Vol. 48 No. 49 * Diamond ’ Sparkles At KILE HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Tom Taylor is at the reins of the supreme champion Shire mare, 2-year-old Caerberllan Diamond, on Wednesday at the Keystone International Livestock Expo (KILE) here at the Farm -Show Complex. Taylor, Lisle, N.Y., swept the mare championship, also picking up re serve wltft a,. 4-year-old, Skelton Sophia, in back gttrtipd, pxhtbttpd-by Marion Young, Ontario, Canada. This is Taylttr’s firsthand championship at KILE. Both horses were imported from Paul and Walt Bed ford, York, England. See the opening ceremonies story on page A 42. Photo by Andy Andrews, editor Small Farm Expo Travels To N.J., Hosts Visitors From 7 States DEANNA CUNFER Carbon Co. Correspondent HARMONY (Warren Co.) The 2003 Northeast Small Farm and Rural Living Expo traveled to the Warren County Farmers’ Fairgrounds, Harmony, N.J. this year. Conducted in conjunction with the Garden State Sheep Breeders Sheep and Fiber Festival, the All-American Dairy Show’s supreme champion is Hermitage Councillor Sheba, a 3-year-old Jersey exhibited by Chris Hill for Waverly Farm, Clearbrook, Va. From left, Mike Pechart, executive assistant to the Pennsylvania secretary of agriculture; Leroy Plance, All-American Dairy Show promoter; Pam Worley, Alternate Dairy Princess; Hill with supreme champion; Emily Grove, Alternate Dairy Princess; Carla Martin, Pennsyl vania Dairy Princess; and Charlie Itle, Pennsylvania Farm Show. Read more about All- American this issue. Results begin on page A 29. ««»««»«w»«««MM«WWK«»«S-DiaiT 16802 B«5 PZ 18309 030 Z96ZBS BCRtALB RECORDS PATTEE LIBRARY APT W 209 UNIVERSITY PARK PA 16802 www.lancasterfarming.com event brought large crowds to the two-day event with gate records showing visitors from seven states in attendance. With Cornell, Penn State, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension agencies involved in the plan ning, it was decided the expo would be conducted on a yearly rotating basis moving between Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Four Sections Longtime Banker Selected To PLA Hall Of Fame ANDY ANDREWS Editor WOMELSDORF (Berks Co.) Longtime Fulton/Lebanon Val ley Fanners Bank officer Mike Firestine, Womelsdorf, has been selected as this year’s entry into the Pennsylvania Livestock Asso ciation (PLA) Hall of Fame. Firestine, with the bank since 1976 and a senior vice president and senior ag lending officer, is no stranger to the work of promoting ag in the community. Mike, along with wife Martene and two daughters Morgan and Margeaux, care for a registered herd of Hereford cattle and raise various crops. The Firestines are long noted for work with the Pennsylvania Hereford Association and have shown cattle in many shows throughout the region. The honor comes at a time after great success in finally se curing a national Hereford show at the Keystone International Livestock Expo (KILE), going on throughout the weekend at the Farm Show Complex in Harris burg. Firestine noted “three years of hard work” to convince the American Hereford Association New York. The first expo in 2001 was in Pennsylvania and was a huge success. The planners de cided to return to that location in 2002 before they started the three-state rotation. With each location within a two- to three hour drive of each other, any fears' of losing their following were quickly calmed this year after seeing the abundant flow of Saturday, October 4, 2003 (AHA), in Kansas City, Mo., to allow a national show at KILE. About three years ago, Firestine said that the AHA wanted at least 160 cattle at the show and KILE was able to sign on 207 this year. “I contacted a lot of farmers,” said Firestine by phone Monday. He was able to get the support of about 75 exhibitors. This year has been designated “Year of the Beef,” so it’s appro priate to promote all breeds. Herefords were one of the breeds on parade at opening ceremonies visitors throughout the two-day event. Art Charlton of the Warren County Department of Economic Development and Tourism wel comed visitors during the open Baltimore County Celebrates Land Preservation Milestone TOWSON, Md. Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. announced that Balti more County landowners have forever protected 40,000 acres of rural land from future develop ment. This brings the county to the halfway point of an estab lished goal of preserving 80,000 acres. “I congratulate these generous and forward-thinking landown ers who are protecting a way of life in the county’s rural areas, while also helping to protect the air and water quality for every one in the region,” Smith said. Smith, the Baltimore County Council, the Baltimore County Agricultural Land Preservation Board, celebrated this significant land preservation accomplish ment at a family picnic for hun dreds of participating landown ers, elected officials, land trust organizations and government officials at the Morris Meadows Historic Preservation Museum in northern Baltimore County. $37.00 Per Year Mike Firestine $l.OO Per Copy at KILE in Harrisburg Thursday afternoon. Firestine noted the 2003 KILE National Hereford Show is dedi cated to Charles Itle, who Fire stine calls an “icon” at the Farm Show Complex. Itle is the Farm Show assistant director and manager of KILE. Itle began the responsibilities in 1974. Itle’s involvement with KILE “has been invaluable,” said Fire stine. “Under Mr. Itle’s direction, there have been numerous im provements made in the show. He has always been supportive of the Hereford industry.” Itle’s emphasis has been on the educational aspect of KILE, in cluding the livestock judging con tests and Keystone Stockmen’s Contest. Said Firestine, “Mr. Itle will be retiring after this year’s show. But I am quite sure we will still see Mr. Itle keeping his finger on the pulse at the Farm Show Complex.” The National Hereford Show is one of six, including the North American International Live stock Expo in Louisville, Ky.; the Kansas City American Royal (Turn to Pa§e A3l) ing ceremony. After the flag pre sentation by Boy Scout Troop 141, Charlton introduced Mi chael Doherty, N.J. assemblyman (Turn to Page ASS) “I can think of no more impor tant thing for a farm owner to do than to preserve land for the con tinuation of the agricultural in- (Turn to Page A 26) Inside The Farmer ✓ New Holland Swine Show page A2l. ✓ Ephrata Fair Livestock Sale page A3B. ✓ West Lampeter Fair Livestock Sale page A 39. ✓ All-American re sults page A 29.