A3s-Lkrtd««tef~ Firtnlhfl, Saturday, November 23, 1906
Farm-City Events Create
(Continued from Pago A 29)
Elders and Butters are to be mar
ried Dec. 8.
While the typical close relation
ships that develop through Farm-
City programs are better described
as family friendships, there are
many potential benefits that can
result from establishing job
exchange programs.
Job exchange programs are fair
ly widely used as Farm-City activi
ties because they capitalize on
what is largely regarded as the best
type of long-term effective educa
tion and advertising personal
experience and word-of-mouth.
When they get back to their own
workplaces, those from non
farming backgrounds who learn
about actual farming practices can
become “experts” on farming
among their day-to-day
aquaintences.
Every visitor to a farm should be
considered a spokesperson of
agriculture.
Whether the message that gets
spread by that spokesperson is
good or bad depends upon the
experience they had at the farm.
Though the sentiment has been
often repeated over the years, per
haps there has never been a time
with such a strong need for honest,
face-to-face exchanges of infor
mation between the farming and
non-farming people, than there is
today.
There are a multitude of rural/
urban issues with which to con
tend. Zoning problems, other land
use issues, and taxing fairness are
just a few.
In addition, there seems to be a
general increase in misleading por
trayals of day-to-day life.
In some cases, the purpose for
distorting truth is clearly to
entertain.
In other cases, such as in televi
sion or other photograph-based
commercial advertisements, fan
tasy is presented as reality in order
to stimulate a purchase ol a
product.
Automobiles are
often portrayed on long
empty highways with
out electricty and tele
phone lines and poles.
Those highways don’t
exist and the fake land
scapes are actually com
posite images created
using computer and
other techniques to
make the fantasy images
seem real.
Who may be the
worst offenders of the
truth, however, are the
self-created lobbyist/
advocates.
These are people
without a proveable or
registered constituency,
who claim to represent
classes of people and
segments of society.
Using fascimile
machines, letterheads
and titles, they know
how to work the media’s
“news” system by mak
ing outrageous, unsub
stantiated, and generally
non-science supported
claims.
The “news” media
tends to foster these
claims because they are
mostly sensational, and
sensationalized claims
attract readers and
viewers.
In an era when job competition
is tight, fund-raising based on
inaccurate claims has become big
business.
Some of these people claiming
to defend animals or consumers
are in reality professional fund
raisers. They tend to reappear time
and time again, each time wearing
a different mantle and crusading
for cash to support a new cause.
They make a living in the
nation’s largest and most expen
sive cities distorting facts, vilify
ing animal use and farming prac
tices, and creating public fear of
food in order to raise “non-profit”
funds for their “organizations.”
They create new organizations
to raise funds as each new “cause”
is discovered. They also frequently
name their organizations so as to
confuse themselves with estab
lished respectable organizations.
In fact, there are even publica
tions devoted to helping these
types of operators come up with
ways to raise funds and stage pro
tests and manipulate the media.
The only way to fight these
career opportunists is to invite the
public to see for themselves what
animal use is about
Farm-City programs can be a
major effort in the battle to break
through the false illusion of agri
culture that is presented to the gen
eral public.
Most non-farming, job
exchange participants have
reported learning about the level of
sophistication and dedication
needed to be successful in farming
and the new respect and admira
tion they have for their agricultural
partners.
Likewise, many farmer particip
ants report that they have taken
away a new-found respect and
understanding for certain non
farming jobs.
There is a national Farm-City
Council that can provide some
information and support materials.
Supported by national businesses
and donors, it held a conference in
April in Birmingham, Alabama,
where participants from around the
United States shared experiences
of successful programs, and
awards were presented.
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UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) Across rural Pennsylva
nia, land development is bringing
new residents with little previous
exposure to fanning into tradition
ally agricultural areas.
These nonfanning neighbors
may complain about noise or
odors from farms, or about agri
cultural practices such as pesticide
or fertilizer application.
Conflicts often result, some
times escalating into lawsuits.
Pennsylvania’s “Right to Farm”
law offers farmers some legal pro
tection from nuisance lawsuits,
but because of the costs involved,
no one really wins a legal battle.
