The benefits of buying local are many. In addition to financially supporting the region’s economy, buying local gives shoppers the opportunity to obtain fresh goods, including produce and dairy and meat products.
Thanks to PA Preferred, which was launched in 2004 as a brand identity for farmers and agribusinesses, it’s easy for consumers to identify and purchase agricultural goods that have been grown and processed in Pennsylvania. The PA Preferred Act was signed into law in 2011, officially making PA Preferred the commonwealth’s branding initiative for local food and farms. Products marked with the PA Preferred logo, or the ingredients used to make them, have been grown, harvested, or produced in Pennsylvania. When shoppers choose PA Preferred products, they have assurance that they are providing direct support to Pennsylvania farmers and agribusinesses, all while helping to strengthen the state’s economy.
PA Preferred also offers several other programs, including Homegrown by Heroes and Farm to School.
Homegrown by Heroes was founded by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in 2013 and was implemented in Pennsylvania in 2015 for PA Preferred members who are also veterans. The program features its own logo, which these members can add to their products. The Homegrown by Heroes designation differentiates veteran-owned farms and agribusinesses and allows consumers to intentionally support them. To learn more, visit www.papreferred.com/ homegrown-by-heroes.
Farm to School features hands-on learning connected to food, health, agriculture, and nutrition while building family and community engagement. It offers educational components, activities such as school gardens, and local foods for school cafeterias. To learn about applying for a Farm to School Grant, visit www.agriculture.pa.gov/ Funding/Farmbill/Pages/Farm-to-SchoolGrant.aspx.
To become a PA Preferred member, visit www.papreferred.com/become-a-member.
Don’t
Saturday September 14 9am-3pm!
The a-peel of a Pennsylvania orchard
BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
Like many parts of North America, Pennsylvania’s vast landscape possesses beauty and abundance that has shaped the state’s identity throughout the centuries. Even Americans who have yet to see it for themselves are likely familiar with the sprawling fields of green stalks and iconic silos associated with Pennsylvania farmland, but there is much more than corn growing in the state’s fertile soil.
Several varieties of produce in Pennsylvania have been
cultivated and enjoyed by its inhabitants for hundreds of years; Native American villages grew corn, beans and squash long before the arrival of European settlers. But certain fruits, such as apples, were introduced to America when colonists planted seeds they brought from across the Atlantic Ocean in the 16th century. Seedling orchards began to pop up in settlements throughout New England, and American pioneer John Chapman earned his legendary nickname, “Johnny Appleseed,” by planting apple trees across Pennsylvania and its surrounding states. Apples became an important part of early settlers’ diets, and the fruit’s growing popularity served as the foundation
for traditional delicacies such as apple cider and apple butter.
Although modern-day Americans don’t rely on apple products to feed their families in the same way Colonial settlers did, many orchards offer family-friendly activities and allow visitors to pick their own fruit. In Lancaster County, Cherry Hill Orchards on New Danville Pike is a community favorite; the orchard offers apple, peach and cherry picking in addition to pumpkin picking and hayrides through the orchard every autumn. After guests are finished filling their baskets, they may visit Cherry Hill Orchards’ farm market to peruse baked goods, jams, jellies, fresh produce and various seasonal items and traditional foods made from fruit grown on the property. The market remains open year-round, even when there is no fruit to pick from the orchard.
Cherry Hill Orchards’ past and present leadership includes (from left) market manager Ryan Shenk, garden center manager Phyllis Shenk, co-owner Craig McCleaf, founder Richard Haas, co-owner Corey McCleaf and consultant Tom Haas.
Cherry Hill Orchards has operated in Lancaster for more than 50 years. The business was founded by Richard Haas, who began working for local farmers after he moved to the area from Philadelphia. In 1970, Haas purchased the property on New Danville Pike, known as Shenk’s Farm at the time, and renamed it Cherry Hill Orchards. After growing his own apples and peaches to sell at local farmers markets for a decade, Haas opened a storefront on the farm in 1980. Forty-four years later, Cherry Hill Orchards is one of the largest operations of its kind in Lancaster County, and it grows dozens of varieties of apples, cherries, nectarines, peaches, ears of sweet corn, pumpkins, plums and apricots on 150 acres.
