A36-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 22, 2000 Third Generation Fruit Growers Want To Continue Family Tradition Steve and Judy Slaybaugh are the third generation to farm in Biglerville. They signed up their orchard farm for the state’s Farm Preservation program to help future generations stay in farming. JAYNE SEBRIGHT their farm. A golf course borders Lancaster Farming Staff o ne of the farms the Slaybaughs BIGLERVILLE (Adams Co.) lease, while a large housing devel- Steve Slaybaugh’s grandfather opment is just down the road. Glen purchased a farm in 1936. Steve and Judy farm with their Since then, each generation has SO n David, the fourth generation added onto the farm to help their 0 f Slaybaughs to farm, who lives fruit business grow. in the farm house with his wife Now Steve and Judy want to and three children. David’s youn assure future generations of that gest son is 5-year-old Blake. opportunity, The Slaybaugh’s 228-acre farm the tractors and out in the or is one of more than 100 farms in chards,” said Judy. “We want to Pennsylvania accepted into the give him the chance to farm if he Farm Preservation program dur- wants it.” ing the last 100 days leading up to The Slaybaughs grow apples. Earth Day, which is this Saturday, peaches, pears, and cherries. They April 22. also raise Christmas trees. In ad “We wanted to make sure that dition to the farm that they own, we did anything we could do to they also lease three other farms, keep future generations going in Each year the Slaybaughs pro farming,” said Steve, who sees de- duce on average 180,000 to velopment creeping up around 200,000 bushel of apples, along 202 Head Exhibit In Maryland Spring Show TIMONIUM, Md. 202 Hoi- Savage’s famous four-year-old, year-old, Lylehaven Lindy Delila, steins exhibited in the Maryland Savage Leigh Bellwood Linda, was the best of the junior show, Holstein Spring Show held at the were named the two best cows of while Jami’s junior-three-year- Timonium Fairgrounds earlier the show. Judge Michael Heath of °W, Savage Leigh Banana split, this month. Of the 202 entries, 130 Westmister raved about the two was name d reserve champion animals were exhibited by junior cows’ “dairyness with size.” MD-Dun-Loafin owned the members. Topping the heifer classes were P e rf° rmance winner of the Maple Lawn Farms of Fulton Oseena MS Starlite-ET, owned by ® h °w> a Jed daugh . .. . j t • e jou . , „ . ter, Harvale Barton Crystal, who won both reserve junior and grand Jam. Savage, and Shruppdale Tn- had 37()70 ds of Sav . champion of the open show, while sha, owned by Amy lager. The age Leigh received premier breed- Savage Leigh Farms took home two heifers were champions of er and exhibitor awards dedi reserve grand champion and jun- both the open and junior division. (hem to memory of ior champion of the open show. Winning junior division grand Wayne Savage’s father who Maple Lavra’s five-year-old, champion honors were Ryan and passed away just days before the Medw Astre Mixie, and Chip Jami Savage. Ryan’s senior-two- show. Junior champion of the open show went to Oseena MS Starlite-ET, a spring yearling owned by Jami Savage, while Amy lager’s fall yearling, Shruppdale Trisha, took reserve junior champion. With the winners are from left Sadah Bentz, Frederick Co. Dairy Prin cess; Maryland Alternate Dairy Princess Laura Kramer; Kelly Myers with the honorable mention of the open show; Amy lager; Jami Savage; Erin Shank, Washington County Dairy Princess; and judge Michael Health. “Our grandson loves being on with 150 to 180 tons of cherries, 10.000 bushel of peaches, and 4.000 bushel of pears. About 50 percent of their produce is sold as fresh produce, while the other 50 percent goes to Knouse Foods in Peach Glen for processing. “Fanning keeps getting harder and harder each year,” said Steve. “With chemical, equipment, and other input prices increasing, our product price still stays the same. We have to grow more bushels per acre and increase production to keep up with increased costs.” Although farming is challeng ing, the Slaybaughs would choose no other life for themselves. “It’s a good life,” said Judy, who has known her husband of 33 years ever since they were in fifth grade. “You really can’t beat life on the farm.” In addition to growing produce and Christinas trees, the Slay baughs also start their own apple trees in a nursery. “It’s been an in terest for me,” said Steve. “It’s a change from fruit growing be cause you’re working with nurse ries. You have to plan ahead be cause it takes two years for the seedlings to be ready to plant in the orchard.” Fruit farming is a long-term business. Unlike “straight farm ing” as the Slaybaughs call tradi tional farming, which generates a harvest each day, a newly planted orchard doesn’t produce profits for several years. “For apples, it takes 11 years until you get your first profit dol lar,” said Steve. “But the apple or chard site should last 25 to 30 years.” To keep up production and re main consistent, the Slaybaughs regenerate orchard sites each year, to help keep disease and fungus “Every time you push one site out, away,” said Steve. “We also need you have to put in a new site,” to work with soil analysts to de said Judy. termine what varieties will grow “We’re now trying to plant the best in our soils.” smaller root stocks that are tighter The packers and processors also and lower to the ground,” said pj a y an integral role in a profita- Steve. “Increasing the density of k le orchard. “Everybody has their the orchard increases production. s tep,” said Judy. “Anything we Steve, Judy, and David all work ggj, jj 0 jjg tter w ju produce a great together to make decisions on the ef retum for our farm » farm. While Steve and David han- wkh his father die most of the spraying, planting, t ..dII and outside work, Judy maintains on the farm until Richard the book records and relays mes- was badly hurt during Steve s first gj year at University of Maryland. During peak apple harvest sea- Steve quit college and returned to son, the Slaybaughs employ any- ™ n t * ie f arm - Now he is preparing where from 40 to 50 seasonal h* s son to eventually take over the workers. “That really makes pay- business. roll get more hectic,” said Judy. “Except when he is going hunt- According to Steve and Judy, it ing, Steve always wants to be on takes a lot of people to make a the farm,” said Judy. “In 20 years, successful farming operation. “We we hope to give Blake that same depend on our spray consultants opportunity.” Son David and parents Steve and Judy make all the farm decisions together. While farming continually be comes more challenge, the Slaybaughs still believe noth ing beats the life of a farmer. Amy lager received the overall Distinguished Junior Member book award from Arthur Rhoderick during the show. Farmer Cooperative Showcase Ag Environmental Successes WASHINGTON, D.C. The and agriculture are working hard, Ag-Earth Partnership, a private- not only to provide them with public sector coalition led by the food, fiber and shelter, but also National Council of Farmer Co- leaner water and air, wildlife operatives (NCFC), recently habitat, and open space launched a senes of events budd- , ing up to April 22, Earth Day The farmer cooperative leader 2000, on the National Mall. J omed Gnckman in presenting Highlighting the theme “Agri- the Ag-Earth Partnership’s Mill culture and the Environment: A ennium Farmer Award to Rich- Growing Partnership,” national ard, Cori, and Todd Wittman of leaders and exhibits showcase in- Wittman Farms in Lapwai, novative agricultural efforts and Idaho. The Wittmans, active co partnership dedicated to conserv- operative leaders and members of ing and protecting natural re- Cenex Harvest States Coopera “l am delighted to be a part of !jy eS ’ ant L this significant effort,” said Coop- Westem Fa ™ . Banks ’ erative leader Glenn Webb, Illi- were recognized for their out nois farmer and Growmark, Inc. standing conservative leadership board chairman. “It is important and efforts to help educate urban that the public gain a better ap- America about agricultural stew predation that we in cooperatives ardship.
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