Dm Weiderspahn family Includes parents Cheryl and
Francis. Nathan, 14; and Merideth.
Yahweh Dairy Farm
Is Promise Land
For Weiderspahns
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
COCHRANTON (Crawford
Co.) Yahwch Dairy Farm is
home for Pennsylvania Alternate
Merideth Ann Weiderspahn.
Because “Yahweh” means God
in Hebrew, people often express
curiosity about the farm’s name.
The Weiderspahns’ decision to
incorporate the name into their
farm stems from the family’s saga
in finding their “Promise Land,” or
farm, which parallels to the bibili
cal account of the Israelites await
ing their Promise Land.
Merideth said that her dad pur
chased his first cow when she was
three years old. Because they did
not live on a farm, the cow was
housed in the garage. Her dad liked
cows so much, he purchased three
more and the family moved to a
small rented farm while waiting
for their home to be sold. The
Weiderspahns milked with a buck
et and gave the milk to family and
friends. After five years of
attempting to sell their A-frame
home and looking at 40 farms, the
family finally found exactly what
they wanted in their 270-acre farm
in Cochran ton.
“We dedicated the farm back to
God because we felt like the Israel
ites must have felt after 40 years of
looking for their Promised Land,”
Merideth explained.
God, family, and farm are all
entertwined for this poised
17-year-old, who believes her role
as dairy princess is possible
because of her supportive family,
who includes her parents, Francis
and Cheryl, and 14-year-old
brother Nathan.
The family togetherness extends
to the previous generation. After
Merideth’s family had purchased
OMESTEAD
the farm, her grandparents left
their Florida retirement communi
ty to purchase a farm down the
road from Merideth’s. Since then,
her grandmother has passed away
but her grandfather remains active
in farming. Heifers, calves, and
chickens are kept at her grand
father’s farm while the mixed herd
of 35 milking Holsteins and
Jerseys are kept at Yahweh.
Merideth said that her mother
did not grow up on a farm. At first
she had a difficult adjustment, but
now is a big fan of dairying and is
eager to do things on the farm.
Merideth has been milking cows
since she was eight years old. On a
regular basis, she continues to help
with feeding and washing the bulk
milk tank.
“I enjoy washing the bulk tank
because I have time to think while
I’m doing it,” Merideth said of the
20 minute chore.
Becoming a dairy princess was
no haphazard decision for Mer
ideth who always admired the
county dairy princesses since she
was little. When she was old
enough to be eligible, Merideth
served as a dairy maid for three
years. This experience made her
even more eager to compete for the
dairy princess in her county.
Merideth’s mother joined the
county dairy promotion committee
about the same time Merideth first
became a dairy maid. Her mother
is now co-chairman of the commit
tee and books appearances for
Merideth and the five dairy maids
in the county.
“Every body at school and
church has been very supportive of
my role as dairy princess. They
often offer to drive me to appear
ances,” Merideth said.
Pa. Ist Alternate Dairy Princess Merideth Welderspahn
spreads the word that milk Is packed with nine essential
nutrients that help the body with everything from vision to
regulating blood pressure, and maintaining strong bones
and teeth.
Life seems relatively safe in her
hometown of Cochranton where
the biggest outrage to hit the the
sparsely populated area is “a dog
biting a kid,” Merideth said;
Compared to most Pennsylva
nian schools, the Cochranton
Junior Senior High School where
Merideth attends is a bit small.
With only 70 students in the senior
class, everyone knows each other.
“The advantage is that one never
feels lonely, but the disadvantage
is that everyone knows everything
about everybody. And sometimes
that includes things that you’d
rather not know,” Merideth said.
Her classmates are supportive of
her role as dairy princess. To
devote more time to dairy promo
tion, Merideth gave up cheerlead
ing. But she manages to continue
her membership in the school’s
Bible club, art club, and the year
book staff where she is in charge of
special effects.
Her art ability is no doubt inher
ited from her mother.
“She’s very creative,” Merideth
said of her mother who started a
business called Homestead Spe
cialties about one year ago. “She
makes wearable art design patterns
for vests, jumpers, collars, and
children.”
Her mother has a distributor
who sells her patterns. For infor
mation or a brochure about Home
stead Specialties, send a self
addressed stamped envelope to
1883 State Road, Cochranton, PA
16314,
“When I was little, my mother
always made me these cute little
outfits,” said Merideth who is now
an accomplished seamstress
herself.
Through 4-H sewing club, Mer
ideth has advanced to state sewing
competition every year since she
was old enough to join. This past
year, she entered her prom dress.
“I always have this fear of going
to the prom and seeing three other
dresses like mine. If I make it
myself, I don’t need to worry,” she
said.
Although Merideth is a capable
Home for the Weiderepahns Is Yahweh Dairy Farm
located In Crawford County. When Merideth was three
years old, her dad brought his first cow, which was kept In
the garage since they did not have a barn. The family now
owns 70 cows and a 270-acre farm In Cochranton.
seamtress, she is grateful that her
mom continues to alter clothing for
her.
In addition to sewing club, Mer
ideth is also active in the 4-H dairy
club. .
Responsibilities as me state
alternate dairy princess requires
Merideth to travel to many places
across the state.
“I've been visiting a lot of areas
I’ve never been to before,” she
said.
In fact, this year was the first
time that Merideth has ever visited
the Pennsylvania Farm Show,
which is a six-hour drive from her
home.
Although Merideth has always
loved children, her decision to
become an elementary school
teacher was an outgrowth of her
dairy promotion duties.
As dairy princess, she often vis
its elementary schools to tell them
about the dairy industry.
“Kids are so eager to learn, and
they are so innocent,” Merideth
said.
After graduation, Merideth
plans to attend Geneva College in
Beaver Falls.
“I wanted to attend a small
Christian college that wasn’t so far
away from home,” Merideth said
of selecting the college that is
about a two-hour drive from her
home.
Merideth is involved in helping
with the Pioneer Club, the church
youth group planning committee,
nursery and was a forma' Sunday
school teacher at the family’s
church.
Of her 14-year-old brother,
Merideth said sibling bickering is
part of her life, “but we always
help each other.”
Recently her brother broke both
of his arms, which means he
requires lots of assistance. Mer
ideth writes down the answers for
his home work assignments.
The Weiderspahns have hosted
Japanese students for the past three
summers. This past year, a mother,
daughter, and son from Japan lived
with them.
“At first we used lots of sign lan
guage,” Merideth said of the diffi
culty in communicating. By the
end of the summer the family was
fluent in English.
The Japanese family was
amazed at the abundance of milk
and the low milk prices in the
states. In Japan, cows are primarily
only seen at the zoo because
crowded conditions have ruled out
farms. However, the Japanese do
eat rice and rose ice cream.
Merideth said that by the end of
the summer, she became like a sis
ter to the Japanese girl who plans
to move to the Weiderspahn’s
Yahweh Dairy Farm while attend
ing college in the states.