In 2017, Haas’ son, Tom, took over the operation of Cherry Hill Orchards, earning the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Grower of the Year award the same year. In 2020, the ownership of Cherry Hill Orchards was passed to Corey McCleaf and Craig McCleaf, two brothers and seasoned fruit growers from
Peaches are one of many fresh fruits grown on Cherry Hill Orchards’ 150-acre property.
Adams County.
“(The Haas family) was looking for someone to come in whose heart is in farming. They didn’t want the business to become something else, and they wanted it to continue to thrive,” Corey said. “It was a big change, but looking back, it was a good change.” Corey primarily handles the orchard side of the business and the market, while Craig manages the acquisition of supplies and wholesale vending. Corey added that the Haas family remains a phone call away if the brothers need any help or have questions about Cherry Hill Orchards’ operations.
The McCleaf brothers plan to continue the Haas legacy as the current stewards of Cherry Hill Orchards, which remains one of Lancaster’s most popular fruit-picking destinations. Although corn may always be the first crop associated with Pennsylvania, farms like Cherry Hill Orchards ensure the area has a long list of fresh fruits that are ripe for the picking.
Fresh-Picked APPLES
• Many varieties of delicious tree-ripened apples
• Delicious & healthy fall crop vegetables available
• Fresh-baked apple cider donuts, fresh-pressed apple cider, apple pies, dumplings and lots more!
pick-your-own fruit
and
• Garden Center bursting In fall with mums, pumpkins, straw bales & more - and seasonal favorites thru the year.
• Shelves filled with mouth-watering jarred goods, salsas, jams & jellies, butters, preserves and honey
• Baked good treats include scrumptious cookies, whoopie pies, fruit pies & more!
Bird-in-Hand | Intercourse
Paradise | Ephrata
Manheim | Schaefferstown Lykens Valley
Quarryville | Peach Bottom
Kirkwood | Oxford | Gap
Manheim | Ephrata
Terre Hill | New Holland
Honey Brook | Bernville
See old friends and new faces at the Solanco Fair
BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
In 1950, six groups of women from local farms convened at the Quarryville fire hall to discuss the idea of creating an annual fair in the Solanco community. Sadie Greenleaf, who was president of the then-County Farm Women, sent letters to local businesses and service organizations, Solanco School District administrators and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requesting their support, and the interested parties gathered the following summer to square away the details. Decades later, the Solanco Fair has become one of the community’s most beloved traditions, and the event will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year.
The 2024 Solanco Fair will be held from Wednesday, Sept. 18, to Friday, Sept. 20, at the Solanco Fairgrounds, 172 S. Lime St., Quarryville. The festivities will kick off at 9 a.m. on Sept. 18 with the judging of various exhibits and dairy cattle, followed by the market lamb show at 10 a.m. and the market goat show at 1 p.m. A performance of the national anthem and a moment of silence will occur at 5 p.m. on each day of the fair.
The annual parade through downtown Quarryville will take place on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. The theme of this year’s parade is “Bring the World to Quarryville,” and participants will incorporate cultures from around the globe to take spectators on an international adventure.
Fair activities will be in full swing on Thursday, Sept. 19, with swine judging at 10 a.m. and an antique tractor pull at 11 a.m. The Holstein feeder calf show will take place at 3 p.m. At 5 p.m., the Jess Zimmerman Band will perform a concert in the lower ball field, and an antique and classic tractor pull will begin. The day will conclude with a market steer show at 6 p.m. and the baby parade at 7 p.m. in the upper ball field.
