A26-L*ncaster Firming, Saturday, July 22, 1995 DHIA Board Summary Report PA DHIA Dave Slusser General Manager The PA DHIA Board of Directors met June 28 in Mars, PA. President Lane Sollenberger called the meeting to order, and Secretary Neal McCulloch called roll. The minutes of the April 25, 26 Board Meeting were approved. President Sollenberger an nounced his committee appoint ments; Finance; Dale Hoover, Chairman, Norman Hershey, John Castrogiovanni, Mark Eby, Wil liam Itle, Marian Butler. Policy; George Cudoc, Chairman, John Wilcox, Brooks Smith, John Brodzina, Frank Omer. Retire ment Trust; Neal McCulloch, Chairman, Norman Hershey. DRPC; Steve Mowry, Chairman, Ralph Gilkinson. Planning; Wil liam Jackson, Chairman, Luke Rebuck, Ralph Gilkinson, Don Duncan, Steve Mowry. Techni cian Training & Certification Advisory; Neal McCulloch, Chairman, Marian Butler. Financial Reports Ted Brown, Director of Finance and Personnel gave the financial reports for March and April and went over the preliminary budget for the 1995-96 fiscal year. After the Finance Committee reviews next year’s budget, and makes recommendations on field service pay and benefits, the committee will recommend a 1995-96 budget for approval at the August Board Meeting. Staff Reports Dean Amick reported on the very good meetings that have recently been held with the field technicians. The Technicians Advisory Committee meeting with Dean Amick, Ted Brown, Dave Slusser, David Bigelow, and Jie Region Managers met to dis :u;s problems with pay, bonus, and beneftis and discuss solutions. IT.e meeting was positive and pro iuCtive. Also, the Technicians Summer Conference was the most positive and productive in PA 3HIA history. Technicians received training and inspiration in marketing and sales. All field Technicians are meeting bi monthly with their Region Mana gers for additional training. Dixie Burris reported that the “Focus” distribution in the farm reports will begin next week and that news releases and advertising are occurring in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, West Virginia and Maryland. The PA DHIA Booth manned by staff has appeared at the National Holstein Convention, and will appear at Ag Progress Days. She also attended the Summer Technician Confer ence, Agri Forum and PA Dairy Futures Committee. Jim Boyer gave the DRPC divi sion report. Jim attended the Sum mer Technicians Conference where he led a panel discussion on Laptop computer use. The panel was made up of Held technicians and was a productive part of the conference. Jim also reported that Randy Mayes was moved from Field Technician to Help Desk. Jim is developing an update to Dairy Plan for the Technician’s computers. He stated the results of the Veterinarian and Nutritionist Conferences favored MUN test ing. Calf identification from the Jersey Cattle Club was being worked on and progress is being made in PC processing, billing, ind payroll. Teid Brown reported that Pen non fund investments were up and on allowing our employees to join i credit union. Dave Slusser asked for a uni brm recognition program for this all’s local annual meetings. He suggested the following as recom mendations by staff for all coun ies; Herd Certificates for 500 lbs, md higher in fat and protein, Cow Certificates for lifetime produc ion of 100,000 lbs. and 25,000 bs. increments for milk or 4,000 bs. of fat or protein and 1,000 lbs. ncremcnts. Rolling Herd Average ibbons foi protein only, certifi ■atcs i.i Herd Management Award n the county for 20 or more offi ;ial herds enrolled will be recog nized for first three positions with 10 tests for the most recent cow yeru and have at least 10 cow ye<r?. Rolling Herd Average Cer- i f . ales for high protein herd and Lowest SCC herd. (All informa tion available from start of the cow testing year (October 1) to the end (September 30) will be used). State would also print programs upon request, and that no plaques or trophies be provided by State. The Local Annual Meeting Rec ognition Program sponsored by the State will be reviewed by the Planning Committee and a recom mendation will be made at the State Board meeting in August. The policy on members and non-members using the DHIA trucks to transport soil and masti tis samples was reviewed. The policy manual update has been completed, copies will be updated by next board meeting. MUN Testing The board voted to lease a Foss 4000 machine for the purpose of testing our members Milk for Milk Urea Nitrogen (MUN). Industry Talks Dave Slusser reported on talks iiat he had with Dairy Industry Leaders, and with Russell C. Red ding, Deputy Secretary of Market ng. Promotion and Program Ser vices of the Pennsylvania Depart nent of Agriculture. The center of .he discussion concerned the 'uture of PA dairy farms and what hese farmers as well as their farm erganizations have to do to cope. The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m. Pa.DHIA DAVID BIGELOW Training Coordinator STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.) The Pennsylvania Dairy Herd Improvement Association is proud to present three of its techni cians who serve on the associa tion’s Technician Advisory Committee. The 10-member committee is