January

COUNTY MESSENGER
WINTER 2014
Montgomery County Farm Bureau
Mont Co
Dairy
Princess
63rd Annual Dinner Meeting
Highlights County Youth
Erin
Wismer
On Saturday, October 5th , members and guests gathered at the Tylersport
Fire Company for the 63rd Annual Dinner Meeting. President John Caroff welcomed
guests while Montgomery County Dairy Princess, Erin Wismer with assistance of Dairy Maid Lila Bechtel, presented the invocation and milk toast. Miss Wismer also delivered a heartfelt speech of her
life and her passion for dairy promotion. Montgomery County has not had a
Dairy Princess for 24 years. Two scholarships in Mahlon
Mowrer,
the amount of $1000 were presented to Danielle
Barbacow and Caroline Lynch for their outstand- FACE
Conf .
ing achievements in 4-H. High School junior
Mahlon Mowrer spoke to the group on his expe- Attendee
rience at the Farm Bureau sponsored “FACE
Conference” held last summer. A regular business
meeting was conducted that included one of the most
important items of a grassroots organization; the disPresident Caroff presenting check
to Danielle Barbacow
cussion and approval of new Resolutions and Policies.
Three incumbents were approved to the Board of
Inside this issue:
Directors; Elizabeth Emlen, Frank McDonnell, and
Member Spotlight
2
Food Check Out Day
2
Blaine Souder. The evening was capped by enter-
Farm Bureau Day
tainment provided by the Brunner Family while the
door prizes, donated by generous supporters, were
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distributed to members.
Staff Changes
3
2014 Farm Bureau
Services
Insert
2014 Nationwide
Agent List
Insert
President Caroff presenting check to
Caroline Lynch
CURTIS KRATZ OVER 44 YRS OF SERVICE
New Staff Members Announced
At the age of 30, Franconia Twp. farmer Curt Kratz saw the value of farmers
being represented in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C as one voice and that is
when his fire for PA Farm Bureau was ignited. November of 2013 marked the
ending of Curt’s 2nd term as a State Board of Director. Each term consisted of
8 years each.
•CON’T ON PAGE 3•
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT……
CORKUM TREE FARM, CREAMERY
The Christmas Tree sale season is over and
the Corkum Family is busy with equipment
maintenance, winter projects, and ordering
plants; no different then their traditional ag
counterparts in getting ready for the Spring
rush.
John & Alice Corkum with Toby
John, his wife Alice, and their son James are
the partners behind this 40 acre preserved
farm in Skippack Township. Their time is
split between their Landscape Nursery and
Christmas Tree Production that reaches the
retail and wholesale market.
Corkum is entering his second year as a
Farm Bureau member and see’s the value of
the voice Farm Bureau plays legislatively.
Locally he serves on the Board for Montgomery County Ag Land Preservation.
When asked about the hurdles they see in
their business in the next 3-5 years “Keeping
up with technology to be able to market
and reach more people and communicating/
educating the younger generation about
Agriculture and marketing to them perhaps
in a different way.” One thing the Corkum
Family has recognized the need to change is
the ability to accept credit cards and will be
on their “future” to do list.
To read more about the Corkum Family
and their products, visit them at:
corkumtreefarm.com
FOOD CHECK OUT DAY IS COMING!
Monday, February 17, 2014
10 am
Freddy Hill Farms, Lansdale
To benefit Ronald McDonald House, Philadelphia
“The Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families with
seriously ill children receiving medical treatment. The items collected by Farm
Bureau are used to help care for visiting families staying at the house. Farm
families are thrilled to play a small role in helping out these families, which provide
meaningful and compassionate assistance to families dealing with serious health
issues.”
Philadelphia Wish List: MasterCard, Visa, Amex, Walmart, Target, or
SuperFresh Gift Cards •Microwavable Single Serve Meals or Non-Condensed
Soup• Keurig K-Cup Packs• Whole Wheat Bread• English Muffins• Peanut
Butter• Jams/Jelly •Honey •Vegetable Juice• Whole Fruit •Fruit Salad Cups•
Granola/Oatmeal Bars •Single Serve Fruit Juice (and many more items!)
Contact: John & Bonnie Caroff (215) 536-8674
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CURTIS KRATZ 44 YEARS OF SERVICE (CON’T)
On his long list of accomplishments, Curt has served as Montgomery County
President and Vice President. Thank You Curt for 44 years of dedication, passion, and integrity!
Replacing Curt Kratz is newly elected Joseph Fecondo. Joe and his wife Donna
are co-owners of Joseph Silvestri & Sons, which produces 6.5-million pounds of
fresh mushrooms a year. Aside from his selection to the state board, Fecondo
serves as vice president of the Chester/Delaware County Farm Bureau.
“I’m honored to be chosen for the board and that my peers selected me for
this position,” said Joseph Fecondo. “I’m also really excited to represent the
mushroom industry on the board because we are one of the largest commodities in the state.”
Fecondo said he is proud of the work Farm Bureau does on legislative issues
and the role the organization takes in showcasing the industry. “I want to
continue to educate the public about agriculture and let them know that we
are doing things right,” added Fecondo. “What I think is great is that we can
go out, tell the story of our commodity and let the public know there are many
positives about agriculture.”
New Change!
The Ag Land Preservation Board will
be utilizing the meeting rooms at the
4-H Center for their February and
September Mtg’s and will be held in
the evening. Farm Bureau has
suggested this idea to County
Leadership in order to make the mtgs
more conducive to your time. Please
support this effort!
•Tuesday, February 18th 7pm•
Montgomery County Farm Bureau Day
Stephanie Sansone has been hired to fulfill the position as Region 1 ROD. “I
am originally a New Jersey native who grew up riding and working at a local
riding facility in northern NJ. I then attended Morrisville State College in Morrisville, NY and pursed a bachelor’s degree in equine science. I always had an
appreciation for agriculture but was never exposed too much of it because of
the area I grew up in. Once I went away to college I was able to gain a good
understanding of the industry through the college’s agricultural school and
my fellow students. After graduation I pursued a career working in the equine
breeding industry with Standardbreds and Quarter Horses but was always
interested in working with more of an agricultural variety which is how I
found the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.”
Monday, February 10, 2014
The Bay Pony Inn
508 Old Skippack Rd
Lederach, PA 19450
Time: 9:30 AM—3:00 PM
RSVP to Stephanie Sansone by February 3,2014
(610) 533-2558 or SMSansone@pfb.com
Program to include legislative updates, transportation
regulations information, and membership recognition.
*For every membership brought in by a member that
day your name will be entered into a raffle drawing*
*Prizes will be announced that day.*
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Montgomery County Farm Bureau
Wendy Freed, Editor
370 W. Broad St.
Souderton, PA 18964
Check out Pennsylvania
Farm Bureau on the web
at www.pfb.com
2014
Montgomery County Farm Bureau Board
PRESIDENT
John Caroff
215-536-8674
VICE-PRESIDENT
Frank McDonnell
jandfrooster@yahoo.com
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Wendy Freed
wendy.freed@comcast.net
DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Emlen
eemlen@montcopa.org
DIRECTOR
John Kulp
jekulp@verizon.net
DIRECTOR
Jeff Mowrer
jtmowrer.@gmail.com
DIRECTOR
Jim Myers
215-234-9334
DIRECTOR
Charles Rhoads
DIRECTOR
Merrill Ruth
mngruth@earthlink.net
DIRECTOR
Blaine Souder
MEMBER RELATIONS DIRECTOR
Merrill Ruth
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Merrill Ruth
Board of Directors meet the 2nd Thursday of every month at the
4-H Center, Creamery, PA
1/22
Mont Co Crops Days
2/7-2/10
AFBF YF&R Leadership Conf
2/10
Farm Bureau Days
Bay Pony Inn, Lederach
2/17
Food Check Out Day
Freddy Hill Farm
2/18
Mont Co Ag Land Preservation
Board Mtg, Creamery, 7pm
2/26-2/27
Nat’l Legislative Conference
Washington, DC
3/3-3/7
Ag Safety & Awareness Week
3/8-3/9
PFB YF&R Leadership Conf
3/9
Daylight Savings Begins
3/10-3/14
Local Gov’t Week
souderfamilyfarms@gmail.com
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR: Frank McDonnell
STATE DIRECTOR DISTRICT 3
Joe Fecondo
parman12345@aol.com
REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL DIRECTOR, REGION 1
Stephanie Sansone
smsansone@pfb.com
Montgomery County Farm Bureau