812-Lincastef Farming, Saturday, December 16, 2000 Red And White Promoter Walks Across America LINDA WILLIAMS Bedford Co. Correspondent EVERETT (Bedford Co.) Ninety year-old Elmer Carpenter has always been one to express his opinions. When other farmers were quickly disposing of red and white calves born of black and white Holsteins, Elmer studied the situation and found these more colorful offsprings to be only re cessive genes. So enamored was he with the red and whites he joined in their promo tion and was the founder of the first Red and White newsletter still being published at Crystal Springs near Breezewood. One of his earliest comments was, “There just isn’t anything ‘purtier’ then a whole field of red and white cows in a field of ‘yeller’ dandelions.” Always a promoter of the breed, Elmer has won many awards with the Red and White Association and has raised a considerable sum of money by auctioning off his own paintings. Elmer has also won awards exhibiting his paintings with the Bedford County Arts Council. Now, at the age of 90, this opinion ated and strong-minded retired farmer has undertaken yet another cause. A supporter of the Green Party and Ralph Nader, he began a cross-coun try trek on his 90th birthday, Septem ber 13. “My goal is to equal Granny Go,” he says. “But, I soon became aware of the fact that woman is as tough as nails with the guts of a grizzly bear.” His trek began after his birthday party attended by more then 100 friends and relatives at Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. Averaging 17 to 20 miles a day, he was near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, when his Achilles tendon acted up forcing him to return to Bed ford County for a respite. He plans to hit the road again in January. If not then, certainly by early spring. A friend, Stanley Hoynitski of the Harrisburg Auto Auction, had lent a motor home and driver to follow Elmer on his endeavors. However, this was a limited offer and Elmer is hop ing to find someone else willing to ac company him with a motor home that provides shelter and comfort when needed. As Elmer walked, he attempted to talk to newspaper editors across the country regarding his causes. “I came to the conclusion that too many papers are now owned by chains,” he says. “Most of them didn’t care much about my opinions.” His main causes are for campaign finance reform, because he does not Leadership Awards Rebekah Winder, Perkasie, and Curtis Poorman, New Britain, re ceived the “I Dare You Leadership Award” recently at the Bucks County 4-H Achievement Day event. This award recognizes leadership qualities, academic achievement, school and community involvement, physical or athletic activities, and good character. Winder, daughter of Robert and Anita Winder, is a member of Hill town 4-H Club. For three years, she has been project leader for the sche rensnitte craft of paper cutting. She Elmer Carpenter, a Red and White award winner is now at tempting to walk across the United States. Here he points to the place where he was forced to take a temporary rest after a bout with Achilles Tendonitis. want the government to be bought, and his fears for the planet, so there will be one for future generations. “We are using too much gasoline and not taking care of the water not taking of our planet,” he emphasizes. Elmer also believes in term limits and a limit of the amount of a dona tion a person can contribute to a can didate. He thinks the Electoral College is a dinosaur. Helping with his walk were mem bers of his family, children and grand children, who joined in walking on weekends when work schedules per mitted. “Biggest problem,” says his daugh ter, Glenda Truax, “is that he kept getting farther and farther away so it was difficult to catch up with him for just a weekend. Unfortunately, we all have to work during the week.” Elmer’s favorite walking shoes are discards from his son, a marathon runner. “He sends me his discards and I get another year out of them,” he says proudly. When the pain first began in his ankle, Elmer attributed it to a sprain. As it worsened, he remembered having 4-H HAPPENINGS has served as 4-H club treasurer and news reporter. She has taught younger 4-H members the skills needed for being successful club treasurers. She has earned recognition through 4-H for her sewing skill. A recent high school graduate, Winder was home schooled. Poorman, son of Ken and Sharon Poorman, is a member of the Bucks County 4-H Sheep Club and Goat Club. He has served as club secretary and a member of the club leadership team. He competed in livestock judging at Delaware Valley College and Penn State 4-H Achievement a similar discomfort many years previ ous when he suffered from Achilles Tendonitis. Returning to Everett, Elmer sought the advice of a specialist in Pittsburgh who agreed and ordered him off his feet for several months. By that time, Which was mid-November, he had walked a total of 845.9 miles. “There are friends and family mem bers who just cannot imagine why we are letting Dad do this,” says Glenda. “But, I think it is something he wants to do, and it is a lot better then sitting in a rocking chair staring at the four walls. He always enjoyed his painting so much, but now he has gotten ar thritic fingers and cannot do that any more. Walking is something he can still do and, for the most part, it is good for him.” To help with his expenses, Glenda has set up a “Go Pappy Go” fund at the First American National Bank of Everett, Everett. She is also seriously looking for anyone willing to accom pany him from Tuscaloosca to the West Coast in a motor home. “Even if they can only go for a short spurt, it would help,” she says. Days. This year he was the reserve champion sheep showman. North Mountain The last meeting of North Mountain 4-H was Nov. 20. Ronald McDonald attended the meeting to tell the club members about the food drive for the Ronald McDonald house. The food drive for the house will be December into January. The club would like to have SOO items to take to the house. Some of the items they will be tak ing are canned items, and nonperish able items. Some of the members of North Mountain will be packing boxes for flood victims around the world in Ephrata on Dec. 28. The club will be helping the Mennonite Central Com mittee. 4-H bowling night is Feb. 10 at Palmyra. For community service, the club is collecting soda tabs and doing a food drive for the Ronald McDonald House. There was an officer-training meeting Nov. 25. :si| I«IVHOILfINS DEALER FOR DEPENDABLE EQUIPMENT & SERVICE PENNSYLVANIA Messick Norman D. Clark Equipment & Son, Inc.. 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