Ida’s Notebook Ida Risser Apply For Dairy Of Distinction Award By April 15 UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Pennsylvania dairy farms are invited to apply for this year’s Dairy of Distinction award from the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program. Applications must be submitted by April 15. The award is based on the idea that attractive farmsteads enhance consumer confidence in the wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales and public support for the industry. Dairies receiving the high est scores in each of 10 Pennsylvania districts will be awarded an 18- by 24-inch Dairy of Distinction sign to display in front of their farm. “This program is run by volunteers and recognizes the hard work and dedication of dairy producers who promote a positive image for the dairy industry,” said Mike O’Connor, secretary of the Pennsylvania Dairy of Distinction program and professor of dairy science extension in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. Roadside judging will take place in May. Judges will look at factors that can be controlled by the farmer, such as clean and attractively finished buildings; neat land scaping, ditches, roads and lanes; and well-maintained fences. They also will take into account other aspects of the farm, such as cleanliness of animals,the barn yard, feed areas and manure management. HOW IS YOUR FARM SCORED? Awards will be based upon neatness, good maintenance, and other factors, which can be controlled by the farmer Attractive background scenery should not be weighed heavily in judg ing. All judging observations should be made from a vehicle at one or more points on an adjacent public highway (or if farm is off the road, the nearest lane). Judging should give equal consideration to old wood construction and new con struction of metal or concrete block. The award program may be used for subsequent advertising or promotion activities for dairy products or dairy farming. Farmers who apply for awards agree that, if selected, they will cooperate with these activities and make all reasonable efforts to maintain both the extenor and interior of their properties in an acceptable condition. HOW THE JUDGING WORKS Judging teams will visit the farms during the month of May. Farms will be judged each year as the award is presented on an annual basis. Any dairy failing to maintain appearance standards will be asked to remove their sign. The Dairy of Distinction signs remain the property of the committee, not the property of the dairy farmer. All farms must achieve a compliance score of 90 percent on their Dairy of Distinction score card. Your cooperative or milk handler will be contacted to approve your milk quality. RULES FOR THE DAIRY OF DISTINCTION AWARD 1. The Dairy of Distinction sign remains the property of the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program Committee (NEDFBP). 2. The post and bracket shall be supplied by and maintained by the dairy farmer. NEDFBP suggests that a wood post 4” x 4” x 12’ or iron pipe 2” x 12’ be used. Posts or pipe should be installed and maintained in true vertical position with 8’ above ground Top ot the bracket should be lower than six inches from the top of the post. In addition, NEDFBP suggests that the sign be mounted in a trame to provide additional stability 3 The sign shall be displayed in front of the dairy at roadside An attractive post and bracket, or other frame shall be used to display the sign No more than three signs should be displayed from the sign frame or post, and all shall be of a style, general size and quality comparable to the Dairy ot Distinction sign. The sign should be secured on all sides to avoid wind damage 4 Signs shall not be moved to other premises New owners of a Dairy of Distinction farm must apply to retain the sign. 5 Replacement of damaged signs shall be at the discretion of the committee 6. No producer shall be charged with scoring or sign expenses. 7. The judges’ decision will be final. 8 Judging will take place between May 1 and May 31 9. Farms awarded a Dairy of Distinction sign in previous years will be judged between April 1 and April 30. If they do not qualify, they will be rejudged between May 1 and May 31 so they have the opportunity to keep the sign. 10. Farms that do not requalify will return the sign to their regional Dairy of Distinction Committee. February 1, in my mind, could be called the ’’dead of winter.” It has been very cold for quite some time. When I really notice this is when I take my daily walk. It isn’t so bad until I turn around and head for home and then the wind is in my face. It is always nicer to have the wind at your back pushing you along. It is a time to sit down and write a letter or two. They say that writing letters is a lost art since computers make it easy to communicate quickly. I’ve actually heard a few people say they wish they did not have E-mail. It is some thing that I do not expect to contend with as I find -u(p I ty L. Dairies of Distinction for 2002. Winning farms will be notified in late June. Because this is a yearly award, previous winners are reevaluated each year to see if they are still maintaining excellent standards. To receive an application, call Mike O’Connor at (814) 863-3913 or e-mail him at HYPERLINKmaiI to; MOConnor@psu.edu. Dairy of Distinction * 2003 Pennsylvania Application • PURPOSE OF PROGRAM • Attractive dairy farms give the consumer greater confidence in the wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales 9 which encourages public support of the dairy industry. The • award gives recognition to the dairy farmer for maintaining • a well-kept farmstead. • ELIGIBILITY I All Northeast dairy farms producing milk for sale are • invited to submit an application for the award. Dairies • receiving the 10 highest scores in each of the 21 districts will * receive an 18” x 24” Dairy of Distinction sign to be dis- # played in front of their farm APPLICATION Your Name Mailing Address Phone Number Cooperative or Handler (where you ship your milk, be • specific) • (Your Handler will be contacted to approve your milk quality) • Location (driving directions for judging team) • County (where your farm is located) • I hereby apply to the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification m Committee to have my dairy scored ip accordance with the • rules of the program for the purpose of obtaining a Dairy of • Distinction sign to be displayed on my premises. • (No producer will be charged for scoring or sign expense.) # Date • Signature Owner/Operator • Return application by April 15 to; Michael O’Connor Department of Dairy and Animal Science 324 Henning Building Penn State University University Park, PA 16802 Since 1987. Pennsylvania’s Dairy of Distinction Program has recognized more than 700 dairy farms. The Pennsylvania program is part of the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program, which also includes New York, New Jersey, and Vermont. Dairies in these states can con tact the program secretary in their state for applications. Farm Name Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 1,2003-B9 enough junk mail in our mailbox. It fills the wastebasket too quickly. Do other people collect recipes that look interesting and then not use them? I think that I’ll use them and then there is an ingredient that I do not have on hand. How ever, I’m pretty good at improvising as when you’ve cook ed for so many years, you do learn a few tricks and can substitute. Then if it doesn’t turn out to your liking, you can blame it on the substitution. We recently had our 55th wedding anniversary, and it brought back the memories of the weather of our wedding day. It started to snow in the morning and it snow ed all day. We got to the church and home again. But, we were not able to start on our trip to Flori da until the next afternoon. It was the first time that either of us had been that far south and so the scenery was new to us. A few years ago we went the whole way to Key West which is as far south as it is possible to go and quite close to Cuba. s4t*eUtei6ie, 856/691-9167 • Fax: 856/696-0 077 &ait at fat* ua fat faUee* & mate i*fa. With prices this low, you'll have money Save now at Mid-Winter Sale! The annual Hearth Stone Mid-Winter Sale is on, and it’s hot! With prices slashed on all our wood and gas-fired stoves and fireplace inserts, for incredible savings. SAVE $lOO Per Stove through Feb. 28, 2003. Always the perfect finish. Hearth Stone WOOD AM) (.AS HHtJ) STOMS gapsg 1060 Division Highway, 322 East 1 Block East of 222 Ephrata, PA 17522 (717) 733-4973 800-642-0310 www.bowmansstove.com HOURS Mon , lues , Wed 10 to 6 Thurs.Fn 10 to 8, Sat 10 to 4 ( SIKKING BROS. 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