Vol. 45 No. 40 Careful Selection Breeds Results For Coldsprings MICHELLE RANCK Lancaster Farming Staff Editor’s Note: Recently Marlin Hoff of Coldsprings Farm was selected to receive the National Dairy Shrine’s Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder Award for 2000. The award is given annually to a breeder who has proven, through successful genetic and business management, that he or she is forward thinking and working to im prove cattle breeds. Hoff will be honored at the Na tional Dairy Shrine’s 51st Anniversary Awards Ban quet Jn October in conjunc tion with World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. NEW WINDSOR, Md. “For forever I’ve been looking for the complete cow,” said Marlin Empire Farm Days ’ Program Expands, Hosts Youth Event ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff SENECA FALLS, N.Y. More than 100 acres of agricul tural displays will fill the site of this year’s Empire Farm Days, scheduled Aug. 8-10 here at the Rodman Lott and Son Farm. Since 1988, the farm has been the site of New York’s largest agricultural showcase event, billed by some as the Northeast’s largest farm show. According to show manager Melanie Wickham, the exhibit area has been expanded on the east side of the show. Wickham, who spoke to Lan caster Farming Wednesday, noted the demonstrations used The second year for the 4-H goat show at the Lebanon Area Fair showcased young talent and quality animals for the North Mountain Market Goat Club. Travis Dresch, 10, right, took home grand champion honors with “Cyrus” and Katie Eckert, 10, won reserve champion placing with “Andy.” Dr. Robert Herr of “Nix Besser” farm judged the event and donated hats to the two young exhibitors. Full report on page A 32. Four Sections Hoff, echoing the sentiment of every dairy farmer. This quest for the complete cow has led Hoff to build a herd of quality genetics and has garnered the farm national recognition. As a recent recipient of the Dairy Cattle Breeder Award, Hoff is doing his part to improve the Holstein breed. “If cows have changed in the last 50 years, they’ve lost sub stance and gotten smaller. I don’t think that needs to con tinue,” he said. Hoff continues to look for “the cow that pro duces well and lasts a long time.” Bulls, of course, play an im portant role in the farm’s pro gram. Hoff uses top AI bulls. “Probably the best rule of thumb is bulls with high TPI, which in (Turn to Pago A4O) to be located farther-north and east of the' exhibits, but are now closer. “The ability to have the field demonstrations close to the ex hibit area is a plus for the show,” she said. “We were able to expand without a major dis ruption to the demonstration acreage.” For the first time, Empire Farm Days serves as host to the New York State FFA and New York 4-H Tractor Operators Contest. About 100 young stu dents from across the state will compete Thursday, Aug. 10, in the contest at the southeast corner of the exhibit area. Empire Farm Days, with its Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 5, 2000 Marlin Hoff, of Coldsprings Farms in New Windsor, Maryland, received the Distin guished Dairy Cattle Breeder Award for 2000. His experience on a judging team gave him an eye for good cattle ... and began his quest to find or breed the perfect cow. Photo by Mlchollo Ranch 67th annual show, features more than 600 exhibitors and high lights new ag technology, im proved and enlarged timber, construction, and livestock dis plays, and some of the largest ag machinery and equipment dis plays east of Louisville, Ky. The show, on more than 300 acres, also features dairy profit seminars, an antique tractor dis play, and field demonstrations. HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) This week at the Leba non Area Fair Agriculture Sec retary Samuel E. Hayes Jr. presented a symbolic check to Lebanon farmers. This presenta tion comes on the heels of the recent announcement that final payments under the Crop Loss Program have been made, bring ing the 1999 drought disaster relief program to a close. “By responding to the over whelming need created by last year’s drought, the Common- Test Your Ability To Predict Beef Quality Can you accurately determine feeder cattfe value by eyeing up a steer? Guess ribeye area? Approx imate Yield and Quality grades? This is your chance to test your skills. Recently Lancaster County cattle feeders had the opportu nity to try the “Fantasy Beef Quality Challenge,” a con test which highlighted the difficulty of predicting cattle value by visual ap praisal only. Turn to page A 36 to find a full report plus pictures and a score card to participate in the contest. The field equipment schedule includes com/hay chopping 10 f a.m. daily, hay mowing 11 a.m. daily, tillage 1 p.m. daily, and hay (raking, baling, and han dling) at 2 p.m. every day. About 75,000 farmers and agribusiness representatives at tended last year’s event. This year Wickham noted that it is difficult to predict how many will attend, but the organizers Disaster Relief Final Payments wealth clearly led the way over any other Mid-Atlantic or Northeastern state,’’ Hayes said. “I am very proud of our produc ers for managing through a very difficult crop year.” Hayes commended Gov. Ridge and Pennsylvania lawmakers for the quick re sponse with the $70.6 million as sistance package, which made a real difference in helping farm families across the Common wealth. Kyle Fleener, right, won supreme champion hog Monday at the Lebanon Fair. Henry Holloway, left, judged the show. See story page A2B. $32.00 Per Year expect a good crowd, with num bers reaching from 75,000- 100,000, she told Lancaster Farming. Following are some show highlights: • Demonstration Tent. This area at the south end of the demo field will be used again this year as a headquarters for “With the initial $5 million, Hay Assistance Program in place to lead the way, followed soon thereafter by the $6O mil lion Crop Loss Program, and continuing with the $5.6 million for Crop Insurance, Pennsylva nia farmers had a way to help manage one of the toughest droughts in recent history,” Hayes said. To date, the area consisting of Lebanon, Lancaster, Berks. (Turn to Pago A 44) 600 Per Copy (Turn to Pago A 42)
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