Pa. Farm Bureau Salutes Champions of Agriculture

Lou Ann Good
Food and Family Features Editor

HERSHEY, Pa. — Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) honored top achievers during its annual banquet Tuesday evening at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.

PFB’s highest honors went to State Senator Roger Madigan and State Representative Art Hershey. Both received Barn Raiser Awards, which recognizes individuals who have spent a lifetime in dedicated leadership to the agricultural community. Richard and Dana Empet, Susquehanna County, received the Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Award and Matt Espenshade topped the competition to win the YF&R Discussion Meet.

Both Madigan and Hershey attributed Farm Bureau membership for sparking their interest in politics. In 1977, Madigan was elected to serve in the state House of Representatives, representing the 110th District for eight years before being elected to the state Senate for the remaining years, representing 23rd Senatorial District. A former dairyman, Madigan continues to operate a 260-acre crop and certified tree farm near Towanda.

Hershey was a full-time dairy farmer in Chester County until 1982 when he was elected to serve the 13th Legislative District.

PFB President Carl Shaffer, who presented the awards, said that both Madigan and Hershey have been outstanding representatives of agriculture. During their terms, both worked on behalf of the farmers to protect their rights on such issues as ACRE, the Clean Air Act and Clean and Green.

In Farm Bureau’s 58-year history, Madigan and Hershey are only the ninth and 10th recipients of the Barn Raiser Award.

The Empets said they were thrilled to be designated winners of the YF&R Achievement Award, which honors a farm couple between the ages of 18 and 35 who demonstrate outstanding farming and leadership achievements. A panel of judges evaluated contestants’ farm operations on the basis of growth and financial progress and leadership displayed with Farm Bureau and other organizations. Empets operate a 450-acre crop farm with 110 milk cows and 100 replacement heifers. Numerous upgrades on the farm include installation of automatic take-off milking machines, a total mixed ration feed mixer, a new silo and three grain bins, a round-bale hay barn and additional farm equipment.

The Empets have three children and Dana works as a dairy technical support specialist with a feed company. The couple serve on PFB’s state committee for YF&R. At the local level, Rich is a member of the Susquehanna County Farm Bureau board of directors and also serves on the state legislative and policy development committees.

Dale and Tracy Heagy who operate a 318-acre dairy and crop farm in Lebanon County were finalists for the award.

The Empets will compete for national honors in San Antonio, Texas at the annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau. The Empets also received a $5,000 financial planning scholarship from Farm Credit, $500 cash from Dodge, a year’s use of a tractor from Case IH, and registration and lodging at PFB’s YF&R Leadership conference in 2009.

As the winner of the YF&R discussion meet, Matt Espenshade will receive an all-expense trip paid to compete in national competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas in January.

Espenshade and six other contestants were judged earlier in the day for their ability to work cooperatively to analyze agricultural problems and reach solutions through a consensus of the group.

“The discussion meet is a great opportunity for young members to experience what Farm Bureau is about and to uncover ideas that could solve problems facing agriculture,” Shaffer said.

Espenshade defeated six other discussion meet contestants: Jennifer Heltzel, Blair County; Katie and Julie Flinchbaugh, York County; Don Buckman, Bucks County; Tim Lehman, Luzerne County; and Joel Krall, Lebanon County.

Although Espenshade farms is in Lancaster County, he represented Wyoming/Lackawanna County Farm Bureau. Espenshade’s wife Charlene, won the same competition two years ago.

In addition to the expense-paid trip to national competition, Espenshade received a $500 cash award from Dodge, $250 worth of coupons from Choice Hotels and lodging and registration to the YF&R Leadership Conference in 2009.

About 600 members attended the banquet, which followed policy-making sessions during the day.