A2B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 11, 2000 Farm-City Banquet Highlights Exchangees, Agricultural Honorees (Continued from Pago A 1) growing up and processing meats the old-fashioned way. On the tour, “The aroma was so satisfying and it made us so hungry,’’ Fisher said. Fisher said the complex of modern buildings at Hatfield was kept well, and the buildings are so “neat and handsome.” The Hatfield processing busi ness was begun in 1895 by John C. Clemens. Fisher related the history of the operation through Lancaster Farming was honored with a Public Rela tions in Agriculture Award at the Berks County Farm-City Banquet. From left, presenting the award is Ernest Heck man, president of the Farm-City Council to Lou Ann Good and Andy Andrews, Lancaster Farming staff writers. Edward G. Hartman, Berks County Farm Bureau, right, was honored with a Public Relations in Agriculture Award. Bill Hughes, vice president of agrifinance for First Union Bank, presented the honor. Marino, Stecher, Hoffman Honored By Gloucester Ag Board CLAYTON, N.J. Russell Marino, mayor of South Harris on Township and A 1 Stecher, for mer mayor of Woolwich Town ship, were presented with Distinguished Service to Agricul ture awards at the recent annual dinner-dance and business meet ing of the Gloucester County Board of Agriculture (GCBA) in Glassboro, N. J. Joe Hoffman, former Glouces ter County clerk, was also pres ented with the Special Service to Agriculture Award. Russell J. Marino, senior part ner and president of Sun Valley Orchards, was recognized and presented a plaque by Doug Zee, past president of the GCBA. The Marino family farms 1,200-acres of peaches, vege tables, and field crops in South Harrison Township, where Mari no has been mayor for the past 14 years. the past century and described some products made by the com pany. Fisher said 50 percent of the hogs processed by Hatfield are Pennsylvania pigs. Others come from New York state, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Illi nois, Ohio, and lowa. Hilda Fisher, born and raised on a fruit farm in Rockland Township, graduated from Oley High School and Kutztown Col- “The Marino’s are one of the ning Commission, the township their many contributions. The leaders in modem growing and environmental commission, and Stechers were also recognized for packing technology,” said Zee. his term as a trustee of the South their Christmas season market “ With a state-of-the-art packing Harrison Township Educational ing. and storage facility, they have Alliance. “During the Christmas season, now integrated their business “Russell has also been presi- shoppers can find hundreds of into trucking and wholesaling.” dent of the Gloucester County different ornaments, wreaths, Marino was also recognized Mayors Association,” said Zee. flower arrangements, candles, for his service to county and state Stecher’s plaque and citation and other gifts after picking out agriculture and to his commu- were presented by Michelle In- their fresh tree,” said Infante nity. He is one of three growers fante-Casella, agricultural agent Casella. from Gloucester County that sit with Rutgers Cooperative Exten- Stecher was also recognized on the state, board of agriculture. sion of Gloucester County. The for his past service as a director He was recognized for his past Stecher family owns Stecher’s of the Gloucester County Board service as a director on the New County Store and Farm in Wool- of Agriculture, the New Jersey Jersey Farm Bureau, the wich Township. Farm Bureau, and as a member Gloucester County Board of Ag- Stecher was cited for his inno- of the American Farm Bureau, riculture, The New Jersey Toma- vative marketing methods and “Al Stecher has been a special to Council, The New Jersey the development of his upscale person in his community,” said Peach Council, The Swedesboro store in the western edge of Infante-Casella. “He was Wool- Auction, Pioneer Farm Credit Gloucester County. wich Township mayor for 13 Association, and the Woodstown He was also recognized for the years, and since 1988, he has Agway. Zee also recognized his production of melons that are been chairman of the Woolwich service as mayor and deputy niche-marketed in the eastern Township Planning Commis mayor in South Harrison Town- U.S. Infante-Casella emphasized sion,” stated Infante-Casella. ship and his membership on the the personal service of Stecher Stecher was also recognized