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.
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