oTE S
Dads in agriculture are spe
cial, especially older dads like
68-year-old Adams County fruit
grower Guy Donaldson. Re
cently, I spent a morning with
Guy as we talked about his life
and his family’s future in agri
culture. You see Guy and his
wife Betty, grandparents of
seven, are in the process of sell
ing their fruit farm to their three
children Beverly, Steve, and
David.
Guy was quick to mention
that Betty encouraged him some
time ago to begin looking at
turning the operation over to the
children and letting them get
more involved with the manage
ment decisions.
He says “We all have heard
stories of how parents never let
go of a farm and almost take it
CHEST
Richly embossed cherry
with brats handlesaas* i*.i»
Reg. Ret. $499.95 BjpSH
Our Price $242.95
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$ i 29 9 *
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BEDROOM SET
Reg. Retail $1229.95
Our Price $449.95
Cash $399.95
)HT /Ov Closeout
P^Sm^ $ 369 04
to the grave. This makes for
hard feeling with the children.”
He didn’t want that for his
family.
With a twinkle in his eye, Guy
spoke lovingly of his three chil
dren. It was obvious he was
quite proud of them. Each has
an area of specialty in their new
partnership since they hire only
one other full time person.
Beverly, the oldest, manages
the Donaldson Farm Market,
handles record keeping and fi
nances. Steve, the oldest son,
handles everything production
related, spraying, pruning, ev
erything horticulture; and
David the youngest handles all
the mechanical needs of the
farm along with hiring and labor
during harvest season.
I asked Guy if there were any
END TABLE SET I
$299?95 J
Special
$ 79 99
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DESK
Reg. Ret.5229.9S ■
Our Price $129.95 |
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He was quite honest when he
told me one of his concerns was
that they would not hit it off
when they formed the partner
ship. With a big smile, he was
proud to tell me he has devel
oped trust in them. “They have
had to make some of the tough
decisions that Betty and I have
made and that has matured
them,” he said.
As many of you know who
have worked hard to buy a farm,
pride in your business runs deep.
Guy shared the story of how
his father’s heart attack while
challenges to stepping back as
an agriculture dad. He said,
“Naturally there are, everyday.
It’s natural not to want to let go
of the farm because you spent a
life time getting to where you
are. The children do things dif
ferent than when I did it when I
was in control. A different man
agement style-that takes some
getting used to.”
Guy mentioned that he and
Betty have noticed that since
they have removed themselves
from the day to day things, the
children have come together
closer as brothers and sister.
Each was very independent,
but now they have changed.
They plan and talk more and
that’s encouraging to him as a
dad.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 26, 2000-B7
Guy was in his first year of col
lege brought him back home to
take over the farm. His father’s
poor health, found Guy making
most of the major decision with
the help of a very supportive
mother.
Eventually, Guy and Betty
bought the original 267-acre
home place located in Carroll
Valley, which was once part of a
tract of land from Lord Balti
more. Guy is proud to say he
and Betty worked day and night
to pay for the farm in 10 years.
He laughs as he mentions, back
then, the biggest entertainment
the family had was going to Get
tysburg on a Saturday night and
getting a pound of steamed
shrimp.
It appears that that hard
York Garden and Flower Show
YORK (York Co.)-The
Eighth Annual York Garden
and Flower Show will focus on a
series of nine large display gar
dens. The show is held at the
York Fairgrounds Expo Center,
York, today Saturday, February
26 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and
Sunday, February 27 from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m.
About 70 exhibitors will dis
play a variety of products and
services related to gardens and
outdoor living areas. There will
be thousands of flowers, plants
and accessories and beautiful
gardens with ponds and water
falls. Persons thinking about
spring planting have an oppor
tunity at the show to get a head
start by taking advantage of
show specials on seeds, spring
bulbs, and perennial plants.
SATURDAY-February 26
10:30 a.m.-Making English
Trough Gardens; Lynn Jack
man, Lynnwood Herb Farm
DEALER: NIPPENOSE CHIMNEY & STOVES
RD 3 Box 367 (Rt 64) Williamsport, PA 17701
work and determination has
paid off and is being carried
forth in the new generation of
Donaldsons. Today the family
owns more than 400 acres and
farms about 500 acres. The ma
jority of their land is used for
growing production apples,
about 50 acres of sour cherries,
about 10 acres of peaches, and
some acreage for production of
vegetables for the roadside
market.
This special agriculture dad
concluded by saying, “Many
parent’s have children move out
of the area and only see them on
special occasions. I’m fortunate.
I see my children every day and
each day is a special occasion.”
A father’s love is a wonderful
thing.
11:45 a.m.-Gifts From The
Garden: Linda Fortney, Ash
combe Farms and Greenhouses
12:45 p.m.-Compost-Truth or
Consequences: Gail Stoner, Ash
combe Farms and Greenhouses
1:45 p.m.-Discovering Herbs:
Wendy Plowman, Ashcombe
Farms and Greenhouses
3:00 p.m.-Professional Floral
Design Symposium: Vince
Butera, Butera The Florist
4:00 p.m.-Trees I Have
Known: Robert Meckley, York
Tree Service
7:00 p.m.-Low Maintenance
Gardening: Josie Boyer, Penn
State Extension Master Gar-
dener
SUNDAY-February 27
11:15 a.m.-Growing Medici
nal Herbs: Susanna Reppert,
The Rosemary House
12:30 p.m.-Using Dried Flo
wers For Wreath & Swags: B J
Hare, Ashcombe Farms and
Greenhouses
1:30 p.m.-Color In The
Garden: Karen Olson, Ash
combe Farms and Greenhouses
2:45 p.m.-Professional Floral
Design Symposium: Vince
Butera, Butera The Florist
Admission is $5 for adults,
$4.50 for seniors age 65 and
over, and $2 for children ages 10
to 15. Group rates are available.
There is plenty of free parking.
The York Fairgrounds Expo
Center is on Carlisle Avenue,
Rt. 74 south of Rt. 30 in York.
Information is available by call
ing (717) 755-5885.