EVERETT NEWSWANGER
Managing Editor
MOUNT JOY (Lancaster Co.) -
Quoting increased milk produc
tion, increased membership, and
decreased expenses, officials of the
Mount Joy Farmers Cooperative
Association pronounced the 1997
year excellent and successful Fig
ures released at the annual meeting
Wednesday showed the coopera
tive had increased the pounds of
milk shipped by 16 percent over
the previous year, bringing the tot
al to 298,510 pounds. Membership
increased by 22 or 12 percent, and
operating expenses declined by six
cents per hunderweight or almost
10 percent
The cooperative continues to
redeem the revolving fund certifi
cates of equity held by the patron
members on a five-year rotating
basis. The overall equity invest
ment by the average patron is 11
percent less than the average four
years ago.
The average milk price for the
year was $13.94, down from
YORK (York Co.) A spring
bam meeting and tour arc among
several events in planning for
members of the York County Hol
stein Association.
The association’s board of
directors has reorganized and be
gun scheduling the year’s line-up
of interesting and educational acti
vities for members of the breed or
ganization. Officers elected dur
ing the reorganization are Leroy
Bupp, Seven Valleys, president
April Cooper, Delta, vice presi
dent; and June Boyer, York, secre
tary-treasurer. Frank Feeser, Han
over, is the club’s state director.
Other directors include Jenelle
Boyer, Glen Rock; Ed Calhoun,
Glen Rock; Cindy Hall,'Airville;
Dan Hushon, Delta; Roy Thomp
son, Wellsville; and Brad Walker,
Thomasville.
Tentative plans include a March
tour, possibly in conjunction with
another county, is there is interest
among the membership. An April
Bonson's Awarded
Friends of 4-H Plaque
GAIL STROCK
Mifflin Co. Correspondent
STRODES MILLS (Mifflin
Co.) - Usually, organizations
present awards to shakers and
doers in the forefront. Usually.
This time, however, the Mifflin
County 4-H Junior Leaders
awarded the Friends of 4-H
plaque to a Mifflin County cou
ple for their behind-the-scenes
service since the 19605! Neither
Howard (Son) nor Betty Bonson
has ever served directly as a 4-H
club leader. But each has con
tributed greatly to the 4-H pro
gram.
The Bonsons accepted the
Friends of 4-H Award at the
Mifflin County 4-H Leaders'
Recognition Banquet held at
Hartman Center in Milroy in
November. At their stone farm
house in Strodes Mills near
Lewistown, Son and Betty
talked about 4-H and changes
over the years.
Tve been involved with the
youth fair since before our chil
dren were bom," Son begins.
Their daughter Rebecca is 34,
son Mark is 31. "And I'm still
t. Joy Cooperative Reports Good Year
$15.22 last year but still third high
of the last five years. In the final
teenth month” check was $13.14.
In 1993 operating expenses
were 72 cents per hundered weight,
but by this year expenses had been
reduced to 61 cents per hundered
weight
Awards were presented to those
members that had 12 consecutive
month of quality premiums. They
are George and Joe Rohrer, Stras
burg; Leon Musser, Mt Joy; Ira
Heistand, Jr., Elizabethtown, and
Glenn Barnhart Palmaiya.
Inspection honor roll recipients
with 95 or better points for farm
inspection, in addition to the pre
miums were; Christ Breneman,
Manheim; Ken Balmer, Elizabeth
town; Lawrence Good, Myer
stown; Glenn Martin, Mohnton;
price listing after deductions, the
net farm price was $13.13, the sec
ond highest in five years. The “thir-
Davc Hamish, Gap, and Leroy
Hoover, Leola.
Their producers shipped over
seven million pounds. They were
Brubaker Farms, 9,802,656; Star
York Holstein Club Reorganizes
bam meeting is under considera
tion, to coincide with Holstein
classification in the area, at a site
to be announced.
Annual county show date is ten
tatively July 29, in conjunction
with the 4-H summer dairy round
up, at the York Fairgrounds. A
summer picnic is planned for
August, at a host Holstein farm in
the county.
York County members sold 32
cases of Cheddar cheese prior to
the holidays, generating more than
$7OO for work with youth, promo
tional and educational Holstein
programs. Members of the York
Holstein board elected to support
youth work at the state level with a
sponsorship of one of the youth
show trophies at the All-American
show in September.
