Bright Future In Dairying (Continued from Page 22) Hill stands at about 21,000 pounds, with 3.6 milkfat and 3.0 percent protein. Tim and Alexa were chosen earlier this year as 2001 Outstanding Young Cooperators by the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative for their knowl edge and dedication to the dairy business. The Stoners said that nine couples competed for the honor. Participants completed a four-page applica tion, were interviewed by three judges, and took part in roundtable discussions where they were called on to speak their views on the dairy industry. The judges grilled them for about 20 minutes with a range of questions pertaining to the cooperative, their own operation, and current dairy-related issues such as foot and mouth disease, niche markets, and smaller vs. larger dairy operations. Alexa said that the competition was tough. “It was a little exhausting,” she said. “There are a lot of intelligent producers out there.” It came as a surprise to be announced in March as the winners. “It was definitely a shock,” Alexa said. Part of their role as outstanding young cooperators includes attending monthly board meetings. It also in cludes the opportunity to attend national conferences, such as the National Institute on Cooperative Educa tion in Atlanta this past July. Engineer Certified Plans & Inspections Timber Tech Engineering, Inc. 254 West Franklin St., P.O. Box 145 Womelsdorf, PA 19567 Phone: 610-589-4589 Fax: 610-589-5384 New Reinforced Concrete Manure Containment Structures Structural Engineering Service Our engineering services include the structural design of building components and complete building systems. We provide engineer certified plans and inspection services for manure containment structures. We also offer structural design of foundation systems, roof systems, concrete, masonry and steel design. Visit our web site: www.timbertecheng.com or E-mail us trr@timbertecheng.com The conference included 70 young couples from co operatives across the country, rural educators, and youth scholars. Participants were divided into groups designed to simulate working cooperatives. Tim and Alexa found themselves in two different groups. “I think in the long run my group beat out (Tim’s),” Alexa said. “But everybody was a winner.” The Stoners agreed it was an enlightening experi ence which helped them understand the benefits and challenges of running a successful cooperative. “It’s not as cut and dry as you think,” Alexa said. “It puts things in a whole different perspective.” The couple will also travel to Orlando, Fla., in No vember to attend a National Milk Producers Federa tion conference. Alexa said that her involvement at Hijos Hill gives good incentive for her work promoting milk with the ADA. “Being a producer, I want to be sure the program works because it affects our future,” she said. Tim also serves as director of the Franklin County Farm Bureau. Recently married, the couple had first met in the late 1980 s at Penn State, where Alexa was a dairy and animal science major and Tim was studying ag sys tems management. Alexa went on to graduate in 1991 and Tim in 1993. According to the Stoners, dairying should offer a Ac Engineering Service Our agricultural Engineering services include the design of livestock confinement housing, farmstead planning, manure handling systems, ventilation and mechanical design. Today’s agricultural building systems must be designed to provide the highest amount of production capable per square foot of building cost. An engineer design will help you optimize your next building project (Turn to Page 24) .lig IVlca.. Structure Inspections
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