Pl-N\STATI;
College of Agricultural Sciences
[' 8 S S|
From the Department of Dairy and Animal Science
This regular column from Penn State’s Department of Dairy and
Animal Science features the research findings, student opportunities, and
reports on other important topics generated in the Department. The
back issues of the column are archived on Lancaster Farming’s
Internet www.lancasterfarmmg.com home page. Look for them.
PENN STATE
EQUINE PROGRAM TAKES
ON A NEW FACE
Ann M. Swinker
and Pat Comerford
Penn State Extension
Horse Specialists
Department of Dairy
and Animal Sdence
Penn State’s equine program is
evolving! We are exdted about
current projects and the future
plans for the university’s equine
program.
Penn State has a long history
of involvement with the equine,
beginning with horses and mules
used for construction of early
university facilities, and continu
ing in today’s programs in under
graduate education, extension,
and research. The Department of
Dairy and Animal Science is de
veloping the equine program to
address the needs of Pennsylva
nia’s growing horse industry.
The department has a new
equine faculty member, Dr. Ann
Swinker. She began her coopera
tive extension/teaching appoint
ment in July 2001. Swinker will
implement and manage adult ex
tension educational programs in
equine science, teach and advise
students, and assist with the new
equine minor.
* Swinker received her bache
lor’s and master’s degrees from
Penn State and her doctorate at
.West Virginia University. Swink
er began her career in extension
in 1975 as an agricultural county
agent in Allegheny County, Pitts
burgh, and worked there until
1990. From 1990 to 2001, Swink
er held the position of extension
I LANCO I
CONCRETE WALLS, INC.
• Agricultural • Commercial • Residential
| NRCS Approved Work » Quality Workmanship |
• Retaining Walls • Bunker Silos
• Manure Pits • Slatted Floor Deep Pits
• Footers • Flatwork
LANCO CONCRETE WALLS, INC.
PO BOX 256, Bird-ln-Hand, PA 17505
CONTACT Steve Petersheim, Jr (717)291-4585 ■ FAX (717)291-4686
horse specialist at Colorado State
University.
Swinker’s research activities
have addressed management and
environmental issues related to
the horse industry, such as stable
air quality, small acreage man
agement, manure management,
water quality, economic impact
studies, in addition to behavior
and reproductive issues. Ann’s
undergraduate teaching responsi
bilities in Colorado and Pennsyl
vania have included Equine Ca
reers Identification and
Preparation Course, livestock
and equine events coordination,
equine nutrition, and extension
related courses.
Penn State’s undergraduate
courses include introductory
horse production and manage
ment, advanced horse production
and management, horse handling
and training, equine facilitated
therapy, applied equine behavior,
advanced judging, independent
study, and special topics in
equine science. Students are acti
vely involved in production,
management, and equine indus
try activities through foaling,
breeding, and farm management
projects, judging teams, intern
ships, independent study, and
other educational programs.
Extra
curricular activities include Block
and Bridle Club and Intercollegi
ate Horse Show Equestrian
Team. Internships are available
with horse breeding and training
farms, feed and pharmaceutical
companies, equine publications,
racetracks, and other equine in
dustry enterprises.
Penn State has been a leader in
the breeding of registered Quar
ter Horses and maintains a herd
of approximately 35-45 horses.
These horses are used for teach
ing, research, and extension pro
grams. The 2-year-olds are sold
each spring after completion of
the handling and training course.
Two stallions. The Clue Express
and Lucky Zip, are standing to
Penn State mares and have pro
duced successful show and plea
sure horses. A primary goal of
the breeding program is to pro
duce quality horses for Penn
State programs and sale to the
public.
The department’s extension
programs include a strong youth
equine program.
Approximately 7,500 youth,
thousands of volunteer leaders,
and families are involved in 4-H
horse programs throughout
Pennsylvania. These programs
are designed to develop life skills
in youth and knowledge of horse
production, use, and manage
ment. Activities such as clinics,
camps, horse shows, and other
4-H events and competitions
promote development of riding
and horsemanship skills, while
encouraging responsibility, self
confidence, sportsmanship, team
work, and responsible care of
project animals. Several new 4-H
horse programs and resources are
under development including ad
ditional references and resources
for leaders and 4-H members, a
horsemanship skills advancement
program, a comprehensive safety
education program, 4-H horse
judges training, and additional
hands-on clinics.
In addition, Dr. Ed Jedrzejew
ski, DVM, became the assistant
horse farm manager in July 2001
and Dr. Nancy Diehl, VMD,
joined the faculty in August 2000
as assistant professor of equine
science. Jedrzejewski assists with
daily management of the horse
farm, including management and
care of horses, supervision of stu
dents, and assistance with class
es. Diehl coordinates the under
graduate equine teaching
Lancaster
Farming's
Classified
Ads Get
Results!
program, advises students, con
ducts research focused primarily
on equine behavior, and is the
faculty coordinator for the farm
unit.
These new members join Brian
Egan, equine extension assistant
and Pat Comerford, extension
horse specialist, all of which have
worked with the Penn State horse
program for many years.
We have a search ongoing to
hire a new horse farm manager.
Egan coordinates, conducts, and
assists with youth and adult ex
tension activities, teaches the
horse-handling course, and
coaches the horse judging teams.
Comerford provides leadership
Get Up To Speed At
The New York Farm Show
SYRACUSE, N.Y. If you
feel like the pace of change in ag
riculture is leaving you in the
technology superhighway ditch,
the New York Farm Show will
put you in the fast lane.
A premiere Northeast indoor
farm show, conducted Thursday,
Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-23,
at the New York State Fair
grounds in Syracuse, reveals all
you need to loiow about current
and future technology to move
your farm into the 21st century.
Here’s just a sampling of the
exciting developments in ag tech
nology that you’ll discover at
New York Farm Show.
• Bt corn hybrids perform
ance.
• Cow monitoring systems
and other dairy technology.
• Computerized harvesting
and other dairy technology.
• The brains behind new trac-
tors.
• Advanced record keeping
systems.
All this and much more awaits
you at the New York Farm Show
where more than 400 agribusi
nesses, in five buildings, demon
strate the latest in services, equip
ment, and inputs.
“Progress is the focus of New
York Farm Show,” said Scott
Grigor, New York Farm Show
manager. “The show provides
farmers with a way to keep on
top of all the changes that are
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:
• Competitive rates
• Quality bonuses
• Volume bonuses
• No membership fees
Harold Whitcraft: 610*921*9111
or Russell Pilgert: 610*756*3371
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 26,2002-A33
for the Pennsylvania 4-H horse
program, develops educational
resources, coordinates youth ac
tivities, assists with classes, and
advises students.
Penn State’s Equine Team will
provide strength to the universi
ty’s horse educational extension,
teaching, and research programs.
We look forward to providing ad
ditional opportunities for stu
dents, assessing equine industry
needs, and strengthening Penn
State’s ties with the equine indus
try.
For more information about
the Penn State equine program,
visit the horse program Website
at http://www.das.psu.edu/ and
click on “horses.”
taking place. It will keep them in
touch with the future.”
“Farmers who want to keep up
on the latest piece of equipment,
tillage management, or whatever
their farm operation needs can
find it at New York Farm Show,”
said Grigor.
The New York Center for Ag
ricultural Medicine and Health is
offering health screenings Feb.
22-23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a
Farm Youth Safety Workshop on
Feb. 21, starting at 10 a.m. and 2
p.m. Preregistration is requested
by Feb. 6. Contact Barb Kersman
at (800) 343-7527.
Farm toys, antique tractors,
and vintage milk bottles displays
make New York Farm Show the
best buy for the whole family.
New York Farm Show spon
sors its annual Toy Show Auc
tion, Friday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. in
the Empire Room of the Arts and
Homes Building. More than 250
pieces will be on the auction
block, with proceeds going to
benefit New York FFA.
New York Farm Show is spon
sored by the Northeast Equip
ment Dealers Association and
American Agriculturist Maga
zine. Tickets are available free
from Northeast Equipment Deal
ers by writing New York Farm
Show, P.O. Box 3470, Syracuse,
NY 13220. Include a self-ad
dressed, stamped legal envelope
with your request.
• No stop charge
Contact