812-Un<antef Farming, Saturday, April 10, 1999
Delaware
Farming
NEWARK, Del. On a wint
er’s day the skies are overcast, but
the mood of Sylvia and Bill Wal
ther is anything but gray. They
stand {holily beside the sign that
proclaims their 109-acre farm a
Century Farm a distinction be
stowed by the state to honor Dela
ware families that have farmed
their land continuously for more
than 100 years.
The sister and brother farming
team makes up the third genera
tion of Walthers to live and work
the Bear, Del., farm since their
grandfather height the place in
1876. They raise beef cattle and a
variety of fresh vegetables (“you
name them, we grow them," says
Sylvia) to sell at their summertime
roadside stand. They also grow
com, barley and hay to feed the
cattle. Until 1990, the Walthers
had a dairy operation, but that
ended with the increasing traffic
on Walther Road, which divides
their acreage.
“Because we pastured the herd
across the road from the bam, we
had to stop traffic twice a day to
lead the cows over,” relates Syl
via. “It didn’t take long, but peo
ple in cars just got too impatient
they had no time to stop for
such things."
Farming is how Sylvia and Bill
Walther have made their living for
more than half a century, and 4-H
is one way they have given back to
their community.
Sylvia is the leader of the oldest
4-H club in New Castle Coiujty.
Founded in 1929, the Bear 4-H
club was the one Sylvia and Bill
belonged to as children growing
up. Their mother, Dora, was lead
er. Sylvia, 71, took over club lead
ership when she was 20. In the
time since, she has seen more than
1,200 youngsters grow under her
guidance to become productive,
skilled adults through 4-H.
As a young 4-H’er Sylvia says
she “stuck with” the farm-related
projects like raising broilets and
vegetables.
“I wasn’t into the sewing and
cooking stuff, even then,” says
Sylvia, with a wink at her brother.
Bill nods in amused agreement
For his projects, Bill raised swine
and field crops, things he was al
ready doing on the farm helping
his folks.
“4-H has changed over the last
50 years,” notes Bill. “Growing
up, we had mostly farm and home
making activities. Now they also
have things like dog training and
computers."
The Walthere don’t seem fazed
by the continuous residential and
commercial buildup surrounding
their farm, which is just off Route
40. Instead, through 4-H, they
have invited suburban youngsters
to learn first-hand what it’s like to
be on a farm and take care of live
stock.
For children who are three and
four generations away from any
kind of farm, what the Walthers
offer them is an eye-opening,
heart-expanding experience. Of
the current 26 Bear 4-H Club
members, seven ate raising feeder
pigs and steers, which are housed
on the Walther farm. Each 4-H’cr
takes one day a week to take care
of everyone clse’s pigs, a strategy
that also teaches teamwork and
cooperation.
“You should see them the first
time they set eyes on a pig that
close up,“ Sylvia says. She laughs
at the recollection. “They back
Family Offers
Exp
erience To Kids
■-» . ?*%.
Sister and brother farming team Sylvia and Bill Walther
share their century farm with the non-farming community.
off, a little afraid, but soon they
jump right in there, taking care of
the pigs and loving it”
In addition to caring for the ani
mals from day one, the 4-H’ers
learn about showmanship in the
ring an important skill in ex
hibiting livestock. The Walters’
nephew, Wally Gott of Glasgow,
is their 4-H livestock project lead
er. Bear Club 4-H’ers show their
animals at the Cecil County, Md.,
Breeders Fair as well as at the
Delaware State Fair.
“The Walthers exemplify what
4-H is all about” says Mark Man
no, Cooperative Extension 4-H
and youth educator at the Univer
sity of Delaware. “Their more
than 50 years of leadership and
commitment to 4-H offers the kids
Mutual Funds Basics
HONESDALE (Wayne Co.)
A mutual fund is a company that
collects money from many people
and invests it in a variety of se
curities. Mutual funds are a good
way to invest in stocks, bonds and
other securities for three reasons.
One, the securities are managed
by professional managers. Two,
because you have a collection of
different stocks and bonds, your
risk is spread out or diversified.
And three, because the fund buys
in large quantities, its costs are
lower than what you would pay on
your own.
There are thousands of different
mutual funds. Deciding where to
put your money in these mutual
funds can boggle the mind. An
educational program on “Mutual
Funds: The Basic and Beyond”
will be held on consecutive Tues
day evenings, April 13 and April
of today a real stability and con
tinuity. Sylvia and Bill generously
share their farm and expertise,
giving city and suburban kids a
glimpse into a kind of life and an
experience they would never get
otherwise.”
Sylvia shrugs off such praise.
Recently, when she and her bro
ther were named 1998 4-H Adult
Volunteer Award winners for the
Delaware, she wondered what all
the fuss was about. For her, it’s
not that complicated; she con
tinues to volunteer for 4-H be
cause she cares about children,
and it’s the right thing to do.
“4-H keeps the kids off the
street and gives them purpose,”
says Sylvia. “And it keeps me
young!”
20 from 7 - 9 p.m. m the Wayne
County Cooperative Extension
Meeting room, Courthouse,
Honesdale. The workshops will
describe some of the information
you need to examine when select
ing mutual funds. It will describe
the different types of funds, fac
tors to consider in selecting, where
to focus your reading of the pros
pectus, types of fees charged, how
you can make money in mutual
funds, and records you need to
keep.
. There is ass charge for the pro
gram and registration is requested.
To register, call Wayne County
Cooperative Extension a (570)
253-5970 X 239.
The session will be held at the
Wayne County Cooperative Ex
tension Office which is located in
the Wayne County Courthouse
Basement, Honesdale.
.1
i
SEE YOUR NEAREST
&
AEWHOLLAI\D
DEALER FOR DEPENDABLE
EQUIPMENT & SERVICE
PENNSYLVANIA
Abj
PA
>ttstowi
Messick
Equipment
RD 1, Box 255 A
717-259-6617
Am
BHM Farm
Equipment,
Inc.
RD 1, Rte. 934
717-867-2211
lisle. PA
R&W
Equipment Co.
35 East Willow Street
717-243-2686
>wn. P
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc
Rt. 283 - Rheem’s
Exit
717-367-1319
Greencastle. PA
Meyers
Implements, Inc
400 North Antrim Way
717-597-2176
Halifax. PA
Sweigard Bros
R.D. 3, Box 13
717-896-3414
MARYLAND
Frederick. MD
Ceresville Ford New Holland, Inc,
Rt. 26 East 301-662-4197
Outside MD, 800-331-9122
laaerstown. Ml
Antietam Ford Tractor, Inc
2027 Leitersburg Pike
800-553-6731
301-791-1200
Ag Industrial Equipment
Route 1,50 N. Greenmont Rd.
1-800-442-5043
Bridgeton. NJ Washington. NJ
Leslie G. Fogg, Smith Tractor &
Inc. Equip., Inc.
Canton & Stow Creek 15 Hrllcrest Ave.
Landing Rd. 908-689-7900
609-451-2727
609-935-5145
KWHOUAN)
£% NEW HOLLAND
Credit Company
Norman D. Clark
& Son, Inc.
Honey Grove, PA
717-734-3682
Loysville, PA
717-789-3117
New Holland. PA
A.B.C. Groff, Inc.
110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
Oley. PA
C.J. Wonsidler
Bros.
R.D. 2
610-987-6257
Schreffler
Equipment
Pitman, PA
717-648-1120
Tamaqua. PA
Charles S.
Snyder. Inc
R.D. 3
717-386-5945
West Grove. PA
S.G.Lewis &
Son, Inc.
352 N. Jennersville Rd,
610-869-2214
1-800-869-9029
Woodstown. NJ
Owen Supply Co
Broad Street &
East Avenue
609-769-0308