“It’s easier and cheaper to pre-,
vent problems from escalating in
the first place,” said Dr. Timothy
Kelsey, assistant professor of agri
cultural economics at Penn State.
“Building a trusting relationship
with neighbors makes it much
easier to discuss problems that
arise.”
“Good Neighbor Relations:
Advice and Tips from Other Far
mers,” a new brochure from Penn
State’s College of Agricultural
Sciences, contains tips and advice
from 36 farmers on coexisting
peacefully with nonfarming
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The national program has
announced that public service
announcements are expected to be
aired during official National
Farm-City Week.
A fall newsletter by the national
organization has information
about new materials available to
help with programs, such Farm-
City place mats, fact cards and a
brochure with a list of ideas for
projects and events.
There are costs associated with
the materials, however. For more
information about the National
Farm-City Council Inc., call (312)
399-5764, or write to the organiza
tion at 225 Touhy Avenue, Park
ridge, Illinois, 60068.
For those in the Pennsylvania
seeking more information, call
Yingst at (717) 787-5805.
Professors Work To Bring Harmony
She can provide some start-up
kits and infoimation and perhaps
help with getting in contact with
someone who may also have simi
lar interests.
There are many excellent exam
ples of Farm-City activities in
Pennsylvania.
Berks County has two
exchanges a farmer/business
exchange; and an agribusiness/
non-ag business exchange.
The turnout at the their banquet
is large, with more than 500 people
and the food is usually considered
very excellent
They also offer different foods
to sample and distribute agricultur
al prizes, such as quilts and foods.
The Lebanon Farm-City prog
ram is to start at 6 p.m., Dec. 11
with a social hour, that includes
“We want to help farmers deve
lop relations with their neigh
bors,” said Kelsey, who prepared
the brochure with Dr. Charles
Abdalla, associate professor of
agricultural economics.
“Farmers shouldn’t be wholly
responsible for keeping peace in a
community, but they can take
some steps to help build har
mony.”
The publication, which covers
nine rules of thumb farmers have
suggested for good neighbor rela
tions, was developed as part of an
ongoing Penn State Cooperative
Extension program to help farm
ers, nonfarmers. and communities
manage conflicts over agriculture,
land issues or the environment.
“Developing and improving
your relationship with your neigh
bors can be one of the most impor
tant activities you do to help your
farm survive in a changing envi
ronment, especially if some of the
neighbors are new to your com
munity,” Kelsey said.
Helping others understand the
activities on your farm and foster
ing goodwill can be beneficial to
everyone. “Neighbors may
become more understanding and
more respectful of farming prac
tices,” Kelsey said. “And farmers
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foods, commodity royalty, enter
tainment, and displays.
Tables are set up in the center
area of a large convention bam at
the Expo fairgrounds and tables
can be sponsored by businesses or
individuals at $2OO for eight
people.
The ticket price per individual is
$lO, but there is no guarantee of
group seating at the banquet,
unless tables are secured through
the sponsorship.
The former Miss Pennsylvania
Lynette Mem is also to entertain,
and the master of ceremonies is
also a former Miss Pennsylvania,
Kirstin Border-Rider.
The Cedar Crest High School
chorus is to perform and the job
exchange participants are to tell of
their experiences.
may discover easy ways to avoid
needlessly antagonizing neighbors
with farm activities.”
“Good communication builds
trust and allows people to discuss
problems in a peaceful and
respectful way.” said Kelsey. “It
helps neighbors learn that you are
approachable and interested in
their concerns. If a neighbor has a
complaint about your farm, it is
better that they feel comfortable
enough to approach you directly
instead of you hearing of it
second-hand.”
To obtain a copy of “Good
Neighbor Relations,” contact the
Penn State Cooperative Extension
office in your county, or the Publi
cations Distribution Center, 112
Agricultural Administration
Building, University Park, PA
16802.
If you do something special on
your farm to help build or main
tain better relations with your
neighbors, Penn State Cooperative
Extension would like to hear
about it Send your suggestions to:
Good Neighbor Relations, c/o
Tim Kelsey, Penn State Coopera
tive Extension, 105 Armsby
Building, University Park, PA
16802. All suggestions will be
treated confidentially.
Stalli