U
Latigo 4-H Horse Club
The Latigo Horse Club re
cently met at Hideaway Hills to
Dairy Of Distinction Seeks Nice Looking Farms
STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.) Do you take pride in
maintaining your dairy farm?
Does your farm project an at
tractive, wholesome image to
consumers? If so, the Dairy of
distinction Program of Pennsyl
vania, New York, New Jersey,
and Vermont is looking for you.
The Northeast Dairy Farm
Beautification Program that
oversees the Distinction pro
gram was first started in 1983 in
Pennsylvania. The Dairy of Dis
tinction recognize the hard work
and dedication of the farmers
who maintain attractive farms.
The purpose of the program is
to instill a greater sense of confi
dence in the wholesomeness of
dairy products, thus increasing
sales.
Farms that apply are judged
on the roadside appearance .of
building, grounds, and sur
roundings, since this is what our
dairy product consumers ob
serve as they drive by the farm.
The cleanliness of the barn
yard, feed areas, and manure
management are all areas taken
into consideration when a team
of judges takes a look at your
farm from the road. Your milk
cooperative or handler will be
contacted to approve your milk
quality.
Judging is conducted during
the month of May. Award
winners are announced during
local June Dairy Month activi-
• I
• Dairy of Distinction
J 2000 Pennsylvania Application
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program Inc. •
Awards will be based upon neatness, good maintenance, and other •
(actors that can be controlled by the farmer. Attractive background seen- • PURPOSE OF PROGRAM
cry should not be weighted heavily in judging. All judging observations •
should be made from a vehicle at one or more points on an adjacent • Attractive dairy farms give the consumer greater confidence in the wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk
public highway. If the farm is off the road, the judging will take place • sales which encourages public support for the dairy industry The award gives recogmtion to the dairy farmer for
from the nearest lane. Judging should give equal consideration to old • maintaining a well-kept farmstead
wood construction and new construction of metal or concrete block. •
The award program may be used for subsequent advertising or pro- e ELIGIBILITY
motion activities for dairy products or dairy farming. Farmers who •
apply for the award agree that if selected they will cooperate with these • All Northeast dairy farms producing milk for sale are invited to submit an application for the award Dames
promotion activities and make all reasonable efforts to maintain both • receiving the 10 highest scores in each of the 21 districts will receive an 18” x 24" Dairy of Distinction sign to
the exterior and interior of heir properties in an acceptable manner. • be displayed in front of their farm
HOW IS YOUR FARM SCORED?
HOW THE APPLICATION WORKS
The owner or operator of the dairy farm should sign the application • Your Name
and send it to the Dairy of Distinction state secretary by April IS. •
a Mailing Address.
HOW THE JUDGING WORKS
Judging teams will visit farms during the month of May. Farms will be •
judged each year as the award is presented on an annual basis. Any • Cooperative or Handler (where you ship your milk, be specific),
dairy failing to maintain appearance standards will be asked to remove •
their signs. The Dairy of Distinction signs remain the property of the •
committee, not the property of the dairy farmer. All farms must achieve • (Your Handler contacted )0 apprme vour milk qualuv)
a compliance score of 90 percent on their Dairy of Distinction score card. •
Your cooperative or milk handler will be contacted to approve your milk • Location (driving directions for judging team)
quality. •
RULES FOR THE DAIR Y OF DISTINCTION A WARD
1) The Dairy of Distinction sign remains property of the Northeast
Dairy Farm Beautification Committee. •
2) The post and bracket shall be supplied by and maintained by the • County (where your firm is located)
dairy farmer. It is suggested that a wood post 4’ x4’ x 12* or iron pipe •
2’ x 12’ can be used. Posts or pipe should be installed and main- • 1 hereby apply to the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Committee to have my dairy scored m accordance
tained in true vertical position with 8’ above ground. Top of the • with the rules of the program for the purpose of obtaining a Dairy of Distinction sign to be displayed on my
bracket should be lower than six inches from the top of the post. • premises (No producer will be charged for sconng or sign expense)
3) Signs shall be displayed in front of the dairy at roadside. An attractive •
post or bracket, or other frame, shall be used to display the sign. No • . ..
more than three signs should be displayed from the sign frame or •
post, and all shall be of a style, general size, and quality comparable
to the Dairy of Distinction sign. Sign should be secured on all sides
to avoid wind damages.
4) Signs shall not be moved to other premises. New owners of a Dairy
of Distinction farm must apply to retain the sign
5) Replacement of damaged signs is at the committee’s discretion.
6) No producer shall be charged with scoring or sign expenses.
7) Judges’ decisions will be final.
8) Judging will lake place between May Ist and May 31st.
9) Farms awarded a Dairy of Distinction sign in previous years will be
judged between April Ist and April 30th. If they do not qualify,
they will be rejudged between May Ist and May 31st so they have
the opportunity to keep the sign.
10) Farms that do not requalify will return the sign to their regional
Dairy of Distinction committee,
4-H
HAPPENINGS
discuss upcoming activities and
fundraisers. The club discussed
its plans to hold a grooming and
Del-Jame Farm near Hamburg in Berks County is a 1999 Dairy of Distinction
winner. Since the program began in 1987 in Pennsylvania, more than 700 farms
have been given this farm beautification award. Entries are now being received
for the year 2000 program. Take time to enter your farm now.
ties. To qualify for consideration,
you must be actively dairy farm
ing and shipping milk.
