Ida’s Notebook by Ida Risser Apply For Dairy Of Distinction Award By April 15 UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co ) Pennsylvania dairy (arms are invited to apply for this year's Dany ol Distinction award from the Noitheast 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-mch Dany 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 produceis who promote a positive image tor the dairy industry," said Mike O’Connor, secretary of the Pennsylvania Dairy of Distinction program and professor of dairy science extension m Penn State's College ol Agricultural Sciences Roadside judging will take place in May Judges will look at tactois 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 lake into account other aspects of the farm, such as cleanliness of animals.the bam yaid, feed areas and manuie management HOW IS YOUR FARM SCORED? Awards will be based upon neatness good maintenance, and other factors, which can be controlled by the tanner 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 it farm is oft 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 banners who apply for awards agree that it selected they will cooperate with these activities and make all leasonable efforts to maintain both the exterior and interior of then pioperties in an acceptable condition HOW THE JUDGING WORKS Judging teams will visit the tarms during the month of May barms 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 Dany of Distinction signs remain the property of the committee not the properly of the dairy farmer All (aims must achieve a compliance score of 90 percent on their Dairy of Distinction score card Your cooperative 01 milk handler will be contacted to appiove youi milk quality RULES FOR THE DAIRY OF DISTINCTION AWARD I The Dairy of Distinction sign remains the property of the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program Committee (NEDbBP) 2 The post and bracket shall be supplied b\ and maintained bv the dairy tanner NhDHBP suggests that a wood post 4 \4 x 12 oi non pipe 2 \ 12 he used Posts oi pipe should he installed and maintained in tine vertical position with 8 above giound Top ol the biacket should be lower than six inches horn the top ot the post In addition NFDHBP suggests that the sign be mounted in a frame to provide additional slabilitv 7 Ihe sign shall be displayed in Iron! ot the dam at madside An attiaclive post and bracket, oi other frame shall he used to display the sign No mote than thiee signs should he displayed horn the sign (tame oi post and all shall be ol a style general si/e and quality comparable to the Daily ol Distinction sign The sign should be secured on all sides to avoid wind damage 4 Signs shall not be moved to othei premises New owneis ot a Dairy ot Distinction hum must apply to retain the sign 5 Replacement ol damaged signs shall be at the discielion ol the committee 6 No producer shall be charged with sconng oi sign expenses 7 1 he judges decision will be final S Judging will lake place between Mav I and May 71 9 Harms awarded a Danv ol Distinction sign in previous ycais will be |udged between April 1 and April 70 It they do hot quality they will be re judged between May I and May 71 so they have the opportunity to keep the sign 10 Harms that do not requahly will leturn the sign to then regional Dairy ol Distinction Committee Ip tc. ly ..ry, 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 m • 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. • I 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 * 9 receive an 18” x 24” Dairy of Distinction sign to be dis- # • played in front of their farm • • APPLICATION • m Your Name Farm Name _ Mailin; 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 m Committee to have my dairy scored m 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 • Signaluic 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 We will probably both remember the winter of 2003. My husband, in the hospital, has round-the clock nursing service for months and an opportuni ty to order whatever food he wants. Wait until he comes home and has to eat whatever I cook. Now I cook for myself, and then eat leftovers for a few days. I rattle around in our house and keep myself busy with the 21st braided rug for a grandchild. There are also lots of flower plants and they need water plus attention for dropped blossoms and Since 1987. Pennsylvania’s Dany of Distinction Piogram has recognised inoie than 700 dairy (aims 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 stale lor applications. Address Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 22, 2003-813 leaves. Our bird feeder has a Downy Woodpecker that is very attractive and I enjoy watching him eat. Church activities and visiting Allen fill the rest of my time. One or another of our children usually drive a few hours from Delaware or New Jersey on week ends when they can get away from work. They not only visit their father but sometimes can attend bas ketball games that the nearby grandchildren play in. Our daughter video taped some games for them to watch later. This winter we have had a big opossum and a bigger raccoon visit us in our garage. They came in the cat door hunting for food. Even after we re moved the birdseed and the catfood, they still came back. They can surely make a grand mess. One winter we left a big bag of black walnuts outside our cellar door. Then we kept hearing noises on our house roof and animals running across our front porch. It took us a few days to re alize that squirrels were emptying the bag. In fact, I caught one in the bag and it surely scrambled out in a hurry. In the country you never know what animal will visit you next. 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