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.