Applications are available for
Pennsylvania dairy farms from
Michael O’Conner, 324 Henning
Building, Dept, of Dairy and
Animal Science, Penn State Uni
versity, University Park, PA
16802. Phone: (814) 863-3913.
New York State applications
are available from Carol Keene-
Ainsille, 3993 Jordonville Road,
showmanship clinic for its mem
bers, who will have the opportu
nity to develop proficiency in
preparing for horse shows. The
group also participated in games
to learn more about horse parts
and breeds. The next meeting
will be held on April 14 at 6 p.m.
Eight Bucks County 4-Hers
were recently awarded the Key-
Jordonville, NY 13361. Phone:
(315)858-2770.
For New Jersey applications,
contact Joy Ricker, 91 Beemer
Road, Sussex, NJ 07461. Phone:
(973)875-4803.
For Vermont applications,
send to Elisa Clancy, Vermont
Department of Agriculture, 16
State Street, Drawer 20,
Montpelier, VT 05620-2901.
Phone: (802) 828-3835.
All applications must be com
pleted and returned to your re
Phone Number
Return your application by April 15 to:
✓ PENNSYLVANIA Michael O’Conner, 324 Henning Building, Dept, of
Dairy and Animal Science, Penn State University, University Park, PA
16802
✓ NEW YORK Carol Keene-Ainsille, 3993 Jordonville Road,
Jordonville, NY 13361
✓ NEW JERSEY Joy Ricker, 91 Beemer Road, Sussex, NJ 07461
✓ VERMONT Elisa Clancy, Vermont Department of Agriculture, 16
State St., Drawer 20, Montpelier, VT 05620-2901
Bucks County 4-H
APPLICATION
Farm Name
stone Farm Credit Award for
Outstanding Achievement
during the 84th Annual Meeting
of Penn State Cooperative Ex
tension Bucks County.
Winners included Josh An
dress, son of Ronald and Sue
Andress from Ottsville, in the Jr.
Sheep category; Bonnie Mann,
spective state secretary by April
15, 2000.
The Dairy of Distinction pro
gram is financed in Pennsylva
nia by dairy farmers through the
American Dairy Association &
Dairy Council Mid East and the
Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion
Program in cooperation with
many local agribusiness organ
izations. The program is con
ducted with advice and help
frbm the Penn State Coopera
tive Extension.
Date
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 8, 2000-811
daughter of Ron and Lori Mann
of Sellersville, in Sr. Sheep;
Alyssa Poorman, daughter of
Ken and Sharon Poorman, New
Britain, in Jr. Goat; Gretchen
Sample, daughter of Alan and
Elaine Sample, Pipersville, in Sr.
Goat; Laura Stewart, daughter
of Curtis and Barbara Stewart,
Quakertown, in Jr. Rabbit; and
Vicki Miller, daughter of Pres
ton and Patsy Miller, Perkasie,
in Sr. Rabbit.
Vicki Miller was also awarded
the Sr. Cavy award. Additional
winners included Danielle
Nilsen, daughter of James and
Betsy Nilsen, Hellertown, in Jr.
Horse and Kendall Dimmick,
daughter of Jeff and Debbie
Dimmick, Quakertown in Sr.
Horse.
The 1999 Friend of 4-H
Award went to the David
Bishop family. The Bishops own
a dairy farm in Plumstead and
have been involved in the 4-H
Dairy Club for the past eight
years. Josh and Nicole are mem
bers and officers in the club, and
David and Sharon are project
leaders.
For the past two years, the
Bishops have opened up their
farm to several “non-farm fami
lies.” They lease their dairy ani
mals to the Doylestown 4-H
Club and the Warminster 4-H
Club. The Doylestown Club
members come to the farm at
least once a week from May to
August.
All of the Bishops are in
volved in teaching the members
and their families about caring
for dairy animals. These families
also learn aaboutlife on a farm
and gain a better appreciation
for the agricultural industry.
Josh and Nicole are especially
helpful when preparing animals
for the Grange Fair.
Lancaster County Beef
The reorganizational meeting
of the Lancaster County 4-H
Beef Club was held on Wednes
day, March 1, at the Lancaster
Farm and Home Center, New
members were introduced, and
project books were distributed.
The election of officers was
held during the meeting. New
officers include Jessica Schmidt,
president; Nicole Hess, vice
president; Loren Hershey, secre
tary; Katie Nolt, assistant secre
tary; Sarah Nolt, treasurer;
Daniel Fox, assistant treasurer;
Jocelynn Donough and Katrina
Frey, news reporters; and Amy
Fox and Megan Little, social
chairmen.
The next meeting will be held
Wednesday, April 5.
Susquehanna County
The reorganizational meeting
of the Watrous Corners 4-H
Club was recently held at the
County Office Building in Mon
trose.
Joe Fuller, the new 4-H Coor
dinator in Susquehanna County,
introduced himself, and every
one present told about their past
4-H projects and experiences.
Members were reminded to see
the monthly Newsline letter for
information on the county 4-H
program.
The club announced that it
will be hosting a hoagie fund
raiser to raise money for club
members to attend 4-H activites,
such as Camp Brule’ and the
two day trip to Vermont.
Recycling information was
also distributed to the club. The
club’s next meeting will be held
at the county recycling plant on
Wednesday, April 12, at 4 p.m.
Members were asked to bring
their recycling to the next meet
ing.
Anyone is interested in joiing
the Watrous Comers 4-H Club
should contact Mary Puzo at
(814) 278-4704 or Evie Goff at
(814)278-1212.