A24-Lancasler Farmtog, Saturday, November 18, 1995 Farm Bureau Holds (Contlniwd from Pag* At) honor members who made signif icant contributions to the advance ment of PFB’s efforts to support farmers. Roger Madigan, with the state’s 23rd District, is “a conservation- ist, an avid sportsman, and a far mer.” said PFB president keith Eckel in presenting the award. “Roger Madigan is also a legisla tor who has used his knowledge and love of agriculture to work for the betterment and preservation of agriculture in Pennsylvania.” Madigan was cited for his role in the enactment and strengthening of the Pennsylvania Milk Producers Security Fund in the early 1980 s, according to a PFB. The milk dealer-supported fund protects dairy farmers financially in the event of a dealer bankruptcy. Up until the law was enacted, several dealers had gone out of business, owing millions of dollars to dairy producers who shipped their milk to them. Madigan, who grew up on a farm in Bradford County, was a key supporter of the state farmland preservation and the Clean and Green laws. In addition, he helped introduce S.B. 805, the Private Property Protection Act. This legislation requires government agencies to act more responsibly when promoting legislation affect ing private property. Also at the banquet, Harold M. Shaulis, Jr., Somerset, retired PFB state board member from DisL 11, was honored with a special recog nition award for his service to PFB from 1987-1995. He said serving Winning first place for their efforts in promoting member ship In PFB was the Berks County Farm Bureau, repre sented by Ed Hartman, Reading, president, left. Presenting the award Is PFB President Keith Eckel. Coraana Mayar, Loganton, left, won tha discuMlon moot contact, which chalking ad alght young mambara to adva problama affecting agriculture. At right la PFB President Keith Eckel. PFB “has been an education. Money can’t buy the education that serving on this board of direc tors provides you. You have the opportunity to go places, meet people, (and) learn things constantly.” _ In addition, several county Farm Bureau organizations were hon ored. Winning first place for their efforts in promoting PFB was the Berks County Farm Bureau and the bureau’s 1,528 families, repre sented by Edward Hartman, Read ing, president Berks County won the All Star Award for top county. They also won individual program awards for outstanding women’s committee, state legislative, national legislative, policy deve lopment contract services, and ag commodity programs. Second place went to Jane Bal mer. Mount Joy, president of the Lancaster County Farm Bureau, and third place went to Charles Benner, Middleburg, president of the Snyder County Farm Bureau. Earlier in die day, a young cou ple was selected to receive the PFB Outstanding Young Farmer Award. The award was presented to Timothy and Denise Wetzel, who operate a 262-acre dairy farm and milk 80 cows in Middleburg. Since they began farming full time, the Wetzels have made improvements to their bam and renovated the milking parlor. Their rolling herd average has improved from 16,835 pounds to 20,387 pounds. Tim serves on PFB’s Daily Committee and the Snyder County Farmßureau Dairy Committee. He is also the area coordinator for the Dairy-MAP program and serves as a state director for the Pennsylvania Hols tein Association. Denise is a mem ber of the county farm bureau women’s committee. Coreena Meyer, Loganton, won the discussion meet contest, which challenged nine young members to solve problems affecting agricul ture. Coreena will compete in the national discussion meet contest during the American Farm Bureau convention in Reno, Nev. on Jan. 7-10. She was also the recipient of a $5OO check from Dodge Truck. During the three-day meeting, several hundred farm leaders, including 169 voting delegates, met to elect leaders and set policies for the statewide farm organization. PFB delegates re-elected Guy Donaldson of Gettysburg to his fifth term as vice president of the organization. Board members re elected (to two-year terms) and the county form bureaus they repre sent are: • Allen Roszel, Montrose (Sus quehanna, Wayne, Wyoming/ Lackawanna) ■ Curtis Kratz, Souderton (Berks, Chester/Delaware, Montgomery) • Milford Kinsman, Troy (Bradford/Sullivan, McKean/ Potter, and Tioga/Potter) • Roxy Levan, Milton (Mon tour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union) • Richard Mains, Newville (Adams. Cumberland, Franklin, and Fulton) • Thomas Mcllwain, Spring Church (Armstrong, Clarion, Elk, and Jefferson) • Alan Dambach, Fombell (Beaver/Lawrence, Butler, and