for South HattiMi To<yhSlli{> J l*ldrt-‘ ' khd ih ; rifcOgrfitihg > 'Hi*' SetViW »drf GkhfcMter' lege. An elementary teacher for 20 years, Fisher taught at Neffs School in Maxatawny Township, Links School in Oley, and in the Boyertown School District. Hilda’s husband Frank Fisher, bom and raised on a farm in Oley Township, is a graduate of Oley High School. He has been a farmer since 1937. After beginning as farmers in Robesonia, Frank and Hilda moved to the present Fisher farm in 1945, the sixth generation of Fishers to own the homestead. Frank has worked on many com munity projects. The farm, permanently pre served through the county’s agri cultural land easement program, has grown agronomic crops, po tatoes, and raised swine and steers. Hilda and Frank, married in 1942, have three children Steve, Gery, and Eloise. Steve Clemens, who visited the Fisher residence, spoke about the Fisher Century Farm, established in 1790. Clemens provided a detailed description of the houses and buildings on the Fisher home stead and their historical signifi cance. Clemens, bom in Lansdale and raised in Hatfield, is a grad uate of North Penn High School. Clemens began his career in 1979 at Hatfield as a road driver Farm-City exchangee family at the Berks County Farm-City banquet. Seated, in front, are Frank and Hilda Fisher, Oley. Back, from left, Kirk Fisher, Felicia Fisher, Margie Fisher, Steve Fisher, Eloise Fisher, Gery Fisher, and Carol Fisher. hauling swine and delivering pork products. After a decade, Clemens became supervisor of livestock delivery and then su pervisor of scheduling and trans portation. After eight years in that re sponsibility, Clemens is in a three-year leadership, education, assessment, and development program. The program allows Clemens to experience each de partment within Hatfield Quality Meats. Clemens is the youngest of five children and is married to Pat ricia Mac Cord. They have five children between the ages of 3-16: Steven, Morgan, Dana, Brian, and Cassidy. Honorees Included in those honored during the banquet was Lancas ter Farming Newspaper, which received a Public Relations In Agriculture Award. The newspaper has been pub lished every Saturday for more than 45 years. Bill Hughes, vice president of agrifinance with First Union National Bank, pres ented the honor to staff writers Andy Andrews and Lou Ann Good. Hughes also honored another recipient with the award, Ed ward G. Hartman. Hartman has led the Berks County Farm Bu reau as president from 1988-1998. A farmer all his life in Spring, Bern, and Muhlenberg town ships, Ed, with wife Josephine, have passed the farming opera tion on to their sons (the fifth generation of Hartmans farming near Reading). Hughes honored Hartman for his dedication. “This gentleman has dedicated his life to agriculture and has been an excellent spokesperson for Berks farmers and farm fami lies,” said Hughes. Hartman has served as chair man of the Farm Bureau state political action committee and on the state commodities and local affairs committees. The 2000 Tressie S. Caton Woman in Agriculture Award was presented to Hilda Fisher, who was also a Farm-City ex changee. Fisher’s whole life has been spent in promoting agriculture and historical preservation, according to the council. Fisher was active in many areas, including helping to en sure that Oley Township was the first to be registered in the U.S. as a historical place; local promoter and supporter of long term efforts to have Oley Town ship develop an effective ag pres ervation zone; and is known lo cally as the “Oley Valley historian.” County Solid Waste Commission and as building inspector, zoning inspector, and a police officer in Woolwich Township. George Dean, vice president of the GCGA, presented a special award to Joe Hoffman, former Gloucester County clerk for 36 years. “Joe Hoffinan’s roots go back to 1923 with his birth on the family farm,” said Dean. “At age 29, a tragic hunting accident almost ended his life and three years later, he left farming,” stated Dean. Joe Hoffman was recognized for his accomplishments as a banker with Newfield Bank and his long service to 4-H Youth De velopment in the county, in addi tion to his impartial work as the Gloucester County clerk. Hoff man was also cited for his work as past Chairman of United Way, as a trustee of Underwood Memorial Hospital and chair of theh*HulWfaigdrhte:
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers