86-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, November 18, 2000 Ronda Merritt nicknamed the “Martha Stewart” of Dillsburg is already preparing Christmas gifts in her kitchen. Last year she estimates she gave away 40-50 cake-in-the-jar presents, 50 smelly jelly gifts, and numer ous jars filled with homemade apple butter or salsa. Meet 6 Martha Stewart 9 Of Dillsburg LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff DILLSBURG (York Co.) The aroma of pumpkin spice and chocolate mingles in the farm house kitchen of Ronda Merritts. Known as the “Martha Stew art” of Dillsburg, Ronda is al ready at work preparing holiday gifts for friends, coworkers, and relatives. While she works, she glances out the spacious windows that overlook Diamond 7 Ranch and Arena. It’s where her husband Jim is busy preparing for one of the 40 horse shows the farm hosts annually. Although Ronda serves as a registered emergency technician (EMT) for the horse shows, works as a claims examiner for Blue Cross Insurance Company, and helps with duties on the horse farm, she said, that she is happiest in the kitchen. She keeps the family, which includes Cassandra, 17; Jessica, 15; and Travis, 12, satisfied and ener gized with homemade meals. After the evening meal is fin ished, Ronda doesn’t relax. In stead she cans in-season produce, decorates wedding cakes for cli ents, or experiments with a new recipe. This time of the year finds her preparing holiday gifts. She esti mates that she gave away 40-50 cake-in-the-jar presents, 50 smelly jelly gifts, and numerous gift baskets packed with apple butter, salsa, and other home made goodies. ‘Td rather give a homemade gift than a store-bought one,” Ronda said of the personalized effort behind the presents. “I get so many ideas and recipes from Lancaster Farming. ’’ “I’ve been intrigued with cooking ever since I can remem ber,” said Ronda, who grew up watching her mother and grand mother cook and preserve food. At age 17, Ronda was decorat ing wedding cakes. At age 23, she was teaching cooking classes in a local kitchen specialty shop. Ronda is alarmed that many women no longer preserve food or prepare meals from scratch. “I’m afraid cooking is becom ing a dying art,” she said. She encourages novice cooks to fol low established recipes in the be ginning. “After you feel confident, you can step out and experiment,” she said. “One thing I learned is that it doesn’t hurt to change a recipe.” Ronda said that many begin ners are afraid to try. She coun sels, “If you burn something, throw it away and keep going.” I don’t think there is anyone who can’t cook, if they keep try ing.” It is reassuring to have a friend or relative to consult for cooking advice. Ronda said, “I remember calling my grand mother late at night if something didn’t turn out right. It took me six batches to produce monkey bread that tasted like hers.” Some of her favorite foods to can are peaches, pears, tomatoes, salsa, and spagetti sauce. Although she maintains a gar den, most of the that she pro cesses is purchased from farmer’s markets. “Jim and Travis go to hay sales where produce is being sold. They bring things home at the most inopportune times, but that’s how it is when you can and freeze. You need to do it (pro duce) when its ready, not when its convenient.” Ronda has always made an ef fort to teach her own children how to cook and preserve food. This summer, Ronda was pleased to see her 15-year-old daughter teach a friend how to can peaches. “Jessica is the one most likely to follow in my footsteps,” Ronda said of her “Martha Stew art” reputation. Patience and calmness are vir tues to which Ronda lays claim. Although both traits are assets in the kitchen, they are even more beneficial as a mother and EMT. A few months ago, these traits were in demand when the Merri tts’ son’s thumb was ripped off during a rodeo roping incident. Travis, who earned the state designation as all-round cowboy when he was only five years old, participates in numerous roping events. But on Aug. 24, his thumb caught in the rope, a com mon injury among rodeo ropers, according to Jim. They immedi ately stuck his thumb is ice in order to enable doctors to reat tach it. ■. V*\ ■ . ****** * ' v--' '*■*>• # Jim and Ronda Merritt, with children Jessica and Travis, operate Diamond 7 Ranch and Arena, Dillsburg. Ronda explained that the thumb was basically amputated by the accident, which required all nerves and arteries to be reat tached during surgery. Travis said that he felt no pain from the accident. While in the emergency room, his first ques tion was “When can I rope again?” After a six-day stay at the Philadelphia Children’s Hospi tal, doctors determined that the reattachement was a success and sent Travis home. Although brave and calm dur ing the ordeal and his subsequent four-day stay in the intensive care unit, Travis recalls that three weeks after the event, he almost passed out. He wears a bandage op his thumb, but everything seems to be progressing well, and Travis is again working with the horses. “It was top-hand surgeons and faith in the Lord that brought us through,” Ronda said of the suc cessful reattachment. The Merritts own Diamond 7 Ranch and Arena with Jim’s parents, Jim and Connie Merri tts. Jim grew up breaking saddle ponies, roping, and working cat tle. It seemed a natural pro gression to buy the 160-acre property seven years ago. In ad dition to growing hay on their own acreage, they also rent addi tional land for that purpose. The Merritts horse show facili ty includes 215 stalls and a show ring. They also have 56 recrea tion vehicle hookups available for participants. “People come from as far away as Florida and Colorado to compete in the shows,” Jim said. For the most part, Merritts rent out the grounds to horse clubs and associations for shows, which means, the Merritts are re sponsible for preparing the grounds and clean up, but not for the actual planning of the shows. The first year in business, they held three shows; this past year, 40. “Like everything else, horse show business depends on the economy,” Merritt said. (Turn to Page B 7) In winter months, Ronda enjoys incorporating this South Bend cookstove into her cooking ventures. Last year, she prepared the family Thanksgiving dinner in it. -V t** < A >. * % » *- « * * *"'< »v- ' V * *f V - tJ*' ft * t *•- %^^ssr. ■*** ,*«* w '’*' Vih***
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers