814-Lanc«*ter Farming, Saturday, February 12, 2000 ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Farmland preservation increased the same year as 5,280 meetings were conducted in the county, with an attendance ap proaching about 50,000 people. More than 3,000 4-H’ers carried about 5,000 4-H projects. This all took place last year, “a very successful year” for the county extension service, said Eric Augsburger, 9, Lancaster, waits patiently for an omelet from Ken Fisher. Eggs were donated by Saud er’s. Dairy royalty hand out ice cream sundaes at the Lancaster extension annual meeting. From left, Elisa Ranck, dairy princess; Laura Hess, dairy ambassador; Linda Hess; and Becky Sonnen. Reviews Important Lancaster County John Schwartz, Lancaster County Extension Service direc tor. Schwartz spoke last week at the 87th meeting of the exten sion service at the Farm and Home Center. At least 300 people attended the social and meeting, featuring lots of Lancaster County food commodities served by various representatives. Schwartz outlined the accom- New directors elected at the meeting, from left, Wilmer L. Shertzer, Columbia; J. Ray Ranck, Paradise; Dorothy I. Strickler. Quarryville; and Harry E. Hershey Jr., Mount Joy. plishments of Lancaster County extension, a “very important year in Lancaster County agri culture,” he said. Schwartz noted that four years ago the county conducted the first of several meetings, asking the question: will Lancas ter County be the next Los An geles? Will farmland be purchased and developed, leav ing nothing but strip malls and housing projects? Fortunately, with help from “people and organizations, the state legislature and the Lancas ter county commissioners,” said Schwartz, “farms are being pre served.” And cooperative exten sion is “conducting programs to help maintain farming as a viable occupation.” The past year also marked 30 Year In Ag Extension years of the Expanded Food and tional education advisers Nutrition Education Program “worked with 235 families with (EFNEP), now 31 years old na- sio children under the age of tionally. The past year the nutri- (i urn to Page BIS) Pa «* ,eft « adds the toppings to omelets Sr^.S.X" a S„ repr “ , ' n,,,,8 *• Uncaster A “toast” to the county’s dairy industry was provided by Apryl Becker, dairy miss; Jenna Martin, dairy ambas sador; and Angela Becker, dairy darling, at the Lancas ter County extension annual meeting.