A2O-Laneuter Farming, Saturday, January 15, 2000 __
Gov, Ridge Keynotes Dinner, Opens
(Continued from Page A 1)
the largest event the Hilton will
hold this year
"We welcome new friends and
old to the warmth of our dinner
table," Gov Ridge said "We have
broken bread togethei and
hopefully developed rich and
lasting partnerships and
relationships with countries and
peoples around the globe "
Ridge called the 2000 Farm
Show the "greatest indoor farm
show" m the nation and said this
year’s show was "a tribute to the
generations of faim families that
contribute to the welfare of the
state He said 800,000 people
work in agriculture jobs and
contribute $45 billion to the state
economy.
In the new state budget
proposal next month, Gov. Ridge
said he would ask for $2 million
to promote Ag products both at
home and abroad. This part of the
budget has been increasing three
times faster than other parts of the
budget and is a 10 percent
increase over last year. One
million dollars is set for the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture to expand
participation in trade shows and foreign trade
missions Another $1 million is for
Pennsylvania commodity groups to match
dollar for dollar their efforts to market their
products.
State Ag Secretary Samuel Hayes Jr.,
introduced Gov. Ridge and coined the
"Overrun with success" quotable quote. Hayes
also presented the agribusiness awards and
recognized farm-city award winners.
Stonehedge Farms Snacks, York County,
and The Winery at Wilcox, Elk County, were
the winners of the 2000 agribusiness
achievement awards.
"These two companies have made
significant contributions to the development
and expansion of agribusiness in Pennsylvania
and to their communities as well," Hayes said.
Stonehedge Farms Snacks manufactures a
variety of caramel corn and gourmet corn snack
products. It was recognized in the large
business category.
The company, originally named Burkey’s
Snacks and founded in 1981, was purchased in
January 1998 by John M. Hormck. Located in
northern York County, Stonehedge employs 76
Pennsylvanians, contributed over $7 million in
total gross sales to Pennsylvania's economy in
1999, and is one of the largest caramel corn
manufactures on the East Coast. In addition,
Stonehedge also exports to both Canada and
Japan, increasing the promotion of
Pennsylvania products around the world.
With an aggressive hiring and retention
policy, Stonehedge has been able to increase
employment almost 320 percent in less than
two years while making every effort to
purchase trucking services, paper supplies,
equipment, and engineering services and food
inputs within 100 miles of the plant.
Stonehedge recently introduced new products
such as a school size caramel corn package and
a gourmet line of chocolate drizzled and nut
laced popcorn products. The company also
donates products to the York Food Bank and
provides products to support the activities of
the local fire department, boy and Girl Scout
events and Pinchot Park Clean-Up Day.
The Winery at Wilcox, recognized in the
small business category for the second
consecutive year, was founded by Mike
Williams in 1994. Using a seveiance package
from his previous job, Williams began the
winery in a converted custom meat processing
shop. In its first year of business, the winery
produced 1,100 gallons and grossed $46,000.
Since 1994, the winery has greatly expanded,
producing 32,000 gallons and grossing over $1
million m sales m 1999.
The Winery at Wilcox,
recognized in the small business
category for the second
consecutive year, was founded by
Mike Williams m 1994. Using a
severance package from his
previous job, Williams began the
winery m a converted custom
meat processing shop In its first
year of business, the winery
produced 1,100 gallons and
grossed $46,000. Since 1994, the
winery has greatly expanded,
producing 32,000 gallons and
grossing over $1 million in sales
in 1999
The Winery at Wilcox, using
Pennsylvania grapes and
materials m its wine production,
has become a significant
contributor to the
Commonwealth's economy The
winery employs 38 full and part
time workers and contributes
more than $850,000 to the
economy each year In addition,
the winery also donates money,
time and services to local schools,
athletic and educational groups,
fire and EMT service
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Gov. Tom Ridge and First Lady Michelle Ridge with son Tom
and Tom's friend Michael Reardon, and Ag Secretary Sam Hayes
Jr., in the carriage that took them into the large arena for opening
ceremonies.
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