Pictured (l-r) are Volunteer Auctioneers who gave their day to sell the 4-H animals: Gerald Pennay, Sr., Leon Button, Ron Sands, Wayne Weaver, Dick Sands, Jerry Pennay, Jr., Mike Lopatofsky, Jacob Hottle, and Ken Rivenburg.

The 43rd Annual Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Sale was recently held in conjunction with the Harford Fair in Harford, PA on Saturday, August 24th.

A total of 171 lots were sold, which consisted of 26 market steers, 98 market hogs, four gallons of milk representing the champion dairy cows, 15 market lambs, 19 market goats, and seven dairy beef feeder steers. Seventy-three buyers supported youth by purchasing animals at the sale. The sale grossed over $228,000; which is a sale to mark down in the record books!

Not only was this a record breaking sale, it was a sale to remember as Williams, the gas and oil company, graciously presented $5,000 to the Susquehanna County 4-H program and the Harford Fair. These proceeds will be used as a joint effort of improving the hog barn and current show arena. The check was presented by Mr. Ryan Stalker, who spoke to the crowd about how happy Williams is to be supporting the 4-H Program and the Harford Fair.

Prior to selling animals, the Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Committee very proudly awarded three scholarships to senior members Brianna Smarkusky, Nicholson, Cassie Clark, Springville, and Devon Greenwood, Springville. All three of these ladies are long term members of the Susquehanna County 4-H program, and will be pursuing higher education in the fall. Furthermore, the family of Paul Baldwin presented two monetary awards to Douglas Brooks of Hop Bottom and Cassie Clark of Springville. These awards are given in memory of Paul Baldwin, and are presented to youth who exemplified helping and service throughout their 4-H career. Another special award given was a scholarship in memory of Glynn Corey. This was awarded to Cassie Clark, and was presented by the Corey Family, who selects the recipient.

The sale began with the Grand Champion Market Steer, which was also the Grand Champion Homebred Market Steer. This was exhibited by Sharon Snyder of Greenfield Twp. The 1,383 pound steer was purchased by B&S Quarries for $4.10 per pound. The Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer was exhibited by Jared Updyke, Montrose, and was bought by Montrose Large Animal Service, Dr. Mike Kowalewski, for $3.85 per pound. The Reserve Grand Champion Homebred Market Steer was shown by Jacob Gustin, Meshoppen, and was bought by Peoples Neighborhood Bank for $3.00 per pound. One steer was donated back by Stankiewicz Farm to the Scholarship Fund.

Next to sell were the market hogs. The Grand Champion was exhibited by Gina Walsh, Dalton. The 275 pound hog was purchased by Fehlinger Construction for $6.25 per pound. The Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog was shown by Samantha Hunsinger, Montrose, and was bought by Wyalusing Livestock Market for $8.00 per pound. Samantha Hunsinger also exhibited the Grand Champion Homebred. Her 225 pound market hog sold for $3.25 to B&S Quarries. The Reserve Grand Champion Homebred was exhibited by John Tyler, Meshoppen. Cabot Oil & Gas purchased his hog for $4.00 a pound. Hogs purchased by Meshoppen Stone and Honesdale National Bank were donated back and the resale benefitted the Building Fund. Hogs were also donated back by Meshoppen Stone, Cochecton Mills, and Down to Earth Equipment Rentals to benefit the Scholarship Fund, as well as a local businessman who was injured in an accident.

Following the market hogs, the sale moved on to the gallons of milk sold on behalf of the Champion and Reserve Champion Holstein and Colored Breed cows at the Susquehanna County 4-H Dairy Roundup. First to sell was Emory Bewley of Susquehanna with a gallon of milk from Kingsmill Asteroid Toto-ET. The gallon sold for $1,350 to Cochecton Mills and Dana Empet, Dairy Nutrition Consultant. The Reserve Grand Champion gallon from a Holstein was sold by Kyle Vanderfeltz. Milk from his cow Elm-Spring Toystory Saxton sold for $1,250 to Montrose Large Animal Service. The Grand Champion Color Breed was a Jersey named SSF Governor Triumph exhibited by Patrick Curley. His gallon sold for $1,100 to Rome Vet Clinic. The Reserve Grand Champion gallon of milk was sold by Kyle Vanderfeltz to the Wyalusing Livestock Market for $1,150. His Jersey cow is Van-Fel Legal Jumpy 851.

The Grand Champion Market Lamb and the Grand Champion Homebred Lamb was exhibited by Michael Hardisky of Telford. The 125 pound lamb was purchased by Down to Earth Equipment Rentals for $11.00 per pound. Brianna Demarest of Montrose had the Reserve Grand Champion exhibit. Her lamb sold for $10.00 a pound and was purchased by the Wyalusing Livestock Market. The Reserve Grand Champion Homebred Market Lamb was shown by Taylor Sebring of Clarks Summit and was bought by Empet Flagstone for $5.00 a pound. Rock Ridge Stone, Down to Earth Equipment Rentals, Harmer Farms, and Waymart Milling all donated back lambs to be resold.

