Vo). 42 No. 4
EVERETT NEWSWANGER
Managing Editor
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.)
With facts to back up their
pride, national, state, and local
farm and community leaders, one
Don Robinson, right, received the 1996 George C. Delp
award at the Lancaster County Ag Industry banquet.
Adding congratulations are from left, Jim Shirk, agriculture
services manager, and Mr. Delp, fOMwhom the award was
named.
Turkey Farmers Prepare Store For Holiday Season
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Fanning Staff
MECHANICSBURG (Cum
berland Co.) “There’ll be times
tomorrow when customers will be
parking over there in the grass.”
Kent S track pointed to some
Four Sections
Robinson Honored, Kindigs Have Century Farm
At Lancaster Ag Industry Banquet
after another, came forward Tues
day evening to extol the attributes
of Lancaster County agriculture.
The occasion was the annual agri
cuture industry banquet sponsored
by the Lancaster Chamber of Com
land through .which the farm
entranceway passed, next to the
farm store. Early this week he was
busily spreading lime to mark
parking spaces in gravel near the
store.
On Monday S track spoke to
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, November 30, 1996
meree and Industry in conjunction
with the National Farm City Week
program.
National farm commentator
Orion Samuelson sent an exclusive
video greeting that told of his visits
to the local agriculture community
and presented a screen-full of facts
to make any industry proud.
According to Samuelson, Lancas
ter County has 5,030 farms, and
they are first in the nation for ag
receipts in the non-irrigated catag
ory. The county is also first in lay
ing hens, pullets, and ag products
sold for human consumption. It is
Legislature Finishes, Work To Continue
VERNON ACHENBACH JR.
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) The state Legislature
ended session Tuesday without
local tax reform and without Gov.
Tom Ridge’s requested gas tax for
toad repair and maintenance.
Despite all the public attention
and debate those two issues
Lancaster Farming about the
nearly 600 cars that would be pull
ing into the farm store the next day
two days before Thanksgiving
to take home nearly 700
turkeys.
To make way for the hectic holi-
Kent Strock raises 2,600 turkeys for wholesale and retail markets. Many are sold at
the farm store, Strock’s Farm Fresh Meats. Most of the Nicholas White poults are pur
chased from Cuddy Farms out of Danville, Ohio. Strock holds up one of the hens In the
photo on the left.
When they arrive at the farm, poults are placed In the well-lit, naturally ventilated
house (at right) built In the late ’6os. “Some customers say that our turkeys are more
white In color,” said Strock, which he attributes to more exposure to sunlight In a
naturally ventilated house with a dirt/sawdust floor. Photo* by Andy Andnw*
second in farms that have gross
incomes over $lOO,OOO or more;
fourth in number of farms; fifth in
number of horses; sixth in number
of dairy cows and hogs, and 13th in
market value of all ag products
sold.
In 1994, Lancaster ag receipts
totaled $835,570,000 (well above
most states), and the local farm
industry provided a base for 39,000
jobs.
Every second of the year, Lan
caster County farms produce 80
eggs, 6 gallons of milk, 27 pounds
of com, and one pound of chicken.
received, the proposals died in the
House of Representatives, though
versions were approved by the
Senate.
The state Legislature operates
under a two-year session schedule.
It coincides with the term of a rep
resentative in the House.
All legislative proposals made
during those two years that didn’^.
day rush, Strack took time from
tending nearly 40 sows and about
2,600 turkeys on the farm to talk
about the challenges that turkey
producers face during a hectic
holiday season.
Kent farms with wife Raelene
$27.50 Per Year
“Agriculture is so basic to our
well-being, our way of life, and to
our economy,” Samuelson said.
One of the highlights of the
annual event is the announcement
of the recipient of the George C.
Delp award. This prestegious
award is given as the premier mark
of achievement in Lancaster Coun
ty agriculture. The 1996 award was
presented to Donald M. Robinson,
who is the current district director
of the Lancaster County Conserva
tion District. Robinson was an
agriculture teacher and young far-
receive full approval by both
bodies of the Legislature are offi
cially elminated.
The next session of the state
Legislature, starting January
(though terms of office begin in
December following election) is
now free to take up any new busi
ness, or to revisit issues abandoned
«*. (Turn to Page Al 4)
and Kent’s parents Clyde and
Mabel.
Two years ago Kent took over
operation of the turkey business
from his mother, Mabel. In the
recent past, according to Mabel,
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60* Per Copy
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