicant is interviewed by the Associa tion’s panel of judges for a period of 13 minutes and is then given an opportunity to answer one ques tion, after a Roundtable Discus sion, pertaining to current dairy is sues before staff, directors, judges and other guests of the Associa tion. Each applicant is then scored based on information given in the application, the interview, and the applicant’s response during the question and answer session for a possible 100 points. The degree of progress in the applicant’s career through individual initiative and resourcefulness is given 40 points; their cooperative knowledge, un derstanding and belief is given 20 points, the informal interview per iod with the judges is given IS points; the formal Question and Answer Session before judges and guests is given IS points; and the significance of contributions made to the well being of the com munity as in individual through leadership in various organiza tions is given 10 points. A total of four couples was se lected to represent the Association at various local and national pro grams in the coming year, they are as follows: Melvin G. and Barbara L. Marks - Outstanding Young Co operator 1995-96; John M. and Susan W> Myers - First Runner Up; John Burket - Second Runner Up; and Dale N. and Diane R. Lehman - Third Runner Up. The Markses will represent Maryland and Virginia at the Na-' tional Institute on Cooperative Education (NICE) Conference to be held in Minneapolis, Minne sota, July 31 thru August 3, and at tend the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Annual Meet ing in'Nashville, Tennessee, No vember, 27-30. At the NMPF Virginia Milk Producers Honor Young Cooperators Meeting the Markses will be at tending the Young Cooperator portion of the program and have an opportunity to be selected to serve on its Young Cooperator Advisory Committee. They will also be given an opportunity to at tend the Association’s Board of Directors meetings for the next 12 months, and be members of its Young Cooperator Committee. The Myers’ and John Burket will also have an opportunity to at tend the NICE Conference in Min neapolis, Minnesota and will at tend the May Young Cooperator Committee Meeting at our Reston Office to help critique the Asso ciation’s Young Cooperator Pro gram. The Lehmans will serve as an alternate in case one of the other couples cannot fulfill its ob ligations. The judges for this year’s pro gram were Hershel Gardner, a dairy farmer from Mt. Solon, Vir ginia; Jan Stanton, Executive Director, Dairy Council. Inc. in Southampton, Pennsylvania: John Thompson, a retired vocational agriculture and industrial teacher and a school administrator from Frederick, Maryland. Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers is a Cooperative with a membership of approximately 1,200 farms in the states of Dela ware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia mar keting approximately two billion pounds of milk per year. Profiles of the winners are as follows: Melvin G. and Barbara L. Marks Melvin and Barbara live in Air ville, Pennsylvania with their three children, Erin age 11, Nicole age 9, and Trisha age 7. The Markses are the owners and operators of their dairy operation. Their farm consists of 80 acres of which SO are in alfalfa and 30 in improved pasture. Their milking herd consists of S 3 registered Hol stein cows, 35 heifers, and 21 calves. Their DHIA tolling herd average is 17,069 pounds of milk, 634 pounds of fat, and 566 pounds of protein. When asked what their future goals for their dairy operation would be the Markses replied, “We would like to continue to use and improve our rotational graz ing, while maintaining milk pro duction, and use the least purchas ed feed as possible.” When asked about their ideas on “Cooperative Marketing of Milk,” the Maikses replied, “We believe that marketing milk through a cooperative is truly the most practical way to distribute milk. We know that our coopera tive is run by farmers, for farmers, which means that the cooperative will always be looking out for our best interest.” The Markses are members of Sire Power, Atlantic Breeders Co operative, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania and Nation al Forage and Grassland Council, York County Holstein Club, Pennsylvania and National Hol stein Association, and the York County DHIA. They are active in many 4-H and FFA activities. Melvin and Barbara belong to Chanceford Presbyterian Church and Sunday School, where they are both Sunday School teachers. John'M. and Susan W. Myers John and Susan live in Union Bridge. Maryland with their two children Jenna age 5 and Nikki al most 4 years old. They are share Owners with John’s father and farm 350 acres of which JOS acres Winners of the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association young cooperator awards are from left, Melvin and Barbara Marks; John and Susan Myers; John Burket; and Dale and Diane Lehman. ate in com, 65 acres are in soy beans, 40 acres are in alfalfa, 18 acres in barley, IS acres in timo thy and the remaining is pasture. They have Holstein cows of which 80 percent are registered and they have a rolling herd average of 21,035 pounds of milk, 767 pounds of fat and 654 pounds of protein. When asked what their future goals for their dairy operation would be the Myerses replied, “Survival is the first, foremost and most realistic goal. Our dream is to build