The final day of the fair will kick off with a tractor driving contest at 10 a.m. in the upper ball field. The Solanco fair queen contest will occur at 4:30 p.m., followed by a milking contest between local celebrities. A pedal tractor pull competition will begin at 6 p.m.; a peanut and candy scramble for children under the age of 7 will take place after the contest ends. The festivities will wrap up after an iron man contest at 7:30 p.m. in the lower ball field.
On each day of the fair, vendors will be set up throughout the fairgrounds to sell community-favorite foods such as hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches, funnel
cakes, french fries and various desserts. The stands will be operated by local service groups and nonprofits, and a portion of each group’s sales will benefit its organization.
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the fair, the Solanco Fair Committee will give volunteers custommade T-shirts to recognize the many individuals who have helped run the event since it began. “We want to honor everyone who helped make the fair what it is today, whether they volunteered for one year or 50 years,” said Scott Peiffer, general manager of the fair.
“The fair is a wholesome event that brings people back to their roots,” Peiffer said. “I still see friends from high school 45 years ago, as well as people who I just saw last week. People come every day for the fellowship. Add good food to that, and you’ve got a perfect storm.”
For more details, visit https://solancofair.org.
SUPPORTING LOCAL FAIRS FOR 29 YEARS
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Agriculture by the Agriculture by the
Every five years, the United States Department of Agriculture conducts its Census of Agriculture, collecting information about the country’s farming activities. The most recent census, which examined the state of farming during 2022, revealed the following facts.
• Pennsylvania led the U.S. in the percentage of its producers who were under the age of 35 - 12.7% - and Lancaster County was one of only two counties in the nation with more than 1,000 young producers. (Lancaster County had 2,057.)
• Pennsylvania boasted 49,053 farms, and Lancaster County had 4,680 farms - 9.5% of the farms in the state.
• Four percent of Lancaster County’s farms operated organically.
• Eleven percent of the county’s farms sold directly to consumers.
• Ninety-eight percent of the county’s farms were family farms.
• The total market value of products sold by Lancaster County farms in 2022 was $1.85 billion, accounting for 18% of agriculture sales in Pennsylvania.
• Lancaster County’s top crops in acres were corn for grain, 95,549; forage, 65,142; soybeans for beans, 51,695; corn for silage/greenchop, 35,988; and wheat for grain, 24,101.
• The county’s harvest included 847,584 tons of corn for silage/greenchop; more than 17 million bushels of corn for grain; more than 2 million bushels of wheat for grain; 442,901 bushels of barley for grain; and 42,221 bushels of oats for grain.
• Lancaster County’s livestock totaled 13.7 million layers; close to 10.4 million broilers and other meattype chickens; close to 7 million pullets (young hens); 322,153 hogs and pigs; 235,758 turkeys; and 182,218 cattle and calves.
numbers numbers
• Approximately 82% of all agricultural products in Lancaster County were livestock, poultry, and their products; about 18% were crop related.
• Lancaster County ranked No. 1 in Pennsylvania in many agriculture categories, including total market value of agricultural products sold and total livestock, poultry, and products sold. The county had the highest sales in the state in grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas; tobacco; and other crops and hay. Within the livestock category, it led the state in sales of poultry and eggs; cattle and calves; milk from cows; hogs and pigs; and sheep, goats, wool, mohair, and milk. The county was seventh in the U.S. for poultry and eggs.
• Lancaster County also earned high ranks among the 3,144 counties in the United States: seventh in poultry and eggs and 10th in overall livestock, poultry, and products.
• There were approximately 56 commercial chickens (layers, pullets, and meat-type) per person in Lancaster County in 2022, based on estimated population information from the Census Bureau.
Separating your farm business from your family finances can be difficult. ENB can help. Our Agricultural Relationship Managers walk with you every step of the way – from improving the profitability of your farm operations, to guiding you through difficult business decisions, to formulating retirement and farm transition strategies. Our Ag bankers have a unique blend of agricultural knowledge, business acumen, and banking expertise that makes us a great partner in meeting your unique needs and goals.
