We-Untaflfcf Farming, Saturday, Octobar 10, 1998
Harry H. Bachman is presented a plaque out of apprecia
tion for serving well as president of the Pennsylvania Lives
tock Association. From the left are Tony Dobrosky with the
PLA, Harry Bachman, and state Secretary of Agriculture
Samuel Hayes Jr.
KILE Celebrates
(Continued from Pag. At) As Xanner abou(
port you who make successes specific breed, the rider of that
possible.” breed horse would walk or ride the
He cited his pride in and the long-time sup
port from his family wife Faye, and child
ren Pamela and Randy. He also cited the dedi
cation of others, such as Grumbine, with whom
he has worked to promote the livestock indus
try and KILE, and state Secretary of Agricul
ture Samuel Hayes Jr.
Watkins said that when Hayes served as a
leader in the state House of Representatives he
could always be counted upon to support agri
culture and the livestock industry.
Watkins said that Hayes was instrumental in
helping KILE (as well as other agricultural
ventures and programs), that at times needed
help to continue. According to Watkins, sup
port from the state Legislature helped the event
become the pride of the state’s livestock
industry.
He talked about the impact others made
upon him, such as the late Glen Kean, also a
Hall of Fame inductee, a former Penn State ani
mal agriculture professor, who served for years
on the PLA and KILE board of directors and
served with Grumbine (also Hall of Fame
inductee) as co-chair of the KILE show for
about 14 years, and was a mutual mentor of
Watkins, Grumbine and Hayes.
All three men have said that their memory of
Kean was as a constant force in motivating
them to do their utmost to ensure that state
programs and the Farm Show Complex were
used to the best effect to promote the industry,
and to educate the public to its importance and
economic magnitude.
Overall, Watkins said that in his 30 years
involvement in the Pennsylvania livestock
industry he has enjoyed the company of other
people involved.
“I never met a person I didn’t like, in the
livestock industry,” he said.
Further, Watkins said he has been thankful
for being able to live in Pennsylvania, and
implied that he would like more Pennsylva
nians to appreciate the state in which they live.
“I think we have a great state to live and work
in. It’s a fine state,” he said.
The ceremoney started with a tribute to the
horse industry, the various breeds represented
at KILE, and the industry’s economic impor
tance to the state, made by Don Tanner, co
chairman of the KILE Horse Committee.
He talked about the the various breeds and
their origins and different characteristics and
uses. The national Shire (a breed of draft horse)
Show at KILE was the largest Shire show in the
last 70 years.
As Tanner began his presentation on the his
tory, importance and characteristics of the nine
different horse breeds Belgian, Shire,
Clydesdale. Percheron, Haflinger, Arabian,
Quarterhorse. Appaloosa, and Paso Fino
there were riders in show garb on the show
fitted horses of each breed lined up across the
width of the Small Arena.
°“!? , ® nd,n | 441 • n ?f F js are recognized by the Pennsylvania Livestock
Association. Promt he left, PLA President Mike Firestine helps present awards to the
1998 recipients Heidi Svonavec, Heather Bankert, and Paul Kitzmiller, while state Sec
retary of Agriculture Samuel Hayes and Kathy Stewart, PLA awards committee, pre
sent plaques.
animal around the ring.
On the rear rail of the Small Are
na were large placards with facts
about the different horses, so the
public could learn more at their lei
sure. Providing the show
attending public with more basic
breed information through pla
cards and displays has become an
ingrained aspect of the KILE
event
According to Tanner, the horse
industry is an integral part of the
Pennsylvania agricultural eco
nomy, and contributes more than
$1 billion and employs about
22,000 people.
In other business, Harry H.
Bachman, outgoing PLA president
and KILE Horae Committee co
chairman with Tanner, was recog
nized by Secretary Hayes for his
service and leadership.
Bachman is an Annville-based
auctioneer involved for a long time
with beef and dairy cattle, hogs
and sheep, who has been a consis
tent hands-on supporter of local
and state livestock and dairy, and
youth programs.
Secretary Hayes said that “col
onel” Bachman (“colonel” is the
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