A3O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 16, 2003
*Suburban ’ Chester Co. Dairy Hosts Holstein Field Day
Sam Matthews, front left, points out robot
ic milker operation to field day guests, includ
ing Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture
Dennis Wolff, rear.
DAVE LEFEVER
Lancaster Farming Staff
CHESTER SPRINGS (Chester Co.) Visi
tors to the Chester County Holstein Field Day
this week had the chance to view a unique and
thriving dairy operation in a highly-populated
area.
“We’re a small farm in suburbia trying to fig
ure out how to survive,” said Carolyn Matthews
Eaglehouse, daughter of Sam and Melba Mat
thews, Milky Way owners.
Within the last couple of years, the family has
made some major adaptations to help meet the
demands of farming in the 21st century.
In 2001, they started Chester Springs
Creamery for selling ice cream off the farm. Last
year, they installed a robotic milker for the herd
of 35 registered milking Holsteins.
Sam Matthews said he is pleased with the
labor-saving robotic setup after one year of oper
ation.
“It’s the best hired man or woman you can get
in this area,” he said.
The frequent milkings allowed by the robot
have also boosted milk production, he noted.
About 5 percent of the milk produced on the
farm goes toward making the ice cream sold in
the creamery. This milk is processed elsewhere
and cream then returned the farm.
Milky Way Farm is a neighbor-friendly opera
tion, allowing frequent opportunities for the
public to come on the farm. Beside those buying
ice cream at the creamery, about 13,000 people
pick their own pumpkins on the farm in Octo
ber, and 4,000 school kids come .for tours
throughout the school year.
The field day drew about 170 guests, includ
ing Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Den
nis Wolff, who updated the group on his work in
Harrisburg for the dairy industry.
Highlights included a calf raffle and a Hol
stein judging contest.
Jason Hostetter of Oxford won the July-born
raffle calf provided by Betsy Brown and spon
sored by Cargill and Purina.
Hostetter, 9. said he plans to raise the calf on
his home farm, where he and his family keep
other cubes as well.
Marilyn Umble of Atglen had the high score
in the judging contest. Second and third places
in the women's division went to Heather Herr
and Holly Sollenberger, respectively.
In the youth division, Kelly King and Rachel
Lusby tied for first place, with Scott Umble and
Daryl Stoltzfus placing second and third.
Tom Matthews and Paul Berdell tied for first
in the men’s division, followed by Ken Umble.
Lancaster Farming plans to feature Milky
Way Farm and Chester Springs Creamery in its
next edition of Dairy Plus, scheduled for Sept.
20.
IT" HO
FgJBjgiBjgfgiBtBJBJBJgIBIBJBfgJBJBJBIBJgJBJBIBtBIBiBJgfBfBISIBJBfBIBJBJBj
A focus on the latest
forage varieties will be
part of the Sept. 13 issue
of Foraging Around.
Also scheduled: update
on pastured poultry
research at Penn State and
the latest haymaking and
grazing information from
various field days.
Jason jstetter, 9, won this calf at the field
day raffle. Roy Bender of the Chester County
Holstein Club presents the animal, provided by
Betsy Brown. Sponsors included Cargill and Pu
rina.
Thanks and Congratulations
To
Lloyd Zimmerman Family
Of Danville Pa, Montour County
For their recent dairy expansion
112' x 240' x 14' six row freestall barn
with 310 freestalls
' *
J/w,
-
MANUFACTURERS of m
LAMINATED RAFTERS and |
W °?o D , R E°Srsf ES 717-484-2233
yV V RICHLAND, PA J ! BuilD& 255 H ° lzman R ° ad
A :Jr (717)86M581 Re.nhoKb, PA 17569
J^NORBCO
Barn Equipment for the Commercial Dairymen
315-853-3936
TDIDB B
m NmSlr Swln
Cons t r u
Design-Build • General Contractor
Holstein judging winners, in rear, Marilyn
Umbie, high score and women’s winner, and
Paul Berdell and Tom Matthews, tied for first
place in the men’s division. Kelly King and
Rachel Lusby tied for first in the youth divi
sion. Photo by Dave Lefover
c t i
Pasture Mats by:
Petershelm’s Cow Mattresses
610-593-2242
717-738-2142 • 800-874-7531
www.TVipleHConst.com
430 Spnngville Road • Ephrata, PA 17522
Custom Builders of Dairy, Storage, &
Commercial Buildings