instrumental in making sugges tions and helping Pa.DHIA set policy. Bob Edwards, an Indiana Coun ty resident, said he enjoys working for Pa.DHIA. Bom and raised in the county, he decided to stay and work there. Currently he is responsible for matinaining a circuit of 47 herds, which consists of 2,300 cows, in Indiana and parts of Westmoreland counties. A graduate of Marion Center High School, Edwards has experi ence working with his father, a contractor. Part of their work included building pole bams for Agway. Edwards also had the opportunity to work for Agway in Marion center as a laborer. Having an interest in agricul ture, he was a member of his local FFA chapter, serving as president, and also as a county officer. Cur rently, he serves as a Cub Scout den leader. He is also a member of Marion Center Presbyterian Church. In addition to serving on the Technician Advisory Committee, he is also a senior technician. Being a senior technician involves promotion, training and substituting for those on vacations or off work for illness. Edwards also completed the Westfalia Training School and has the training to teach other techni cians how to tailor-make dairy men’s same-day test reports. Nancy Dana, of Utica, Pa., has been able to use her experience from many years working in vari ous aspects of agriculture in her duties serving 41 herds in Mercer, Venango, and Crawford counties. There are 2,500 cows in her circuit. Also a senior technician, and a graduate of the Westfalia Dairy Plan Training Seminar, she said that she enjoys working for Pa.DHIA because of the dairy far mers with whom she works. She said it is important to keep them first in mind at all times. Dana said that today’s DHIA world needs cooperation. Pa. Ayrshire Association CONNOQUENESSING (But ler Co.) Homestead Acres Ayr shires, owned by Harold and Bar bara Rader and family in Conno quenissing, Butler County, is serving as host of the 1995 Pen nsylvania Ayrshire Held Day, set to be held 9:30 a.m., July 29. The family affair event is to include dairy judging for juniors, women and men, with prizes awarded in all three groups; while that is ongoing, dairy princess are to oversee children’s activities such as a coloring contest, playing in a sawdust pile, playing hide-n -seek, etc. At 11:30 a.m., an “Anything Goes Auction” is set to be held with proceeds going to support the 1997 National Ayrshire Youth Convention, which the Pa. Ayr shire Youth are to serve as host Any type of item is needed and Introduces Technicians Bob Edwards A graduate of Franklin High School, she has a business degree from Clarion University of Pen nsylvania and has participated in the Dale Carnegie Course. She currently serves as a 4-H leader for the Venango County Livestock Club and just finished a term of office on the county exten sion board. Her past work experience includes working for Talong Divi sion of Textron, where she worked in the computer department for two years. She also worked for American Breeders Service for 12 yean serving as a genetic mating specialist for 10 yean and a district representative for two. During her employment she was named the 1989 ABS top evaluator in the Northeast, an award based on accuracy. She was also named a runner-up district representative of the year. She and her husband Gale have a daughter Heather. Nancy said she and her daughter enjoy show ing sheep at the county 4-H lives tock show. Carol Spatz, of Hamburg, has a 40-herd circuit with 2,400 cows in Berks County that keeps her busy. Raised on a dairy farm in Berks County, she has been a technician for IS years and has served as a senior technician. She is a graduate of Hambuig To Hold Field Day would be appreciated. Everyone is encouraged to bring something to contribute toward the youth fund raising event At noon, a pig roast is to com mence, followed by a short busi ness meeting and awards presenta tion for the adults, while the youth may participate in a “Junior Olympics” designed to test their skills at identifying feeds com bined with other games. Entertainment is to be provided by Cindy Speck, a ventriloquist with puppets from Zelienople. Commercial displays, exhibi tion booths, homemade handi- Carol Spatz Area High School and began test ing forPa.DHIA the same year she finished high school. She is an active member of Saint Michael’s Church in Hamburg were she serves as a council person and helps with church activities. Included in some of her career accomplishments is receiving the Merti Award several times. Feel free to contact Pa.DHIA at 1-800-344-8378, if we can assist you in your dairy operation. crafts and door prizes also arc planned. The Homestead Acres family includes Harold and Barbara Rad er and their children, Elaina, John, Sharon. Jr. and Louanne, Lona and Steve Peters, and the Rader’s parents, Clinton and Evelyn Rader. The farm is located at 114 Con noquenessing School Road, off of Rt.6B about halfway between the towns of Buder and Evans City. At a brick schoolhouse, turn east onto Connoquenessing School Road, and the farm is lsss than a mile. Watch for signs. For more infor mation, call (412) 789-7413. hbalth kkx Nancy Dana m 'ooo*^oo*^
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers