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 Dairy of Distinction Award from the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program. Applications must be submitted by April 15. The award is based on the idea that attractive farmsteads enhance consumer confidence in the wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales and public support for the industry. Dairies receiving the highest scores in each of 10 Pennsylvania districts will be awarded an 18- by 24- mch Dairy of Distinction sign to display m front of their farm. “This program is run by volunteers and recognizes the hard work and dedication of dairy producers who promote a positive image for the dairy industry,” said Mike O’Connor, secretary of the Pennsylvania Dairy of Distinction program and professor of dairy science extension in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. Roadside judging will take 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 weft-maintained fences. They also will take into How Is Your Farm Scored? Awards will be based upon neatness, good maintenance, and other factors, which can be controlled by the farmer. Attractive background scenery should not be weighed heavily in judging. All judging observations should be made from a vehicle at one or more points on an adjacent public highway (or if farm is off the road, the nearest lane). Judging should give equal consideration to old wood construction and new construction of metal or concrete block. The award program may be used for subsequent advertising or promotion activities for dairy producers or dairy farming Farmers who apply for awards agree that, if selected, they will cooperate with these activities and make all reasonable efforts to maintain both the extenor and intenor of their properties in an acceptable condition How The Judging Works Judging teams will visit farms dunng the month of May Farms will be judged each year as the award is presented on an annual basis Any dairy failing to maintain appearance standards will be asked to remove their sign. The Dairy of Distinction signs remain the property of the committee, not the property of the dairy farmer All farms must achieve a compliance score of 90 percent of their Dairy of Distinction score card Your cooperative or milk handler will be contacted to approve your milk quality I The Dairy of Distinction sign remains the property of the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program Committee (NEDFBP) 2 The post and bracket shall be supplied by and maintained by the dairy farmer NEDFBP suggests that a wood post 4"x4”xl2‘ or iron pipe 2”xl2’ be used Posts or pipe should be installed and maintained in true vertical position with 8’ above ground Top ot the bracket should be lower than six inches from the lop of the post In adc(jtion. NEDFBP suggests that the sign be mounted in a frame to provide additional stability 3 The sign shall be displayed in from of the dairy at roadside Anaitlractive post and bracket, or other frame shall be used to display the sign No more than three signs should be displayed from the sign frame or post, and all shall be ot a style, general size and quality comparable to the Dairy of Distinction sign The sign should be secured on all sides to avoid wind damage 4 Signs shall not be moved to other premises New owners of a Dairy of Distinction farm must apply to retain the sign 5 Replacement of damaged signs shall be at the discretion ot the committee 6 No producer shall be charged with scoring or sign expenses 7 The judges' decision will be final 8 Judging will lake place between May I and May 31 9 Farms aw arded a Dairy pf Distinction sign in previous years will be judged between April I and April 30 If they do not quality, ihcv will be rejudged between May I and May 31 so they have the opportunity to keep the sign 10 Farms th.il do not lequahlv will return Ihe sign lo then rcaional Dair\ of Distinction Committee 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 Rules Recently, I attended a small meeting in a nearby church. Folks in the community of the small village of Or egon intend to publish a booklet. They are interested in hearing from people who attended this church in years gone by. My mother attended this church, but I did not. It was within walking distance of her home and her friends attended this church. Old photos show a picket fence around the church yard. Here is one of the oldest cemeteries in Lancaster County. Four different religious groups attended this Union Church. One part of the cellar had planks for a Crystal Spring Farm, Mifflintown Dairy of Distinction 2002 Pennsylvania Application PURPOSE OF PROGRAM Attractive dairy farms give the consumer greater confidence in the wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales which encourages public support for the dairy industry. The award gives recognition to the daily farmer for maintaining a well-kept farmstead. ELIGIBILITY All Northeast dairy farms producing milk for sale are invited to submit an application for the award. Dairies receiving the 10 highest scores in each of the 21 districts will receive an 18”x24” Dairy