Gross Family Named York Ag Award Winner
(ContiniMd from Pag* A 1)
Harold Giosi, 81, still resides
near the family’s 350-acre farm
and maintains an avid interest in
the business, especially the cattle
enterprise. He rarely misses the
Monday sales at Lancaster Stock
yards and frequently attends other
livestock auction events around
the region. His late wife, Ethel,
was a noted leader in regional
agriculture activities and a found
ing member of American and
Penn’s Agri-Women.
Their son, Steven, Sr., and his
wife, Phyllis, manage the crops
and livestock operation, along
with their sons. Steven, Jr., 28,
and his wife, Becky, and Daniel,
23, and his wife, Tina. Steve and
Becky’s sons, Nevin, S, and Lane,
1, are the eighth generation on the
farm started in die 1800 s. While
the farm’s original buildings no
longer stand, the main farmhouse
was built in 1856 by George
Gross; and the farm has beat rec
ognized as a Pennsylvania Cen
tury Farm.
Along with the land on the
home farm, die Gross’ own an
additional 80 acres near Mt Wolf
and rent another 500. Primary
crops are com and wheat The
farm’s' facilities provide housing
facilities for up to 600 head of
feeder cattle, along with the
30-sow farrow-to-finish swine
operation.
Though the Gross’ are pleased
that their sons have chosen to
return home to agriculture, the
young men were under no family
pressure to lake that career direc
tion. Their daughter, Gretta, is in
her final year of medical school
toward her goal of becoming a
physician.
“Both went to school and
earned their associated degrees.”
notes Phyllis Gross of their sons’
agriculture training. “We didn’t
want them to farm as their only
career option. They made the deci
sion to return to die farm; it was
their choice.”
“We make a real effort to sit
down and talk about the business.”
she adds. “They are here because
they want to be here. Their wives
are both very supportive and we
all sit down together to discuss
decisions. It is important that you
keep the lines of communication
open and give them options.”
In addition to their three fami
lies actively involved in managing
the farm, the Gross’ have one full
time employee who is an integral
part of the daily operation.
“No one has to be here all the
time; everyone knows everyone
clse’s job,” explains Phyllis of the
management and responsibility
sharing of their agriculture pro
duction business. “But we are nev
er all gone for any length of time
at the same time.”
That flexibility makes is possi
ble for the Gross’ to remain active
in various agriculture and com
munity affairs. Steve and Beckey
serve on the national Young Far
mer and Rancher committee of the
American Farm Bureau. Steve,
Sr., is on the East Manchester
Township Zoning Hearing Board
and the Tri-Municipal Board,
which includes representation
from the boroughs of Manchester
and Mt Wolf.
Central Market Honored
York’s downtown Central
Market House was honored with
the Ag Industry Award given
annually to an agribusiness entity.
The historic market was built
over a century ago by Baltimore
shipbuilders and continues to
serve as a farmers’ market. Nearly
90 vendors offer customers a vari
ety of fresh produce, meats, poul-
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try and dairy products, baked
goods and horticulture items, as
well as gourmet coffees and ethnic
foods.
Ownership of the market is held
by 80 stockholders, with a board
of six directors. Tony Dobtosky is
president, Sam Loucks is vice
president and Lester Bentz holds
the secretary-treasurer position.
A noted area “must see” site for
visitors and tourists, the market is
famed for its cavernous structure
and cross-section representation
of local York County culture. A
major renovation project of the
roof is currently under way, to
refurbish and partially replace the
original slate on the venerable
downtown landmark.
Century Farm Recognized
Five York County farms were
honored as Century Farms under
the criteria of the state’s program
recognizing farms that have
remained in a family for one
hundred or more consecutive
years and on which a family mem
ber is currently living and produc
ing agricultural products.
Recognized as Century Farms
were:
•The Gerber Farm, George and
Faye Gerber, 3885 Davidsburg
Road, Dover,
•The Utz Farm, Chester and
Margie Utz, 93 Utz Drive,
Hanover,
•The Myers Farm, Jane Myers
Rhone, Linda Myers Gruber and
Wayne E. Myers, Jr., 40 East
Ridge Road, Dillsburg;
•The Julius Farm, Donald E.
and Willie Julius, 48 Julius Lane,
Dover;