A26-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 25,2001 Dairy Producers Receive Stakeholders’ Pacesetters Award ROCKSPRING (Centre Co.) Jobo Holstein Farms, L.L.C., Gettysburg, Adams County, and Tom Craig, Murmac Farms, Bellefonte, Centre County, were recognized by the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders with the or ganization’s prestigious Paceset ter Award at the Ag Progress Days dairy producer luncheon. The two dairy operations are the third and fourth recipients of the award, which was created last year to recognize individuals and organizations who have contrib uted significantly to creating a positive image of the Pennsylva nia dairy industry. Up to three Pacesetter Awards can be pres ented annually to nominees who excel in the following criteria; vi sionary, innovative, progressive, excellence of performance, and unique. “Both Murmac Farms and Jobo Farms have pursued their visions to develop progressive dairy businesses and become leaders in our industry,” said Ralph Heffner, chair of the Pace setter Award committee. “They truly exemplify the characteris tics of a Pacesetter and are ex tremely worthy candidates of this award.” Jobo Holstein Farms, L.L.C., is a partnership between John and Bonnie Hess, their children Josie Riser and John Hess, and their son-in-law Dale Brown. They milk 500 cows, farm 900 acres, and provide custom forage har- Deadline Approaching On All-American Dairy Show HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Agriculture Secretary Sam Hayes reminded all dairy breeders that the entry deadline for the 2001 All-American Dairy Show is approaching. “If anyone has not entered their prize-winning cow into the All-American, I would like to en courage them to do so. This is an other banner year at the All- American. I hope to see everyone in Harrisburg in September,” said Hayes. All entries for the 2001 All- American Dairy Show need to be postmarked by Sept. 5 for the second entry deadline and sent to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. The All-American Dairy Show vesting and TMR blends for area producers. The Hesses have been recognized as Master Farmers, conservationists and leaders both in the industry and in the local community. Since purchasing the farm in 1970, John and Bonnie have farmed with a vision of building a business to include the next generation. They’ve worked with dairy consultants and other ex perts to expand the herd and op eration. They’ve adapted new technology and practices to build a productive and progressive op eration. Last year their vision became a reality when they formed the partnership with Josie, John and Dale. John and Bonnie share a passion for farming and agricul ture, and they’ve passed on that passion to all five of their chil dren. The five children and their spouses work in some part of the agriculture industry. The Hesses also share their passion for farming with other dairy producers and with young people from all over the world. Along with hosting tours and ed ucational meetings for fellow dairy producers, the Hesses have hosted international exchange students as interns on their farm. Each year they invite more than 200 local elementary students to tour their farm. The Hesses have also welcomed local 4-H mem bers who don’t have homes for their dairy animals to keep their animals at Jobo Farms. continues to exemplify its mission of having the best dairy genetics on display. The dairy cattle that will be on display in Harrisburg have traveled from across the na tion, several having received na tional recognition in milk pro duction, type quality, and dairy genetics. To recognize the high quality of cattle on display at the All- American, the show will pay some of the highest premiums in the nation. Building on the investment from the year 2000 with the in creases in the premiums for the champions of each breed receiv ing $l,OOO and the supreme champion being paid $3,000, this year the All-American will in- Tom Craig also shares his pas sion for agriculture and fanning with others. He got his start in the dairy industry in 1979 as a herdsperson at Murmac Farms and took over the operation in 1980. Through the help of a men tor and business partner and the advice of experts both within and outside the dairy industry, Craig has grown his dairy to 800 milk ing cows. The operation is now positioned to provide business opportunity for his and his wife Sherry’s family. What sets Craig apart from other dairy producers is his en thusiasm for the dairy industry and his willingness to share' his insight, experience, successes and failures with others. Craig has provided Penn Staters with in ternships and job opportunities on his farm. He has also hosted classes and informal discussions with students. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania and has played a key role in developing that or ganization. According to Lisa Holden, a dairy professor from Penn State who nominated him, “Craig sets the pace for the dairy industry and provides the encouragement for others to follow him.” Craig has created a very posi tive and business-like image of dairying on his farm. He uses an outside advisory team and has developed comprehensive proto col for his employees to follow. crease the premiums paid to the reserve grand champion, inter mediate champion, and junior champion of each breed to $2OO. To recognize a herd’s dairy type excellence, the Exhibitor Herd Class winner will receive $5OO. Breeding productive cattle takes time and commitment from breeders. To recognize their ef forts, the All-American will in crease premiums for the premier breeder award to $5OO and the junior and senior best bred and owned of each breed to $2OO. The 38th Annual All-American Dairy Show will be Sept. 22-27 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg. For more information or a premium list, contact the All-American Dairy Show at (717) 787-2905. When he decided to hire Hispan ic workers on his farm, he pro vided his family and existing em ployees with Spanish classes and his new Hispanic employees with English lessons. Craig is truly a visionary and progressive think er, and he has developed himself as a leader for his organization and the whole industry to follow. Both Craig and the Hess fami ly were presented a gold-plated clock commemorating the Pace setter Award during the Ag Pro gress Days luncheon. According Metzler Receives Service Award LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Lancaster Mennonite High School agricultural science teach er Lehman Metzler recently re ceived the Years of Service Rec ognition Award for serving the agricultural education profession for 30 years. The recognition, sponsored by the Pennsylvania FFA Founda tion, was given as part of the Pa. Association of Agricultural Edu cators Conference conducted at Penn State University this sum mer in conjunction with the Pa. Governor’s Institute for Agricul tural Science Careers. Metzler also recently received the Youth Adviser Award for “exemplary leadership and serv ice” to the National Institute on Cooperative Education (NICE) Youth Scholar Program. This summer he served as a youth ad viser during NICE’S 73rd annual conference, conducted in Atlanta, Ga. Metzler, of Willow Street, is in his 22nd year of teaching at Lan caster Mennonite High School. At LMH he is co-adviser, with teacher Christopher Ochs, of the Hans Herr FFA Chapter, which has enjoyed numerous successes since its inception in 1992. During the 72nd annual Pa. FFA Convention mid-June at Pennsylvania State University’s main campus, the Hans Herr Chapter’s outgoing president, Paul Hostetter, was named presi dent of the Penn sylvania FFA As- sociation. Paul’s classmate, Jere my Ranck, was named eastern region vice presi dent of the state to Heffner, the award was cre ated as a way to recognize the dy namic leadership responsible for creating a strong and rewarding future for the Pennsylvania dairy industry. The Pennsylvania Dairy stake holders will recognize up to three recipients throughout the year, so qualified nominations can contin ue to be submitted to the board of directors for consideration. To re ceive an application, contact Alan Bair, facilitator, Pennsylva nia Dairy Stakeholders, at (717) 948-6328 or nab4@psu.edu. FFA Association. Both were graduated from LMH in June. In addition, the school’s Agri business Management Team took first place and received $l,OOO to compete in the National FFA Convention at Louisville, Ky., in October. The Ag Mechanics and Dairy Food? teams took home second place awards, both receiv ing $450 to compete nationally in the Northeast Regional Career Development Event at the BIG E (New England Expo), Spring field, Mass., in September. Prior to his position at LMH, Metzler served nine years in Cen tral and South America in Adult Ag Extension Education. Free Estimates BIN PAD FOUNDATIONS Any Size - Call For Price Lv. Message or Call After 6:00 PM S.K. BUILDERS 717/442-0X34 Lehman Metzler
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