Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania Gather for 91st State Convention

Lou Ann Good
Reporter

HARRISBURG, Pa. — On Monday, the Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania met at the Radisson Penn Harris in Camp Hill, Pa. for its annual 91st state convention. Members mixed business with pleasure as they reviewed accomplishments and goals.

The influence of Farm Women organizations is far-reaching, reported Catherine Thomas, state second vice president, who said that members volunteered countless hours at hospitals, nursing homes and nonprofit organizations. They cooked soup at a homeless shelter, stitched pillows and school bags and held bake sales and other fundraisers in order to donate more than $27,000 to community needs. Members learned how to live healthier and safer lives through educational seminars that focused on such subjects as cancer prevention, food safety and scam alerts. They held Mad Hatters teas, brunches, banquets, mystery rides, quiltings, swimming parties and much more. They toured noodle and broom factories, a goat farm, historical sites, the Flight 93 memorial and other places. Through it all, members sought to remain true to the society’s motto: “For Happiness,” and to its theme song: “Brighten the Corner Where You Are.”

When Flora Black first founded the organization in 1914, members lived on farms and decided to contribute to the power and influence of farm women, to increase the influence of the farm home, to contribute to community involvement and to develop leadership and promote better living and working conditions on farms. Today many members no longer live on a farm, but their goals continue to foster love for farm and rural life.

Several speakers representing agriculture addressed the convention.

Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Doug Kilgore explained the duties of the Department of Agriculture. State Dairy Princess Krystal Wasson, Centre County, Alternates Karla Stoltzfus, Bedford County and Crystal Hitz, Lebanon County, entertained the crowd with a skit, speech and milk toast promoting the dairy industry. Alan Bair, with Penn State Dairy Sciences, presented a talk on his two agriculture trips to Africa.

Kilgore said the need to promote agriculture is greatly needed, but funding and staff for the department has been severely cut. Kilgore said that recently, a grocery store employee who saw freshly dug potatoes asked what they were and what to do with them. Kilgore said his puzzlement is a common example of today’s consumers, who are only familiar with processed foods and do not know the origin of food that is sold in supermarkets and restaurants.

Bair said that in one of his trips to Africa, his job was to offer technical help to dairy farmers. In Uganda, the dairy farmers were all women. The average farm had two cows, and the largest, seven. The cows averaged 20 percent less production per cow than those in the U.S. But the basic concerns of the Ugandan farmers were the same as U.S. farmers, Bair said. They were concerned about sustaining their farms, about cow health and feed forages and marketing. They were even interested in biodigesters. In Uganda, a biodigester was operated manually by a woman dipping liquid manure with her bare hands into a small compact biodigester. The manure from the woman’s two cows produced enough energy to run a two-burner gas stove in her kitchen. Although the methods were crude, Bair said, the women were eager to learn and attended daily lectures.

Lorraine Royer from Lebanon County serves as president of the organization with its membership of 1,341. Assisting Royer with duties are Betsy Sattazahn of Berks County, first vice-president; Catherine Thomas of Franklin County, second vice-president; Barbara Mock of Adams County, secretary; and Donna Duncan of Cumberland County, treasurer.

During the business session, Norma Greider, Carlisle, who has been a member of Cumberland County Society 9 for 36 years, was elected treasurer.

Two new state directors were nominated and elected. These were Mary Jane Kiehl, who has been a member of Somerset County Society 4 for more than 20 years, and Leona Stapleton, a member of Huntingdon County Society 3 for more than 35 years.

Joanne Smoker encouraged members to attend the spring rally scheduled for May 13 in Lancaster County which will feature Anne Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, as the keynote speaker. “Learn about ice farming on Susquehanna and enjoy a fashion show like no other you have seen,” Smoker said.

Reservations must be made by April 13 for the rally that will be held at Lancaster County Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster. Cost is $18 per person. Make checks payable to Lancaster County Farm Women and send to Louetta Hurst, 2150 Stonecrest Dr., Lancaster, PA 17601.

The state society recently had brochures printed explaining its purpose, history and membership requirements. For a copy of the brochure or for more information about the Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania, call Lorraine Royer at (717) 867-1021 or Catherine Thomas at (717) 328-3407.