York 4-H Meats Judge Equally At Home In Show Arena JOYCE BUPP York Co. Correspondent DOVER (York Co.) Place him in the show ring and he often takes champion honors. Put him through the auction arena, and he may seta new price record. Send him to a national competi tion, and he brings home the top award. “I like to compete, to see what I can do,” grinned Mike Burrell, an affable and easy-going York 4-H member who has managed to snag top honors in just about every competition he enters. In November, the 16-year-old Dover High School junior took first place in the national 4-H meats judging contest, held at Kansas City, Kansas. With that top placing came a $l,OOO schol arship and more awards to add to a trophy and ribbon collection that nearly overflows the family’s Mountain Road home. Burrell found his interest in livestock spurred eight years ago while visiting the York Fair. He spied a classmate showing sheep and decided it looked like an inter esting thing to do. When Burrell sets his mind to do something, he works at it; and his parents, William and Carolyn Burrell, arc a supportive team in all his efforts. For over 30 yeare^^ Telmark has provided Lease financing for equipment, vehicles & buildings. Advantages of leasing your equipment, buildings and vehicles from Telmark: • Professional, on-site service Call today for savings with It financing for equipment, Ken Jody Darlington Underwood 717-733-3532 301-1 814-684-5707 He settled on sheep because of their smaller size and the lesser in vestment needed than for a beef project. The Burrell family has a 10-acte farm on Mountain Road, north of Dover, and sheep better fit their facilities. I like sheep more,” Burrell says of this livestock choice. “Steers are so difficult to train and get ready for a show. And there’s al ways a steer at the shows that manages to get loose. Sheep are easier to handle, but they do take as much work as a steer.” A Suffolk enthusiast, Burrell has both purebreds and some un registered stock of the large, black-headed breed, as well as one Hampshire in his small flock. For market class competition, he has done well with Suffolk cross breds. “The Suffolks usually have more meat and better carcasses,” said this accomplished meals and livestock judge. “They’re meatier and leaner. Judges seem to like the black-faced sheep better, too.”' It was his knowledge of meats, off the hoof, as well as on; that earned Burrell his national meats judging honors. The Phil Sellers family, whose sons are long-time junior sheep exhibitors in York County, en (Turn to Page A4O) • 100% tax deductible payments Guaranteed “True Tax” or fixed purchase option leases available Fixed, customized schedules Low upfront costs 'aul Snee Shipper 2-627-5941 302-456-1931 lisa FVandsco Sonncn 717-866-9217 Fred Dixon 412-346-3455 £ Teimarklnc. 800-451-3322 716-595-3954 Mike Burrell sits with his trophies, plaques and awards for Junior livestock and 4-H activities that fill his family’s home. and vehicles. Andrew McLean Anderson 410-827-5052 410-051-4128 Mike Fullam 717-966-9202 'l** i ALUMINUM GRAIN BODIES & ALUMINUM REPAIRS by