Milky Way Farm (Continued from Page A 26) enough, in July 1976 the Milky Way dairy bam was destroyed by fire at the hands of a lightning bolt. “We had to decide right quick whether or not to stay in busi ness, because we needed milk the very next day,” Lewis said. To make a long story short, a neighbor came through, allowing the Seeley’s to use his facility that had recently closed. “We trucked those cows right up there, and started hauling the milk back ... there was no interruption in serv ice to our customers.” Milky Way Farm survived a number of less tragic, though critical transitions. When people started bringing in plastic gallon jugs in the 19705, they had to switch from being a “jugging” operation to a “bottling” plant in order to ensure quality. Previous- SEE YOUR DEAEER BELOW EOR DETAILS PEOPLE’S SALES MILLER FIELDS & SERVICE EQUIPMENT CO. IMPLEMENT STORE Oakland Mills, PA 17076 Stauffer Road Eighty Four, PA 15330 (717) 463-2735 Bechtelsville, PA 19505 (724) 222-1154 (610) 845-2911 MEYERS IMPLEMENTS, INC. 400 North Antrim Way Greencastle, PA 17225 (717) 597-2176 C.J. WONSIDLER 1975 Trumbaueravttte Rd. Quakertown, PA 18951 (215) 536-1935 ly, customers had been bringing glass jars or other “jugs” that could easily be sterilized plastic changed all that. But the most critical transition The sign shows the invitation, the parking lot shows the result. NORTHEAST DIST. & EQUIP. ECKROTHBROS. FARM equipment (570) 943-2131 LEBANON VALLEY IMPLEMENT CO. 700 E. Undan St. BteWan4l*l7oB7 t - (717) «Bflr7#lB v MANOR MOTORS 3655 Rt. 553 Penn Run, PA (724) 254-4753 4910 Kernsville Rd Orefield, PA 18069 (610) 366-2095 A was that of going from one fami ly generation to the next. “Kim always wanted to be out there with the cows, and when the time came, he was ready to go,” Lewis said. And the Seeley patriarch is proud of how the third generation has pitched in. Sean is now studying agriculture M.M. WEAVER & SON N Grotfdale Rd. Leola, PA 17540 (717) 656-2321 C.J. TAYLOR EQUIPMENT, INC. 1300 Washington Rd. Westminster, MD 21157 (410) 848-4474 4000 Brown Rd. Taneytown, MD 21787 (410)751-1500 at Penn State, and Dane, 9, al ready runs his own chicken and egg business at Milky Way. When asked about his custom ers, Lewis spoke clearly about their importance. “People need to understand that every customer is an inspec tor,” he said. He added that with out a strong desire to greet and serve the public, he and Kim would never have kept going all these years. Has it all been worthwhile? “Marie is happy, and we raised a good family,” Lewis said of his closest business partner. “She would never give up.” It was a natural decision to cel ebrate Milky Way’s 40th anniver sary by inviting friends, family, and neighbors to join. “We wanted to give something back,” Lewis said. “It would be good if big companies did the same.” Once again, the Seeleys’ put their trust in the people who had sustained them all these The folks at Milky Way Farm are always looking for new ways to serve their customers. Here Kim Seeley shows their latest enterprise pastured pork production. Itlimr Immu Macs ''We're Here To Serve' 1 FARMS - WHM We can insure all farms from mushrooms to fish, and from dairy to nursery stock. No farm is too complex or too small for us to help you with. fe . Please Call For Quotations or Information. We Offer All Types of Farm and Agribusiness Insurance Lisa Sprout • Roger Slasher • Bob Lee • Sarah Roman • Cindy Beyer • Darryl Graham • Terry Wingert 27 East State Street, Quarryville, PA 17566 (717) 786-1711 (800) 882-1415 Hawaii Farm Tours The Best Escorted Vacations You'll Ever Find 15 days <IAQ 4 islands from... Add $llO for some departure cities. Departs January Bth8 th through 29 th , 2004 Departs Mondays and Thursdays, January B,h8 ,h through the 29 th , 2004. Includes airfare. Hawaiian owned hotels, transfers, baggage handling, Escort flying with you from island to island, staying in OAHU, HAWAII (Kona & Hilo), MAUI & KAUAI. Sightseeing includes Honolulu City Tour with Pearl Harbor, Volcano National Park, Kona Coffee Plantation Tour, Parker Cattle Ranch Museum, Orchid Nursery, Macadamian Nut Factory Tour, Wailua Riverboat Cruise, Fern Grotto, Guava Plantation, plus more as listed in brochure. So call today and make your reservation! Open Sundays - Per Person Double Occupancy YMT Vacations ... 1-800-888-8204 Our !7lh Year - Over a million satisfied customers Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 7, 2003-A33 years their customers. Any predictions of a small turnout at the 40th anniversary celebration proved false. About 400-500 people passed through the line before the afternoon was over. There were hot dogs and sloppy Joes, grassfed cheese (the Seeley brand), a decorated anni versary cake and, of course, fresh milk and ice cream. On that Fourth of July at Milky Way Farm, we celebrated the opportunity all of us should have in this country to make a decent living while serving our fellow citizens in as direct a man ner as possible. Family farms, es pecially those that extend for generations in the same commu nity, exemplify the greatest gift and opportunity that America has to offer. Brian Snyder is executive di rector for the Pennsylvania As sociation for Sustainable Agri culture (PASA).
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers