Gov. Tom Ridge Keynotes Banquet, Opens Farm Show
(ContbiMd from Pag* AS2)
bridge, Lancaster County, tbiee
silver, four bronze and ‘Best
American'*;
The Winery at Wilcox, Wil
cox, Elk County, one silver and
three bronze; and
Franklin Hill Vineyards,
Bangor, Northampton County,
one bronze.
The Pennsylvania Farm-City
Council also recognized this year's
winners as part of the dinner prog
ram. Ag Secretary Samuel Hayes
jr„ presented plaques to represen
tatives of die Altoona-Blair Coun
ty Chamber of Commerce and the
Franklin County Farm-City Coun
cil for conducting successful prog
rams in 1997.
“The Farm-City program works
to create a better quality of life for
future generations,” says, Hayes.
“Pennsylvania’s citizens need to
recognize that fknn-city partner
ships arc essential. Without our
farms and farm families, city and
urban families would have no
food, and without buisnesses from
our cities and towns, farmers
would not have markets and pro
cessing facilities for their
products.
“Farm -City activities present a
unique opportunity to increase
public awareness of the tremend
ous contributions made by Pen
nsylvania’s 50,000 farm families
and 2,300 food processors and the
challenges involved in meeting
the world’s increasing needs for
agricultural products.”
The Altoona-Blair County
Chamber of Commerce carried
out a variety of activites, including
a “Buy Local” campaign; an old
fashioned pig roast; school visits;
“Dairy Day;” and the 27th annual
Farm-City Dinner.
Franklin County’s Farm-City
Council sponsored more than a
dozen activities, including an agri
cultural exposition at a local mall;
farm tours and open houses; job
exchange and the 28th annual
Farm-City Dinner.
The Agriculture Department
held a Farm-City Day celebration
on Nov. 18, just prior to National
Farm-City Week, which is cele
brated during the seven days lead
ing up to and including Thanks
giving Day.
Thriving Farm-City committees
sponsor a variety of events
throughout the year, working with
farm organizations, government
These young boot showmen share a moment with Gov. Tom Ridge. From left, Tim
Kosiorek, Jameson Walker, Ridge, and Alex Mattocks. Kosiorak ia from Erie County,
Walker and Mattocks from Crawford County.
agencies and local businesses.
They work to promote the diversi
ty and economic importance of
agriculture within their county,
and a greater appreciation
between the farm and business
community as well as rural and
urban residents.
To promote die farm-city con
cept, Gov. Tom Ridge issued a
proclamation declaring Nov.
21-27, 1997, as Farm-City Week
in Pennsylvania, and urged all
residents to celebrate the inter
dependence between urban and
ratal communities. He plans to
issue a similar proclamation this
year.
The following individuals were
introduced at the banquet
The Pennsylvania Apple
Queen - Ashlec Semelka, 18, is
the daughter of Robert and Linda
Semelka of North East, Erie
County. Her father and grand
father own and operate the Semel
ka Fruit Farm. Pennsylvania cur
rently tanks fifth nationally in
apple production, yielding an
annual crop of 391,000,000 lbs.,
valued at $50.5 million.
Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s
Queen - Twenty-one-year-old
Melissa Leiden, daughter of Ger
ald F. and Bernadette Leiden of St
Lawrence, Cambria County is the
current Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s
Queen. She attends Indiana Uni
versity of Pennsylvania where she
is active in field hockey, track and
field and the residence life coun
cil. The gross income from beef
production on 33,000 farms in the
state during 1996 was $352.7
million.
Pennsylvania Dairy Princess-
Njcholc R. Meabon, 17, daughter
of Randy and Paula Meabon of
Wattsburg, Erie County, is a
senior at Seneca High School.
Nicole his planning for a career in
broadcast communications. On
behalf of the state’s 10,500 daily
farms with $1.67 billion in
revenues, she works to educate the
public about the need to consume
milk and dairy products. Pennsyl
vania currently ranks fourth
nationally in milk produciton 10.6
billion pounds.
Pennsylvania Dairy Goat
Association Youth Representa
tive - Sixteen-year-old Derrick
Carpenter, Newville, Cumberland
County is a junior at Big Spring
High School where he participates
in FFA (he is currently president
of his chapter) and wrestling. He
is an eight year member of the
Cumberland County 4-H Goat
Club.
Delaware Valley College
Ambassadors for Food and
Agriculture - Stephanie Kauff
man, Reinholds, Bedes County is
the twenty-year-old daughter of
Ray and Shirley Kauffman. She is
a junior horticulture major at
Delaware Valley College. Grant
E. Campbell, 23, son of Earl and
Tamic Campbell, was raised on
the family dairy farm in Gratz,
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
He is a senior at Delaware Valley
College majoring in Large Animal
Science.
Pennsylvania Draft Horse
and Mule Queen - Sarah Lang,
19, is the daughter of Rodney and
Cindy Lang of Saxonburg, Butler
County. She attends Butler Com
munity College. She is the found
ing member and past president of
the “Young Drafters” 4-H Club.
During her reign she has encour
aged children to develop their
interest in draft horses.
Queen Evergreen XXXIV -
Christina Lynn Schroth is the
19-year-old daughter of Betty and
Kenneth Schroth, Jr. of Indiana,
Indiana County. She is a sopho
more at Indiana University of Pen
nsylvania majoring in business
management Queen Evergreen
represents Indiana County’s tour
ism and Christmas tree industries.
Pennsylvania currently ranks fifth
nationally in the production of
Christmas trees, with 2.5 million
trees valued at $32 million.
Pennsylvania State Fair
Queen - April Biyington, 18, is
the daughter of Clifford and Con
nie Biyington, Bradford, McKean
County. She attends the Niagara
University studying psychology.
After college, April would like to
pursue a career counseling child
ren and families. Pennsylvania’s
113 agricultural fairs are part of a
time honored tradition that dates
back to the early days of Ihc Com
monwealth. They showcase the
joys, achievements and great
foods of rural Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Flying Farmers
Queen - Mary Hawbaker and her
husband, David reside on their
300 acre corn, soybeans, alfalfa,
wheat and barley farm in Mcrcers
burg, Franklin County. Mary’s
favorite hobbies include garden
ing, cooking, needlepoint and col
lecting china.
Uncattw Firming, Saturday, January 17, 1998-A33
Pennsylvania Grape Queen -
Karen Simpson, the 18-year-old
daughter of Don and Judy Simp
son, is a lifetime resident of Erie
County, heart of Pennsylvania’s
bountiM grape belt As Grape
Queen, Karen appears at public
functions and promotional activi
ties, informing and educating con
sumers about the many benefits
and uses of grape products. The
largest grape juice processing
plant in the world is located in
Pennsylvania along with approxi
mately 50 wineries. Pennsylvania
tanks fourth among all states in
the country in grape production,
with 79,000 tons annually
harvested on some 11,000 acres.
Pennsylvania Honey Queen -
Jamie Fisher, 18, is the daughter
of Paul and Sandra Fisher of
Amanda Miller gives a crash course in shearing sheep to
Gov. Ridge. The governor provee himself a quick learner
and willing to get Involved.
Stoudsburg, Monroe County. She
is a sophomore at the Pennsylva
nia State University majoring in
microbiology. Honeybees are
used to pollinate over $1 billion
worth of crops each year in the
United States. It takes 556 worker
bees flying 35,854 miles to pro
duce one pound of honey.
Pennsylvania Lamb and
Wool Queen - Heidi Svonavcc is
the 17-ycar-old daughter of Dave
and Betty Lou Svonavcc of Rock
wood, Somerset County. She has
been a 4-Her for nine years exhi
biting carcass, market and breed
ing sheep projects. Heidi is also
involved with FFA and is a mem
ber of the National Suffolk and
Hampshire Associations. Pcnnsyl-
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