Vol. 48 No. 8
Gov. Schweiker Introduces New Farm Show (.'omp'e 1
Additions , New Construction To Renew Roots Of Agriculture At Farm Show
With in hand, Gov. Mark Schweiker, right,
along with Sam Hayes Jr., state secretary of agriculture,
usher in a new era of Farm Show during ribbon-cutting
ceremonies Tuesday morning in the new Exhibit Hall at
the Farm Show Complex. About a thousand people at
With New Chiefs National Holstein \ssoiianon Repot fs furnammui
DAVE LEFEVER
Lancaster Farming Staff
NEW CUMBERLAND (Cum
berland Co.) Holstein USA of
ficers are reporting a major boost
in the organization’s financial
status as CEO John Meyer en
tered his second year at the helm
in 2002.
Tom Nunes, Holstein USA
vice president from California,
spoke to about 40 members and
delegates at a Region 2 meeting
in New Cumberland Tuesday.
“WeTe not out of the woods
yet,” Nunes said. While 2001 saw
operating losses of $2.3 million,
year-end projections for 2002
show losses will total about
www.lancasterfarming.com
$500,000 an improvement of
$l.B million over last year.
Record-low milk prices, along
with the continued decline in reg
istered Holstein numbers across
the country, have created extra
challenges in securing a sound
fiscal future for Holstein USA.
Since Meyer took over as CEO
in July of 2001, belt-tightening
measures have included cutting
12 staff positions down to a total
of 150 personnel, lowering insur
ance claims, reducing staff and
board member travel, consolida
ting staff into one building, and
reducing advertising and printing
expenses.
Four Sections
tended. More information about who built the Farm Show,
as well as a history of the Farm Show itself, is scheduled
for the Showcase Issue on Jan. 4 in Lancaster Farming.
Look for more information on the Farm Show schedule it
self next issue. Photo by Andy Andrews, editor
The financial turnaround came
after Holstein USA recorded
$15.5 million in cumulative oper
ating losses during the 19905, a
Herd Health Focus Of
LanChester Fork Council Meeting
MICHELLE KUNJAPPU
Lancaster Farming Staff
NEW HOLLAND (Lancaster
Co.) “When we talk about pro
duction, all of us have a favorite
number what is significant for
Farm Show Director Dennis Grumbine, left, and Secretary of Agriculture Sam
Hayes opened the new Farm Show Complex, with a focus on farmers and farm ma
chinery, at Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. Turn to page A 36 to read about
equipment demonstrations set for Monday and Tuesday of Farm Show week, Jan.
11-18.
Saturday, December 21,2002
decade in which it “leaned heav
ily on its reserve fund” while
(Turn to Page A3B)
your operation but I’ll bet that
none of you would say that that
number is non-productive sow
days,” said Max Rodibaugh, a
$36.00 Per Year
(Turn to Page A 37)
$l.OO Per Copy
ANDY ANDREWS
Editor
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) It's the season of giving,
and the state has given big.
To the tune ol about $B6 mil
lion, Pennsylvania has “put our
financial suppoit where our emo
tional outlook and pride are,"
said Gov. Mark Schweiker.
Along with State Agriculture
Secretary Sam Hayes Jr., on
Tuesday morning Schweiker
hoisted up a large pair of scissors
and cut the ribbon to a new era in
state farm shows expansion
and new construction of a brand
new Farm Show Complex that
makes it the “number one exposi
tion facility in the nation,"
Schweiker said.
In front of more than 1,000
farm show contractors, workers,
friends and family in the new Ex
hibit Hall, Schweiker, assisted b>
whom he calls “Coach Hayes,”
dedicated the new Farm Show
Complex to the “number one in
dustry in the state farming and
agribusiness.” Schweiker noted.
On Tuesday, the hall housed
new farm equipment and enter
tainment by two dozen members
of the Biglerville High School
Jazz Band.
Schweiker remarked about the
importance of Farm Show before
cutting the yellow ribbon, in
scribed with “Pennsylvania De
partment of Agriculture Historic
Construction Farm Show Com
plex 2002.”
Hayes also noted that the gov
ernor “has always said ‘yes’ to
agriculture. Always.” Hayes
noted his own work with the leg
islature and the members of the
Farm Show Commission, includ
ing Farm Show Director Dennis
Grumbine and staff. They pro
vided a “vision to make it possi
ble,” Hayes said, “to build this
magnificent addition.”
Hayes noted that Schweiker
was “here to celebrate what you
and 1 have dreamt about for
(Turn to Page A 24)