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 m the wholesomeness of milk
and stimulate milk sales and public support
for the industry. Dairies receiving the high
est scores m each of 10 Pennsylvania
districts will be awarded an 18- by 24-mch
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 ammals.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 m judg
ing All judging observations should be made from a vehicle
at one or more points on an adjacent public highway (or it
(arm is otf 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 tor 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 exterior and interior of their properties in
an acceptable condition
HOW THE JUDGING WORKS
Judging teams will visit the farms during the month ot 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 ol
Distinction signs remain the property of the committee, not
the properly 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 handlei will be contacted
to approve your milk quality
RULES FOR THE
DAIRY OF DISTINCTION AWARD
1 The Dairy of Distinction sign remains the property ot 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 of the bracket should be lower than six inches
from the top ot the post In addition, NEDFBP suggests that the
sign be mounted in a frame to provide additional stability
f The sign shall be displayed in front ot 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 ol 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 ot
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 3 1
9 Farms awarded a Dairy ot Distinction sign in previous years
will be judged between April 1 and April JO If they do not
qualify, they will be reiudged between May 1 and May 31 so
they have the opportunity to keep the sign
10 Farms that do not requahly will return the sign to their
regional Dairy ot Distinction Committee
Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Hopefully we are
left with a few cards to show that someone remembered
us. February 14,1928, the day that I got no valentines, my
sister was bom and she was my valentine. Mazie died in
her youth but is well remembered as a brown-eyed young
ster.
She developed health problems after our big family of
girls got scarlet fever. We were quarantined for eight
weeks. That was a lot of school to miss, and thus I did not
pass Latin that year. So, I was tutored in order to contin
ue to study it the next year.
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 J
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
Committee to have my dairy scored in 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.)
• 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 ot 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
Date
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 15, 2003-B9
We had an unpleasant adventure last week as we tried
to visit my sister in another county. Our car stopped run
ning on a busy highway. We were lucky that a state
trooper came along and called a tow truck for us. How
ever, when we got to a garage, we had a very long wait.
They ordered the wrong part and so instead of going to
our destination, we had to turn around in order to get
home by dark. We were sorry that we worried my sister’s
family but these things happen.
Last week we saw two red foxes playing in the meadow
below our house. It is one sign that spring is not too far
away. Also, on my diningroom table is a dish of
blooming paper-white narcissus. I used them as a
centerpiece when I had company to help us eat
the big piece of lamb that our son gave us for
Christmas. We also used the dark green table
cloth that his wife gave as a Christmas gift. It is
too easy to simply lay away a gift and not use it.
So, I made an effort to share it with others.
Winter Wardrobe
Refreshers
LEBANON (Lebanon Co.) When winter
clothes need a quick pick-me-up, new timesaving
products are just what the wardrobe doctor or
dered.
In-dryer kits are an innovation that save time
and money. The products are used in the clothes
dryer to freshen a wide variety of dry-clean-only
garments. Although difficult stains may still re
quire the services of a dry-cleaning professional,
these kits will help remove wrinkles, odors and
light stains.
Wrinkle-releasing sprays will do the trick
when ironing is not on the agenda. Although safe
for most fabrics, it’s necessary to read the label.
Some products shouldn’t be used on fabrics that
water spot.
Fabric refreshers neutralize odors on hard-to
wash fabrics and soft surfaces, such as carpets,
upholstery and curtains, They’re also handy for
wardrobe items, such as canvas shoes and tote
bags, as well as bulky winter coats.
Finally, detergent and fabric softeners with
color protectors can keep whites white and colors
bright. The trick is to use the product from the
beginning of the garment’s lifetime. These prod
ucts protect color, but won’t restore it.
Training For Child
Care Providers
COLLEGEVILLE (Montgomery Co.) —A six
hour child-care training course is being offered
by Penn State Cooperative Extension on Mon
day, February 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at
the New Hanover Child Care Center in Gilbert
sville. Registration is required, the cost is $7 per
person for the day. All participants will receive 6
DPW training credits and .6 Continuing Educa
tion Units from Penn State University. Lunch is
included in the registration fee.
The course will include “Critical Incident Sur
vival,” presented by the Criminal Investigations
Division of PA State Police; “Transitions” by
Nancy Jackson; and “Create, Create, Create—
Hands-on Activities for Pre-schoolers,” by Ida
Wiener Moss. There will also be an optional Fire
Safety Training from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
For more information and registration form,
call Penn State Cooperative Extension in Mont
gomery County (610) 489-4315.
Ag Career And
College Fair Planned
For Adams Co.
GETTYSBURG (Adams Co.)—The Gettys
burg Battlefield FFA and the Gettysburg Area
Young Farmers have announced the area’s first
“Agriculture Career and College Fair.” We are
inviting area agriculture business to participate in
this opportunity to meet the future leaders in the
agriculture industry.
The fair will take place on Tuesday, March 18,
at the Adams County Agriculture and Natural
Resource Center in Gettysburg. The fair will
begin at 8:30 a.m. and agriculture high school
programs within an hour radius will be invited to
attend. The planners intend to schedule groups at
different times of the day so that not everyone ar
rives at one time. This will also be advertised at
local colleges so they may attend at their conven
ience.
Tables will be assigned on a first come, first
serve basis. The cost for a table is $30.00 and all
tables must be set-up by 8:20 a.m. Businesses will
have an opportunity to talk with young people
about a career in agriculture.
Companies interested in participating in the
fair should contact Battlefield FFA, Gettysburg
Area High School, 1130 Old Harrisburg Road,
Gettysburg, PA 17325; phone (717) 334-6254.