Mercer). In voting to support a pilot school voucher program, voting delegates reversed die organiza tion’s previous policy opposing any use of public funds for private schools and putPFB in a position to support Gov. Tom Ridge’s revised education reform proposal. The governor promoted his prop osal for a scaled-down five-year pilot school voucher program dur ing an address before the annual meeting’s opening luncheon. Voting delegates adopted other policies, including; N.J. Honors Dairy TRENTON. N.J. Eight New Jersey dairy farms will receive the prestigious Dairy of Distinction Award for 1995. Since the pro gram’s inception in 1587,62 New Jersey dairy farms have been hon ored. The Dairy of Distinction Award is given to those dairy fanners whose farms, buildings, grounds, and surroundings are maintained to a high standard, stimulating pride in the dairy farms and to cre ate a positive image for the whole some products they produce. The contest is sponsored by the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautifica tion Program with the area coor dinated by August Knispel, presi dent of the Garden State Milk Council with cooperation from the New Jersey Department of Agri culture. August Knispel thanks all parti cipants and encourages all dairies to apply again next year. The judges for this year were Vin Sam uel and Richard Schumm, both with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture; Charlie Miller. New Jersey Farm Bureau; and Da vid Lee of Rutgers Extension Ser vice. In recognition for maintaining a well-kept farmstead, giving con- Harold M. Shaulls, Jr., Somerset, retired PFB state board member from Dlst. 11, left, was honored with a special rec ognition award for his service to PFB from 1987-1995. At right Is PFB President Keith Eckel. Sen. Roger Madlgan, left, was honored with the 1995 Dis tinguished Service To Agriculture Award at the Pennsylval - Farm Bureau (PFB) 45th Annual Member Recognition Banquet on Tuesday night at the Hershey Lodge and Con vention Center. Presenting the award is PFB President Keith Eckel. • Reiteration of the organiza tion’s stance supporting the princi pals of a market-oriented agriculture. ■ Calls for financial protection of farmers when grain dealers and grain elevators declare bankruptcy. • Calls for a standardization of milk residue screening tests. • Amended school tax reform sumers greater confidence in the wholesomeness of milk and con tributing in preserving more than 220 square miles in open land (to tal land for NJ. dairy farms), this year’s winners are: • John Csiszlak and Family, Csiszlak Farms, Phillipsburg • Carl and Dawn Russel, Car da Holsteins, Wantage • Robert and Fred Fulper, Ful per Hill Farm, Lambertville (also host of the 1995 Dairy Open House) • Duane and Catheline Young, Holland Valley Farm, Milford • Miles and Charles Kuperus, Kuperus Farmside Gardens, Sus sex • Lisa Stangle and Tom Smtih, TLS Farm, Belvidere • Daniel and Laura Chard, Terra Rose Holsteins, Woodstown • John and Sarah Dumschatt and Family, Alway Welcome Jer sey Farm, Hope. Awards will be presented at the New Jersey Dairy Princess Pag eant, which will be held at the Somerset County Extension ' Building, Bridgewater. NJ. to night Tlie public is invited. policy which advocates shifting the burden from real estate taxes to a locally determined combination of real estate taxes, income taxes, plus sales taxes at the option of the local school board. In other action, PFB President Keith Eckel appointed Jenny Tee ter of Milan chairman of the state women’s committee, succeeding Martha Rhoades. Emlenton. Farmers August Knispcl announced that the Garden State Milk Council will be hosting the 60th year anni versary convention of the Interna tional Association of Milk Control Agencies (lAMCA), These activi ties will be held from August 4-8, 1996 at the Sheraton Hotel in At lantic City. NJ. The program plans call for tours of New Jersey dairy and related agriculture industries, exhibition of New Jersey products, and dis cussions of issues and ideas im portant to dairy farmers, regula tors, consumers, milk dealers and retailers. August Knispel invites all members of the New Jersey agricultural community to support this worthwhile cause and provide a successful meeting. For more details, contact August Knispel, president of the Garden State Milk Council, (908) 735-4989 or Vin Samuel or Richard Schumm at (609) 984-2511. During the S9th annual meeting of the IAMCO, Vin Samuel, se cretary-treasurer of the Garden State Milk Council and dairy eco nomist with the New Jersey Dept, of Agriculture, was elected presi dent of the lAMCO.