Vol. 47 No. 36 Watermelon queens from many states gathered recently for a Capitol Hill promo tion. Amanda Brown, third from left, front, represents Maryland and Delaware states as the Mar-Del Watermelon Queen. Turn to page B 2 to read more about this energetic queen who also is a motivational speaker for the Maryland Grain Produc ers, served as beef ambassador for two states, and excels in many ag-related activities. Lehmans Review 50-Year ‘Evolution’ In Chicken Business LOU ANN GOOD Food And Family Features Editor MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.) An appreciation award from Sauder’s Eggs sparked 50 years of memories in the Lehman fami ly last week. Anna Mary Lehman pulled out family photo albums that chroni cled her and her husband Eldon’s growing chicken venture with their four children. Even before the couple mar ried and established a layer oper ation in the Mastersonville area of Manheim, chickens played an important role in their lives. To finance an engagement present for his wife-to-be, Eldon raised broilers on his family farm Holstein Association Amends Bylaw At National Convention BRATTLEBORO, Vt. Dur ing the recent National Holstein Convention, conducted at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, N.J., Hol stein Association delegates were asked to take action on several lylaw amendments. One of the amendments in iuded authorizing the board of hrectors to establish the fees for nembership, registration, and ransfer, in addition to establishi ng the transfer policy. The amendments give the ward the responsibility to set fin mcial policy and making busi icss decisions for the organiza ion. Since the amendment passed >y a vote of 93-44, the board of hrectors could increase registra ion fees effective July 1. The board plans to introduce a nackage plan effective January 1, iOO3, which includes the cost of mnual membership, registration, www.lancasterfarming.com in Cumberland County. His wife remembers that it was her re sponsibility as a girl to “shoo” the chickens into the coops each eve ning as darkness fell. After the couple married, they settled in the Manheim area and soon moved into the family farm from Anna Mary’s side of the family. In the poultry industry, inno vations were constantly changing the methods for housing and car ing for chickens. In the beginning, everything was done by hand. The eggs were gathered, washed, and sized be fore being taken to the egg plant. Today, hands never touch the eggs before they are transported to the plant and then to the store. Tristar, classification, genetic re- ports, and pedigrees. In essence, the board assumes this power from the delegates. This avoids the “rubber stamp” mentality that sometimes dictates the decisions at the executive level, according to supporters. Although the national model sets a precedent, John Meyer, chief exeuctive officer of the Hol stein Association U.S.A., said that states have traditionally not followed the national precedent in pricing issues such as those changed in this amendment. “State associations operate under their own set of gover nance rules,” he said. There are 15 board members on the association, with two offi cers. In 2003, there will be 12 board members in addition to one vice president and president. Four Sections “We call the changes we've seen the ‘evolution of the chicken operation,’” Eldon said. “We started with everything on the floor, then we went to cages, and now the industry is again looking at floor operations.” At first the Lehmans raised chickens in range shelters that enabled the chicks to be outside during the day and sheltered at night. When they reached pullet size, the chickens were placed in side a converted barn on the property. Chickens were placed on three floors, which required hand-carrying the eggs from the top to the bottom floors. During this time, the Lehmans had four children. Their second son Duane grew up to form a Two generations of Lehmans receive an appreciation award from Sauder’s Eggs marking the Lehmans’ 50 years of raising layer hens. From left are Guy Martin, produc er-service manager; Eldon, Anna Mary, Teresa and Duane Lehman; Paul Sauder, presi dent of Sauder’s Eggs; and Jim Lafferty, vice president. Photo by Lou Ann Good, food and family features editor Saturday, July 6, 2002 Allied Producers In New York Compensated In Cheese Crisis OGDENSBURG, N.Y. The bankruptcy earlier this year of Suprema Specialties, Inc., a na tional cheese manufacturer, tem porarily affected dairy farmers in northern New York state while an Italian cheese plant near the Ontario border here was shut down. Producer members of the Northco Mar keting Division of Allied Feder ated Coopera tives, Inc., Can ton, N.Y., lost base premiums of between $.20 and $.40 per partnership with his dad. During his growing-up years, Duane re members working sidc-by-side with his parents. “We had to shred the bales of sugar cane and put it in tubs," Duane said. The shredded cane was then placed in nests and refilled as needed. The Lehmans expanded by building a three-story chicken house. A cart hung from a ceiling rail, which could be pushed around the chicken house as the eggs were hand-gathered from the nests. “I hated that job,” Duane said. “1 was scared of the chickens pecking me. I learned to hold an egg flap against the chicken so I $36.00 Per Year Lanco, Southco Not Affected DAVE LEFEVER Lancaster Farming Staff i 4 The whole (milk) marketplace in northern New York is on shaky ground.? 5 $l.OO Per Copy hundredweight for a two-month period during the high-produc tion spring period, according to David Elliott, director of quality control and membership service at Allied. Elliott said the coopera tive maintained milk quality pre mium payments to producers, however, and milk checks were on time David Elliott Allied Federated Cooperatives, Inc. couldn’t be pecked.” From the beginning, the Leh man;. marketed their eggs through R.W. Sauder. “I remember Raymond Sauder coming to our farm with two little boys,” Anna Mary said. Those little boys (four of them) grew up, and the youngest, Paul, heads the Sauder Company today. There was little acreage with the home farm, so in 1974, the Lehmans purchased a nearby farm on which they built a 50,000 layer house. In the 1980 s, they built a second house for 80,000 layers. (Turn to Page A 25) throughout the ordeal. “No farmer ever saw a late or lost milk check,” Elliott said. He noted the shutdown caused milk supplies to (Turn to Page A 26)
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