Groff Heads Lancaster County Poultry Association
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.)
“We’ve faced some big obstacles
with salmonella, the avian influ
enza scare, and cholesterol,” Nel
son Groff said of the poultry in
dustry. “Now the big challenge
to sort out is animal welfare.”
Groff is poised to take over the
presidential reins of leadership
for the Lancaster County Poultry
Association at its annual banquet
next Tuesday evening. Joining
him in leadership are Jay Shan
non of Keystone Farm Credit,
vice president; Andy Bradford of
Wenger Feeds, secretary; and
Becky Petit of Hy-Line Interna
tional, treasurer.
Groff works as the technical
services representative for Heri
tage Poultry Management Serv
ices, Annville.
As head of the Poultry Associ
ation, Groff sees the importance
of educating the non-farming
public about agriculture. For this
reason, he wants to explore addi
tional opportunities with the
Farm To City Day held annually
at the North Museum.
The Farm To City Day began
two years ago. The Poultry Asso
ciation showed an informative
video and sold poultry sausage
The annual Lancaster County Poultry Association banquet is
planned for Tues., Oct. 24, at Willow Valley Convention Center. Tick
ets are available from board members or by calling Dr. John
Schwartz, extension director, at (717) 394-6851.
sandwiches, chicken nuggets,
and mustard and red beet eggs.
“This year, I’d like to give
away mini omelets to promote
the product and public relations
with the non-ag community,”
Groff said.
“I believe we (the association)
have already laid the ground
work for many worthwhile proj
ects,” Groff said. “We have some
members who are committed to
Lawmakers Secure $l.l Million
For Plum Pox Research In Pa.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Sen
ators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and
Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Con
gressman William Goodling (R
-PA/19) announced their success
ful attempt in securing $l.l mil
lion for plum pox research in
Pennsylvania.
The funding was approved by
a House-Senate Conference
Committee as part of the FY
-2001 Agriculture Appropriations
Bill.
The Agriculture Appropria
tions Bill must still be approved
by the full Senate and House of
Representatives before being sent
to the President.
ASA Celebrates PNTR Signing For China Legislation
SAINT LOUIS, Mo. The
American Soybean Association
(ASA) recently applauded the
signing by President Bill Clinton
of legislation authorizing Perma
nent Normal Trade Relations
(PNTR) between the U.S. and
China.
Passage of PNTR for China
has been a soybean industry leg
islative priority for more than
two years. For U.S. soybean pro
ducers, PNTR for China is the
overseeing these events, and it’s a
matter of them continuing their
good work.”
Groff said that the annual
banquet held for Lancaster and
surrounding county family living
teachers has proven to be a suc
cess.
“For the past several years, we
have had some outstanding poul
try ambassadors and the newly
appointed ambassador Rijelle
Kraft is highly qualified, and I
believe she will do an excellent
job,” Groff said.
The Ephrata Fair Booth is the
Association’s main fundraiser.
“That has been a success mainly
due to the dedication of Clair
and Shirley High who have taken
care of the annual event,” Groff
said. “Unfortunately they want
to be relieved of the duties so we
need someone to step in and take
over.”
Of benefit to producers is the
organization’s Poultry Day.
Groff would like to see every
producer attend in become in
volved in the association.
Although many animal right
ists protest large poultry opera
tions and a fringe cries for organ
ic eggs, Groff does not see that
becoming a mainstream demand.
“The fact is that farmers are
working with small margins. The
cost per dozen for organic eggs
doubles the cost of commercial
eggs, and I don’t see the average
consumer ready to pay those ad
ditional costs,” Groff said.
“People need to realize that
farmers do take care of their
chickens. If you want to stay in
business, you must take care of
them,” Groff said.
Groff is also concerned with
In Pennsylvania, the stone
fruit industry is suffering from
an outbreak of the plum pox
virus, the first known case in
North America. Santorum, Spec
ter and Goodling, along with the
commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
the National Peach Council, and
other groups have been working
to combat the virus, and this
funding is crucial for this effort
to continue.
“Since learning about the dis
covery of the plum pox virus in
Pennsylvania, I have been com
mitted to combating this devas
tating plague to our stone fruit
industry,” said Santorum. “I am
please that the conference com-
cornerstone of trade relations
that will facilitate exports of U.S.
agricultural products to China.
