AKttM&IM' SlfuMay, OdAW 14, 1995
OPINION
/ considered at great tenth what my purpose could be and
should be for this column. The purpose of this column is to pro
vide readers of Lancaster Farming with various perspectives,
mine and those of others, that may influence the manner in
which we conduct livestockshows,particularly junior livestock
shows. Topics will range from ethical considerations, securing
a judge, and weight limits, to fitting practices, uniform rules,
and technical resources. / will strive to provide balance in both
positive and negative commentary on issues, and will graciously
welcome responsible comment and ideas forfuture articles. The
‘bottom-line’ will be to accentuate the positive, and to mention
the negative with hopes of changing it for the better.
Whether we realize it or not, those of us directly and indirect
ly involved with junior livestock projects have an awesome
responsibility! We have instituted programs youth livestock
projects, that Coster responsibility, care, motivation, competilve
spirit, social and life skills, and honesty. But there are a few
members ol society, both within and without livestock circles,
who will rum these activities for the majority if we allow certain
practices to continue, and to be readily accepted as the “norm.”
Dunng the last three years, livestock producers have received
considerably more unfavorable press than favorable attention
from the media. This will probably not change in the near future,
as general livestock management practices come under closer
scrutiny by American citizens. We owe it to ourselves and to our
children to see that youth livestock programs serve future gener
ations in a more.positive way than they served us.
To this end, I have reprinted with permission an article entitle,
“Learning By Example,” written by Larry Mrozinski that was
reprinted in Seedslock Edge (August, 1995) by Darrel Ander
son, CEO of the National Swine Registry. Larry is a purebred
sheep breeder from Minnesota, judges sheep shows nationally,
and has served as a contest official at the National Senior Col
lege Livestock Judging Contest.
The message is clear. The species terminology is not impor
tant. This article clearly defines “the scope and magnitude of
some of our responsibilities” to youth and their junior livestock
projects
When Tommy was 8 years old,
his lather registered a lamb bom December 24 as being bom on
January 2
His lather said to Tommy, “It’s O.K. kids, everybody does it.”
When Tommy was 9 years old.
his father bred the family’s flock of purebred ewes with a ram of
another breed and registered the lambs as purebreds.
His lather said to Tommy, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”
When Tommy was 10 years old,
his 4-H leader and county agent lagged and weighed newly pur
chased lambs a month after the ownership deadline.
They both said to hime, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”
When Tommy was 11 years old,
his parents bought him a registered ewe lamb to show at a county
fair and changed the ear tag to their own flock tag.
His parents said, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”
When Tommy was 12 years old,
his grandparents bought him a show lamb and left it with the
breeder who fed and fit the lamb until the day before the county
fair.
The breeder and his grandparents said. “It’s O.K. kid. every
body docs it.”
When Tommy was 13 years old,
his veterinarian issued health papers for sheep he never
inspected and that had fool rot and lamb fungus.
He said, "It’s O.K. kid. everybody does it.”
When Tommy was 14 years old,
his neighbor used an electric animal prod on his lambs to get
them to brace
He told Tommy, “It’s O.K. kid. everybody does it.”
When Tommy was 15 years old,
and after winning the Grand Champion Lamb at the county fair,
he saw his Dad having a beer with the judge and paying the
judge $2OO for making his son’s lamb Champion.
The judge and his father said, “It’s O.K. kid. everybody does it.”
When Tommy was 16 years old,
his FFA advisor falsified the numbers on Tommy’s winning
sheep proficiency award entry.
His advisor said. “It’s O.K. kid. everybody does it.”
(Continued from Pago A 1)
When Tommy was 17 years old,
* his unde used Lasixon his market lamb at the state fairto make
it weigh into a lighter class.
The uncle told Tommy, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”
When Tommy was 18 years old,
his older brother pumped the loin of his lamb at a national sheep
show.
His brother said, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”
When Tommy was 19 years old,
his entire family was aware of the clenbuterol being given to his
market lambs.
told him. “It’s O.K. kid, everybody docs it”
Ivhbn tommy was 26 yews old.
a friend offered him some cocaine
His friend said. “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”
When Tommy was arrested later that night for using cocaine
and called his family to ask them to bail him out of jail, they told
him, “How could you have brought such disgrace to your fami
ly, you never learned any of this at home, where did you go
wrong?” After hearing of his arrest. Tommy’s 4-H leader, FFA
advisor, county agent, grandparents, uncle, veterinarian and
neighbors \yere also shocked.
If there is one thing the adult world can’t stand, it’s a kid that
breaks the rules...
“Learning By Example” by Larry Mrozinski
The first step to ensuring the continuation of the variety of
positive experiences that have benefited numerous of us previ
ously is to pul an end to the practices of a few who would adhere
to the aforementioned philosophy.
We all know that, “It’s not 0.K!,” and. “Not everybody does
it!”