Separating your farm business from your family finances can be difficult. ENB can help. Our Agricultural Relationship Managers walk with you every step of the way – from improving the profitability of your farm operations, to guiding you through difficult business decisions, to formulating retirement and farm transition strategies. Our Ag bankers have a unique blend of agricultural knowledge, business acumen, and banking expertise that makes us a great partner in meeting your unique needs and goals.
Separating your farm business from your family finances can be difficult. ENB can help. Our Agricultural Relationship Managers walk with you every step of the way – from improving the profitability of your farm operations, to guiding you through difficult business decisions, to formulating retirement and farm transition strategies. Our Ag bankers have a unique blend of agricultural knowledge, business acumen, and banking expertise that makes us a great partner in meeting your unique needs and goals.
Separating your farm business from your family finances can be difficult. ENB can help. Our Agricultural Relationship Managers walk with you every step of the way – from improving the profitability of your farm operations, to guiding you through difficult business decisions, to formulating retirement and farm transition strategies. Our Ag bankers have a unique blend of agricultural knowledge, business acumen, and banking expertise that makes us a great partner in meeting your unique needs and goals.
Protecting the heart of Pennsylvania agriculture
BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) recently invested $441,862 in an initiative to preserve the Jeffrey M. Brown farm, a 107-acre property in Fulton Township. By purchasing the development rights to the property, the PDA is able to prevent residential or commercial developers from encroaching on the rich farmland of Lancaster County. Although the Southern End is widely known for its rich soil and richer history, what makes its scenic farmland a truly vital part of the local community and the state as a whole?
“Southern Lancaster County is the heart of Pennsylvania’s farming and agriculture industries,” said state Rep. Bryan Cutler in response to the PDA’s investment. “The funding being invested in the Jeffrey M. Brown farm helps maintain this family farm and protect it from development so that it can continue to produce crops and livestock to feed families in our region and beyond.”
Lancaster County is an important player in Pennsylvania’s economy, and the state’s largest industry is production agriculture. According to data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture, a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service every five years, the market value of Pennsylvania farm product sales in 2022 was more than $10 billion. In 2023, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau estimated the market value of Lancaster County’s agricultural products at $1.5 billion, a number that is far higher than any of the other 66 counties in the state. The secondlargest contributor to the state’s agriculture industry is Chester County, and it generates less than half of Lancaster County’s agricultural profits annually.
The sheer value of Lancaster County’s agriculture industry is not the only factor that distinguishes it from the rest of the state. The area is the most productive non-irrigated farming county in the United States, and approximately 98% of Lancaster County farms are family-owned. Many local farms have been passed down through generations, and some families are able to trace the history of their homesteads back to European settlers who arrived in the 18th century. The combination of incredibly fertile soil and centuries of family traditions has not only solidified Lancaster’s role in a larger economy but has significantly shaped the county’s identity.
The PDA’s investment in Fulton Township is part of a larger initiative to preserve farmland across the state. In addition to the purchase of the development rights for the Jeffrey M. Brown farm, the PDA bought the development rights for more than 2,500 acres of farmland in 19 Pennsylvania counties also with the goal of preventing the land from being developed. The preservation effort involved nearly $10 million of investment, which the State Agricultural Land Preservation board approved to protect the economic significance of Pennsylvania farms as well as the families that have stewarded them for hundreds of years.
The USDA’s effort to protect local farmland arrives at a time when Lancaster County’s number of farms continues to decline. Data from the last Census of Agriculture reveals that the county lost 428 farms totaling 15,375 acres of land between 2017 and 2022, which experts attribute to the rising cost of farmland and an increase in local development.
For several decades, Pennsylvania has protected more farmland than any other state in the country, helping with the preservation of more than 6,000 farms and 600,000 acres since 1988. Despite fluctuations in the number of farms in Lancaster County, the economic and cultural significance of the Southern End is as steadfast as the farmers who call the area home.
Although not every farm in the Southern End is preserved, numerous familyowned farms dot the rustic landscape.
