Vol. 47 No. 42
Farm Equipment Takes Center Stage At Penn State’s Ag Progress Days
Although the number and diversity of Ag Progress Days exhibitors has grown each
year, organizers have not lost sight of the show’s roots, said event manager Bob Ober
heim. “This show has a long tradition of being a true agricultural exposition,” Oberheim
said. “Our show is unique in that the overwhelming majority of our exhibitors are direct
ly ag-related.” Oberheim expects more than 350 commercial exhibitors in 2002. Thou
sands of visitors flock to Rockspring each year. Tjij; jfievy is from an Ag Progress Days
in the past, looking down Main Street. More information about the show is included in
two special sections included this issue. Photo by Andy Andrews, editor
LOU ANN GOOD
Food And Family
Features Editor
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.)
Glenn Shirk is often accused of
being a workaholic.
“But I have a hard time look
ing at this as work. It’s satisfying
working in a field you enjoy,”
Shirk said of the long hours he
devotes as Lancaster County Ex
tension dairy agent.
For 41 years, Shirk has labored
on behalf of dairy farmers, help
ing them become better manag
ers, more successful, and adapt to
Nathan Dietrich won grand champion and Emilie Miller took home reserve champion
at Kutztown Fair’s market beef show. Lee Wagner, Easton, judged the show. See story
page A 45. Photo by Michelle Kunjappu
www.lancasterfarming.com
technological changes in a re
sponsible matter.
On Sept. 30, Shirk will retire
from extension.
It’s not a change without quite
a bit of trepidation.
“This is all I know,” Shirk said
of his career that started with ex
tension even while he was still in
college.
Shirk grew up on a small dairy
farm in Quarryville. He partici
pated in a variety of 4-H clubs for
10 years, and at Solanco High
School took the vocational agri
Six Sections
culture course.
“My 4-H leaders, extension
agents, and teachers had a con
siderable influence on me,” Shirk
said.
He liked dairy fanning. But
the family farm was not large
enough for him to stay there. Be
cause learning came easy to him.
Shirk decided to go to college, al
though he had no specific career
goal in mind.
Becoming a veterinarian ap
pealed to him, but the formidable
cost of education and the years of
Saturday, August 17, 2002
ROCKSPRING (Centre Co.)
The 2002 edition of Penn
State’s Ag Progress Days, set for
Aug. 20-22 at the Larson Re
search Center, continues the tra
dition of bringing farmers and
other agricultural producers to
gether with the latest in equip
ment and technology.
Although the number and di
versity of exhibitors has grown
each year, organizers have not
lost sight of the show’s roots, said
event manager Bob Oberheim.
“This show has a long tradi
tion of being a true agricultural
exposition,” Oberheim said. “Our
show is unique in that the over
whelming majority of our exhibi
tors are directly ag-related. Other
ag shows on the East Coast may
Penn State =====
Mg Progress
mJPomjgWr
. = Preview 2002
required study discouraged him
from pursuing that course.
During the summer of 1958,
Shirk worked as a 4-H summer
assistant in Huntingdon County,
and the following summer in Mif
flin County.
“The summer extension jobs
showed me opportunities. It was
the next best thing to managing a
dairy farm. I knew I was more
farmer- than research-oriented,”
Shirk said.
After achieving a degree in
dairy science at Penn State, Shirk
decided to broaden his education
by continuing for a master’s in
the same field of study.
After attaining a master’s de
gree, Shirk became assistant
county agent for 4-H and dairy in
Somerset County.
After two years there, Shirk
said, “Uncle Sam decided he
needed me.” Shirk served a two
year stint with the U.S. Army,
stationed in Germany.
When Shirk returned to the
states, he accepted an interim po
sition as assistant county agent in
Snyder County. When that
ended, he was appointed county
agent for Chester County, where
(' **if?f6l' * •
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) - Citing worsening drought
conditions, the Susquehanna
River Basin Commission (SRBC)
urged the basin's water users to
continue conserving water to re
duce the demand on the shrink
ing supplies.
SRBC endorses and has been
actively promoting the drought
emergency declarations in effect
. tnn » i«ivt viiMt % Iv*
$36.00 Per Year
have higher numbers than we do,
but they also have exhibitors of
the flea-market line, or arts and
crafts.”
Oberheim expects more than
350 commercial exhibitors in
2002, featuring the latest technol
ogy, goods, and services. Vendors
will showcase everything from
buildings, equipment, seed and
fertilizer to insurance, fences, and
crop consulting services.
This year also will feature
more field machinery demonstra
tions than last year, Oberheim
said as many as time permits.
“We feel this is an important
part of the show providing
something new and educational
Glenn Shirk will retire
Sept. 30 after 41 years as a
dairy agent. Photo by Lou
Ann Good, food and family fea
tures editor
he remained for 15 years, from
1964-1979.
When the position opened up
with the Lancaster Extension in
1979, Shirk applied. He said,
“The opportunity to specialize in
dairy appealed to me.”
The county had more than
in the lower Susquehanna region
as issued by Pennsylvania Gov.
Mark Schweiker earlier this year
on Feb. 12 and by Maryland Gov.
Parris Glendening April 5. The
Pennsylvania counties located
entirely or partially in the Sus
quehanna basin that are under
the commonwealth’s drought
(Turn to Page A 37)
I 4 * tit * * a * a
$l.OO Per Copy
(Turn to Page A 35)
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