A34-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 7, 2003 Yale Wood Farm (Continued from Page A 23) have people who can do several different jobs. That is what really makes it work. “We may have somebody milk ing cows in the evening and then the next day they may be running a milk route.” With 18 years under his leader ship, Bill said he is most proud of the family-operated business, be cause at the end of each day, the working family members are still good friends. There are many issues facing today’s milk producers, but none as important as milk pricing. According to Bill, his family has somewhat of a unique perspective on the entire dairy industry. While many milk processors don’t have a full understanding of the entire operation, Bill knows what it is all about from the cow to the final product. “An extended period of low milk prices really affects the mo rale of the whole industry,” he said. “I don’t think most proces sors realize that low pricing has a long term affect on the supply. “I can see within my limited scope that people are very anxious and have high anxiety on the pro cessing side. “Most milk dealers don’t un derstand that lower prices aren’t better.” Lancaster Farming Checl£ oitf wfebsite Lancaster Farming's Classified Ads Get Results! FREON REPLACEMENT R-12 12 Can Case-$l5O 36 Pound Canister - $275 C/air R-22 Canister-$l5O Pro-seal stops all leaks, oil, etc No Retro Fitting - Simple Installation 800-807-9612 Bill’s daughter Carissa Itle Westrick is one of a newer generation of Itles working the family business. She said family members can be found on the farm and in the bam as well as in processing and even in the sales end of things. Vale Wood Farms has a service area of approximately an hour ra dius within its location. “We are concentrating on get ting better at what we are doing,” Carissa said. Carissa did not just step into the family business without expe rience. She returned to the family farm after a stint in Washington, D.C. where she was on the staff of the National Milk Producers Fed eration. There she helped to de velop policy for the business she grew up knowing dairy. This smalltown girl had the op portunity to learn how the dairy industry works on the national level and the needs of milk pro ducers throughout the nation. Today, Carissa uses her big city experience on her family farm in rural Pennsylvania. “I always knew I’d come back,” she said. “We have a real sense of family and pride in our business. That’s our driving force.” Pride gushes from every aspect of the business. Carissa is quick to point out Vale Wood Farms has earned the right to use the Free rrVSCARQtIA * 2240 Shermans Valley Road, P.O. BOX 64 ELLIOTTSBURG, PA 17024 (717) 582-4122 Fax: (717) 582-7438 email: sales@tuscarorahardwoods.com Manufacturers of Northern Appalachian Hardwoods “WANTED” Timber or Timberland We pay cash before cutting Manufacturer of Quality Kiln-Dried Lumber Woodland Management Buyer of Standing Timbers FREE Appraisal with NO Obligations, NO Brokerage Fee, NO Hidden Cost “MULCH FOR SALE” Two basic grades to choose from. 3 colors to choose from Red, Black, Brown Farmed logo on its products. The recognition is awarded by the American Human Association for the humane treatment of dairy herds. In addition to the milk pro duced by their dairy cows, the Itles buy milk from four addition al local farmers all within a mile or two of their farm. Their product line includes whole milk, 1 and 2 percent milk, churned buttermilk, half and half cream, butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, 17 flavors of premium ice cream and an array of additional products. Complementing their product line, Carissa said they are very committed to the home delivery aspect of their business. “We have been servicing generations of home delivery cus tomers. From parents to grand parents, we have delivered for decades.” Carissa said the home delivery service emphasizes their old fash ion values and strong sense of tra dition. “We guaranteed a quality milk product from a family with generations in the industry,” she said. Strong family values translate into community commitment for the Itles. With this in mind, Vale Wood Farms welcomes over 1,500 school children annually as part of their school tour program. “We are very proud of and ded icated to our local community,” Carissa said. COOL Meeting Scheduled For Lancaster LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) The last of USDA’s 12 listen ing sessions regarding Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is sched uled for Thursday, June 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the auditorium of the Lancaster Farm and Home Center. The Country of Origin Label ing law was included in the 2002 Farm Bill and officially starts on September 30,2004. During its current “voluntary” period, the COOL program is being presented in nationwide lis tening and education sessions, providing participants with an opportunity to make comments. Listening sessions have been attracting standing-room-only crowds. COOL supporters claim con sumers want the labels and that PLN A Plans Lunch With Pennsylvania Leaders HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) The Pennsylvania Land scape and Nursery Association’s first annual “Lunch with Penn sylvania Leaders” will bring in dustry and state government offi cials together to discuss the challenges and opportunities fac ing Pennsylvania’s $3.1 billion Green Industry. Lunch panelists include Secre tary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff, House Agriculture Chairman Art MRI-AtAffbrdal Call 8 AM - 5 PM M-F Most Insurances Accepted • New state-of-the-art Open MR! • Most experienced Radiologists in the area • Friendly professional staff • Reports to your doc*" • We accept $475,00' for a normal study It's Worth The they will provide American prod ucts with an advantage. Oppo nents claim that COOL will re quire burdensome record keeping and increase production costs. COOL will be enforced at the retail level because the law states that the labeling must be avail- able at the point of sale where consumer purchasing decisions are made. However, the neces sary paper trail will filter back through all segments of produc tion and will involve livestock producers as well. To carry the U.S. Country of Origin label, the meat product must have been born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S. If any part of the process is conducted outside the U.S., the end product cannot carry the U.S. COOL label. Hershey, and Senate Agriculture Chairman Mike Waugh. The lunch is planned for Wednesday, July 30 at the Fort Washington Expo Center in con junction with the Penn Allied Nursery Trade Show, July 29-31. The cost for the luncheon is $l5 for PLNA members and $2O for non-members. For more in formation contact PLNA at (800) 898-3411.
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