Bt6-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 15, 2000 York 4-H Center Livestock/Exhibition Facility Dedicated York extension agent Tim Beck, who coordinated the 4-H Center construction project, welcomes a crowd of well-wishers on hand for the ribbon-cutting of the new addition. Special guests for the 4-H Center’s livestock center ribbon cutting ceremony were from left, Rijelle Kraft, 4-H County Council president; Dr. Michelle Rodgers, regional extension director; York extension agent and project coordinator Tim Beck; John Kann, 4-H Center caretaker; Rep. Ron Miller; Marge Runkle, 4-H Center board president; Roxanne Price, York extension director; and Cory Stump, 4-H County Council representative to the Center board. An attractive, flower-fronted, stone-wall “honor area” pays tribute to the gen erosity of donors of both labor and funding to construct the York 4-H Center’s live stock center. PROBLEM MILK? Don't Dump Your Hard Work Down The Drain! Making Cheese With Your Milk Preserves Its Value 4-Milking Penalty Warm Milk No Milk Market CALL THE CHEESEMAKER We’ll Take Care of Everything Toll Free 888/624-3373 717/933-4385 “I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the pre sent and past generation of agriculture...” That quote from the FFA creed, painted on the side of the 4-H Center’s auc tion desk, helps outline the purpose of the new facility dedicated for the use and education of young 4-H’ers such as from left, Chad Menges, Matt Bankert and Cory Thompson. JOYCE BUPP York Co. Correspondent BAIR (York Co.) - After some six-plus years in the building, thou sands of dollars of fund-raisers and countless hours of volunteer labor, the livestock exhibition facility at the York County 4-H Center is officially opened. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house held April 2 marked the official completion of the 70 x 140 feet, free-span pole building, designed to accommodate a variety of exhibits, livestock shows and sale events. Among the dignitaries and special guests invited to take part in the offi cial opening were Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chris Herr, Jacobus state legislator Ron Miller-93rd District, and regional agriculture extension director Dr. Michelle Rodgers. “We find ourselves in the peaceful possession of some of the finest parts of this earth,” noted Deputy Secretary Herr in quoting the observation of President Abraham Lincoln, and emphasizing “a critical need to keep (agriculture) extension focused on its rural roots.” He praised the 4-H system, adding with pnde that he is a product of the Lancaster County program, and expressing satisfaction in seeing for mer 4-H’ers “giving back” with donations of their time and dollars to benefit upcoming generations. Tim Beck, extension agent and coordinator of the 4-H Center expan sion project, welcomed a crowd of 4- H’ers and supporters gathered at a stone and brick “honor wall” entrance before the ribbon-cutting for the new facility. The honor wall pays tribute to financial supporters of the Center’s addition who contributed at various donor levels. Beck especially praised the 50 to 75 volunteers who gave hundreds of hours and construction expertise through the course of the building project. Cost of the center is tabbed at more than $286,000, funded largely by volunteer labor and donations of materials and cash valued at a com- Where's your mustache? “ bined nearly $210,000. The balance of the funding was generated through $45,000 in grants and numerous fundraisers, including the very first kiss-a-pig contest won by current state Senator Mike Waugh, Glen Rock. The long, low design of the live stock facility is capped with an attrac tive trio of burnished gazebo tops giv ing it the flair of a classic county fair exhibit area, complete with outside horse-showing ring. Portable penning allows for the setting up inside ofiip to 90 individual 6x3 feet pens, which can be configured in groups of six with arched-gateway fronts for accessibility. Each can easily accom modate several pigs or sheep for shows and sales. A showing area in the middle of the facility, as well as a 25 x 25 feet portable show ring, offer flexibility for the needs of various shows and sales, and four sets of gal vanized bleachers provide for specta tor seating. For housing larger livestock, the portable pens can be removed from the building, opening up the facility for up to 125 head of cattle to be tied around the outside. An outdoor, con creted washrack includes a 40 feet long center tie area, accessible for use on both sides. Six outside washracks are also available for swine washing. Additional features of the exhibition include perimeter fencing to contain any “escapees” from shows, a spa cious, stoned parking area, restroom facilities, and forced air ventilation system. The completion of the livestock facility marks the second major con struction at the Center’s wooded cam pus near the village of Bair and com plements the original auditor ium/kitchen/general purpose struc ture. According to agent Beck, dis cussions are already under way con cerning possible additional housing, especially for dairy animals, and expanded parking space. Organizations and groups interest ed in more information on the York County 4-H Center’s facilities may contact the York County Agriculture Extension Office at 717-840-7408 MILK s
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