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 Irom 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 wholcsomeness of milk
and stimulate milk sales and public support
lor the industry Dames receiving the high
est scores in each of 10 Pennsylvania
distiicts will be awarded an 18- by 24-inch
Daily of Distinction sign to display in hont
of then farm
"This piograin is uin by volunteers and
iceogni/es the hard woik and dedication ot
dany produc’ds who promote a positive
image for the dairy industry.” said Mike
O’Connor, secretary ot the Pennsylvania
Dany ot Distinction program and
prolcssoi ot dairy science extension in
Penn State’s College of Agncultural
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.lhc barn
yard. feed aieas and manure management
HOW IS YOUR FARM SCORED?
Awards will be based upon neatness good maintenance and
other (actors which can be controlled by the farmer Attractive
background sceneiv 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 d
farm is ott the road the nearest lane) Judging should give
equal consideration to old wood construction and new con
stiuction ot metal or concrete block
The awaid program may be used tor subsequent advertising or
piomotion activities for dairy products or dairy farming
Fanners who apply lor awards agree that, it selected, they will
cooperate with these activities and make all reasonable efforts
to maintain both the exterior and interior ot 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 ot
Distinction signs remain the property ot the committee, not
the pioperty ot the dairy farmer All farms must achieve a
compliance score ot 90 percent on their Dairy ot Distinction
score card Your cooperative or milk handlei will be contacted
to appiove your milk quality
RULES FOR THE
DAIRY OF DISTINCTION AWARD
I The Dairy ot Distinction sign remains the property ot the
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program Committee
(NEDFBP)
2 The post and bracket shall be supplied bv and maintained by
the dairy farmer NhDFBP suggests that a wood post 4 ' x 4’ \
12 or iron pipe 2' \ 12 be used Posts or pipe should be
installed and maintained in true vertical position with 8 above
giound Top ot the bracket should he lower than six inches
Irom the top ot the post In addition NEDbBP suggests that the
sign be mounted in a trame to provide additional stability
4 The sign shall be displayed in front of the dairy at roadside
An attractive post and biacket, or othei frame shall be used to
display the sign No moie than three signs should be displayed
fiom the sign frame or post and all shall be of a style, general
si/e 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 othei premises New owners ot
a Dairy ot 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 ludgmg will lake place between May I and May 41
9 Farms awaided a Dairy ol Distinction sign in previous years
will be judged between Apnl I and April 41) II they do not
quality they will he icjudged between May I and May 41 so
they have the opportunity to keep the sign
It) Farms that do not (equality will icUnn the sign to their
regional Dairy ot Distinction Committee
We’ve had a snowstorm to top most snowstorms and
we were snowed in for a few days. Even our driveway was
still closed after the road was opened by township plows.
The long lane to the farm was closed too as our son and
his wife spent a weekend in New Orleans.
Not only did the many heifers have to be fed and water
ed, but the small animals needed attention. So I drove the
three grandchildren to their home so that the dogs, cats,
guinea pigs, and lizards would be fed. Then they remem
bered that the crickets, that were to be fed to the lizards,
were at a neighbors and so we picked them up too.
Pictured is the Kulp Family Dairy, Blair County, one of Pennsylvania’s
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'Connoi at (814) 861-3911 oi
c-mail him at HYPERLINKmaiI to
MOConnor@psu edu
• Dairy of Distinction J
• 2003 Pennsylvania Application •
• PURPOSE OF PROGRAM •
Attractive dairy farms give the consumer greater confidence
m the wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales #
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 m each of the 21 districts will #
receive an 18” x 24” Dairy of Distinction sign to be dts- #
played m front of their farm. •
APPLICATION •
Your Name Farm Name m
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 forjudging 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 ot
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 Jeisey, and
Veimont Dairies in these states can con-
tact the program secretary in their state
tor applications
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 1,2003-B9
Some of the children visited their friends over the
weekend but then, due to the snow, they had to stay over
night and into the next two days. Their parents finally
managed to get home in a rented car as the airports were
closed.
At least, I had company for a few days as my husband
is still in the hospital. He came through the three opera
tions okay but I had a real shock when I was told that he
must stay there for six to eight weeks. I could not believe
what I was hearing. I’d expected to care for him at home.
My daughter from New Jersey was in London
for a week, but our son from Delaware came, and
together we visited Allen. Now I hope to visit
him when Philip goes to see him in the evening.
We can talk on the telephone, which is some
thing that we never did before when he was
home. I suppose we’ll get through this ordeal
eventually.
Breast Cancer
Awareness Program
GOODVILLE (Lancaster Co.) A Breast
Cancer Awareness Program will be held on
March 10 at 7 p.m. at the Goodville Fire Compa
ny Building, 1606 Main Street in Goodville.
Discussion and instruction regarding self
breast exam and mammography will be the pur
pose of the program. This program will be pres
ented in association with the American Cancer
Society and concerned volunteer health care pro
fessionals in cooperation with the Ladies Auxili
ary of the Goodville Fire Company.
The program is free and open to all interested
women. Contact Pat Spangler at (717) 687-7434
or (717) 656-6122 with any questions. Help with
transportation can be arranged by calling Annet
ta Ravegum at (717) 445-6779.
Beekeeping Workshop
Offered In Wayne Co.
HONESDALE (Wayne Co.) The Wayne
County Beekeepers Association and Penn State
Cooperative Extension in Wayne County are of
fering a free three hour “Introduction to Bee
keeping” workshop, Saturday, March 8, from
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Wayne County
Visitors Center, 303 Commercial Street in Hon
esdale. Anyone with an interest in bees and
honey production is encouraged to attend.
To register for this workshop, contact Dave
Messersmith at the Penn State Cooperative Ex
tension office in Wayne County at (570)
253-5970, ext. 239. Class size is limited so please
make your reservations early.
Bucks Co, Extension
Offers Short Course
On ‘Few Acres ’
DOYLESTOWN (Bucks Co.) Living on a
few acres? Want to grow your own apples, raise a
few sheep, and produce your own eggs for break
fast? If you said “yes” to any of these questions,
or just want to learn more about small scale food
production, Penn State Cooperative Extension in
Bucks County has a short course designed just
for you.
Since 1983 we’ve conducted a six-week, eve
ning course called “Living On A Few Acres”.
We’ll provide practical lessons on key subjects
that will lead you to successful and rewarding ex
periences as you grow more of your own food.
A comprehensive reference manual is provided
to each couple or individual who participate in
the course. The course begins Wednesday, March
26 with classes continuing on consecutive
Wednesdays through April 30 from 7:30-9:30
p.m.
We’re looking forward to another successful
course in 2003 and hope that you’ll be part of it.
Call Bucks County Cooperative Extension for a
registration form (215) 345-3283. Registration is
on a first come, first served basis. Registration is
confirmed by payment. $2O per person or $3O per
couple. The course can accommodate 36 people.