But if just one person does it, “It’s not O.K!"
r —j
BY LAWRENCE W ALT HOUSE
■lf I
' mmm
CHANGING THE
LEOPARD’S SPOTS
October 15, 1995
Background Scripture:
Acts 9:1-31
Devotional Reading:
Matthew 4:17-22
Last week one evening I
watched an episode of “Under
Suspicion,” a current television
senes. In this particular episode
there was a pnest who was sus
pect in a murder case, largely
because, before becoming a
pnest, he had been convicted of
manslaughter.
At one point, the detective asks
her supenor officer if he believes
that people can change and he
cynically replies that, in his expe
nence, criminals do not change.
At the end the pnest is proven
innocent and the detective is con
fronted with the evidence that,
here at least, was one person who
could and did change-for the bet
ter.
This story captured my interest
because it is a very timely con
cern. Lots of people today share
the conviction that people don’t
change for the better. In the
Sunday newspaper was an article
about a social worker who said
that ex-convicts are caught on the
horns of a dilemma When
prospective employers ask them
whether they have a police record,
if they respond truthfully, they are
not likely to get the job. If they he
and arc found out, they will be
dismissed. Yet, if ex-cons are ever
to “go straight,” they need to be
able to get jobs.
THE “BAD GUYS”
The problem is that many of us
think that people either cannot
change for the good, or are not
likely to do so. I will acknowl
edge that there are many who do
not change, but may that not be
because our society reinforces
their belief that they are con
demned to be criminals. If they
try to make something of their
lives we may refuse to give them
the chance to be the better selves
that God created them to be.
sn
Perhaps that is the problem right
there; maybe we do not believe
that God created them to be any
thing more than what they have
been. Lots of people believe that
die world can be divided into the
“good guys” and the “bad guys”
and that both are bom to be the
way they are
If that were true, then Paul's
conversion on the Damascus road
could not have taken place. For,
up to that moment, Saul was
clearly one of the “bad guys” He
had not only been a guilty
bystander at the tragic murder of
Stephen, he had become the early
church’s greatest nemesis,
“breathing threats and murder
against the disciples of the Lord”
and zealously dragging bound
Christians off to Jerusalem to face
persecution.
THE SAME BUT
DIFFERENT
We cannot blame the early
Christians for being frightened of
this man. Instructed by the Lord
to go to Saul and heal him,
Ananias had good reason to
protest; “Lord, I have heard from
many about this man, how much
evil he has done to die saints in
Jerusalem...” (9:13). And, after
the converted Saul has become
Paul and begins preaching in the
synagogues of Damascus, we can
understand why the Christians
there ask, “Is not this the man
who made havoc in Jerusalem of
those who called on his (Jesus’)
name?” (8:21).
The answer to these protests is
both “yes” and “no.” Yes, this is
the same man, but no it is not Yes,
this man was a zealous persecutor
of Christians, but he has changed
from a persecutor to an apostle.
Why? Because the Lord has cre
ated him for another purpose. As
God said to Ananias, "Go, for he
is a chosen instrument of mine to
carry my name before the
Gentiles and kings and the sons
of Israel” (9:15).
Each of us God has created as a
chosen instrument, when we per
mit him to do so, he can change
us to accomplish that purpose.
The leopard cannot change his
spots, but God can!
Copies of the premium list for
the 1996 Pennsylvania State Farm
Show have arrived at your local
cooperative extension office.
The premium list provides
information on all the classes and
competitions at the 1996 show. It
has all the rules, entry forms, and
closing dates for entries.
Many of the classes have a Nov.
2 closing date while others have
Oct 28, December 2, IS and Jan.
4-6 closing dates.
In addition, tentative schedule
of events is provided.
The 1996 Farm Show will be
held January 6-11.
Cover crops have many uses and
advantages. Cover crops can help
supplement the production of the
farm by providing additional feed
for livestock in fall, winter or
spring as pasture. They may also
be harvested as silage in the spring.
Other major advantages of cov
er crops include protection of soil
from erosion during the winter,
capturing unused nitrogen in the
soil profile, adding organic matter
to the soil, and improving soil tilth.
Also, cover crops minimize nutri
ent losses from winter spreading of
manure.
Many plants may be used as
cover crops, but the most popular
are winter grains. Spring oats sow
ed in the fall are an excellent cover
crop that does not need to be killed
with a pesticide next spring. If far
mers have land which will be bare
during the winter, they should con
sider the many advantages that
cover crops offer.
Is it time to rotate the alfalfa
field to another crop? Now is the
time to start making that
determination.
Start in the fall by counting the
number of plants per square foot.
Fields with 4 to 5 plants per square
foot Should be considered as good
potentials for rotation next spring.
However, knowing the number
of plants per square foot may not
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
Published Every Saturday •
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A SMnman Enurprita
Robert Q.Campbei General Manager
Everett R.Nawawnngar Managing EdNar
Copyright IMS by LmoaM* Farming
To Pick Up
Farm Show
Information
To Plant
Cover Crops
To Consider
Rotating Alfalfa
Fields
(Turn to Page A3l)
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IE. Main St
Ephrata, PA 17522
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