Farm Bureau Plans Special Events At Ag Progress Exhibits
CAMP HILL (Cumberland
Co.) The Pennsylvania Farm
Bureau is inviting visitors to Ag
Progress Days, taking place
August 18-19-20, to stop by its
exhibit for some special events
this year.
As in years past, Pennsylvania
Farm Bureau will have an
exhibit at its usual location near
the corner of East Fifth and
Main streets at the show.
However this year instead of
being in a tent, Farm Bureau’s
Penn State Ag
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19 9 8
Being Wool Queen
‘Sounded Cool,’ Says Ashley
KUTZTOWN (Berks Co.) Ashley Shollenberger admits she’s not one to wear
skirts and blouses.
“Actually I’m totally Jeans and T-shirts,” she said. “I can’t stand skirts.”
But the new Berks County wool queen enjoys the Idea of being queen. The idea
“sounded cool,” Ashley admitted. “It has a lot of prestige.”
On Tuesday at the Kutztown Fair, Ashley, 16, daughter of Jeff and Penny Shollen
berger, Mohrsvllle, was trimming and fitting her Oxford yearling ewe, “Mackenzie ” a
name she borrowed. “I heard it on TV and liked It,” Ashley said.
The home-schooled queen was readying forthefitting and showmanship contest of
which began the night she was crowned at the fair.
She has been showing at the fair four years. The four-year Berks County Sheep and
Lamb Club member said this Is the first time she has been a queen.
Is she prepared?
She believes so. She has no public speaking worries. She served as toastmaster of
her leadership forum In March this year at the county 4-H ag center. She’s also a vice
president of her club.
Ashley raises Oxford sheep. She has five ewes. She works with her brother, Justin,
who also has an Oxford ram. Her ststfr, Amber, has Cheviots.
Ashley said she plans to attend college to study “animals or little kids.
“But little kids are easier to' work with,” she said.
exhibit will be housed in a new
42-foot by 88-foot agricultural
building constructed by Walters
Buildings of Cable, Ohio.
“The building will provide a
permanent structure to house
our exhibit and a comfortable,
weather-proof environment for
the thousands of people who
visit our exhibit each year,” said
Farm Bureau President Guy
Donaldson.
“We’re proud of the new
building and want to show it off
during Ag Progress Days. It’s a
confirmation of our long-term
commitment to Penn State’s Ag
Progress Days and our relation
ship with the College of
Agricultural Sciences,” Donaldson
said.
In honor of the new building,
Farm Bureau is planning two
special events during Ag
Progress Days.
A brief ribbon-cutting cere
mony is scheduled for 11 a.m.,
August 18 in front of the build
ing. Donaldson is to be on hand
to officially open the building to
the public. Afterward there will
be refreshments for those
attending the ceremony.
On Wednesday, August 19 a
building dedication and flag
raisins ceremony is set for 1:30
p.m. Several agricultural lead
ers have been invited to make
brief remarks, including the
Pennsylvania secretary of agri
culture, the dean of Penn State’s
College of Agricultural Sciences,
and the chairmen and vice
chairmen of the state House and
Photo by Andy Andrews.
Senate Agriculture committees.
A representative from Walters
Building will also speak.
The event is to conclude with
the release of 1,000 homing
pigeons in front of the building
for a 100-mile race sanctioned
by the Blue Mountain
Invitational Combine, affiliated
with the International Federation
of Homing Pigeon Fanciers.
“It promises to be an unfor
gettable afternoon at our exhib
it.” said Donaldson.
Farm Bureau will present a
trophy and $lOO prize to the
owner of the winning bird,
Wednesday evening in
Schuylkill Haven. Second and
third place prizes will also be
presented.
In addition to special events,
visitors to Farm Bureau’s Ag
Progress exhibit will have the
opportunity to talk with repre
sentatives of Farm Bureau’s
many member programs and
services. These include Blue
Cross and Blue Shield group
health insurance, Safemark
farm supplies, Women’s and
Young Farmer & Rancher com
mittees, Nationwide Insurance,
money-saving member benefits,
tax planning and computerized
accounting business services,
state and national legislative
programs and the Pennsylvania
Friends of Agriculture Foundation.
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
is a voluntary, statewide farm
organization which represents
more than 26,000 farm and
rural families.
Penn State’s Ag Progress
Days is held at the Russell E.
Larson Agricultural Research
Center at Rockspring located on
Route 45, nine miles southeast
of State College. The show fea
tures more than 500 acres of
educational and commercial
exhibits, tours and machinery
demonstrations. Show hours are
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday jnd
Thursday with extended hours
to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
Admission and parking are free.