814-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 6, 1997
Allegro Leininger Heads Lancaster County’s
Society Of Farm Women’s 650 Members
A gracious hostess, Allegra serves Thanksgiving Pump
kin Pie. It is not unusual for her to serve 35 guests for dinner.
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
REINHOLDS (Lancaster Co.)
Allegra Lciningcr has long been
known for her musical ability in
playing the marimba and for her
extensive doll collection. Recently
she became president of the Lan
caster County Society of Farm
Women, which has about 650
members.
After moving up through the
ranks of county leadership. Alleg
ro assumed the presidential gravel
during the county’s annual con
vention held last month. Although
this is the first time she has headed
the county society, she has been
the first and second vice president
for the past four years and has at
one time or the other held all the
leadership positions in Society 3,
which is one of the 28 societies that
make up the county organization.
Allegro and her husband, Ver
non, farm about 500 acres in Rein
holds. He recently harvested
37,000 bushels of com in 22 days,
so the couple is well-acquainted
with the long hours, hard work,
and equipment expense that farm
ing entails.
While farming, music, doll
making, and Farm Women mem
ber seems like a diverse combina
tion of interests, each adds an
aspect to Allegro’s life that helps
her exemplify the purpose of the
organization. Since the Society of
Farm Women was founded Ity
Mrs. Frank Black in 1914, it has
sought to foster love for the farm
and rural life, to uphold the dignity
of farming, to teach the responsi
bility that lies in working the soil;
and to enhance the charm of a real
country home.
Allegro’s love for farm and
home shines forth in her conversa
tion and in their home. Hospitality
seems to be a trademark of most
Farm Women members and Alleg
ro shines in graciousness. She
loves to cook and bake, and it is not
unusual for the Leiningets to enter
tain groups as large as 30 for
meals.
Several years ago, the couple
moved off the farmstead and bdilt
a house on the land. Allegra made
sure it was large enough to easily
entertain large groups of people,
her ever-expanding doll family,
and a music room for her marimba.
As far as her doll collection,
Allegra has made everyone of the
130 dolls in her collection. She
enjoys dressing and naming the
dolls. Her dolls line the winding
staircase in the foyer and the room
at the top of the staircase.
In addition to sewing dolls,
Allegra always has a crewel
embroidery or needlepoint project
to pick up. The walls of their spa
cious home are decorated with the
finely detailed stitches of her need
lework projects.
Allegra and Vernon celebrated
their 49th anniversary in October.
They have three living adult child
ren and seven grandchildren.
The Leiningers enjoy traveling,
and this past summer spent five
and a half weeks on a trip to the
West Coast.
“I knew we had to take this trip
this summer or I couldn’t do it for
two years,” Allegro said of her
commitment to the Farm Women
presidency.
She and her husband also enjoy
riding on their Honda Gold Wing
motorcycle and ride with a group
of friends for occasional overnight
trips.
“I love the fresh air, and feeling
a cool breeze on my face during
summer evenings,” Allegro said.
“I’ve always been an outside
person."
The Leiningers are active at
Mohlcr’s Church of the Brethren
where Allegro sings in the choir,
plays her marimba, and periodical
ly teaches the adult Sunday School
class.
Sitting idle doesn’t seem to be in
her vocabulary. Three mornings a
week are spent at the fitness club.
In addition she enjoys caring for
the extensive lawn and landscap
ing around the house.
AUegra’s goal as president of
the Lancaster County Society of
Farm Women is to do the best job
she possibly can. Times have
brought changes to the Farm
Women Society, she said.
Although it was common to limit
membership in earlier years, now
many societies are scrambling for
Allegro Leininger, who heads the Lancaster Society of Farm Women composed of
28 societies with 650 members, stands in front of the home that she and her husband
built on their farm. During the growing season, Allegro mows several acres of grass
and cares for the extensive landscaping surrounding the home.
members. Although state member
ship lists 2,768 members, the
majority of members range
between the ages of 60 to 90 years
of age. Society 3 of which Allegta
is a member has 32 members, but
at one time had as many as 45.
Membership was limited because
it became to large a group to meet
in individual homes.
As the members grow older it is
more difficult to remain active in
the organization. To accomodate
older members who do like to
drive at night, many societies now
hold breakfast meetings.
The women seem to like that
best and we have better response,**
Allcgra said.
She would like to see more
younger women join the organiza
tion, but at the same time she is rea
listic and acknowledges that fewer
women now live on the farm and
those who do are often employed
outside the home. Many mote
options are available to women in
this generation than to their
mothers and grandmothers, when
church was usually the only activi
ty outside the home.
For Allegra and most of the
other members, the Society of
Farm Women has provided close
friendships and helped them deve
lop talents and broaden their hori
zons through the many educational
programs it provides. In addition,
they have worked together to raise
thousands of dollars for communi
ty causes. For these reasons, Allcg
ra intends to do every thing within
her power to continue to keep the
organization a viable part of the
community.
It is her responsibility to plan the
agenda for the bimonthly board
meetings and to appoint commit
tees to oversee the fundraising,
community service, and society
functions, hi addition, she will
attend the state association board
meetings and will be assigned to a
state committee.
“It’s amazing how involved the
duties are,” Allcgra said as she
paged through stacks of notes out
lining responsibilities. “There’s a
lot more to do than it first appears
to be.”
Board meetings are attended by
county officers and the president
of each of the 28 societies. In the
upcoming December board meet- Mu#ic p|ay# a , arge ro|e |n A || egra - S |jf e . Even the name G f
mg, outgomg president Kathryn 4h» -accomplished marimba player .sounds musical
Fry will furnish a luncheon for the
county committee, and Allegta
will officially take over.
'The luncheon is traditionally
furnished by the outgoing presi
dent and she goes all out in provid
ing a great luncheon,” Allegro
said.
It will be two years before
Allegta will save the final lunc
heon that marks die end of her
leadership of the county organiza
tion. In the meantime. Allegro is
Homestead
NOTES
busy cooking for their many
guests.
Here are two recipes from her.
It’s too late to serve this scrump
tious pie at your Thanksgiving din
ner this year, but make sure you
clip this recipe from Allcgra so you
have it on hand for upcoming holi
day dinners. Also, the cookie
recipe is one that Allcgra said
every one raves about and is just in
time for your holiday baking.
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