Page 12—Foraging Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 17, 1999
Council Honors Graziers, Industry Leaders At Banquet
GRANTVILLE (Dauphin Co.)
Forage producers, graziers, and agri
industry representatives were honored
early in March here at the Holiday Inn
during the 39th Annual Meeting of the
Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland
Council (PFGC).
The PFGC Special Award, the high
est recognition given by PFGC, was
presented to Dr. Larry Muller of the
Dairy and Animal Science Department
at Penn State.
The award, presented to an individu
al or com) • that has made a major
Paul Craig, outgoing PFGC president, right, congratulates incoming
president Ed Rita* Honey Grove.
from left, Greg and Deb Farr and Titua Martin.
. oanquet, rrom kh, iry
Stockum, Conservation Award, and Louis and Harold Welch, Conser
vation Farmer Award.
to the state’s forage and livestock
industry, honors Muller for his contri
bution to quality forage in the dairy
ration. Muller has secured funding and
coordinated the Regionally Based Pro
fessional Development Program for
Grazing Systems Management Prog
ram. This program, according to Dr.
Marvin Hall, Penn State forage spe
cialist, provided in-depth grazing and
pasture training for industry and agen
cy employees throughout Pennsylva
nia and die Northeast.
“Dr. Muller was also instrumental in
industry was presented to Larry Muller, Penn State Dairy and Animal
Science Department, left, at the Pennsylvania Grazing and Forage Con
ference. Paul Craig presented the award.
New directors of the PFGC include, from left, Rich Adams, New Hol
land; John Pergosky, New Tripoli; and Matt Sanderson, State College.
Education Center at Penn State,” noted
Hall. “This center, along with PFGC,
assists in planning and sponsoring the
Pennsylvania Grazing and Forage
Conference each year.”
The Conservation Award recipient
is Gary Stockum of the Washington
Conservation District. Stockum has
been active in providing opportunities
for the residents of Washington Coun
ty to learn about uses of forages and
grazing management through the
DEP-funded “Project Grass” program,
according to Hall.
“Gary tries to emphasize the role
forages can play in proper conserva
tion practices,” said Hall. “Although
Mr. Stockum discusses grazing man
agement with many landowners on a
one-to-one basis, the educational
opportunities of Project Grass also
provide an opportunity for larger edu
cational experiences such as field days
and pasture management meetings on
farms throughout southeast
Pennsylvania.”
The field days and meetings are sup
plemented with presentations on a var
iety of related topics presented by far
mers, businesses, lending agencies,
and government agencies.
Stockum’s involvement in Project
Grass has brought together many
diverse groups and organizations and
stimulated better cooperation toward
the goal of conservation farming-
The Conservation Fanner Award
recipients are Lewis and Harold
Welch, who have implemented numer
ous conservation practices on their
dairy in Wayne County. They have
incorporated intensive grazing into
their forage system to maximize per
manent ground cover and minimize
erosion.
The Welches have also installed a
liquid manure pond so that they can
store manure until the seal conditions
are suitable for application. They have
been very cooperative with their
cooperative extension and soil conser
vation offices by hosting field days and
tours of their farm and conservation
practices.
Outstanding Pasture Producer
awards were presented to those pro
ducers who exemplify progressive,
industry recognized methods of graz
ing and forage production on their
farms. Outstanding Pasture Producer
Award winners include;
(Turn to Pag* 13)