York County Holstein members
who have not yet paid their 1998
joint dues to the state and county
associations are encouraged to
send them as soon as possible.
with it!"
He remembers in the 1960 s them favorable. They agree that
when fair exhibits at Kish Park newer clubs such as ceramics,
near Lewistown consisted main- archery, child care, photography
ly of capons, clothing, pigs, pota- and cake decorating give more
toes and poultry. Steers and choices to more children,
dairy projects were added later. "Years ago, only farm kids
In 1964, when the fair out- joined 4-H," Son explains. "Now
grew the Kish Park facilities, town children join. It's good. It
Reed Hayes donated land gives them something to do.
Reedsville for the Mifflin County Very few 4-H kids get in trouble
Youth Park. Son helped build with the law."
the Mifflin County Youth Park One explanation may be that
buildings that year while "the by joining 4-H, youth agree to
women kept us fed!" Son has abide by its rules and regula
also served on the Mifflin tions. Participants must attend
County Youth Park Board since a specified number of meetings,
its inception. The first fair at the complete a project and project
Youth Park took place in 1965. book, or they don't show. And
Betty has been clerking the because of these club require
livestock sale for 32 years. Both ments, one thing has never
she and Son have served on the changed. 4-H still teaches
Mifflin County Fair Board and responsibility,
have watched 4-H membership It’s good to see 4-H'ers devel
grow over the years. op into responsible citizens,"
"The livestock sale on Friday Betty reflects,
nights has been growing The Bonsons agree that
tremendously," comments Betty. Mifflin County 4-H programs
"This year, it went from 6 until have a good group of leaders,
11 p.m. We sold 13 rabbits, 10 although more are always need
goats, 51 sheep, 129 pigs and 47 ed.
beef for a total of nearly $93,000. Son and Betty began dairy
Among those who received honor roll awards at the Mt. Joy Fanners annual meet
ing are from left, Ira Helstand, Jr, Glenn Barnhart, Dave Hamlsh, Ken Balmer, Christ
Breneman, and Leon Musser.
Rock Farms, 7,245,367; and John
L. Landis, 7,212,689.
In the election of directors,
Donald Risser, Elizabethtown, and
Robert Brandt, Elizabethtown,
were elected for three year terms.
Donald Stoner, Landisville, was
York County Holstein Association’s officers and board members for 1998 Include,
from left, from, April Cooper, vice president; Leroy Bupp, president; June Boyer, se
cretary-treasurer; and rear, directors Roy Thompson, Jenelle Boyer, Brad Walker,
Frank Feeser and Dan Hushon.
The goats and rabbits were
added just recently."
While Son and Betty have
been watching 4-H grow over
the decades, they’ve been watch
ing other changes too, most of
elected to finish the unexpired term
of Dale Hershey, who has been
named to assist Earl Dehmey, with
fieldman’s duty.
The Mount Joy Cooperative cur
rently markets milk for 201 dairy
farms throughout South Central
fanning in 1946 on a 160-acre
farm purchased from her par
ents. Son started breeding cows
part time in 1945. In 1967, he
left dairying to breed cows full
time. He became Mifflin
County's Dog Law Enforcement
Officer from 1980 until 1995.
They rent the land and dairy
facilities to the Lee D. and
Joanne Yoder family. Together
with Yoders, the Bonson farm
received the Mifflin County Soil
Son and Betty Bonson stand in front of a painting of
their farm near Strodes Mills. They're holding the Friends
of 4-H Award given to them by the Mifflin County Junior
Leaders.
Pennsylvania. They market milk
exclusively through Dairyiea
Cooperative headquartered in Syr
acuse, New York. The milk is
shipped to the local Kemps plant in
Lancaster.
Conservation Cooperator of the
Year Award in 1993 and the
Goodyear Award in 1994.
Betty began clerking in the
assessment office at the Mifflin
County Courthouse in 1975. She
helped with payroll and then
became Assistant Chief Clerk in
addition to her payroll responsi
bilities. She retired this past
July. She and Son enjoy going to
all of the Penn State home
games and to public sales.