of Distinction sign to be displayed in front of their farm. APPLICATION Your Name Farm Name Mailing Address Phone Number Cooperative or Handler (where you ship your milk, be specific) (Your Handler will be contacted to approve your milk quality) Location (driving directions forjudging team) • County (where your farm is located) • * I hereby apply to the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification # Committee to have my dairy scored in accordance with the rules of # 9 the program for the purpose of obtaining a Dairy of Distinction # • sign to be displayed on my premises. (No producer will be charged • • for scoring or sign expense.) • * Date • Signature Owner/Operator • Return application by April 15 to: • • Pennsylvania: Michael O’Connor • * Department of Dairy and Animal Science * * 324 Henning Building * * Penn State University * * University Park, PA 16802 * # / NEW YORK - Carol Keene-Ainsille, 3993 Jordonville Road, _ m Jordonville, NY 13361 # •%/ NEW JERSEY - Joy Ricker, 91 Beemer Road, Sussex, NJ 07461 • •*/ VERMONT - Elisa Clancy, Vermont Department of Agriculture. • • 16 State St, Drawer 20, Montepher, VT 05620-2901 • Dairy of wm Distinction him at MOConnor@das.psu.edu Since 1987, Pennsylvania's Dairy of Distinction Program has recognized 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 states can contact the program secretary in their state for applications. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 23, 2002-B9 floor and was rented, while the other half was used to store fuel. Each family that attended was asked for a nickel to pay the janitor. Even the grass on the grounds was sold to the highest bidder. It was a different time. At one time Oregon was a flourishing community. The 1883 Ellis and Evans “History of Lancaster County” says the village had one hotel, dry-goods store, coachmaker and wheelwright shop, shoemaker, blacksmith shops, two butcher shops, four cigar manufacturers, a grist mill, and a Union church. The locality was settled by Jacob Bear in 1717. The main road from Reading to Lancaster ran through this village. At one time it was known as Catfish due to the large number of this kind of fish in Carter’s Run, now Lititz Creek. At the time that a post office was established the name was changed to Oregon. When I walked to the two-room schoolhouse in the village, I passed the hotel with a pump on the front porch. This has been incorporated into the building and the well has a glass cover which allows patrons to look into it’s depths. It is an unusual feature and does draw attention. The 1776 hotel is now a popular restaurant and the mill has also been remodeled into offices. It is wonderful to have both of them restored. Clinic To Address Safe Drinking Water UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) If you are one of the estimated three million Pennsylva nians who rely on a private well, spring or cis tern, chances are the tap water you drink con tains some form of contamination, say Penn State water resource specialists. To address problems with private water sup plies, Penn State will offer a live satellite clinic from 7:15 - 8:45 p.m. on March 27. There arc about one million private water supplies in Pennsylvania, mostly springs and wells fed by groundwater, and about 20,000 new wells arc drilled in the state every year. Studies show tha( between 60 and 70 percent of these private sources don’t meet all drinking water safety standards. Because private water systems are largely unregulated and their owners hav sole responsibility for their management wate quality problems are common. Common problems in private water supplies include bacterial contamination, lead, radon, ni trate, iron, acidity and corrosivity. Residents at tending the clinic can learn how to avoid, detect and treat contaminants. The clinic will cover drinking water stan dards, proper well construction and location, land-use activities associated with individual pollutants, water testing and water treatment. Water conservation and managing a private water supply in times of drought also will be dis cussed. During the clinic, Penn State water resource specialists will offer tips and advice and will an swer questions submitted via telephone and fax from the audience. At the downlink sites across the state, Penn State Cooperative Extension agents will be available for consultation. The clinic is free to attend, but advance regis tration may be required. For the nearest down link site, or for more information on maintaining a private water supply, contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension office in your county. Got Wood? We have the Furnace! • 304 Stainless steel ■TH| • No smoke, ashes or I in your home V teet (rom your home • Connects to your existing central duct * f or hydraulic system P.> j Woodburning Heating System Heats Your Home and Household Water y (TJ, i Underwriters u VVy Laboratories Inc* Heating Homes In NY and PA Since 1982 WILLIAMSON ENTERPRISES 330 Williamson Ave , Philadelphia, MS 39350 601-656-2639 Dealers 877-606-3113 Wanted
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