West Lampeter Community Fair will celebrate 100
years of good, old-fashioned fun
BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
The 100th annual West Lampeter Community Fair will take place from Sunday, Sept. 22, to Friday, Sept. 27, at the fairgrounds, 851 Village Road, Lampeter. While the fair is typically held for three days, this year it will take place for six days in celebration of its centennial.
The fair will officially open on Sept. 22 with an opening ceremony at 4 p.m., and the fun will kick off with activities such as balloon twisting and a petting zoo of baby goats from Stoltzfus Homesteads. Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Lisa Graybeal will present an official recognition of the fair’s 100th anniversary at 4 p.m. A kids’ candy drop will take place at 4:30 p.m., and the festivities will continue with a concert from Summit Hill Bluegrass from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The concert will be followed by a community hymn sing from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
This year, a display of fair memorabilia from the last 100 years will be set up for visitors to view as they reflect on the history of the beloved annual tradition.
“The fair started with a few kids from FFA and 4-H who showed their projects; now we have whole livestock shows,” said fair board president Don Welk, who has helped organize the event for more than 30 years. “It’s a great way for the community to enjoy wholesome activities and educational family fun.”
At 6:15 p.m. on Sept. 22, the candidates in this year’s fair queen contest will participate in a parade to the fairgrounds, and the contest will officially begin at 7 p.m. The young women will vie for the crown by answering a series of questions from a panel of judges, allowing each candidate to express what the fair means on a personal level and to explain how she would use the platform as the new queen. A firework show will occur at 8:30 p.m., and the first day of the fair will conclude with a square dance and a horse hitch exhibit.
The second day of the fair, Monday, Sept. 23, will get started at noon with tractor pulls. The baby parade will take place at 6 p.m., and a pedal tractor pull competition will be held at 7 p.m. to end the evening.
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, exhibits will be received by committees from 1 to 9 p.m. The first Lampeter’s Got Talent event will occur from 4 to 9 p.m., during which community members will show off their singing, dancing and other talents to provide family-friendly entertainment.
Activities on Wednesday, Sept. 25, will begin at 9 a.m. with exhibit judging and a market swine show. Exhibit areas and tents will open to the public at 1 p.m., followed by a market lamb show at 3 p.m. Glass-blowing demonstrations and balloon twisting will occur from 4 to 8 p.m. A game of tug of war will commence at 5:30 p.m., and the remainder of the evening will include a tractor parade at 6:30 p.m., a baked goods
auction at 7 p.m. and tractor games from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, will kick off with the reopening of the exhibit areas, the tents and a petting zoo at 9 a.m. Glass-blowing demonstrations and balloon twisting will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. A market beef cattle show and the children’s sunflower contest will start at 5 p.m., followed by a performance from the Lampeter-Strasburg High School marching band at 6 p.m.
The exhibit areas, tents and petting zoo will reopen at 9 a.m. on Sept. 27 to start off the final day of the fair. The All Western Horse Show will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as additional glass-blowing demonstrations and balloon twisting from 4 to 8 p.m.
Exhibitors may collect cash rewards and prizes at the fair office from 5 to 10 p.m., and the horse show will return at 6 p.m. The fair will wrap up with youth encouragement awards at 6 p.m., followed by a youth market sale and a calf roping contest at 6:30 p.m. The exhibits will be removed at 9:30 p.m.
During each day of the fair, local organizations will sell a variety of community-favorite fair foods at stands located throughout the fairgrounds. Vendors will offer hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, funnel cakes, barbecue sandwiches, ice cream, milkshakes and other items. A portion of each stand’s profits will benefit its organization.
For more details, visit https://westlampeterfair.com.
