A26-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 1, 1998
Wilkom To Berks County: State Young Farmer Conference
BERNVILLE (Berks Co.) -
Wilkom to Berks County was
the greeting proclaimed to all
those who attended the 1998
State Young Farmer Tour and
Banquet. Hosted by the
Tulpehocken Adult Young
Farmer Chapter, New
Schaefferstown Road, Bernville.
State officers kicked off the
conference with an executive
committee meeting called to
order by President David Groff.
A luncheon, at the
Tulpehocken Jr. Sr High school,
featuring rib-eye steak sand
wiches, preceded the Thursday
afternoon educational tours.
Participants had the opportu
nity to select from two tour
options on day one of the event.
Tour A featured agribusinesses
including Ridgidply Rafters,
Inc, Farmer Boy Ag Systems
and Dutch Valley Food
Distributors. A family run busi
ness, Ridgidply Rafters, Inc.,
which began over 40 years ago,
with the fabrication of flue-lam
inated rafters in the basement of
the family home Today, the com
pany employs more than 110
people and operates a 175,000
square foot manufacturing facil
ities located on 46 acres of land
The facility includes a glulami
natmg plant specializing in the
production of beanas, posts,
arches and heavy timber truss
es Wood roof and floor trusses
are produced in an additional
plant Ridgidly Rafters also
sells steel, roofing, siding, and
other construction products
They have their own fleet of
trucks with cranes for truss set
ting and unloading materials
Farmer Boy Ag Systems, Inc
a swine and poultry facility con
struction company currently
builds swine and poultry facili
ties Founded by Leon G. Hoover
in 1979, to provide swine equip
ment to local producers and
later "turn-key" type systems.
As this time, Dale Martin, Dean
Weaver and Leonard Martin
own the marketing rights to this
Eastern region The company is
currently building swine and
poultry facilities in
Pennsylvania, New York,
Delaware, Maryland, Ohio,
Indiana and Michigan, at a rate
of 200 buildings per year
Dutch Valley Food
Distributing delivers to 24
states with its own trucks pro
viding quality bulk merchandise
with top quality service
David YounKer, center, explains how strips of wood are
used in paint brushes.
Servicing large and small busi
nesses, bakeries, supermarkets,
churches and co-ops Their mis
sion and philosophy statement
is as follows The mission of
Dutch Valley is to glorify God by
serving Him and carrying out
His plan - By pursuing the high
est standard and respect of life,
integrity, and morality. By pro
viding a place of employment
and personal growth for each of
our employees. By building a
strong corporate organization
that will provide consistent
leadership, development, and
growth. We, the Dutch Valley
Management, believe that suc
cess of any organization depends
on how it serves human needs
through the combined efforts of
people Our company must pro
vide its customers with quality
products and services on a con
sistent basis.
Tour B featured the diversity
of production agriculture with a
view of Mor-Farms, DA-JAC
Lumber Inc and Johnson
Farms
Ralph and Crystal Moyer
own and operate, More-Dale
Farms One full-time employee,
Richard Hershey, helps with all
aspects of the operation
Their 105 Registered
Holstems average over 24,000
pounds of milk, marketed
through Land ’O Lakes. They
are housed in free stalls and
milked in a double six herring
bone parlor equipped with
Germania detachers.
Replacement heifers are started
in an environmentally con
trolled calf barn, then moved to
group bedded pack pens before
reaching the slatted floor mono
slope heifer barn at 4 months of
age, where they are raised till
being moved to the dry cow facil
ity 6 weeks pre-freshening. A
recent renovation, the removal
to the siding off the northwest
side of the dry cow facilities and
its replacement with chicken
wire and curtains to provide for
more adequate ventilation was
pointed out by Ralph
300 acres is cropped, 128 is
owned with the remaining rent
ed from Ralph's parents. Alfalfa,
corn and soybeans are grown.
Substantial time was spent
reviewing the feeding and stor
age facilities which are under
roof.
DA-JAC 'Lumber Inc. was
started in 1955. Today it pro
duces lumber for the furniture
Arthur and Elaine Johnson demosntrate how to bail a Christmas tree for trucking.
Tom Andreas, a lumber grader, discusses the grading and pricing of timber.
W. ;
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At Mor-Daie Farms the young farmers visit the heifer housing facilities.
larket, railroad ties, and ballet
ints. Tom Andreas, a lumber
•ader demonstrated and spoke
the group about lumber value..
Johnson Farms owned and
lerated by Arthur and Elaine
)hnson, grows Christmas trees
icluding Douglas Fir, Concolor
ir, Balsian Fir, White Pine,
;olorado Blue Spruce, Canaan
ir, and a limited number of
iorway Spruce The first trees
'ere planted about ten years
:o on 65 acres. Trees are whole
saled and retailed. They are cut
and balled as was demonstrated.
A wreath business is conducted
in November and December.
Wreath are made in Maine with
some being made locally. The
tour hosts demonstrated the
construction of a double and sin
gle sided wreath for those
observing.
In spring, bedding plants,
geraniums, and perennials are
raised and sold through the
greenhouse.
During the summer, vegeta
bles and flower bunches are
marketed on a self-serve basis.
Pumpkins and mums are sold in
the fall
The Lantern Lodge,
Myerstown, .provided the setting
for a social hour and banquet.
Lebanon and Berks County's
Dairy Princess' Heidi Finicle
and Alicia Gross served milk
punch as guests enjoyed cheese,
bologna and fresh fruit.
Donald Daub, President of
the Tulpehocken organization,
served as M.C. for the banquet
which included commodities of
Filet Mignon and Loin of Pork.
Scavenger Hunt teams turned in
(Turn to Page A 29)