A34-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 5,2002 Fourth Generation Of Miller Family Exhibiting At The 2002 Pa. Farm Show Clan Founded Baby Beef 4-H Club More Than Half Century Ago DEANNA CUNFER Carbon Co. Correspondent LEHIGHTON (Carbon Co.) The Miller family of Fairyland Farms, Lehighton, have been long-time supporters of the 4-H program in Carbon County. In fact the Miller name, particularly that of Robert “Bobby” Miller, is synonymous with Carbon County 4-H. When you mention to some one, whether at a county fair or Robert L. “Bobby” Miller is shown with the Showbox he won at the 1952 Pa. Farm Show when he was selected the grand champi on fitter and showman in the purebred Angus market steer competition. Shown in the showbox is the ex hibitor’s green and white coverall that he wore dur ing the show. HEATING WITH CORN MAKES CENTS! . . . - . 570-748-7080 LMF Manufacturing «««a....c.ic 1 .5h 1 - i .u-.„.. KEYSTONE FARM SHOW BOOTH 134-135 Bidg 6 BOOTH 445 Main Floor PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW the Farm Show, that you are in volved with Carbon County 4-H the reply most often is, “Oh- Bobby Miller!” It has even been said that they have green in their blood 4-H green. That dedication to the 4-H program spans four generations and travels with them to Harrisburg each January where this year we will see the fourth generation of the Miller family competing in the junior market swine competition. Luke and Christi Graver will each compete in one of the pure bred junior market swine classes. Luke, 9. just completed his first year in 4-H where he exhibi ted in the market lamb, market swine, and dairy beef competi tions. He is raising a purebred Landrace hog and a purebred Chester White hog, with plans to exhibit one of them at the Farm Show. Christi, 12, just completed her fifth year in 4-H. She has partici pated in the market and breeding sheep, market swine, dairy beef, and market steer projects, and is making her fourth trip as exhibi tor at the Farm Show. Christi is raising a purebred Hampshire hog and a purebred Poland China hog. “Hamp” and “Poly” are both looking good and Christi will have a hard time de ciding which will compete for the ribbons at this year’s competition. Christi has received ribbons in the market swine rate of gain competition at the Farm Show with two of her previous entries and received a master showman ship hat and show cane with her purebred Poland China entry in 2000. Luke and Christi are both members of the National Junior Swine Association and have aspi rations of starting a breeding swine project in future years. Christi has started her own flock of breeding sheep but admits that she prefers the swine above all the animals she shows as 4-H projects. Luke and Christi will not be the only members of the Miller family to exhibit animals at the 2002 Pa. Farm Show. Mother, Diane Miller-Graver, and grand father, Robert L. “Bobby” Miller will again be competing in the carcass lamb competition. On show day at the Farm Show one can usually see the whole Miller family at ringside. The excitement of competing at the Pa. Farm Show started in the first half of the 20th century when brother and sister, Willis and Catherine Diehl, exhibited in the open dairy competition with their animals from the family’s herd at Fairyland Farms. Willis went on to become a member of the dairy judging team at Penn State, while Catherine married John Miller. Together the Millers started the Baby Beef 4-H Club in Carbon County. One of the mem- bers of that club was son, Robert, known to all as Bobby. In 1950 at age 13, Bobby exhibited his first steer at the Pa. Farm Show. This purebred Angus, “Black Boy,” placed well enough to qualify for the sale of cham- ■ g*! pions. Bobby recalls the sale, then held in the large arena. Market steer competition in those days only consisted of pure bred animals Hereford, Angus, and Shorthorn. He recalls how there was a separate judge for Diane Miller-Graver and her father, Robert L. “Bobby” Miller are shown with part of their flock of sheep at Fairy land Farms. Both have entered the carcass lamb competi tion at the Pa. Farm Show with their homebred animals since 1988. ATTENTION DAIRYMEN ■ If you would prefer to be with an independent dairy, Clover Farms is looking for producers. Clover Farms is a family owned independent dairy with: Harold Whitcraft: 610*921 *9lll or Russell Pelgert: 610*756*3371 each breed. Often when it was time to select the overall champi on there was quite a bit of dis agreement as each judge wanted his breed selected as the supreme • Competitive rates ~ • Quality bonuses„ • Volume bonuses • No membership fees • No slop charge Contact (Turn to Page A 37)
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