LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.)
“It’s the way George would
have wanted it,” his widow Dor
othy said of the memorial fund that
has garnered more than $2,500 in
George Metzler’s name.
“George always loved cattle as a
youngster. He grew up in 4-H and
always supported the judging
teams,” Dorothy said of her reason
for requesting that donations be
sent to the Lancaster County
Livestock Judging Team in lieu of
flowers.'
George, who died unexpectant
ly on Sept 17, was known nation
ally as vice president and director
of the Pennsylvania Polled Here
ford Association and as a Polled
Hereford breeder.
The Metzlers showed the 1997
Show Bull and were named Pre
mier Exhibitor at the American
Hereford Association at Kansas
City—in addition to many other
awards during his life-time.
It’s expensive for livestock
judging teams to compete on a
national level. It requires thou
sands of dollars for the team to
travel to regional and eventually
national competition if they excel.
Through the generosity of acts
such as the Metzlers and other
interested individuals, the team,
composed of teen-age students, are
able to participate.
Few people are aware of the
bchind-the-scene details required
of the livestock judging teams. It’s
not only the commitment of the
members, but of leaders, coaches,
and benefactors.
While several colleges and
livestock associations donate
money to these teams, individuals
consistently donate funds. Accord
ing to Chet Hughes, Lancaster
County livestock agent and coach
for the Lancaster team, the vast
majority of benefactors are indivi
duals who at one time participated
in the team.
One of these individuals is Dr.
Donald M. Herr, a veterinarian at
the Manheim Pike Veterinary Hos
pital. “Every year, he is the first
person to send money and he
always sends a little note telling
how much he enjoyed being a
member of the team years ago,”
Hughes said.
Herr was a member of the 1957
team. “It was a wonderful, positive
experience to represent the state,”
Herr said. “It taught me to be
observant, to talk on my feet.”
At that time, the national com
petition was held in Chicago.
“Blocky-appearing animals were
in demand then. They were heavy,
Former judging team member Dr. Donald M. Herr said, “If
I wouldn’t have gotten Into vet school, I would have wanted
to be a county agent because of Max.” Max Smith was Herr’s
coach during his years on the livestock judging team.
They Keep Giving. .. Giving. . . Giving.. .
obese things,” Herr said recently
as he flipped through news clip
pings of animals the team judged.
While industry standards have
changed judging criteria, the bene
fits of participating on a state team
have not.
“It’s good training that took us
all over the country,” Herr said.
The Chester County Livestock
Judging Team recently swept
county, regional, and state titles to
advance to national competition
where they placed nineteenth in
the nation this past November.
Cheryl Fairbaim, livestock exten
sion agent and coach for the team,
estimates costs were about $6,000.
For high school students this is a
formidable amount Without the
help of donors, the teams could not
afford to travel to out-of-state
competitions.
Fairbaim was a former judging
team member. So she has sat on
both sides of the spectrum.
Because she considers judging
team participation to be her best
college experience, Fairbaim is an
enthusiastic coach.
“If you can get up and give rea
sons before a group, than you can
do anything,” she said.
This year’s Chester County
team practiced often, many times
leaving at 6 a.m. to visit various
farms, observing livestock and
methods of management, and
returning at 6 p.m. “It is my philo
sophy that we should not spend the
time or money if we are not going
to put ISO percent effort into this
endeavor,” Fairbaim said.
The Chester County team
included brothers Nathan and Jon
Howe, Conrad Smoker, and Der
rick Frank.
Team member Derrick Frank
said that it takes lots of sacrifice of
time and money when participat
ing on a team. Because his team
competed nationally, team mem
bers were practicing from May
through November. Derrick, 18, a
senior at Conestoga Christian Day
School, works on his Uncle Nelson
Beam’s farm.
“My uncle was a former judging
team member, so he knows what’s
required. He thinks the sacrifice is
really worth it, so he was really
good about giving me time off,”
Derrick said of the time needed to
travel to Eastern States competi
tion held in Massachusettes; East
ern National competition held in
Timonium, Md.; Keystone Inter
national Livestock Esposition held
in Harrisburg; The Main Event
Livestock Judging Contest held in
Columbus, Ohio; and the ultimate
national competition held in
Louisville, Ky.
The Chester County Livestock Judging Team swept state and regional competi
tions to advance to national, where they placed 19th in the nation. From left are Cheryl
Fairbalrn, coach; Jonathan Howe, Downingtown; Derrick Frank, Elverson; Conrad
Smoker, Honey Brook; and Nathan Howe, Downingtown. Jonathan was also selected
for the first-time ever National Champion Quiz Bowl Team in which four members from
the East competed against four members from the West.
After her husband’s death, Dorothy Metzler continues raising Polled Herefords at
Salunga Acres with the help of her family and a herdsman. A memorial fund in her hus
bands name garnered more than $2,500 for the Lancaster County livestock Judging
team. Her children and grandchildren continue the family's Involvement In 4-H. “It's
the best education a child can have,” Metzler said.
This was the second year ot
competition for Derrick, who is
enthusiastic in his praise of the
program.
“It taught me public speaking, to
speak confidently, and to prepare
quickly,” Derrick said. “It definite
ly is learning experience that
expanded my horizons and gave
me a broader view of ag.”
Derrick was thrilled with the trip
to Louiville, where they saw
“beautiful animals and big farms.”
This broader view of agriculture
often inspires ag-related career
choices. But not always. The
experience has steered Derrick in
the direction of being a minister
and evangelist.
“Before participating, I wasn’t
good at public speaking. My
grandfather was a preacher and
farmer. I wanted to continue the
family tradition, but I was too
scared to speak up. God used this
experience to help me become bol
der and not back down,” Derrick
said.
After graduation from Conesto
ga Christian School, Derrick plans
(Turn to Page B 7)
S' ** ■»}
At the urging of her mother Laurie Schmidt, Jessica
joined the meats Judging team and continued on to national
competition.
Homestead
NOTES