84-Lancaster Famflng, Saturday, August 12, 1995 On Being a Farm Wife (and other . hazards) , Joyce Bupp Spotlessly clean heifers and cows stand in wooden-stalled shelters, buried up to their bellies in deep piles of golden straw. In front of them are piles of leafy, green hay. One old cow, a veteran at this scene, yanks a mighty mouthful of the lush dry forage, then tosses her head to scatter bits of the hay across her shining, sleekly groomed back. Then, with a sigh, she settles her shining flanks onto the thick, fluffy bed of straw, landing one leg right smack in a small, fresh, pile of manure somehow missed on the last trip through with the fork, Meanwhile, at the nearby washrack, a leg gy, beautifully-muscled steer bellows a loud pro test at his owner’s plen tiful use of livestock soap and a pressure hose. When the hose hits his face, carefully aimed away from his ears, the steer grimaces with the look of grubby little kid whose mom has cornered him with a washrag. And, in still other barns, thick-fleeced sheep stand patiently on trimming tables, while owners fit and shape their curly coats. Over the scene echoes the loud squeal of a pig, squeaky clean from a scrubbing. Having escaped from the bath, the pig has found a bag of feed and despite his owner’s best efforts to corral him, is gobbling up chop like...well, like a hog. All over the state, all over the country, similar scenes are taking place. As summer begins to wane and harvest season looms ahead, local and regional livestock shows and fair take cen ter stage in rural communities. Fairs and shows have always been a proud rur al tradition, a chance to showcase agriculture’s best in the locale. Friendly competition and visiting with neigh bors and fellow exhibi tors is the people-side of shows and fairs that make them so much fun. And, if a little prize money is won to boot, to help defray the costs of hauling and being away, that’s a bonus. For many of us, it was never profitable—just a fun hobby. Shows offer one of the greatest learning avenues for kids that are involved. They're fun wash hoses, eat fair junk food, and sleep in your dirty clothes on a pile of hay. Where else would Mom let you get away with that? Meanwhile, kids leant to finish a job, take responsibility for them selves and their animals, practice sponsmanship and develop physi cal and “people” skills that will stay with them for a lifetime. And millions of college educations and TRI-COUNTY FARM A HOME Jarseytown Bloomaburg, PA 717-437-3440 AGWAY CURRYVILLE FARM CENTER SCHICK ENTERPRISES Routt 866, Box 93 1631 Qr | m Road ■STtSSeISt Kutztcwn, PA 814-793-2167 610-285-6819 WAYNE FEEDS 101 N. 2nd Strati Olllaburg, PA 717-432-9623 AARON GROFF ft SON 103 Claarvlaw Drive Ephrata, PA 717-354-4631 B-Z FARMS 206 Fredericks Qrovs Road Lohlghton, PA nmn. Tiunttn 717-386-4184 BTOLTZFUB FEED ft SUPPLY INC. P.O. Box 427 Gap, PA 717-442-8280 OBRMANBVILLB do Bn«i MUTLINBURO P.O. Box 86, Bate Own Rood FARM SUPPLY Gormanovllla, PA Ro^«4BE«.t 610-767-9680 M^nb^aPA 717-966-3114 See TheeeMb»F<wirt Deeleri for the beet to Enerp Fra Wettrew MOUNTAIN VIEW £ U f”L B S P^!2[ SUPPLY INC Routt 12) Box 212 Formally Shartlatvllla Farm Sarvlca 717-839-2500 RD #l, Box 139 Hamburg, PA 610-488-1025 UMBEROBRB OF FONTANA Rt. 322 In Fontana Labanon, PA 7X7-867-8161 FISHER A THOMPSON. INC. 15 Nawport Road Laola, PA 717-686-3307 the start-ups of businesses have been partially financed with win nings from livestock showing. But, over the years, many of us adults involved with shows have