812-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 11,2003 Pennsylvania Lamb And For Farm Show’s LOU ANN GOOD Food And Family Features Editor HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Bittersweet emotions tear at the heart of Pennsylvania Lamb and Wool Queen Lauren Ferringer from Home, Indiana County. During opening day at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, Lau ren will crown her successor to represent the lamb and wool in dustry. One year ago, Lauren began her busy year of promoting the industry that she loves. Her du ties began with presenting awards during sheep competition and the sheep to shawl contest. “In the first few days, I had learned more abut the wool as pect of the sheep industry than I had every known before,” said Lauren, who has raised Suffolk lambs for three years. Knowledge continued in the weeks after Farm Show. At the Pennsylvania Sheep and Wool Growers Association annual meeting, Lauren toured the Penn State sheep bams and met indus try officials. In May, the Key stone Classic, which is an open show for breeding sheep, sale, and stockman’s contest at Penn State, provided another view of the industry. During the summer, Lauren attended many day camps to en courage youth participation in the lamb and wool industry. In stead of the lamb following Mary to school, a lamb often accompa nied Lauren so students could pet and admire a lamb up close. Lauren explained docking, ear tagging, clipping, and the various lamb and meat cuts. At times, she took lamb menu entrees she prepared and handed out sam ples to encourage others to use lamb in menu planning. Lauren attended the Ram Test Sale in August and Ag Progress Days in order to answer ques tions people asked about the in dustry. Radio interviews and addres sing audiences at many events helped spread correct informa tion about the lamb and wool in dustry. “I’m saddened my reign will come to an end. This has been an exciting and informative year, Virginia Dairy Princess Coronation Is Jan . 22 STAUNTON, VA. The Golf and Conference Center To order banquet tickets, Virginia Dairy Princess Coro- Staunton, Virginia, 4-6 p.m., send checks to Virginia State nation is scheduled in conjunc- Wednesday January 22. n . , . . . pn tion with the Virginia State Banquet immediately follows air y m n s 0013 lo ’ Dairymen’s Association 96th coronation. Tickets cost $25 for ® ox Harrisonburg, VA annual convention Holiday Inn adults, $lO for students. 22803. t Pennsylvania Lamb and Wool Queen Lauren Feninger, left, believes her experience in raising lambs benefits her studies for becoming a veterinarian. Angie Stump, right, Uniontown, serves as princess for the lamb and wool industry. Mary Ziegler, left, is also a princess for the industry and is from York County. not only through meeting new mal science studies. Her goal is to people but also by expanding my become a doctor of veterinary knowledge of the lamb and wool medicine. industry,” Lauren said. Assisting Lauren in promotion Lauren is a junior at Penn were several princesses. Megan State, where she is pursuing ani- Heath, York, raises 13 sheep Wool Coronation Set Opening Day made up on Hampshire, Corrie dale, and crossbreeds. The 17-year-old plans to pur sue pre-vet studies at Penn State in order to become a large animal and equine vet. “I am completely independent with raising my own sheep. I buy all my feed and pay for all ex penses,” she said. Also fillfilling a year as the in dustry’s princesses are 16-year-old Mary Zeigler, also from York, who raises Romney, Shetland, and Ramboulliet breeds, and Angie Stump, Union town. Runner-up Jill Gevin, Coch ranton, has raised sheep on the family’s Crawford acreage for 10 years. She has eight Oxford sheep of her own and helps her family with their 11 Shropshire and seven Textile breeds. She also plans to study ag sci ence at Penn State. As the Northwestern Pennsyl vania Lamb and Wool Queen, Jill set up displays and handed out lamb samples and ribbons. Jill, who desires to continue to promote the sheep and wool in dustry, will compete for the 2003 Pennsylvania Lamb and Wool Queen title Jan. 11 during the state Farm Show. Other contest ants include Ciara Williamson, Cogan Station; Amber Shollen berger, Mohrsville; Cassie Marsh, Clarion; Cassie Mooney, Way nesburg; and Sarah Regula, Brownfield. Megan Heath, lamb and wool princes* from York Coun ty, shows the consumer promotional display she prepar ed . First Runner-up Lamb and Wool Queen Jill Qevin, sec ond from left, participates in ground breaking at the Rockspring Livestock Evaluation Center. With her at Sec retary of Agriculture Samuel Hayes and PDA members. Jill plans to compete for the state title at the state Farm Show coronation. Contestants will be judged on four categories: • Consumer promotional dis play A display that promotes the sheep and wool industry. • Public speaking Each con testant must give a 2-5 minutes speech before judges and the au dience Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. in Meet ing Room E, second-floor of the Farm Show Complex. The pre sentation will address some as pect of the sheep and wool indus try, be informative, and include how the contestant would help promote the industry. • Interview Each contestant will be interviewed by a panel of judges beginning a 3 p.m. Jan. 11, in meeting room E of the Farm Show Building. Contest ants will be evaluated on general sheep production knowledge, the sheep and wool industry, com munication skills, poise, person ality, enthusiasm, and availability to fulfill responsibilities of the Pennsylvania Lamb and Wool Queen title. • Writing skills Each con testant is required to submit an article introducing herself and fu ture plans for promoting the lamb and wool industry. The arti cle must be 200 words or less and double-spaced. Judging will be based on clarity, use of language, writing skills, and ability to ex press thoughts and ideas. The coronation banquet will follow judging.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers