Susquehanna
County
(Continued from Page A 1)
Dairy farmers and agri business
people. Department of Agriculture
representatives, and others com
prise their core group. However,
they arc always open to including
new people who can contribute
new ideas. They also have tre
mendous support from the school
personnel including the custodial
staff, cafeteria workers, teachers,
and administrators.
The event has grown ever since
it started nine years ago.
“The first one we had about 4SO
people,” said Place. “We were
impressed with that and it’s been
growing ever since. Most years we
have between 500 and 600 parti
cipants but the last couple of years
we’ve had over 700.”
Place admits that the actual
number of dairy farmers is hard to
estimate but he is sure that the bulk
of the attendants ate either dairy
farmers or tied to dairy fanning in
some way.
“We feel that there’s education
that takes place and think it does a
lot with building the dairy com
munity in the area. Hopefully peo
ple leave with a positive feeling.
That’s hard to measure, but I think
that’s something I’m really happy
about... to get people together
with a common cause.”
Jake Stoltzfus of Star Silos agrees that Susque
hanna County Dairy Day in a positive
experience.
“I think this is one of the best dairy days in the
state,” he said. “They try to have something for
everyone.”
This year’s program included workshops on
alternative agriculture ideas including heifer
raising as a business and stone quarry manage
ment, as well as agronomy issues such as adjust
ing your com planter, biotechnology, and pre
venting pesticide drift.
Other participants could listen to a presenta
tion called “Headbanging 101,” which related
stress management ideas, provided valuable tips
on food safety, allowed them to take advantage
of free blood pressure screenings, or bare their
arms for a tetanus shot Representatives from
Farm Credit and the Cooperative Extension Ser
vice were also available to answer questions
about estate planning.
Participants were invited to listen to the
encouraging words of Maria Fanning, director of
career services and cooperative education at
Keystone College, before bidding on one of 27
pies that were entered in the annual pie contest
When not attending one of the informational
seminars, participants had the opportunity to vis
it 72 exhibitors and grab a carton of free milk to
quench their thirst
In a well attended program on alternative agri
culture, David Bradstreet enthusiastically told
the group that alternative agriculture can
enhance on-farm income.
“You’ve got to throw out all the rules of what
you’re used to and try new things,” said Brads
treet “There are lots of opportunities out there.”
Examples of enterprises that could wok on
your farm include small fruit production, bees/
honey, rabbits, greenhouse, kennels, and orna
mental plants the list goes as far as the imagi
nation can take you.
Brads treet knows of one farm family that cuts
and dries weeds and sells them to crafters.
Another is involved in raising game birds for var
ious hunting organizations.
“The most important thing,” said Brads treet,
“is that the whole family buys into the project”
Also important is that the new enterprise fits
into the time the family has.
Alternative agriculture doesn’t necessarily
mean buying into a whole new enterprise. It
could be as simple as adjusting the way you do
things.
“You could consider a different production
system that is unique, such as organic produc
tion, or you might consider direct marketing.”
More than 800 people and exhibitors attended the 1998 agronomy tips, and estate planning. Visitors could also
Susquehanna County Dairy Day. Featured at the event were spend time at each of the 70 exhibitors and bid on a prize
workshops on alternative agriculture, stress management, winning pie from the pie contest.
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