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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