Quality Products (Continued from Page A3B) ficient way to offer a complete product line, they believe it is the only way they can guarantee the quality of the products they sell. “Our local delivery customers demand products,’ ’ said Bill Itle, “and we demand quality. It’s part of our commitment to customer service.” The Itles believe that the qual ity of care their cows receive di rectly affects the quality of the end product. The cows are milked three times a day. They are housed in comfort freestalls bedded with sand. Jan Itle sites the sand bedding as “one of the best things we’ve ever done.” The sand bedding has elimi nated nearly every case of con form mastitis and has improved overall udder health. All cows get out on dirt at least once a day one group after the morning milking and the other after evening milking. Dry cows also spend a good deal qf time on grass. Valewood Farms has a regular hoof trim ming schedule. In order to keep cows comfortable, they trim an average of every three months. “The whole idea is to have a contented cow,” said Jan Itle. The Itles feel they should be caretakers of their animals. Ev eryone in the family has a role in that, as the siblings take turns milking evenings and weekends. * New tub design plus full-length breaker bar I® improves mixing with less power so you can feed more hay. A 3/8-inch bottom pan aads extra service life. Welds are strong and tolerances precise for stronger side walls. You get more sturdiness and durability in a new Model 4000 Mixer. New design of transition area in lower auger improves feed flow and reduces torque. New design of discharge door frame allows a more-complete mix of ration. Choose from belt or auger discharges. Choose various discharge lengths. Increase operator convenience and reduce feeding time with optional hydraulic height control of discharge. _ * Improved drive train provides reliable performance. A shear bolt helps protect the planetary and lower-auger roller m chain and sprockets : Patz * Financing Available Thru Several Units In Stock!! ▲ c Longevity is also an import ant factor in Valewood Farms success. The cows at Valewood routinely live to be 7-8 years of age. This testifies to the quality of care and allows for additional cash flow in the form of replace ments to sell. It also enables Valewood Farms to be a closed herd, another issue that the Itles feel is vital to quality assurance. Valewood Farms recently un derwent the process of becoming certified as a producer of “Free Farmed” foods. Valewood Farms is the first dairy on the East Coast authorized to use the “Free Farmed” label. It certifies that the herd is being monitored by the American Humane Asso ciation, a conservative organiza tion committed to the “common sense” care of farm animals. The Itles believe this is a tremen- dous marketing tool for their products and an ideal associa tion, as they were already doing nearly everything required to become certified. The only change that was nec essary was to cease tail docking. The Itles are confident in the mission of the American Humane Association. Unlike some organizations that use the word “humane,” the American Humane Association is not a radical animal rights group. The Itles have worked with some very good people, including Dr. Brenda Coe of Penn State Uni- CEDAR CREST EQUIPMENT Parts Stores: East Earl—7l7-354-0584 • Quarryville—7l7-806-0484 versity, who understands the mechanics and finances of dairy farming, as well as the need to be good caretakers of the ani mals. Sales manager Dan Itie sees the “Free Farmed” label as a way to set themselves apart in the market place. “We don’t want to be like everyone else. We want to be different. We want to have the best products and the best service” he said. Another aspect of the Vale wood Farms that sets them apart and keeps them connected with their customers is their commitment to public education about the dairy industry. The Itle family provides leadership and support for the Cambria County Dairy Promotion pro gram as well as the 4-H Dairy Club. Cambria County is prima rily a suburban area, with little active farming and few dairy farms. The family feels that dairy farmers need to take re sponsibility to “bring kids in and show them where their food starts. Anyone .you come in con tact with as a young person, those are the ones you impact.” Jan Itle said about her school tours. In October alone. Vale wood hosted some 300 school children. Last year, as a way to intro duce consumers to their new dairy store, Valewood Farms hosted a Pumpkin Patch during October weekends. The event was such a success that it was with Hsiel 4B§B Mil 339 King Street, Myerstown PA 17067 brought back this year as well. During two weekends in Octo ber the area around the dairy store was turned into a pumpkin patch, with pumpkins for sale in all sizes as well as fall mums, com stalks, Indian corn, and other fall decorations. Two high lights of the event were the pumpkin ice cream and the “corn box,” a giant sand box filled with shelled corn. Visitors could see a calf up close and meet the Blair County dairy princess and the Cambria County dairy maid. The family really enjoys get ting to know their buying public. “Last week I met a man who $45.2 Million WASHINGTON, D.C. Re cently, U.S. Agriculture Secre tary Ann M. Veneman announced that President Bush has proposed the allocation of $45.2 million to USDA as part of a $2O billion submission to Con gress for emergency funding to strengthen essential programs and services related to biosecu rity issues. “The President’s proposed emergency funding for USD A will help advance the next phase of our emergency preparedness activities and will help meet our critical infrastructure needs,” said Veneman. “We have taken the appropriate steps to date to ensure the critical needs for or sc Slruck-level capacities 205, 305 and 380 cubic feet. Optional side extensi provide struck-level capacities of 232, 343 and 428 cubic feet. For really tough hay, add knives made from 1/4-inch Quadra-Shark™ steel. The through-hardened knives feature scalloped cutting edges for reduced torque. Quadra-Shark™ is a trademark of Patz Sales, Inc Choose stationary, trailer mounted or truck-mounted models. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 3,2001-A4l You're Invited To Be Part Of The Mid Atlantic Area's 2002 AG DIRECTOR! This exclusive publication will serve as the ultimate resource guide for county agents and state agricultural agencies, and also serve as a “Yellow Pages" for farm ers all across the Mid Atlantic. >ions The 2002 Ag Directory will be included in Lancaster Farming's December 29, 2001 Issue, and be distributed at the Pennsylvania and Keystone Farm Shows. That's more than 55,000 booklets in cir culation! This Directory is the only one of its type to be distributed in this area. Be a part of it. Call your Advertising Sales Representative or 717-626-1164 Reservation Deadline is Friday, November 30, 2001 told me he has been buying Valewood milk for 51 years. He told me how he used to get home delivery from my Dad. Now that’s a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment,” said Jan Itle. Knowing that their customers are just a phone call away is a good motivation to keep their high standards of quality. It is a passion that the Itle family shares and hopes to pass down to the next generation. “Our Dad taught us if you aren’t going to do it right, don’t do it,” said Bill Itle. That “old fashioned” thinking has been the key to success for Valewood Farms. To Biosecurity USD A are met; however, we must remain vigilant in protect ing our nation’s food and agri culture.” The President’s proposed al location of $45.2 million to USDA will enhance other ac tions taken throughout other federal departments to increase homeland security. The funding proposed for USDA would sup port; • Enhanced security for USD A facilities ($17.2 million). • Design and construction of a satellite facility at the USD A laboratory in Ames, lowa for re search activities ($14.1 million). • Technical assistance to state, local, federal, and private sector entities to improve biosecurity ($5.0 million). • Education and training to strengthen response mecha nisms to potential food supply threats, improve data collection and dissemination, and other biosecurity activities ($8.9 mil lion). «v,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers