‘Mystique’
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
LANSDALE (Montgomery
Co.) Fred Seipt, partner with
Freddy-Hiil Dairy Farms, makes
one observation about the thou
sands of people who visit his dairy
farm and entertainment complex
every year.
“Ice cream is entertainment,”
he said. “Ice cream is not food.”
Seipt, who operates the
135-acre Freddy-Hiil Family Fun
Center and dairy complex, has
dealt with the public long enough
to knoW.
When it comes to selecting food
to purchase, consumers are picky.
They’ll fuss over how much they’ll
spend on a gallon of milk. But on
entertainment items such as ice
cream or pumpkins or 18 holes of
miniature golf “it makes all the
difference in the world,” he said.
Consumers have a completely
different oudook on what they
spend and how much they’ll spend
for the things they need.
“I’ve always said, if you can’t
eat it, you can chaige anything.
“That’s a fact. If they have to
eat it, they have to price shop and
get all carried away about what it
costs and so forth.
‘ ‘For some pumpkin, they’ll pay
anything for it. That’s entertain
ment. It’s a whole different
psyche.”
Seipt, who built his Freddy-Hill
Family Fun dairy parlor in 1988,
said, “We’re not price-gouging
people. I think you’ll find our
prices are very reasonable, but I’m
telling you, it’s easier as far as
price-setting is concerned, and
easier to eke out a profit when it’s
entertainment than it is with food.
Food is extrememly competitive
and extremely price-conscious.”
Together with his three sons and
—«y jlpt, who helps manage the store, said there are
about 30 part-time and five full-time workers. The store,
open all year-round, said that dealing with lots of people
“always presents a big challenge.”
ew, Bill, and son-in-law Matthew, In addition to helping
operate the entertainment complex. Here, Fred, left, discus
ses planting strategies with son Matt.
Of Dairy Farm Provides Family Fun, Education
one son-in-law, Seipt manages not
only to manage a full-time dairy
farm but also a milk and ice cream
processing operation and farm
store. He also helps manage two
18-hole golf courses, a batting
cage, and a petting zoo.
And by the way—he finds time
to grow crops to continue the
operation.
Nancy Seipt, who helps manage
the store, said there are about 30
part-time and five full-time work
ers. The store, open all year-round,
said that dealing with lots of peo
ple “always presents a big
challenge.”
Fred Seipt operates his farm
right off Exit 31 of the Pa. Turn
pike, cm 63 south in Towamencin
Township. The township is home
to many commuters, because the
area is within 35 minutes of Phi
ladelphia’s International Airport
and provides access to many loca
tions in Philadelphia and
Allentown.
Seipt farms a total of 500 acres
with sons Vernon, Matthew, Bill,
and son-in-law Matthew, in addi
tion to helping operate the enter
tainment complex. They milk a
total of 100 registered Holsteins
with about the same number of
replacement stock. They also fin
ish another SO head of Holstein
steers. Latest DHIA averages are
20,784 pounds milk, 702 f, arid.
642 p.
While the dairy aspect remains
profitable, Seipt indicated there
was far more profit in the enter
tainment aspects of the farm.
“We realize how entertainment
works,” he said. “People want to
be entertained. It’s kind of
amazing.”
Twoofthe 18-hole deluxe mini
ature golf courses follow a com
plex southern-type design. One
Fred Selpt and family manage not only a dairy farm, but the two 18-hole miniature
golf courses, a batting cage, and other “entertainment” aspects of Freddy-Hill Farms.
has a theme of national paik management aspects (built in 1991 away,
locations. at a 0 f $1.2 million) said the The decision to build the enter-
The milking parlor is host to ice cream parlor, built in 1988, was tainment center was a result of see
thousands of school students every added to the milk processing cen- ing how much business the ice
year, who leant about farming, ter, which was constructed in cream parlor was attracting,
take in the miniature golf, and 1972. Almost immediately, the minia
enjoy ice cream in the parlor. Seipt a Penn State graduate, ture golf and batting boxes were
“Ice cream is far more profit- purchased the farm from his father successful,
able for us than milk,” said Seipt Wilbur in 1967. The original farm Now, Seipt is trying to imple
“lt shouldn’t be that way, but it milked 45 Guernsey cows on 98 ment a deli sandwich counter,
is.” acres. At this time, Seipt milks 100 Seipt admitted that is impossible
Seipt who said he would much head and farms about 500 acres, to compete with the large proccs
rather be out chopping hay than mostly on rented ground, some of sors near Philadelphia. As a result
taking care of the entertainment which he travels to about 6-7 miles (Turn to Pago A 29)
jgbv his three sons and one son-in-law, _ .manages not only to manage
a full-time dairy farm but also a milk and ice cream processing operation and farm
store. He also helps manage two 18-hole golf courses, a batting cage, and a petting
zoo.
Ice cream is not
load milk crates to the truck.
iment, accusing to Fred Selpt, who also helps
enterti
'A