812-Lancastor Fanning, Saturday, July 1, 2000
Although Karen Sellers is a registered nurse, county Farm Women president, and ac
tive in many church and community activities, she finds time to work in the many flow
er beds on the family farm.
Karen Sellers Heads
Lebanon County Farm Women
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
LEBANON (Lebanon Co.)
Karen Sellers leads 20 societies
with 274 members as president of
the Lebanon County Society of
Farm Women.
That is demanding in itself,
but Karen also has had the
daunting task of serving as presi
dent twice when the Lebanon
County Farm Women hosted the
Spring Rally this year and in
1983 the only years the county
ever hosted the annual event.
“All the societies really help
out, but I can breathe a lot easier
when the day is over,” Karen
said of being responsible for
about 1,000 guests from across
the state.
Karen and her husband Ken
live in a house built in 1796.
Ken's grandparents purchased
the 300-acre farm about 75 years
ago.
Although many older stone
homes have a date carved in
The Seller’s 1796 farm
house has a German prayer
carved into the stone
above the front porch.
stone, the Sellers farmhouse is
unique in that it has several sen
tences carved above the entrance.
The Sellers had the German
words translated into English
and discovered the words were
actually a prayer: “God, protect
this house and all that go in and
out. Protect it from fire, storm,
wind, hail, and with your hand
from all danger. David and
Emma Emsminger, 1796.”
Although Karen grew up on a
dairy farm, she said things were
done quite differently on her
farm. She didn’t know there
were registered cows until she
married Ken. But the biggest dif
ference was that Ken wasn’t as
tied down to the farm as her par
ents, but took time off for vaca
tions and other activities.
“The farm is a great place to
raise kids and work together as a
family,” Karen said.
The Sellers have three adult
children and two granddaugh
ters. Son Craig and wife Meran
da farm in partnership with Ken
and Karen. Another son, Kevin,
helps on the farm as needed. Al
though Karen works as a regis
tered nurse, she helps on the
farm every other weekend.
Craig and Meranda recently
took over responsibility for the
70 registered Holsteins and 80
head of young stock. That leaves
more time for Ken to pursue his
custom combining business, for
which Karen takes care of the
bookwork.
For family partnerships to
work, Karen said, “requires good
communication and the realiza
tion that everyone’s input is im
portant. Just because we are
older and have more experience
doesn’t mean we know every
thing.”
As the county president,
Karen is invited to other counties
for their annual conventions.
Karen believes Farm Women
membership is an ideal place to
develop friendships and to help
with community needs. Karen is
one of 16 members of Society 11.
In addition to county and state
projects, the individual societies
also hold bake sales and donate
money to help fund local nonpro
fit organizations who help those
in needy.
Some of Karen’s fondest mem
ories of Farm Women are of
making meals for farm and city
week tours, playing Bingo with
nursing home residents, and
holding treasure hunts and
workshops. During a treasure
hunt, one of the requirements
was for members to go to the po
lice station and have the police
photograph them. The photo was
required as proof.
Karen also serves on the coun
ty extension’s family living com
mittee. She is a member of the
Farm Women’s chorus, sings in
the church Christmas cantata,
and teaches Sunday school. She
is a women’s auxiliary treasurer
for the United Church of Christ
Church Home and often drives a
mini-bus to transport residents to
shopping trips, picnics, craft
sales, restaurants, and other
events.
Karen’s husband, Ken, is
board treasurer for the Lebanon
Countv Expo. As his wife, Karen
sometimes helps out with unex
pected duties such as shoveling
snow off the expo roof. During
the Lebanon Area Fair, Karen
volunteers at the refreshment
stand.
In her spare time, Karen en
joys sewing and reading. She col
lects carousel horses and porce
lain dolls. She also enjoys
cooking.
She shares the following reci
pes with readers:
FRUIT COCKTAIL
PUDDING
3 boxes instant vanilla pud
ding
8-ounces cream cheese
1 large can fruit cocktail,
drained
6 cups milk
Beat cream cheese with a little
milk until nice and smooth. Then
alternate between adding pud
ding and remaining milk. Spoon
in fruit cocktail.
LEMON SQUARES
1 cup flour
Vi cup butter, softened
'A cup confectioners’ sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons flour
Vi teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together flour, butter, and
confectioners’ sugar. Press evenly
into bottom of ungreased square
pan. Bake 20 minutes. Beat re
maining ingredients until light
and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Pour
over hot crust and bake about 25
minutes longer. Cool and cut
into 2-inch squares.
SEE YOUR NEAREST
it
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