“PNTR for China is the single
most important piece of trade
legislation that the ASA has
backed in the last 10 years,” said
ASA President Tony Anderson, a
soybean producer from Mount
Sterling, Ohio. “ASA and our
state affiliates mounted an all
out grass-roots policy campaign
earlier this year that was instru
over production of eggs in the
midwest, which then dump their
eggs in the east causing low
prices.
Groff who has a ready laugh
and easy-going management
style, said that the poultry indus
try is a good fit for him, although
it originally wasn’t the career di
rection he had planned.
He said that his parents
moved off the farm when he was
six years old, but he worked on a
farm from ages 13-19.
After high school graduation,
Groff attended an electronic in
stitute for one year until enlisting
into the Army during the Viet
nam War. During his three years
in the Army, Groff worked in
electronic communications,
mostly stationed in Thailand.
When he returned to the coun
ty, the electronic job market was
stagnant from all the electroni
cally-trained veterans. Groff
worked for Alcoa in machine
setup. He soon married Arlene,
and they will celebrate their 25th
wedding anniversary soon. Ar
lene’s brother-in-law owns Mel
hom Sales and Service and of
fered Groff a sales job with that
company.
Groff loved selling chicks, but
after 13 years of traveling from
state to state he was ready to cut
back on travel time.
About six years ago, Groff
took a job with Heritage. In that
position, he works with contract
and independent flocks.
In the 19 years associated with
some form of the poultry indus
try, Groff said that has seen lots
of changes, especially many
small farm disappearing and
feed companies consolidating.
“We have less processors but
bigger production,” Groff said.
mittee recognized the importance
of funding to rid Pennsylvania of
this harmful virus.”
Specter said, “I’m delighted
my colleagues saw fit to put
these vital funds into the battle
against this devastating disease,
and to provide some relief for
victimized farmers.”
“There is no question this
money is critical to help contain
the spread of this disease which
has wreaked havoc on Pennsyl
vania’s fruit growers,” said
Goodling. “Along with these re
search funds, we must continue
to push for fair and equitable
compensation for our affected
growers.”
mental in securing passage of
PNTR in the House. We were ex
tremely pleased that the Senate
then provided strong support for
this legislation, and that Presi
dent Clinton has now signed the
bill into law.”
Passage of PNTR for China
protects current U.S. soybean
and soy product exports worth
$1 billion, and makes possible fu
ture soy exports that could dou
ble in the next five to 10 years,
“We’ve faced some big obstacles with salmonella, the
avian influenza scare, and cholesterol. Now the big chal
lenge to sort out is animal welfare,” Nelson Groff said of
the poultry industry.
Groff and his wife Arlene live
in Manheim, where he has devel
oped the six-acre plot surround
ing their home into a personal
paradise. He has planted a wood
lot, installed a stocked bass pond,
and cleared the land surrounding
it.
“Hunting, fishing, boating,
gardening I like anything out
doors,^"‘-Groff said. He was a for
mer Cub Scout leader.
Arlene, a secretary for Mei
bom for 18 years, is working to
ward a degree at Harrisburg
Area Community College
(HACC). She enjoys crafts and
decorating the home. The couple
is active at Lititz Grace Brethren
Church.
Kenny, center, has lived with his Uncle Nelson and
Aunt Arlene Groff from age 2. One of the Groffs’ favorite
activities is watching Kenny play football for Manheim
Central High School.
according to industry estimates.
Soybeans represented more than
7 percent of the total value of all
U.S. exports to China in 1999.
Patrick Steel, associate admin
istrator at the Foreign Agricul
tural Service (FAS) of USDA,
said, “China is the largest growth
market for U.S. soybeans and
PNTR puts in place a system to
preserve that growth market and
opens the market for soybean oil
and soybean meal. This is an im
portant agreement for U.S. soy
Because the couple works for
two competing businesses, they
say they share little about work
related details.
Although the Groffs have no
children of their own, their neph
ew Kenny Sloat has lived with
them since he was two years old.
The Groffs talk of him with obvi
ous love and pride as if he were
their son. Now, IS, Kenny plays
football for Manheim Central
High School.
“This is a football town,”
Groff said of the team that con
tinues to win champiortships for
many years. The Groffs attend
all games and have watched
Kenny play since he started
midget football at seven years.
beans and is in the best interest
of America.”
U.S. soybean producers, who
have been promoting their soy
beans in China since ASA
opened its Beijing office in 1982,
were well positioned to supply
product to China when economic
and political changes made im
ports feasible. ASA opened a sec
ond office in Shanghai in 1993 to
further expand market develop
ment activities for U.S. soybeans
in China.