Flying Farmers Combine Love
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
MARIETTA (Lancaster Co.)
Flying and fanning may seem like
opposite occupations, but for 375
people who attended the Interna
tional Flying Farmers Convention
held in Reading last week, the
combination reflects their love for
flight and farm.
The Vogt family of Marietta are
typical members of the Flying
Farmers.
Their day-to-day job is con
nected to the earth, but they take to
the skies in their Cessna 182 for
mini-trips and for a moonlighting
job.
Keith and Kathy Vogt operate
R. K. Vogt Grain on their Dizzy V
Ranch in Marietta.
“Stay around here long enough
and you’ll know why it’s called
Dizzy V Ranch,” said the Vogt’s
18-year-old daughter Becky.
The phone rings constantly. If it
isn’t for the grain business or the
Vogt Farm Bed & Breakfast, it’s
for Becky or her teen-age sister.
“Flying Farmers is a family
organization,” Kathy said. It was
founded in 1944 by Oklahoma far
mers who recognized the growing
interest in airplanes among
farmers.
“You can’t take long vacations
when you’re in farming. An air-
I s
£l*
%
Becky, right, and her mom talk about their Involvement
with Flying Farmers while relaxing on the flagstone patio of
the Vogt Farm Bed & Breakfast In Marietta.
///,»• /'
** *
It’s seldom that a member of the Vogt family has time to sit and enjoy the beauty of
the farm, which Is named Dizzy V Farm. Becky said, “if you sit around for awhile, you’ll
soon know why this place Is called Dizzy V.”
plane allows farmers to take day
and weekend trips,” Kathy said of
the reason farmers opt to fly
planes.
Flying Farmers started with 38
charter members in Oklahoma.
Farmers in other states soon
became interested and within two
years, 262 farmer-pilots from 16
states attended the first convention.
The organization grew rapidly
until it reached its height with
almost 11,000 members in 1977.
Today, a struggling farm eco
nomy is reflected in the dwindling
membership. There are 5,000
members in 35 chapters across the
United States and Canada.
“Farmers have a tough time
affording a plane with commodity
pices so low,” Kathy said.
But the farmers who manage to
combine farming and flying are an
enthusiastic bunch.
“The organization is very family
oriented,” Kathy said. The conven
tion contained lots of children and
youth activities.
In fact, Becky, who is Pennsyl
vania’s Farmerette for Flying Far
mers, took first place in die youth
talent competition.
Becky sang, “Love in Any Lan
guage,” and accompanied herself
on the piano.
As the state Farmerette, Becky
also competed for the international
P
farmerette title.
“I wanted to be a farmerette ever
since my sister Michele won the
title,” Becky said. “It’s like having
our own little Miss America
thing.”
As the state farmerette, Becky
travels to meetings to represent
Flying Farmers.
Becky is a senior at Donegal
High School where music plays a
key part in her life. She is a mem
ber of marching, concert, and jazz
bands. She plays the hom, mella
phone, and piano. She also is a
member of the chorus and the
rhythm singers, and she sings and
dances in several school musicals
and shows.
She also is baseball manager, a
member of the National Honor
Society, and active in the youth
group at Calvary Bible Church.
This summer, Becky is working at
K-Mart and helps her dad with
computer and secretarial work for
the grain business.
Her enthusiasm for Flying Far
mers is not limited to talking. Her
goal is to become a pilot
Her father became interested in
flying 21 years ago when he
accompanied a friend who flew a
small plane. Six months later,
Keith attained his visual flight
license and the next year, his
instrument rating.
Kathy said that she learned to
land a plane and can pilot it except
that she refuses to solo. "In an airp
lane, I can’t pull to the side of the
road until I gain a sense of
direction.”
But Kathy has played numerous
active roles in the Flying Farmer’s
Association. In it, she was a previ
ous state queen and was named
Pennsylvania Women of the Year.
Keith’s primary purpose in
attaining his pilot license was the
opportunity flying allowed the
family to take day trips that would
required overnight stays if taken by
car.
His grain business that he began
on the farm started with hauling
grain by truck. It has now
expanded to include storage and
drying facilities. Harvesting
months require long hours around
the clock, but during the winter
months. Keith has some time to
pilot for a local embryo transplant
company.
Kathy said the bed and breakfast
business sort of evolved from her
love of having visitors on the farm.
When she wanted to earn some
(Turn to Page B 4)
, 9 -y eith Vogt barely takes
time to sleep. He operates a grain business, flies an airplane
for pleasure, and is a company pilot for a nearby embryo
transplant business. The annual convention of the Interna
tional Flying Farmers Is always a high point In his life. This
year, he was so busy with his grain business that he found
little time to attend sessions at the convention held In
Reading.
Homestead
NOTES
International Flying
Farmers Select
Representatives
READING (Berks Co.) —For the first time since 1985, the Interna
tional Flying Farmers organization held their annual convention in the
eastern part of the United States last week.
For the first time ever. Flying Farmers elected a woman to hold a
position on the international board of directors.
Aileen Homan from Centre County is the secretary of the-interna
tional organization. It is a five-year commitment that will result in her
moving through the ranks and eventually become the president of the
organization.
The Holmans have been members of the organization since 1952
when Aileen’s husband Elwood purchased a plane. The Holmans own
a 300-acre farm about eight miles west of Penn State University.
“Both flying and fanning has changed for us over that time span,”
Aileen said.
The Holmans are now retired and their son crop farms the land with
some help from Elwood. Over the years the Holmans have owned sev
eral larger-size planes that they used to fly across the country, but now
they settled on a J 3 Cub, which they use mostly for pleasure flying in
the area.
“At one time, it was much cheaper to learn to fly and the upkeep of a
plane wasn’t as great,” Aileen said. “It’s also more expensive and time
consuming to farm. Consequently it’s difficult for young farmers to
fly.
“Membership is mostly older couples but I’d like to see younger
couples able to participate,” Aileen said.
Aileen has held every state office in the Pennsylvania Flying Far
mers Chapter during her 50 year involvement. She has been the Pen
nsylvania Queen for the organization three times.
Being the first woman elected to a position is nothing new to Aileen
who was also the first woman president of the Pennsylvania chapter
and of Ag Land Preservation in Centre County and of the Centre Coun
ty Waste Authority. She has been one of three woman to become
supervisor for Ferguston Township. She is or has served on the boards
of Food Bank, League of Cities, Garden Club, and other organizations
in addition to being active in the local Church of Christ.
“I’m so happy to serve in this capacity,” Aileen said of the job that
will required her flying to many different states during the next five
years.
In other business, Kelly Jennings from lowa was selected as the
International Farmerette.
The adult counterpart is Queen Naomi Wallman from Kansas.
Assisting her is the International Dutchess Sharon Johanings from
Ohio.
Another Pennsylvanian, Matthew Zimmerman, was the first-place
winner in the junior .talent contest.
In addition to chapter meetings held in 35 states, the international
convention is held each year in a different state. The convention date
alternates annually between July and August
Those interested in knowing more about the Flying Farmers should
contact a member or the Holmans at (814) 237-7510.