Every Four Years, 4-H Livestock Team Experiences Dream Season ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Fanning Staff LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Almost like the workings of a fine clock, the team has been consistent This decade, the Lancaster County 4-H Livestock Judging Team, with different members, has won the statewide championship in 1991,1995, and again this year. Some would think Four years apart Time and again. But they’ve done even better than that Since Chet Hughes has been the county extension agent, teams have also gone to nationals in 1984, 1987, and 1989. But time is well spent as the team makes final practices for the national competition at the North American International Livestock Expo in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 16. In the meantime, when they can, the team is preparing for the com petition. They have been practic ing their judging on the three spe cies swine, sheep, and beef noted Chet Hughes, livestock agent Hughes assists Wendell Landis, team coach. Members include John Hess, 18; Geoff Rohrer, 16; Jessica Schmidt, 17; and Kevin Pfautz, 16. The typical age to begin com peting on a 4-H team is 12, noted Hughes. “Some of the early birds start at 10 or 11 or so, but can’t compete until they’re 13.” For years, the Lancaster team has battled Lebanon County’s team, a fierce rivalry, but this time, in the summer, Lancaster took state prize. The team members met for more practice, noted Wendell Landis, himself a member of the statewide Working for the things we want - Better yields. Technology that pays. And the chance to go on calling our own shots. Call District Sales Manager Harvey Doyle at 724-459-8580 or see one of these NC+ Dealers. ALEXANDRIA J CLETUS RHODES • 814-669-4705 if CANTON ED PEPPER *717-364-5242 EAST EARL IVAN ZIMMERMAN • 717-354-5826 ELLIOTSBURG WAYNE FREEMAN • 717-582-2397 HALIFAX BECHTEL FARMS, KENNETH BECHTEL •717-896-8314 KINTNERSVILLE WAYNE LITZENBERQER • 610-847-5563 1991 champion team from Lancas ter. Wendell, a graduate of Lancas ter Mennonite High School and 1999 Penn State animal science graduate, has seen this before. Practice, and learning to focus, are key, he said. The team has to be able to “see as many different breeds within the species and pro vide reasons" during competition, Landis noted. There are 12 classes in the day-long competition later this month, beginning at 8 a.m. and lasting until about 4 p.m., includ ing providing detailed, articulated oral reasons on four of them. Team members must place ani mals and provide reasons to back up those placings. Why compete? According to Landis, in 1991, when he com peted as a sophomore in high school, there were 35 teams in the national contest in Louisville. Landis noted he sees people he knows and meets a lot of new friends. “It’s a good experience and it builds a lot of character,” he said. According to team member Jes sica Schmidt, the experience allows her to practice her public speaking and get more confident at it Geoff Rohrer will present his experiences on the trip to Louisvil le to the school board. Geoff said he used to be “really shy,” but the experience has given him poise and self-confidence. Landis noted that for some, the experience has helped them build careers. Some take their know ledge of placing animals and pro viding reasons and used that exper ience to judge county fairs around the state. KUNKLETOWN JEFFREY BORGER • 610-381-3785 LEBANON CLARENCE MULL • 717-865-2037 LEWISBURG AARON MARTIN • 717-524-2952 LEWISBURG URIE YODER* 717-524-7739 LITITZ ELVIN HURSH* 717-733-3538 MANCHESTER ANIMAL MEDIC • 717-266-5611 MANHEIM ARTHUR AUKER • 717-665-6627 Hughes noted the team will make several stops when it leaves for Louisville Nov. 4. The team will stop at Penn State to receive instructions from Keith Bryan, instructor in dairy and animal sci ence. From there, it will head to western Pennsylvania, then to eastern Ohio, near Columbus, then travel to hog farms in western Ohio. While in Lexington, Ky., the team will stop and judge cattle cm several farms. There’s even time for a stop at the Corvette museum in Bowling Green, Ky. The team that last went to Ken tucky in national competition from Lancaster placed sixth overall but high