Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, July 01, 2000, Image 44
84-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 1, 2000 On Being a Farm Wife (and other hazards) Joyce Bupp With another holiday weekend upon us, millions of our citizens will be taking to the highways. Few developments have physi cally tied our nation closer to gether than the interstate high way system. Via its seemingly endless stretches of asphalt, we have the capability of traversing the country in a matter of a few days, slowed only by only minor details like sleep, food, “potty” and refueling breaks. Near miraculous, that is, when one ponders the travails of our forefathers who headed West in those Lancaster-built Conestoga “ship of the prairie” wagons. (And I always wonder just how many millions of times those weary pioneer kids plaintively whined: “Are we there yet?”) For getting from here to there, in a big hurry, our multi-laned interstates are highly efficient. But to really see this country, you'd better get off at the next exit. And, take to the “back” roads. The Farmer and I are die-hard back road fans. Unless terribly pressed for time or out of necessi ty (which is most of the time!), we will avoid like the plague those stretches of highway rife with traffic lights, shopping malls and suburban sprawl. In stead, give us a quiet, tree-lined, scenic, back road, even if it takes a bit longer. Back roads in this part of the country rarely run straight for more than a few hundred yards. They wind around hillsides of contoured fields and twist past meadows where cows, sheep or horses laze in the grass. They make sudden sharp turns, when old field passageways once sepa rated property lines or long-dead trees and fencerows grew. They pass on intimate terms through farms, sometimes right between the barn and F 1"" the house. Often you can spot a dog of some sort, sprawled on porch or in the yard, keeping watch, a cat curled up on a win- dowsill or lawn chair, even the occasional chickens scratching in the gravel road berm. Streams like to fol low back roads or maybe it’s the other way around criss- crossing back and forth many times in the stretch of a few miles. Back road trav- elers may glimpse of ducks families splashing watch steambeds, mini-falls of tumbling Avltfol For The Control Of • Starlings • Pigeons • Sparrows • Crows Avitrol Is A Pesticide For Control of Pest Birds *29s°° +6.00 Shipping Restricted use pesticide must have current applicators license Blain Supply Rt. 1, Box 117 H Blain, PA 17006 (717) 536-3861 water cascading over tiny rock ledges, or enjoy colorful patches of wildflowers which thrive at waters’ edge. Neighbors wave to neighbors and may pause to share a few pieces of local gossip for a mo ment or two along back roads. Folks are more likely to wave to passing strangers, at the same time wary unfamiliar vehicles or faces passing by. Back roads rarely have “neighborhood watch” signs on them, since resi dents look out for one another more as a matter of course than by official designation. Meandering along a back road you can spot kids playing a pick up game of ball or surprise a doe deer and her fawns nibbling grass. You might stumble onto a roadside patch of berries black raspberry, red raspberry, black berry available for the picking. You can spot red-tailed hawks being harassed by crows, come upon a crayon-box-colorful flow erbed in a rural back yard, still see wash flapping on lines and kids fishing in farm ponds. Farmers favor less-traveled back roads for moving equip ment and for keeping tabs on neighborhood agriculture devel opments. Back road travels keeps us abreast of cropping pat terns, building changes or addi tions, additions of new tractors or machinery or pickup truck. New tillage, planting and harvest ideas can be gleaned or discarded based on observing neighbors’ ex periences. And it keeps us all aware of weed control “skip pers,” wet spots, plugged plant ers leaving missed spots, infesta tions by leafhoppers, grasshopper, Johnsongrass, this tle, and hungry critters like groundhogs and deer. VINYL Enclosure Vinyl Insulated Patio & Sunroom • Easy to maintain - never paint again • Will not fade, crack, peel or dent • Patented construction can withstand 115 mph winds • Affordable • 15° cooler in summer; 15° warmer in winter than aluminum. Is this what you’re looking for? Custom made for your home. Come see our room on display. vii 265 E Meadow Valley Rd Litllz PA 17543 717-733-7160 • 717-627-6886 l-800-247-2107 Ijgjjj,! Financing Available One of my very favorite rural paved-ways is a country drive near the hunting cabin, on a me andering little road which tra verses farms, fields and forest stands, crisscrosses a wide moun tain-valley stream, and passes along well-kept, rustic homes and nearly hidden hideaways. It’s called appropriately Back Road. For a peaceful way to celebrate our nation’s birthday, go for a leisurely and scenic drive on a rural road, soaking up the green and the quiet and the beauty and the rural heritage which formed a foundation of our nation we celebrate this weekend. Treat yourself. Take a back road. JIQQOQ®' Amy Zembower Named Dairy Princess LINDA WILLIAMS Bedford Co. Correspondent BEDFORD (Bedford Co.) Amy Zembower, daughter of Faith and Brian Zembower of Bedford Valley, was named Bed- ford County dairy princess at a luncheon pageant held on Sun day, June 11 at the Arena Res taurant. Amy, a senior at Bedford High School, has been helping on the Zembower farm since she was in grade school. She was presented with a check for $2OO from Dorothy Naugle of the Allied Milk Pro ducers. The association prom ised an additional $3OO as her year progresses. Former Bedford County Dairy Princess Amy Mearkle emceed the event and also in- troduced Lyneice Chamber- Bedford County Dairy Princess Amy Zembower with lam, former reigning Bedford dairy maids, from left, Sara Karns, Heidi Zembower, and County Dairy Princess. Dorje Fetter. _V/ CLOSED SUNDAYS, NEW YEAR, EASTER MONDAY, ASCENSION DAY, WHTT MONDAY, OCT. 11, THANKSGIVING, F Vail THE CHRISTMAS & DECEMBER 26TH FISHERS FURNITURE, INC, NEW AND USED FURUTURE USED COAL & WOOD HEATERS COUNTRY FURNTTURE & ANTIQUES BUS. HRS. MON.-THURS.&6 1129 FRI, frS, SAT. 8-12 BART, PA 17503 FARM P %Qsiisk'rh\ : „ V FOUNTAINS AND A f MOHS Superior Aquatic Management Systems I ef j* %yj j C«EE!U Directions 2 Miles South of Bowmansville, 4 Miles North Of Route 23 Off Route 625 Turn East On Black Creek Road 1/2 Mile Bedford County Dairy Princess Amy Zembower, left, was crowned by the county’s last reigning dairy princess Lyneice Chamberlain. Since then, the role has been carried out by dairy maids. Last year, it was Jennifer Stup and Cindy Mearkle who fulfilled this role. Dairy maids for 2000 will be BOX 57 kfi&ii m • Cleaner, clearer water • 3 yr. warranty • Cuts down algae, helps fish • A large selection • Attractive fountain effect to choose from Control panel On Berryhill In Beautiful Sullivan County Four Miles East ofDushore, PA 717-733-8728 Call for Rates!! ,r“^r-ir---jHnhhlrr^n!n'r-^rzD _ __ Mon-Fn BAM to 8 PM, 17171 445-5046 Sat. BAMto 5 PM » * 1 * I W Closed Sunday Sara Kams, daughter of Kim and Patricia Karns, Clearville; Heidi Zembower, sister of Amy, Bedford Valley; and Doric Fet ter, daughter of Barb and Larry Fetter of Imlertown.