Cousins Named State FFA President and Regional Vice President
(Continued from Page A 1)
Henry Young and his two sons
Matthew and David.
There’s much camaraderie
among the three families who live
in separate houses on the farm. The
children joke that they aren’t sure
to which family they belong.
Linda and Matthew also have
two daughters, Stacey, 16, and
Rebecca, 14.
Dave and Carol’s children
include David, 19, who is studying
diesel mechanics at Northwestern
College in Lima, Ohio; Joy, 18;
Jason, 16; .Elizabeth, 13; and
Debbie, 10.
The patriach of the family, Hen
ry, had been farming in partnership
with his own brothers until Matth
ew was out of high school and
Dave was a senior in high school.
In 1974, the father and two sons
decided to go into partnership at
Red Rock, which has two farm
Jean picks strawberries from her weedless garden. She
uses black plastic to keep the weeds down in the canta
loupe and watermelon hills.
, As general manager for the operation Matthew said that
jhe and his brother work well together because they comple
ment each other's abilities.
Although they continue to work on the farm, Henry and
Jean Young are taking a more supportive role as their sons
David and Matthew assume leadership. Notice the water
spraying in the background Is part of the flush system used
with the manure separator.
houses. Later, the parents built a
home at the end of the lane.
“We started small and grew
slowly,” said Matthew.
In August 1974, they started
milking cows, and Matt and Linda
married in November of that same
year.
“It was a circus,” Linda recalled.
“Because it was a new herd, we
had to push the cows into the milk
ing parlor and it took forever.
Those first five years. Matt rarely
had any time off. We ate supper at
9 or 10 o’clock every night”
Matthew jokes that he married a
city girl. In reality, Linda grew up
in the town of Quarryville. She
reported that she had no trouble
adapting to life on the farm.
“I loved the animals and we
were young,” Linda said.
Linda enters all the cow and calf
records on the computer. Dave’s
and Matt’s mom takes care of all
the finances. Carol has an off-the
* / ♦ yJt
The three daughters of
zabeth, 13; excel in 4-H
farm bookkeeping job.
The children all work part time
on the farm. Each family is allow
ed to decide how much or how
little each child should work. The
children receive working sche
dules but are allowed to trade off
and on with others.
Just as their dad provided a
farming opportunity fpr them, the
brothers hope they are able to work
something out for any of the child
ren who want to make a career of
working on the farm.
At this point, both Andrew and
Joy plan some type of career in
agriculture. Both were accepted
and planned to attend college in the
fall, but since both have been
elected state FFA officers, they
will take the year off to devote time
to giving their best to the FFA
program. The following year, Joy
plans to attend Delaware Valley
College to study large animal sci
ence. Andrew plans to study ag
economics at the University of
Delaware and return to the family
farm. He would like to combine
farming with some pastor work
and is considering attending
seminary.
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Of the cousins excelling in FFA,
Joy said, "We work well together.
We got an 18-year head start on
working together.”
“1 think its because we have
complementing giftings and our
Judeo-Christian upbringing
helped us developed the philoso
phy that we are not leading to lead
but to serve others,” Andrew said.
Both families are active at Faith
Reformed Presbyterian Church,
where Andrew assists the youth
pastor.
Joy said that she, like most
children on the farm, started out
caring for the calves. “But as I
grew older, that became my least
favorite job. Now I mostly milk,”
she said.
Joy has also excelled in 4-H
Horse Club.
“My pride and joy is KoKo. I
raised him from a baby,” she said
of the quarter horse throughbred
cross.
When it comes to 4-H, Joy has
been involved in clubs such as pet
care, public speaking, handyman,
crosstitch, and Woolies. Although
the cows are not registered on the
farm, Joy raised a registered cow
to show and also shows market
lambs at Solanco Fair. Joy has also
been active in the 4-H Exchange
Club.
“Growing up on a farm, I didn’t
have a chance to travel much, but
David and Linda Young, Joy, 18; Debra, 10; and Eli-
Horse Club. Son Jason, 16, is in 4-H archery.
The family of Matthew and Linda Young include children,
Rebecca, 14; Stacey, 16, and Andrew, 18.
David is responsible for fixing machinery, maintenance,
and building on the farm. Since the partnership was formed,
Dave said, “We poured a lot of concrete.”
through the Exchange Club 1 excelled in scholastic studies. At
traveled to Kansas and Arizona, the school’s awards ceremony last
and hosted a 4-H’er from Oklaho- week, he received 11 awards, more
ma,” Joy said. than any other student. These
In FFA, Andrew excelled at included a $5,000 University of
business management and public Delaware Scholarship, a $l,OOO
speaking, which has reinforced his Cargill Scholarship, a $5OO David
career choice. Andrew has also (Turn to Pago A 27)
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