in individual shcepjudging in 1995. But the experience then, as now, is good for hiding .friendships, noted Geoff Rohrer. “You get to see different places,” he said. The events give the team mem bers an opportunity to attend social events and meet with people, Hughes noted. Jessica Schmidt is the daughter of Laurie and Pete Schmidt, Dra mote. She is a senior at Solanco High School. Jessica brought her Dorset March ewe lamb, Adelida, to practice Monday evening at the Farm and Borne Center. Jessica raises Dorse ts and Mon tadales. She said her favorite are Dorse ts because “they are calmer and gentler." Jessica traded a pig with Bud Stillman, a neighbor, for her first Dorset, now 10 years old, named Madeline. She has 20 Dorset brood ewes and five Montadales. > When judging champion sheep, breed judges want to see them NC+ 3448 107 Days The yield pacesetter in 105-107 maturity zone NC+ 5445 114 Days proven leader in 114-day yield and agronomics. NC+ 5778 115 Days High-performance 115-day companion to NC+ 5445. MOUNT JOY VINCENT MUMMAU • 717-653-5991 RICHFIELD SAMUEL KNOUSE • 717-463-2885 SALEM DONALD EMEL • 609-769-1577 THOMPSONTOWN ROGER SANER • 717-535-5307 WOODBURY GREGG CARBAUGH • 814-766-3696 WYALUSING ANDY CAMPBELL • 717-363-2133 “tall, broody, feminine, and long,” said Jessica. Jessica also raises Angus, including two cows. Lassie and Fancy, and two steers. Jessica said she needs to prac tice more on providing accurate and detailed reasons. John Hess, son of Bob and Deb Hess, Mount Joy, raises Herefords. John is a senior at Elizabethtown High School. He also enjoys rais ing sheep. John said he needs more practice in judging and providing reasons on hogs. Often, he noted, it is hard to tell what differences exist between hogs in the show ring. Geoff Rohrer is the son of Dud ley and Beth Rohrer, Manheim. Not long ago, Geoff, who plans to graduate from Manheim Center in Ag Journalist To Speak At Agriculture-Industry Banquet LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) —Max Armstrong, one of Ameri ca’s best-known and most widely followed agriculture journalists, is the featured speaker for The Lan caster Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 23rd Annual Agricul ture-Industry Banquet Tuesday, November 23, 5:30 p.m., at the Lancaster Host Resort. Armstrong, who grew up on a farm in Southwestern Indiana, has conducted daily broadcasts with colleagues Orion Samuelson on Chicago’s WON AM Radio 720 for more than 20 years. The two also can be heard each day on roughly 500 radio stations through their Tribune Agri-Voice broad casts, the Fanning America radio xit * infant These Top Performers Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 6, 1999-A23 2001, decided to give up on hog production and expand the sheep flock. He has about 120 ewes and 350 market lambs, mostly Dorset and Dorsct-Polypay crossbreds. Geoff noted he needs to practice more on beef judging. He said he has more experience on the smaller animals, because hogs and sheep are about the same size. Team member Kevin Pfautz, son of Rick and Sue Pfautz, Lititz, couldn’t attend the meeting Mon day because of other commit ments. He plans to graduate from Warwick High School in 2001. What other kind of preparations are called for? “We’re going to have a typical, traditional light McDonald’s breakfast before the contest,” said Chet Hughes, livestock agent show, and the National Farm Report programs. John M. Blanchfield, from the American Bankers Association, will serve as the evening’s emcee. The George C. Delp Award, honoring someone who has given outstanding contributions to agri culture and agri-business, will be presented at the banquet. Families receiving the Century Farm Award also will be honored. Tickets for the banquet are $4O. To make a reservation or for information regarding spon sorship opportunities, please contact Brent Landis at 397- 3531 or e-mail at blandis@lcci. com. from HC+: NC+ 4646 111 Days Defensive yield performer for higher-stress environments NC+ 4648 M 111 Days CLEARFIELD™ (IMI) version of NC+4646 NC+ 46498 NEW 119 Days YieldGarcP Bt version of NC+ 4646 911 / Cash Discount /o I w December 4 <s► America's down to earth seed company Through
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