grown concerned over the heavy emphasis on winning that some times prevails. Too often, that emphasis is underlined by over zealous, parental involvement. A great, great majority of parents of youth exhibitors are supportive, enouraging, enthu siastic, helpful and maintain their good humor through the show sea son. There are. unfortunately, a tiny fraction of parents who want to see their kids win—almost at any cost The zeal to win—at whatever cost —was underlined at a mid west livestock show a year or two ago, when tampering with animals caused some youth exhibitors to forfeit many thousands of dollars in championship winnings. One wonders—were their parents ICKEB FARM SUPPLY looking a. other Or g« 5^“ ,M " wIJSi What’s your luHeaming in the We ve stood on both the top . •. ~ and the bottom of cattle classes. 1 w 8 y Colorful Bloom Of Summer Annuals HERSHEY (Dauphin Co.) The place to be to find beautiful summer annuals and shrubs is Hershey Gardens. While the large collection of roses are still in their bloom cycles, they step aside and let the annuals take center stage. Throughout the month of August, the gardens will be featuring these colorful annuals which include salvia, marigolds, cleome, four o’clocks, celosia, ornamental pep pers, nicodana, petunias, dahlias, heliotropes, fountain grass, lisian thus, begonias, caladiums, geran iums. vinca, cannas, zinnias, me lampodium and impadens. The Hershey Gardens was de- STAR SILOS 630 E. Lincoln Avanua Myaratown, PA 717-866-5708 Routa #1 Oatarburg, PA 814-276-3422 KNIBBLY BUILT 229 Cornflald Lana Port Matilda, PA 814-692-4110 HUBER’S ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLIES 810 TUlpahoekan Road Myaratown, PA 717-866-2246 SHADE MOUNTAIN SUPPLY RD #2,80X738 Port Royal, PA 717-436-9429 LBINBACH FARM SERVICE 1120 Rltlnor Highway Shlppanaburg, PA 717-832-5811 Stop by and Sae Tha Mirafount Watarera at AG PROGRESS DAYS we’ll be on West 4th Street MlraFount MIRACO, A DIVISION OF AHRENS AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES, INC BOX 666 GRINNELL, lOWA SOI 12 NORTHAMPTON FARM BUREAU 300 Buahkill Straat Tatamy, PA 610-288-2871 FARMER BOY AO 410 E. Lincoln Avanua Myaratown, PA 717-866-7565 McNEAL FARM SERVICE Rt. #3, Box 230 Towanda, PA 717-364-5460 DAIRYLAND SALES ft SERVICE RD #3, BOX 43 Troy, PA 717-297-4128 ROVBNDALE BARN ft AO R 0 #2. Box 210 Wataontown, PA 717-838-9864 MASON-DIXON FARM SERVICE 340 Appl* Hill Waynaaburg, PA 412-882-1147 B.M. HERR FARM ft HOME 14 Harrvllla Road Willow Straot. PA veloped when Milton S. Hershey instructed his director of horticul ture to “create a nice bed of roses.” That original 3'A plot of roses has developed into 23 acres of season al flowering displays, collections of specimen trees and shrubs, themed garden areas, and of course, our award-winning rose collection. The gardens are open daily through October 31, 9 a.m. - S p.m. Admission rates are $4.2S adults (ages 16-61); $3.75 seniors (62 and up); $2 youth (3-1 S). Family and group rates are avail able. For further information, please call (717) 534-3492. 515-236-5822 COVE FARM SUPPLY BD #l, Box 992 Martimburg, PA 814-793-4713 KEITH'S FARM A DAIRY SUPPLIES 10 E. Graan Straat Nawvllla, PA 717-776-4848 NEW YORK DEALERS KURTZ-HARRINQTON INC. 2630 Routa #2 Clnolnnatua, NY 607-863-3332 MAZOUREKFARM 106 Mazourak Road Nawllald, NY 607-864-3488 THBRINO FARM SUPPLY Routa #23 Southalda Onaonta, NY 607-432-1981 BRANDOW'S IBA RD #l, Box 264 Schanavua, NY 607-278-8712
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers