Ida’s
Notebook
Ida Risser
Wanted: Well-Kept Farms For Dairy of Distinction Merit
UNIVERSITY,PARK (Centre Co.)
- Pennsylvania dairy farms are invited
to apply for this year’s Daily of
Distinction Award from the Northeast
Dairy Farm Beautification Program.
Applications must he submitted by
April 15.
The award is based on the idea that
attractive farmsteads enhance
consumer confidence m the
wholesomeness of milk and stimulate
milk sales and public support tor the
industry Dairies receiving the highest
scores m each of 10 Pennsylvania
districts will be awarded an 18- by 24-
mch Dairy of Distinction sign to
display in front ot their farm.
“This program is run by volunteers
and recognizes the hard work and
dedication ot dairy producers who
promote a positive image for the dairy
industry,” said Mike O’Connor,
secretary ot the Pennsylvania Dairy of
Distinction program and professor of
dairy science extension in Penn State’s
College of Agricultural Sciences.
Roadside judging will lake place in
May Judges will look at factors that
can be controlled by the farmer, such
as clean and attractively finished
-buildings; neat landscaping, ditches,
roads, and lanes; and well-maintained
fences They also will take into
How Is Your Farm Scored? • . f r%‘ f' t'
Awards will be based upon neatness, good maintenance, and 9 Dairy OJ Distinction
other factois, which can be controlled by the farmer Attractive # 2002 Pennsylvania Application
background scenery should not be weighed heavily in judging PURPOSE OF PROGRAM
All mdging observations should be made from a vehicle at one or , . ~ . ,u„
more po.nfs on an adjacent public highway (or if farm is off the • Attract.ve dairy farms give the consumer greater confidence m the
road, the nearest lane) Judging should give equal consideration ® wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales which encourages
to old wood construction and new construction of metal 01 •• p U bhc support for the dairy industry. The award gives recognition
concrete block • t 0 t b e dairy farmer for maintaining a well-kept farmstead
The award program may be used for subsequent advertising or • _ v
promotion activities for dairy producers or dairy farming • fcLiumiLil I i .
Fanners who apply for awards agiee that, if selected, they will All Northeast dairy farms producing milk tor sale arc invited to 0
cooperate with these activities and make all reasonable efforts to submit an application for the award Dairies receiving the 10 •
maintain both the exterior and interior of their properties in an # highest scores in each of the 21 districts will receive an I8”x24” •
acceptable condition • Dairy of Distinction sign to be displayed in front of their farm. •
How The Judging Works J ° 0
Judging teams will visit farms during the month of May Farms APPLICATION
will be judged each year as the award is presented on an annual • y o ur Name
basis Any dairy failing to maintain appearance standards will be •
asked to remove their sign The Dairy of Distinction signs remain • Mail mg Address,
the property of the committee, not the property of the dairy • mu
farmer All farms must achieve a compliance score of 90 percent • Phone Number—
of their Dairy of Distinction score card Your cuopeialive or milk m Cooperative or Handler (where you ship your milk, be specific)
lumdlei sull be contacted to appioie your milk qualih _
Rules _
1 The Dairy ot Distinction sign remains the property of the # , y Handler w ,n be conta cted to appiove your milk quality)
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program Committee _ ' r
(NEDFBP) * Location (driving directions forjudging team)
2 The post and bracket shall be supplied by and maintained by _
the dairy farmer NEDFBP suggests that a wood post • 1 •
4”x4”xl2’or iron pipe 2"xl2’be used Posts or pipe should • __
be installed and maintained m true vertical position with 8’ •
above ground Top of the bracket should be lower than six • £ ounty (where your farm IS located)——
inches from the top of the post In addition, NEDFBP • . . .. cn„n„i,(„.,ii,in *
suggests that the sign be mounted in a flame to provide m I hereby apply to the Northeast Dairy Ft ‘ •
additional stability _ Committee to have my dairy scored m accordance with the rules ot #
2 The sign shall be displayed in front of the dairy at roadside the program for the purpose of obtaining a Dairy ot Distinction 0
An attractive post and bracket oi other Irame shall be used to sntQ be drsplayed on my premises (No producer will be chaiged •
display the s.gn No more than three signs should be scoring or sign expense )
displayed from the sign fiame or post, and all shall he ot a • fc b '
style, general size and quality comparable to the Dairy of • .. Date
Distinction sign The sign should be seemed on all sides to • s ature owner/o perator
avoid wind damage •
4 Signs shall not be moved to othei premises New owners of a * Return application by April 15 to
Dauy of Distinction faim must apply to retain the sign • Pennsylvania: Michael O’Connor
5 Replacement of damaged signs shall be at the discietion of the • Department of Dairy and Animal Science
comm,ttee • 324 Henning Building
6No producei shall be charged with scoring or sign expenses # Penn State University
7 The |udgcs’ decision will be final • . „ , D . team
8 Judging will take place between May land May 21 * University Park, PA 16802
9 Fauns awaided a Dairy of Distinction sign m previous yea.s # ✓ NEW YORK - Carol Keene-Ainsille, 3993 Jordonvillc Road
will he |udged between Apnl 1 and April 20 If they do not Jordonvillc, NY 13361
qualify, they will be repidged between May I and May 21 so NEW JERSEY - Joy Ricker, 91 Bcemer Road, Sussex, NJ 07461 •
they have the opportunity to keep the sign 9 VERMONT . E , lsa ciancy, Vermont Department of Agriculture, •
10 Faims that do not rc(]ualify will ictuin int, sign to their •. . i \/ r r acA'IA oqai a
regional Dan yof Distinction Committee • 16 State St , DmwerJO, Montephcc V f 05620-2901 J
$1
ICfcJWf *’AJf
I&SSSr *’ 4*3/
Hrf
My houseplants keep me busy during the winter as
there are about 100 of them. Most of them are in two bay
windows but a few big plants sit on the floor. They need
to be watered regularly and spent blossoms picked up off
the windowsills.
Due to my husband’s illness, some extra plants have
been given to him. As spring approaches. I’m concerned
about garden work. It is work that 1 enjoy, but it is so
much nicer to have a helper. Doing the rototilling has al
ways been man’s work and also putting up fences for
peas. Only time will tell how things are done this year.
Crystal Spring Farm, Mifflintown
account other aspects of the farm, such
as cleanliness of animals, the
barnyard, feed areas, and manure
management
Winning farms will be notified in
late June. Because this is a yearly
award, previous winners are
reevaluated each year to see if they are
still maintaining excellent standards
To receive an application, call Mike
O’Connor at (814) 863-3913 or e-mail
Dairy
of B
Distinction
him at MOConnor@das psu edu
Since 1987, Pennsylvania’s Dairy of
Distinction Program has iecogni?ed
more than 750 dairy farms The
Pennsylvania program is part of the
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification
Program, which also includes New
York, New Jersey, and Vermont
Dairies in these stales can contact the
program secretary in their state for
applications.
Farm Name
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 16, 2002-B9
After my mother broke her ankle she declared that she
could not learn to use crutches. So, she sat in a wheelchair
for weeks. Finally, my father was tired of cooking and
serving her. So he told her she must get up and move
around. Even come to the kitchen for meals. Thus, he got
her up and moving again, and she walked for another 10
years. Necessity makes us do things that we think we can
not do.
I’ve had one major operation in my life and after a
week in the hospital, I came home and got to work. When
I saw all those weeds in my garden. 1 felt they had to be
hoed. Everyone else was too busy to do it and so I
did it though it was real misery. Even today 1
believe it was best that I had to plunge right back
to work.
Although we are housebound this winter. I’m
finding lots of things to do. The braided rug is al
most finished, my seeds are ordered. 1 bake a
dessert several times a week, and naturally water
all those houseplants every few days.
Dairy Checkoff
Successes At
Pa. Farm Show
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Dairy
promotion was stronger than ever at the 2002
Pennsylvania Farm Show. Throughout the show,
dairy’s message was spread to consumers
through an interactive exhibit, displays and con
tests. Dairy events were made possible by the
farmer-funded dairy checkoff organizations,
Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, Ameri
can Dairy Association & Dairy Council Mid East
and the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, working
together.
The farmer-funded dairy checkoff program's
booth in the main exhibit area featured the dairy
trivia game. “Who Wants to be a Moo-llionaire?’
Visitors learned about dairy and nutrition while
playing the entertaining game, based on the TV
game show. Along with “Moo-llionaire,” another
interactive nutrition game taught consumers
about eating a well-balanced diet, including milk
and dairy foods. Dairy-friendly recipes and tat
toos were also provided to the public.
Dairy checkoff also sponsored several other
events at the Farm Show. The annual butter
sculpture paid tribute to American heroes, fea
turing a firefighter and a policeman passing an
American flag to a military officer. In the “Sim
ply American: Cheese Carving Contest," first
place went to Kathy Griffith of Lancaster Coun
ty for her sculpture of a bald eagle, the Liberty
Bell and the Scales of Justice on a five-pound
block of Cheddar. An exhibit featuring cow’s
milk cheeses produced in the Commonwealth
was on display in the center of the food court.
Additionally, many Farm Show visitors stopped
at the milk mustache photo booth to pose for
their very own milk mustache photo.
The dairy promotion groups also invited farm
ers to visit the exhibit to learn about their dairy
checkoff investment. Winners of the drawing for
a “got milk?jacket were Robert Hoover of In
diana County and Teresa Pomraning of York
| County.
r ” 4-H
| I HAPPENINGS I
York County 4-H Berries and Bees
Club is seeking new members. Whether
they live in city, suburbs or rural areas of
the county, all youths ages 8-18 years
are invited to learn how to raise small
fruits, honey and flowers. Current mem
bers pictures above are, back row, from
left, Lydia Eddinger, Amanda Hoover, Ra
chel Schreck, Matt Hoover, Brian Snyder.
Front row, from left, Brittney Shoemaker,
Randy Shoemaker, Heather Weaver, and
Sarah Leib.