3challenges facing the agricultural sector
The agricultural sector is crucial to the survival and health of billions of people around the globe. Although it's obvious that modern agriculture is vital to feeding a global population that was greater than 8 billion people at the dawn of 2024, the United Nations notes that agriculture also boosts prosperity and economies by providing jobs. That reality only underscores the notion that the challenges facing the agricultural sector are facing everyone, even those whose livelihoods are not directly linked to the industry. According to Earth.org, an organization that offers environmental news, data analysis, research, and policy solutions, the following are three sizable challenges facing modern agriculture.
1
Climate change: Perhaps no challenge is greater for humanity in the 21st century than climate change, and the agricultural sector is no exception. Climate change has caused shifting weather patterns marked by unpredictability and potentially disastrous developments like prolonged drought. Estimates from NASA indicate corn yields may decrease by 24% by the end of this century, a potentially dangerous development linked to a host of factors, including a shifting climate and elevated surface carbon dioxide concentrations that can be traced to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
2
Population growth: The booming global population is attributable to numerous factors, including longer life expectancies in developed nations due to medical advancements. How to keep the global population fed at a time when the climate is adversely affecting crop yields is a significant challenge facing both humanity and the agricultural sector. As the population grows, so, too, does the demand for water, which also must be used to grow crops. Navigating this challenge may be significant, and how it's managed could affect the economic stability of the agricultural industry in the decades to come.
3
Insufficient investment: Perhaps no industry is more vital to human survival than agriculture. Earth.org notes that countries with strong agricultural sectors often boast higher standards of living and health than nations with a less-productive agricultural industry. Despite that, Earth.org notes that investment in the agricultural sector is not commensurate with the growing population. Supporting measures to invest more heavily in the agricultural sector could reduce food shortages in the decades to come and ensure the agricultural sector is better positioned to address the many challenges it is already confronting.
The challenges facing the agricultural sector affect those who work in the industry, but also the global population as a whole. Recognition of that reality may compel more people to support measures that are designed to ensure the agricultural sector can thrive and help the world to overcome challenges in the decades ahead.
OPPORTUNITIESAg career
Individuals approach their careers in various ways. Some may aspire to climb the corporate ladder, while others may pursue a career that affords them ample personal time to spend how they see fit. Many individuals look for careers that afford them opportunities to work in the great outdoors, which could make the agricultural sector an appealing industry.
Talented individuals with an array of skills dot the agricultural sector landscape, and the following are just a few of the many careers to consider within this vital industry.
EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN:
Data from the career experts at Indeed indicates that agricultural equipment technicians earn an average salary of around $65,000 per year. Agricultural equipment technicians maintain and repair existing machines and install new ones, among their many responsibilities.
PURCHASING AGENT: An agricultural purchasing agent buys products and raw materials at wholesale. Indeed notes that purchasing agents often must meet specific purchasing quotas for processors and work with various clients who supply an array of agricultural products. The national average salary for agricultural purchasing agents is around $51,000 annually.
WAREHOUSE MANAGER: The receiving, shipping, and storage of agricultural materials is overseen by a warehouse manager. Indeed notes that these professionals now routinely utilize artificial intelligence products to manage inventory. Warehouse managers must know and adhere to safety procedures and guidelines that dictate how materials and products are stored. The average salary of a warehouse manager is around $52,000 per year.
SALES: Like every industry, the agricultural sector requires talented sales personnel. Agricultural sales representatives sell materials and products and identify the needs of potential customers. Agricultural sales reps may spend a lot of time on the road at trade shows so they can promote their products and services and identify customers and their needs and wants. An ability to foster strong and trusting interpersonal relationships is invaluable for agricultural sales reps, who Indeed reports earn an average of about $60,000 per year.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER: Environmental engineers play pivotal roles within the industry and could become even more vital in the decades ahead as the effects of climate change become more apparent. Environmental engineers design and implement solutions that occur on agricultural sites, helping to address issues such as unhealthy soil, insufficient drainage and inefficiencies.A career as an environmental engineer within the agricultural industry can be rewarding and lucrative, with Indeed noting that the average annual salary for this position is a little more than $77,000.
These are just some of the career paths individuals can consider as they explore the agricultural sector.
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