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AlO-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, December 1~6, 1595
OPINION
Progress On
Youth Livestock Ethics
Some progress has been made on the youth livestock ethics
problem. Approximately 250 representatives of animal agricul
ture from 40 states across North America recently attended the
National Youth Livestock Program Ethics Symposium and for
mulated an Action Plan to eliminate unethical and illegal acti
vity in youth livestock programs.
The Livestock Conservation Institute facilitated the sym
posium in an effort to provide a forum for building consensus
to interested individuals and organizations concerned about the
growing number of unethical and illegal incidences related to
youth livestock events. LCI was joined in this effort by the
American Farm Bureau Federation, American Veterinary
Medical Association, Animal Industry Foundation, National
FFA Organization, and Cooperative Extension Service (4-H).
Following two days of presentations and discussions relating
to the symposium’s four areas of emphasis self examination,
unified effort, education and enforcement the participants
developed an action plan containing 78 “action items” and 38
“desired outcomes.”
The establishment of a National Code of Ethics received top
priority from each of the “working groups” from the four areas
of emphasis as they developed a framework for progress. An
evaluation of the existing livestock program rewards systems
was also the consensus of most participants. Some of the other
key issues outlined by the four groups in the Action Plan are as
follows:
• Self-examination
Articulating and disseminating a system of professional eth
ics accepted as a consensus in youth livestock programs. Se
lecting, conducting and regulating youth livestock events such
that the fundamental goals of both public and youth education
and development are supported.
• Unified Effort
Local, state and national training programs to increase
awareness of youth ethics by incorporating the unified effort of
all those interested in improvement. Assimilating and distribut
ing information from all groups involved in the showing of
livestock on a local, state and national level. The adoption of
award systems and standards that emphasize complete know
ledge of industry and development of life skills.
• Education
External communication and education to address political
entities, the media, fairboards, supporters and commodity
groups. Internal communication with organizations attempting
to implement successful animal science programs for youth.
Educational programs to eliminate unethical behavior in the
Junior Livestock Program. Revision of high dollar reward sys
tems that encourage unethical acts, with recognition evaluated
on effort and accomplishments both in and outside the show
ring.
• Enforcement
Advancing uniform rules and procedures for competitive
livestock events to benefit the development of youth and to
maintain a strong future for animal agriculture in America. Pro
moting ethics educational efforts for all youth involved in live
stock showing. While the enthusiasm and unified sense of ur
gency of the group will carry this effort forward, the real point
of proper conduct comes at the family and local youth level.
Parents need to set examples for their children. Youth leaders
also need to eliminate unethical and illegal activity in their
youth livestock programs. Penalties of law and conscience
when needed at a young age impair a lifetime of potential good
works.
Siiturdin, DiTenilur l(>
Sund.n. I)(.(.rmluT 17
“Nuisance Concerns With Ameri
can Agriculture In the Com
munity: The Case of Odors,”
Yoder’s Restaurant, New Hol
land. 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
❖ Farm Calendars
Gphrata Area Young Fanners
Annual Christmas Celebration,
Ephrata High School auditor-
Table Restaurant, Mount Joy,
To Jump-Start
Vehicles Safely
If you need to jump-start a vehi
cle that has a weak or discharged
battery, he sure to follow these
safety tips.
First, connect the positive cable
marked with a “+” or red clamps to
the positive terminal of the weak
battery. Then clamp the other end
of the positive cable to the positive
post of the charged battery.
Next, connect the negative cable
to the negative post of the good
battery. Finally, make the last con
nection of the negative cable to the
engine block or frame of the non
starting vehicle.
The engine block or frame acts
like a negative terminal. By keep
ing the clamps of the weakened
battery separated, one reduces the
possibility of unwanted stray
sparks causing an explosion or
fire.
Once the vehicle is started,
remove the cables in reverse order.
Be careful not to allow the cables
to contact each other when remov
ing them. Store the jumper cables
in a clean and dry location.
To Practice
Safe Sledding
According to the U.S. Consum
er Product Safely Commission,
more than 50,000 people receive
emergency room treatment annu
ally for injuries related to sleds,
sndw discs and toboggans.
There are a number of causes for
these accidents. Old sleds may
splinter or break or the steering
mechanism may fail. A new snow
fall may hide rocks, stumps, ditch
es, or a low fence wire. Injuries
(Turn to Pago ASS)
occur when sleds collide with
other sleds, stationary objects, or
moving cars.
Parents and children should
keep safety in mind when heading
to die snowy hillsides. Examine
the hillside carefully for hidden
obstructions. Children should
learn how to roll off their sleds to
avoid collisions.
Children must stay out of streets
and traffic intersections when
playing in the snow. Do not allow
sleds to be towed by cars.
To Control
Mice In Home
Dr. Tim Elkner, extension horti
cultural agent, reminds us this is
the time of year when mice seek
warm shelter and a guaranteed
food supply.
Agile climbers, they can scale
vertical surfaces such as trees and
brick walls. They can cross power
lines and pipes and squeeze
through holes as small as a fourth
of an inch in diameter.
Dark, grain size droppings in
BY LA^E^^W^m>K)USE
'sum
in
LIGHT FOR
A DARK NIGHT
December 17,1995
LIGHT FOR A DARK NIGHT
December 17, 1995
Background Scripture:
Isaiah 9:1-7
Devotional Reading:
Luke 1:46-55
Last March my wife and I land
ed in Bangkok, Thailand to board
a cruise ship bound for Vietnam
and Hong Kong. We knew that the
ship was docked outside the city
and engaged a taxi to take us
there. We thought we*d be there in
at least 30 minutes, but two hours
later and our taxi was still hurtling
south from Bangkok and night had
fallen swiftly.
When, at last, we reached the
port where our ship was docked, it
was too dark to read the street
signs and our taxi driver drove in
circles for another 30 or more
minutes. Finally, just when we
were beginning to think we could
not find our ship, we saw it gleam
ing like a Christmas tree in the
darkness. Eventually, following
its light, our driver delivered us to'
the ship in safety.
That experience, we later
acknowledged to each other, is
symbolic of life itself. How often
we grope our way through life in
darkness unaware of where we
are and not able to see where
we’re going. How often I have had
to make choices without a clue as
to what the outcome might be. I’m
sure you have too. Then there
have been some “dark nights of
the soul” as St. John of the Cross
described them, when, no matter
what I did, my spirituality seemed
to have dried up. So, I can person
ally identify with Isaiah’s descrip
tion of ‘The people who walked in
darkness ... those who dwelt in a
land of deep darkness” (9:2).
LIGHT RETURNS
Although we do not know what
time of the year Jesus was actually
bom, Christians have traditionally
celebrated his birth at the time of
the winter solstice, the time of the
year when the days become longer
once again and light begins its
slow but sure return to earth.
When you’ve stumbled around
in the darkness, nothing is so wel-
cabinets and drawers are a sign that
mice are in the house. Hoarded
food piles and nests of shredded
paper or cloth are further evidence.
Prevention is the best form of
mice control. Permanently seal all
entries into the house. Steel wool
stuffed firmly into a small opening
makes a good temporary barrier
against mice.
Store pet food and bird seed in
sealed containers and clean up
spills immediately. If mice are
already in your house, set traps in
areas where they are active
along walls and on ledges. Bait the
traps with peanut butter. Check the
traps daily to dispose of the catch
and to renew the bait.
Be sure to prevent children and
pets from being injured from the
traps. Poison based baits are not
recommended for homes. They are
dangerous to children and dead
mice may end up behind walls or
under floors.
Feather Prof.’s Footnote: "A
leader praises efforts and cele
brates achievements.”
come as light. You don’t have to
see everything by that light, just
enough to find your way. So Isai
ah’s prophecy, given to the people
of Israel at a time of grave national
and personal darkness is some
thing that brings hope to anyone in
darkness: “The people who
walked in darkness have seen a
great light.”
It would appear that this “light”
Isaiah saw was a king to rule Israel
whether already arrived or to
come, we can’t tell. When a per
son became king of Israel, he was
anointed with oil in a religious
ceremony. The term “Messiah,”
means “die anointed one.” Isaiah
gives a glowing description of this
ideal king whom God has
anointed to rule over them. “For to
us a child is bom, to us a son is
given; and the government will be
upon his shoulder, and his name
will be called Wonderful Coun
selor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, the Prince of Peace.”
THE ANOINTED ONE
It is not difficult to understand
why early Christians saw this pro
phecy fulfilled in the birth of Je
sus. All that Isaiah prophesied
concerning the “anointed one” is
applicable to Jesus. Note, that
while Isaiah’s contemporaries
may have looked for a mighty rul
er to lead a victorious army, ex
tend Israel’s borders and restore
its secular power, the prophet sees
the “anointed one” as accomplish
ing something quite different: “Of
the increase of his government
and of peace there will be no end
.. . and to uphold it with justice
and with righteousness from this
time forth and forevermore” (9:7).
Peace, justice i nd righteousness
were to be the hallmarks of the
ideal king, the veiy role that Jesus
fulfilled and still fulfills today. To
put it in symbolic terms, Jesus
came to bring divine light into the
darkness of human existence.
Christ was bom almost two thou
sand years ago, but every year at
this time we acknowledge that
Christ is reborn among us wher
ever and whenever people walk in
darkness.
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
* IE. Main St.
Ephrata, PA 17522
—by—
Lancaster Fanning, Inc.
A Stainman Entarprisa
Robert 0. Campbell Central Mapbaar
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Copyright 1995 by LanoaHar Farming