another loafing bam for cows, a heifer bam and a parlor over the six to eight years. This would double our herd and make us more labor efficient.” , When asked about their ideas on “Cooperative Marketing of Milk” Myers replied, “We all play equally important roles in the suc cess of our association. We, as producers, have the responsibility of shipping the highest quality milk possible. The field reps, and quality control people assist us to do so. Traffic control makes sure the milk gets hauled where needed and the processing plants effi ciently process it for the consum er. Our board of directors, man agement staff and office personnel make decisions and handle the business of the cooperative. GATT and NAFTA will slowly change and expand our business into the global market. We think the combination of our new gener al manager, Mr. Walgrove, diplo macy skills and the sound busi ness sense of our Board puts MD VA in an excellent position to aggressively meet the future.” The Myerses are involved in the Southern States Cooperative, Pro gressive Farms Clubs, DHIA, Farm Bureau, Farm Bureau of Women and the Carroll County Holstein Club. Their family at tends the Lindwood Brethren Church. John S. Burket John lives in East Freedom, Pennsylvania where he is involved in the family dairy operation. John’s primary responsibility is herdsman, however he works in all areas of their dairy. Their farm consists of 300 acres of which 115 are in com, 120 are in alfalfa and 65 are in other crops. The dairy herd consists of Holstein of which 105 are milking cd'ws, 110 heifers and 30 calves. They average 21,368. pounds of milk, 844 pounds of fat and 693 pounds of protein. cows are divided by 52 milking When asked about his future S? w . s ’ T^r * 1 16^ 8 } calves, goals, John responded that his per- ? fflA rolling herd averages sonal goal is to contribute to 19,061 pounds of milk, 709 breeding and develop outstanding pounds of fat and 615 pounds of polled Holsteins. pn ?!^ n ’ , . . . . , When asked about the “Co- When asked what their future operative Marketing of Milk” goals lor their dairy operation John replied, “I believe the Co-ops * e Jf^ ans rephed l can take an aggressive role in mar- “Producing 1,000.0)0 pounds of keting, qualify control, legislation m,lk H" ™ n ; conUn “ e *° and control the supply-demand otir cows for longevity, to obtain scenario in order for us to receive premium bonus each month the best price for our product.” mB,n l uun 8 S 0 0? "? ont sJ ierd John is a member of the Blair ‘ he ck increase herd nunibers to Co. Holstein Club. Pennsylvania ’S' l ? ° vcr ncxt Holstein Association. Holstein •*. “if 1 / ora 8 es karvested at Association of America. Penn highest quality State Dairy Science Club. Penn ™L en askcd aboBt ldeas . State Dairy Judging Team, Youth “ TW , f ve Ma * CU "? ° f Representative to Blair County We Extension Service. Board Member skould work hand “i hand. Pro- Claysburg-Kimmel School Dis- ducers sh °. u,d w ° rk on £ oduc i! ,g ® a top quality product and the Co- Morrisons Cove 4-H Dairy Club. mA .™ * rk ®J Ing 1 ng Portage Blue Lodge No. 220, F. & A.M., Jaffa Temple of Altoona markets - A ® and attends the Grace United “* e Church of Christ John holds of- /H 0- ficeswitiimanyoftiieseorganiza- of Da ' eN * •; d D f“ R - U c t n Charter, Franklin Dale and Dane live in Cham- d Frank]in Cou nty Junio r bersbiu'gJPennsylvania with their Holstein C l ub Advisor. PFB Ad nvo children. Kendra age 5 and visor Council> Franklin County Spencer age 4. They were both Societ of Fann Women and raised mdairymg and chose farm- Men J Haven Auxiliary . mg after they named. Their farm ta held various officc / in consists of 150 acres of which 30 -tk-., r*, arc in com, 25 in alfalfa and 95 in .. V. , . fjT ~ • Street Mennomte Church were other crops. Their herd of Holstein Sunday School . Pa. Farm Link To Hold Workshop LEESPORT (Berks Co.) Hoping to reverse the decline in family farming in Pennsylvania and in turn contribute to the revi talization of our rural communi ties, the Pennsylvania Farm Link program is sponsoring a Begin ning and Retiring Farmer Work shop at the Berks County Ag Cen ter on Thursday, June 29. The regional workshop, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., will address farm transfer issues, business planning, farm loan resources, marketing ideas, startup strategies, goal net ting, communication skflls. and al ternative agriculture. According to Farm Link Coor dinator Marian Bowlan, in spite of the decline in family, farms in Pennsylvania and the obstacles that deter all but the roost devoted, many Pennsylvania's are looking for ways to get into Tanning. Participating agencies and indi viduals include Pennsylvania Farm Link, Penn State Coopera tive Extension, Keystone Farm Credit, Berks County Rural Eco nomic and Community Develop ment Service (formerly Farmers Home Administration), and a pan el of local farmers. The Ag Center is located on County Road, just off Route 83, north of the Reading Airport There is no cost to attend; how ever, pre-registration is necessary. Please call the Farm Link program at (800) 9PA-FARM by Monday, June 26, to make your reserva tions. Pennsylvania Farm Link is a component of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a research and poli cy development agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
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