A3O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 18, 2003
Agro 2003, Opening Ceremonies Highlight New, Improved Farm Show
(Continued from Page A2B)
U.S. Department of Homeland
Security). Schweiker told Farm
Show visitors that “you’ll see that
tomorrow, in glorious passion
like few states can muster.”
Schweiker said the Farm Show
is “absolutely special and large
and I’m proud to offer that re
flection.” He witnessed Pennsyl
vania’s number one industry “for
the last eight years, and it is un
forgettable.”
And on Saturday, Schweiker
recounted what he said the previ
ous evening. He said he watched
Agro 2003 grow from a few hun
dred attendees to more than
1,200 guests the Friday evening.
State Ag Secretary Sam Hayes
recounted Schweiker’s adminis
tration, which is succeeded by the
new administration under Gov.-
Elect Ed Rendell, as a successful
one. Schweiker served in an
“honorable, statesmanlike way
through some very, very difficult
months,” noted Hayes. And the
state ag secretary told the thou
sands assembled the next day in
the Large Arena that the opening
ceremonies and speech was
Schweiker’s last public appear
ance as Pennsylvania governor.
Hayes received two standing
ovations and at least “three huz
zahs,” salutes of honor, from the
crowd, assisted by character-por
trayed guest speaker Ben Frank
lin, at Agro 2003.
During ceremonies late last
week, Hayes announced the win
ners of this year’s Agribusiness
Achievement awards. The follow
ing Pennsylvania companies were
selected for this prestigious
award: First Union National
Bank, $5O million and more sales
category, Turner Dairy Farms,
Inc., $l6 million to $5O million
sales category; and Oak Hill Ve
neer, Inc., less than $l6 million
sales category.
“Agribusiness Achievement
Awards are presented to Pennsyl
vania agriculture, food, and
wood-products companies that
have made a special contribution
toward the development and ex
pansion of Pennsylvania agricul
ture, as well as a positive com
mitment to their local
community,” Hayes said. “These
awards recognize companies that
contribute to Pennsylvania’s No.
1 industry.”
All companies competing for
this award must meet Depart
ment of Agriculture standards
and qualifications.
First Union National Bank is a
full-service financial services
company. There are 350 branch
locations in Pennsylvania. The
First Union Agri-Finance seg
ment is composed of a
17-member staff located in three
offices in southeastern Pennsyl
vania, but is supported by many
other bank associates m various
disciplines. Loan financing and
other banking services have been
provided to farmers and agribusi
nesses since 1977, when a one
person Agri-Finance Department
was founded in Lancaster Coun
ty with predecessor National
Central Bank.
Many products and programs
have been developed to specif
ically target the agricultural com
munity such as term loans, lines
of credit, construction loans,
equipment leasing, and cash
management services. Agricul
tural lending services are also as
sociated with the USD A Farm
Services Agency (FSA) program
to further fit farmer and agribusi
ness needs. First Union is now
the leading commercial bank
lending to agriculture in Pennsyl
vania, ranking first in the north
east and sixth in the nation.
Medium category winner,
Turner Dairy- Farms;
atdTfhetf Pfenn Hllls-b&secT dcrif- ’
Gov. Mark Schweiker
spoke at opening ceremo
nies for this year’s Farm
Show in the Large Arena.
Bradley Gladfelter, right,
son of Brian and Shelly
Gladfelter, Felton, shares a
tractor seat with Gov. Mark
Schweiker last Saturday
during Governor’s Day.
pany under the mission
statement: “Perfect Products,
Perfect Service, and Treating
People Right.” The Turner fami
ly has owned and operated their
farm since 1930 and have built
long-term business partnerships
in a wide range of markets:
schools, hospitals, nursing homes,
supermarkets, convenience
stores, and colleges. Excellent
customer service and continuous
leadership in the agricultural
community made Turner Dairy
Farms, Inc. a prime candidate for
the Agribusiness Award.
Small category winner Oak
Hill Veneer, Inc., is a leader in
the veneer and plywood industry
and has been recognized by the
Hardwood, Plywood and Veneer
Association (HPVA) for promot
ing the long-term growth of the
industry. Located in Troy, Oak
Hill Veneer, Inc., supplies kitch
en cabinet, flooring, door and
furniture companies throughout
the nation with various types of
veneer. President Lee Cummings
has worked closely with the
Pennsylvania Department of Ag
riculture and is an active member
of the Pennsylvania Hardwoods
Development Council. He and
his company have exhibited their
products at the Agro Trade Show
and also participate in interna
tional trade missions.
During the awards banquet,
Hayes awarded the 2003 Farm-
City honors to the Blair County
Chamber of Commerce, Franklin
County Farm-City Council, and
Fulton County Farm-City Coun
cil.
“Farm-City Programs provide
a wonderful opportunity of learn
ing for those in the towns and in
the townships,” said Hayes. “I
want to commend Blair, Frank
lin, and Fulton counties for the
hard work and creative educa
tional programs they sponsor in
their counties. All Farm-City
councils throughout the state are
to be commended for their dedi
cation in bridging the gap be
tween rural and urban neighbors.
Pennsylvania’s Farm-City pro
grams help create a better quality
of life for all citizens in the towns
and townships.”
The Blair County Chamber of
• Commerce continues toJhost‘sew
r efaT Highly' Visible’ 'Farm-City
Crowds packed the Large Arena during a record-breaking opening day for attendance
during Grand Opening at this year’s Farm Show.
events, generating media cover
age by local newspapers and TV
stations. Continuing an 18-year
tradition, “Business After Hours
‘Down on the Farm’” brought the
business and agriculture commu
nity together for a night of social
izing at a local farm and to enjoy
an old-fashioned pig roast.
To reach out to the younger
generations, the Blair County
Chamber of Commerce joined
forces with the Williamsburg
FFA Chapter to organize .'in “Ag
In the Classroom” program,
which brought the farm to the
school where children were able
to experience agriculture up
close. Other successful events in
cluded a “Visit to Industry” tour
for the local farm community, job
exchange, and the annual Farm-
City Dinner.
The Fulton County Farm-City
Council has completed yet anoth
er successful year, hosting at least
one event a month in 2002. Sev
eral new activities were added to
Fulton County’s Farm-City Pro
gram such as a water resources
forum, which address water is
sues such as the 2002 drought sit
uation; a forestry seminar; Proj
ect Grass Field Day, which
talked about farm conservation
practices; and a farm safety expo.
Fulton County has also contin
ued to raise awareness of agricul
ture in the classroom with a mini
Ag Secretary Sam Hayes honored international award recipients before the Agro
2003 bVvards banquet late last week.
* * * » * - - j - * % * r •u'-i'** - t t i i t » »<1 n vs* ♦ .» t f ' t x * j
awareness class for sixth grade
students on environmental issues,
a youth ag expo, Farm-City
tours, and a Farm-City poster
contest. Through their efforts,
thousands of people have been
contacted.
To round out this year’s Farm-
City Award Winners is the Farm-
City council from Franklin
County. The Franklin County
Farm-City Council has success
fully reached out to both its rural
and town communities by host
ing 15 events in 2002. Several
events received media coverage
from the local radio and televi
sion stations. A business expo
was hosted at Wilson College to
give insight to Franklin County’s
businesses and agribusinesses.
The Franklin Fall Farm Fun
Fest (a farm tour), Agricultural
Weekend at the Chambersburg
Mall, an apple festival, and the
Farm-City Week Speaker’s Bu
reau provided excellent opportu
nities for town neighbors to enjoy
the heritage of their rural coun
terparts.
The Farm-City Award recipi
ents were selected by the Penn
sylvania Farm-City Council,
which consisted of a panel of
judges from the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture and
the USDA.
Agro 2003 Pennsylvania’s
international agriculture show
case and trade show was con
ducted Thursday, Jan. 9 to Mon
day, Jan. 13.
“Pennsylvania agriculture of
fers a diverse array of products
that are ready for export to the
marketplaces around the globe,”
Hayes said. “We are truly pro
ducing ’Products for the Planet,’
and Agro 2003 helps us showcase
Pennsylvania’s agriculture to the
world.”
More than 200 guests from 76
countries were present. More
than 130 agribusiness companies
participated in the Agro Trade
Show and other business meet
ings.
“Export-ready” companies
from all sectors of Pennsylvania
agriculture including foods,
hardwoods, machinery, genetics,
service, and agritechnology
were represented at the trade
show.
“For the remainder of Agro
2003, international guests were
paired with representatives of
Pennsylvania agriculture for
more than a thousand custom
ized business meetings,” Hayes
said. “It’s important to build re
lationships of mutual benefit to
Pennsylvania agriculture and our
friends from around the globe.”
Pennsylvania agriculture is
Pennsylvania’s leading industry,
generating $45 billion cash re
ceipts in 2001. Pennsylvania agri
culture exports totaled more than
$1 billion in 2001.