Vol. 48 No. 16 During these winter months, Arden Landis’s entire herd feeds on a transition diet of hay until calving in time for the spring flush of grass. This is Landis’s first year as a seasonal dairyman. ' ‘Life Is Gtiod ’ DAVE LEFEVER Lancastej[Jfyfmiiig Staff QU ABRYvILLE (Lancaster Co.) Arden Landis and his family have been running a grass-based dairy near Kirkwood for seven years. Innovation has Junior Holstein Members Win Scholarships BETHLEHEM (Lehigh Co.) The Pennsylvania Junior Hol stein Association presented nu merous awards at their conven tion here last week. Youth were recognized for various achievements, including public speaking, progressive breeding, dairy bowl excellence, and pro duction records. Four members were selected to receive $l,OOO scholarships for (Turn to Page A 26) Li’l Miss Dairy Princess Valerie Zuck, Lebanon, hands out cow erasers at the Dairy and Silage Pro ducer Family Day, Tuesday, Lebanon Valley Expo Center. Turn to pages B 6 and 810 to read about the many different workshops offered to family mem bers. Photo by Lou Ann Good, food and family features editor www.lancasUtrfilining.com been the guide on the farm, with Landis constantly trying more ef ficient and profitable ways to manage. This year marks another big change on the operation, and (Turn to Page A 29) Pennsylvania Junior Holstein Members receiving schol arships are, from left, Cole McLaughlin, Angela Adams, Jodi Crawford, and Peter Vanco. Joining them is Sheryl Vanco, scholarship committee chairperson. Five Sections A Search For ‘True Security’ PAS A Speaker Calls For Local Food\ Local Decisions DAVE LEFEVER Lancaster Farming Staff STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.) The security of our food supply today depends on farming and distribution methods that are driven by a highly unstable inter national oil trade. That is not true security, according to Mark Ritchie, key note speaker at the annual Farm ing for the Future conference put on by the Pennsylvania Associa tion fqr Sustainable Agriculture (PASA). “Local Food .Systems, Local Decisions In Search Of True Se curity” was the theme of the two day'event. Ritchie outlined how the U.S. relies almost entirely on petro leum to grow and distribute food within an industrialized system, and how this dependence has led our country to a place of vulner ability. But Ritchie also spoke about his vision of independent farmers and entrepreneurs reclaiming the Beverages, Brazil, And Farm Bill At Grain Seminar MICHELLE KUNJAPPU Lancaster Farming Staff GRANTVILLE (Dauphin Co.) Even though snow still has an icy grip on Pennsylvania, produc ers couldn’t help thinking about spring planting and next year’s crop as they gathered at the Holi day Inn in Grantville for the 2003 Corn and Soybean Conference. Top placings in the classes are in a related story on page A 24. More than 100 producers and industry representatives attended the event sponsored by the Penn sylvania Com Growers Associa tion, the Pennsylvania Soybean Board, and Penn State Coopera tive Extension. Dr. Peter Bordi, assistant pro fessor, School of Hotel, Restau rant, and Recreation Manage ment, Penn State, discussed a soy recovery drink developed on funds from Pennsylvania Soy bean Promotion Board grant. After the product was devel oped and tested (a process that (Turn to Page A 23) Saturday, February 15, 2003 food supply and “renewing the countryside” through methods of locally-based production, market ing, and distribution. Those things are already happening across the U.S., Ritchie said, with the work of PASA serving as an example. About 1,200 people attended the conference, including farmers and others interested in sustain able farming and food supplies. Guests included Dennis Wolff, the new Pennsylvania secretary of agriculture; Robert Steele, Penn State dean*of agriculture; and Cheryl Tevis, farm issues ed itor at Successful Farming Maga zine. Ritchie is president of the In stitute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and serves on the board of the Minnesota Institute for Sus tainable Agriculture. A native of New York Farm Show Upcoming SYRACUSE, N.Y. Yes, it’s show time in New York. The 18th annual New York Farm Show will be conducted February 20-22, at the New York State Fairgrounds. The Northeast’s largest indoor farm show has grown to be more than five times its original size. The show features new and practical equipment, services, and products for visitors. More This week’s edition of Dairy Plus features a grow ing workforce and other dairy expansion topics. $36.00 Per Year It’s Show Time $l.OO Per Copy Mark Ritchie Georgia, Ritchie has spent more than 30 years in the global policy making arena, primarily in the areas of agriculture, natural re- (Turn to Page A2l) than 400 exhibitors will cover more than 215,000 square feet. At the New York Farm Show farmers can shop, compare, and buy the latest developments in the agriculture industry as well as ask the experts about the latest practices and efficiencies. The experienced folks can re flect on the past and enjoy the (Turn to Page A 25)