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Vol. 41 NO.
Ag Teachers In Spotlight At National Conference
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
DENVER. Colo. Several
area agricultural teachers and sup
porters were honored last week at
the annual National Vocational
Agriculture Teachers Association
(NVATA) conference here.
In addition, Greenwood High
School agricultural science
instructor Dr. MeeCee Baker was
voted president-elect of the
8,000-member national
association.
Baker, Port Royal, who has
served with the Greenwood High,
School district in Millerstown
since 1987, said she will work to
About 175 sellers and eight buyers watch as Mitch
“Snake" Ashby, from North Carolina, In white Jacket, calls
off prices.
Growers Reluctant To Sell
As Auction Season Opens
ANDy ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
PARADISE (Lancaster Co.)
“I think farmers need a raise,”
declared Paradise Auction Mana
ger Eric Probst as the bell rang on
Monday at the start of the annual
county tobacco auction season.
However, the top price paid for
tobacco on opening day Monday
was unchanged from last year at
$1.25 per pound. The warehouse
itself purchased about 8,000
pounds for a high of $1.30 per
pound. Average price was $1.25
per pound.
On Monday, many sellers were
reluctant to part with their number
one cash crop, deciding instead to
wait for potentially better prices in
the days and weeks ahead.
About 175 sellers and eight buy
ers watched as Mitch “Snake”
Ashby, from North Carolina,
called off prices. Two skids at the
start of the sale topped $1.30, but
only the high of $1.25 registered
from other buyers.
There were about 424,000
pounds of Maryland 609 on the
floor at the sale Monday, and
61,328 pounds were sold. The
same day last year was a Paradise
Tobacco Auction record with a tot-
60* Per Copy
increase overall NVATA member
ship and to help educate members
about some of the legislative
places taking shape in Washing
ton, D.C.
During her three-year term as
vice president of Region VI, there
has been a substantial increase in
professional membership among
agriculture education instructors.
Baker will assume the duties of
president of the assocation at the *
end of next year’s annual confer
ence, scheduled for Cincinnati,
Ohio.
In a phone interview midweek
with Baker, Lancaster Farming
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al of 636,000 pounds on the floor.
This year boasted a great grow
ing season, with early rains and
(Turn to Pago A 27)
Earl and Sandy Geib and aona Joal and Brian share a special holiday tradition
that of giving to others —and spending time with each other during the busy holiday
season. See the story and photos by Lou Ann Good on page 82.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 9, 1995
Newly installed National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association (NVATA)
President Tom Heffernan, Texas, far right, congratulates two successful candidates
from Pennsylvania. Dr. MeeCee Baker, center, Greenwood High School, was elected
NVATA president-elect after having completd a three-year term as Region VI vice
president. Robert Lauffer, Garden Spot High School ag ed instructor, left, was elected
alternate vice president for Region VI.
Lebanon Farm-City Program
Catalyst For Mutual Respect
VERNON ACHENBACH JR.
Lancaster Fanning Staff
NORTH CORNWALL (Leba
non Co.) A strong message of
mutual respect and new under
standing was issued Tuesday night
by city and farm participants in the
Lebanon County Farm-City job
exchange program.
North Annville-area Holstein
breeder and dairy farmer Alan
Hostetler and Lebanon insurance
agent Bob Phillips participated in
this year’s Lebanon County Farm-
City job exchange program earlier
in the year, as did Bonnie Wenger
of Wen Crest Farms near Scheaf
ferstown and Jan Boyer who runs
her own advertising business in
town.
Each got up before more than
500 people who attended the annu
al Lebanon County Farm-City
Banquet to tell of their job
exchange adventures.
The program is designed so that
Cambria District Presents
Farmer, Service Awards
LORETTA GOLDEN
Cambria Co. Correspondent
EBENSBURG (Cambria Co.).
—The annual legislative luncheon
of the Cambria County Conserva-
Four Section?
each participant spends a day
working at his exchange partner’s
job.
Over the years, through the
Lebanon Farm-City job exchange
program, many have had the
opportunity to learn a little more
(Turn to Pag* A 26)
tion District was held on Decem
ber 1, at the Penn Gables Restaur
ant, Route 22 west of Ebensburg.
Clair J. Dumm, district manager
welcomed all those in attendance,
which included representatives of
federal, slate, and other cooperat
ing conservation agencies in addi
tion to various state and local
officials.
The primary function of the con
servation district is being responsi
ble to conduct and coordinate
programs to protect and conserve
our natural resources. This respon
sibility was the primary focus of
the address given by guest speaker
Dr. Bernard Hoffner.
Dr. Hoffner served as past presi
dent of the Pennsylvania Associa
tion of Conservation Districts and
was recently appointed to the PA
Science and Technology Team by
Governor Tom Ridge. Hoffner
commended the local conservation
district on its excellent reputation.
Honored at the luncheon was W.
R. (Dick) Rossman, of Ebensburg
for his outstanding service to the
conservation district. Rossman
had been a district director from
1972-95, and was chairman for 16
of those years. Rossman holds a
bachelor’s degree in forestry from
Penn State University and is
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$25.00 Per Year