Following the lambs, nineteen market goats sold. The Grand Champion was shown by Amanda Gawel of Clarks Summit. Her 88 pound champion sold for $10.00 a pound and was bought by the Shevchuk Bros. Farm. The Reserve Grand Champion was shown by Haley Hemmerly from Wyalusing. Her goat sold for $7.00 per pound and was bought by the Wyalusing Livestock Market. New this year was the homebred market goat division. The Grand Champion Homebred goat was exhibited by Charlie Stretch of Laceyville. His 74 pound goat sold for $9.00 a pound and was purchased by Meglich Farms. The Reserve Grand Champion Homebred was raised by James Hendrickson of Friendsville, and was bought by The Boys Meat Plant for $7.00 a pound. Shevchuk Bros Farm, Meglich Farm, Meshoppen Stone, and Fehlinger Construction also graciously donated animals back for resale.

Last to sell for 2013 were the dairy beef feeder steers. The 795 pound Grand Champion was exhibited by Jamie Supancik of New Milford, and was bought for $2.00 a pound by Blacks Store in Hop Bottom. The Reserve Grand Champion was shown by Katelyn Zembrzycki of Union Dale, and was bought by Waymart Milling for $2.50 a pound.

As mentioned, several animals were donated for resale for special funds including the 4-H Livestock Scholarship Fund and the Building Fund. These donations totaled over $6,420. The 2013 Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Sale High Volume Buyer was B&S Quarries, Montrose.

Thank you all 4-H livestock sale buyers for their support of the livestock sale. A very special thank you to Bingham’s Restaurant for donating the meal served to the buyers during the sale’s Appreciation Luncheon.

Special thanks and appreciation also goes to the auctioneers that donated their time at the sale: Leon Button, Jacob Hottle, Michael Lopatofsky, Gerald Pennay, Sr., Jerry Pennay, Jr., Ken Rivenburg, Ron Sands, Dick Sands, and Wayne Weaver.

For more information about the Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Program contact Penn State Extension in Susquehanna County at 570-278-1158.

Marianne Juszczak

Marianne Juszczak of South Gibson turned 90 years young on Sunday, September 8, 2013. If you would like to celebrate this milestone, cards may be sent to her at 7332 State Route 92, South Gibson, PA., 18842.

Marianne is the pround great-grandmother of Ordie IV, Jacob, Amber, Mimi, Emma, Paul and A.J. Congratulations Baci!

 Penn State Extension in Susquehanna County will be offering the Penn State Master Gardener Training this fall in Montrose at their 88 Chenango Street office. The Adobe Connect training will be held each Thursday evening from 6:00-8:30 pm beginning October 3 and continuing through late February.

 To become a Master Gardener, you need a keen interest in gardening, a willingness to learn more, and a strong desire to share your knowledge with others. To become certified as a Penn State Master Gardener, you must complete a minimum of 36 hours of training, score at least 80 percent on the final exam, and fulfill 50 hours of volunteer service in your first year of service.

 A few of the topics you will learn are: Botany, Plant Propagation and Pathology, Soils, Entomology, Native Plants, IPM, Turfgrass, Vegetables, Plant ID and Diagnostics, Small Fruits, Herbaceous & Woody Plants, Pruning, Landscape Design, Weeds, and Indoor Plants. 

There is a cost for training.  Upon completion of the training and the 50 volunteer hour requirement, the apprentice will be refunded some of their initial tuition fee! 

 Currently, there are 20 Master Gardeners in Susquehanna County delivering educational programs to the community through gardening classes, a hotline service and demonstration gardens. So, come and take part in the training and join this fun, educational group of gardeners!

 The Penn State Master Gardener program is a statewide program that is administered at the county level. Recruitment, training, and volunteer service occur at the county level of Penn State Extension. If you are interested applications are available by contacting the Penn State Extension office at 278-1158 or by emailing klg11@psu.edu. Applications are due by the September 23rd.

Pictured are Julia Moak and Ken Bondurant in Wiseman, Alaska, 63 miles north of the Arctic Circle on August 13, 2013.

Natural gas and the arts is not a combination we usually think of together.  However, for the second year in a row The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains is working with The Giana Foundation of Dallas, Texas and London, England to help foster and support a passion for the arts among students in all eight school districts in Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties.  In 2012 The Giana Foundation provided $20,000 in college scholarships to five local students who planned to study the visual or performing arts.  This year the assistance has been altered to provide much-needed funding directly to the school districts to help with the costs associated with the various Theater, Art, and Music Departments.  Each school district is slated to receive up to $2,500 for such expenses as art supplies, audio-visual equipment, instrument repairs, music curricula, Artist-In-Residence programs, theater repairs, and travel expenses for choral and orchestral performances.  In a broader sense thousands of students, faculty, and community members will benefit from this funding.

Members of The Giana Foundation have business holdings in the burgeoning natural gas industry in our region and with personal interests in the arts this assistance is their way of supporting our local students in an important and meaningful way.  Peter Quigg, President of The Community Foundation points out that often funding for the arts in our public schools is the first to be compromised due to tight budgets, and this funding may help give students a broader exposure to fields of study that they might otherwise miss.  Bronson Stone, Superintendent of the Susquehanna Community School District, which will use this funding to upgrade its Theater Department’s audio-visual equipment, adds that not only will students themselves benefit, but the broader community at large, especially parents, will enjoy better school performances due to the district’s improved equipment.  This assistance will be helpful for many years to come.