Newcomer Heads Lancaster County Farm Women Society
LOU ANN GOOD
Food And Family
Features Editor
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.)
Some things never change,
they say, but from the perspective
of Phyllis Newcomer, too many
things are changing.
One of the most distressing
changes is seeing dwindling
membership in the Society of
Farm Women, both county and
statewide.
When Newcomer joined the
society as a young farm wife in
1954, the organization had a
waiting list of potential members.
The individual societies that
made up the state organization
had to limit membership because
they met in homes for monthly
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meetings.
Newcomer said about 40
women gathered in the living
room of the home when she
joined. The county had more
than 1,000 members meeting
throughout the county in 35 pri
vate homes.
The purpose of the society is to
contribute the power and influ
ence of farm women to increase
the influence of the farm home.
The society also contributes to
the community involvement of
farm women to develop leader
ship and to promote better living
and working conditions in the
farm homes of Pennsylvania.
Members promote love for the
farm and rural life.
When the society was founded
in 1914, the majority of the popu
lation was connected with farm
life. But times have changed.
Membership has reflected the
fact that less than two percent of
the general population are in
volved in farming. Although the
organization addresses common
interests shared by mothers,
wives, and grandmothers every
where, times have changed.
More women work off the
farm and do not have a flexible
schedule for attending meetings.
Mothers often serve as chauffeurs
to their children’s sports and
community events. Women have
more options and commitments
for filling free time.
“It seems we can’t attract
younger women to join, and our
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 8,2003-811
Phyllis Newcomer is Lancaster County Farm Women
Society’s newly installed president. She heads the coun
ty’s 22 societies with 457 members.
membership is dying,” Newcom
er said.
In the past year, IS members
passed away in Lancaster County
alone.
Nonetheless, Lancaster County
retains a membership of 457 in
22 societies.
The 86th annual convention
last Saturday at the Farm and
Home Center in Lancaster was
the place where Newcomer was
inducted as president to serve a
two-year term. About 160 of the
457 county members attended.
Newcomer has been prepped
for leadership. She has served
two-year terms as first and as
second vice-president in anticipa
tion of advancing to president.
Newcomer admits she has little
hope for membership growth.
But she does intend to keep the
organization strong.
Although membership is aging
and dwindling, the organization
continues to raise money for
community
needs. At the
county’s an
nual conven
tion, members
donated
$2,640 to
Bridge of
Hope, which
helps single
mothers. In
addition, in
dividual so
cieties contin
ue to fund
community
services such
as libraries,
hospitals, re
lief efforts,
and schol
arship funds.
During this
past year,
members
gave more
than $9,775
to community
needs.
The quest
to continue to
aid commu
nity needs is
birthed from
the society’s
motto, “To
Brighten The
Corner”
wherever they
are.
““ " n
ty’s 22 societies are headed by
Newcomer with the help of the
following board members: Alle
gra Leininger, vice president;
Mable Hershey, secretary; and
Eileen Bruckhart, treasurer.
In addition to the business ses
sion, entertainment was provided
by Charles and Dottie Shealer,
who dressed in red, white, and
blue costumes as “Uncle Sam
and Aunt Sam,” and spoke on
the eagle’s awesome power and
the true meaning of liberty.
Music was provided by Bell a
deux handbell artists, Bobbi
Schmid and Ron Bellamy.
Newcomer and her husband
Clarence (Skip) Newcomer have
four children and seven grand
children. After farming for the
first 10 years of their marriage,
her husband transferred to real
estate and continues to work as
an appraiser.
Other interests for Newcomer
are lawn and gardening, cooking,
and volunteering at the Mennon
ite Home.
For more about joining the So
ciety of Farm Women of Pennsyl
vania, call Catherine Schott, state
president, at (717) 272-6006.
Charles and Dottle
Shealer provided entertain
ment at the Farm Women’s
Convention.
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