Winter 2023 Positively PA

Winter 2023 Back to Their Roots Welch family goes back in time to create quality moonshine Ruffling Feathers Steele family gives back to veterans through outdoor adventures Published exclusively for Pennsylvania Farm Bureau members

President’s Page At this time of year, everyone is looking for reasons they have to be thankful, Introducing you to the food and culture and when I take the time to consider how challenging the past few years have that make Pennsylvania a great state. been, I’m grateful to be where I am today. Winter 2023 Vol. 16 No. 1 As a farmer, when I wrap up harvest and enter the holiday season, I’m reminded about what used to feel normal, and what it is like to be getting back Editorial Staff to that normal hustle of every day. As we continue to gather with our families for holiday meals, I hope that you would enjoy that time and fellowship with Publisher Justin Clapper loved ones, but that you would also take some time to think about the hard work Editor Will Whisler and dedication that farmers put in to make these celebrations possible. Graphic Designer Holly Cameron When faced with hardship, whether its due to rising input costs or feeling the pinch from inflation, farmers have once again found a way to persevere through Contact another grueling year. Despite all these challenges, our basic mission has not wavered. We continue to get up every day with the mission of producing food. [email protected] PO Box 8736, Camp Hill, PA 17001-8736 As farmers, we should be thankful to be able to farm and thankful for the others in the farming community that help us put food on our neighbor’s tables. 717. 7 61. 2 740 Farming is one of the greatest and truly rewarding professions – one that is at times thankless, but serves a greater purpose of providing for our neighbors. Advertising Coordinator This season, I’d encourage each of you to thank a farmer for the dedication Kim Flegal | [email protected] | 717.731.3580 that they have put into their operation to ensure that the members of their communities do not go hungry. We should take some time to remember where Connect our food comes from and thank those that provide the food, fuel and fiber for our families. positivelypa.com | pfb.com As we look ahead, its critical that we continue to share our stories with others Positively Pennsylvania (ISSN: USPS 2475- and tell people what Farm Bureau has done. Over the past few years, we have 4595) is published by Pennsylvania Farm continued to demonstrate our value in action as Farm Bureau is united around Bureau (510 S. 31st Street, Camp Hill, PA food and farming and seeking to make our communities better places to live. 17011) four times per year in March, June, September, and December. Paid for by $3 In the year ahead, I challenge each of you to remember why you got into from membership dues as a subscription farming and continue to live your passion. price. Periodicals Postage Paid at Camp Hill, PA and at additional mailing offices. Business I hope that everyone takes a little bit of time this holiday season to count their and Editorial Offices: 510 S. 31st Street, blessings and enjoy their time with their families. Camp Hill, PA 17011-5214, Accounting and Circulation Offices: 510 S. 31st Street, Camp Rick Ebert, PFB President Hill, PA 17011-5214. POSTMASTER: Send ad- dress changes to Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, 510 S. 31st Street, Camp Hill, PA 17011. Farm Bureau is not a government agency, but a voluntary organization rooted in agri- culture which works to improve the quality of life of its members. One way Farm Bureau accomplishes this goal is by delivering sav- ings to members on a broad array of useful products and services. Farm Bureau uses the group purchasing strength of its member- ship to leverage these valuable benefits. Your membership support is the driving force that enables Farm Bureau to secure a better price for you on things like vehicles, hotel lodging, amusement park tickets, utilities, and much more. Your membership is the power that makes your Farm Bureau savings possible! 2 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023

Contents 6 15 11 County Connect Ruffling Feathers Happening Here 4 Exploring Elk County 15 Steele family gives back to veterans 30 Holiday celebrations, festivals, Returning to Their Roots through outdoor adventures and more! 6 Welch family puts taste above all in Farm Fresh Lending a Hand moonshine business 21 Recipes featuring apple butter 33 AgrAbility PA helps farmers stay in Farming Through the Years and more! the field 11 Heyler reflects on decades of teaching Sign Me Up and farming 27 Meck family provides farm to front door subscription food service positivelypa.com 3

County Connect Photo Credit: Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. | Ridgway, PA 1895 As its name suggests, Elk County is famous for the wild elk Clarion River herd that roams the area surrounding the small town of Benezette. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the county each www.rivers.gov/rivers/clarion.php year to view the majestic animals and to hunt. The Clarion River, also known as the Clarion River Water trail, is surrounded by mountainous slopes, large amounts of While the elk herd is a must-see attraction for visitors of Elk wildlife and rock outcrops that are perfect for outdoor activities County, it’s far from all the area has to offer. such as kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. The East and West branches of the river offer narrower and faster waters for more Located in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds region, the experienced paddlers, and that section also has lots of opportunities county offers countless opportunities to have fun outdoors and for trophy brown trout fishing. On the other hand, below Spring take in astounding natural beauty. The county includes parts of Creek offers gentler waters for families to enjoy more peaceful Allegheny National Forest—the Keystone State’s only national water recreation. forest—as well as parts of Moshannon and Elk State Forests and the Clarion River. For those looking to mix in some cuisine and culture with the time outdoors, the city of St. Marys and small towns of Ridgway and Johnsonburg offer plenty of options. Benezette www.visitpa.com/region/pennsylvania-wilds/benezette Known as the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds, the village of Benezette hosts lots of year-round outdoor activities including hiking, biking, and camping. The town is most known for being home to the largest free-roaming elk herd east of the Mississippi River. The Elk Country Visitor Center hosts interactive displays, guided trail tours, and a 4-D theater that allows visitors to get a closer look at the wildlife in the area. The Elk Scenic Drive, a 127-mile circuit, goes through backroads that give visitors a beautiful look at PA’s wildlife and rugged countryside. County Fact: In the 19th century, Pennsylvania Elk became extinct due to colonization and exploitation by European Settlers. However, in 1913, the Game Commis- sion shipped 50 Elk from Yellowstone to Pennsylvania to reintroduce them into the state. Over time, their numbers increased to the point where the current herd is the largest free-roaming herd east of the Mississippi River. 4 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2022

Ridgway’s “Lily of the Valley” National Historic District https://bit.ly/3zCIjhs Founded in 1824, Ridgway became one of the wealthiest communities in the commonwealth during 1890 through 1920. The current homes in the National Register District still reflects the wealth of that time. The district, which was officially listed in January of 2003, includes the downtown business district and a large residential section on the south side, locally known as “Millionaire’s Row”. Seven hundred thirty contributing historic properties make it the largest historic district in Pennsylvania. Visitors are en- couraged to tour the community, and there is a walking tour of the historic homes, but a interpretive history sign project documents the twelve significant buildings and their tribute to the districts rich 19th and 20th century history. Allegheny National Forest www.fs.usda.gov/main/allegheny/about-forest/about-area The Allegheny National Forest offers a wide range of outdoor activities year-round. With over 12,000 acres, the Allegheny Reservoir holds a plethora of boating, camping, and fishing opportunities for visitors and outdoor enthusiasts, alike. visitpago.com/counties/elk-county. positivelypa.com 5

Keith Welch and his sons, Jake and Josh own and run Tall Pines Distillery, located in Salisbury.

Welch family celebrates region’s past by bringing quality moonshine to Southwestern Pennsylvania Story and photos by William Whisler For more than three decades, Keith Welch made a living as an independent contractor but found a hobby in experimenting with homemade moonshine for personal consumption. With the idea of possibly doing something different after running his own business for 37 years, Welch decided that maybe he and his family could have a future in distilling moonshine in his retirement from contracting. In 2014, Welch began educating himself on the changing liquor laws in Pennsylvania and he converted his work garage into a distillery. “I had been in contracting for years and I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to take it all the time and I started messing positivelypa.com 7

Tall Pines Distillery offers a unique rustic feel to connect consumers to the region’s past. around with the idea of doing a dis- The distillery offers guests access to has supported us, and I think the biggest tillery,” Welch recalled. “I had started its bar and tasting room throughout the thing is having some place to go close making some flavors that were just really week and hosts events throughout the to home. It’s appealing, it’s comfortable good and I thought that maybe we year, including concerts in the spring and and we are kid and pet friendly. There’s could make this work. We researched all summer months on Saturdays. Tall Pines something for everyone.” the laws and did our application process Distillery’s event schedule runs from April through the federal government. We did it 1 to Oct. 31 and features live music and The distillery has a classic old-fashioned all on our own.” food trucks from the area with a variety of feel, which pays homage to Southwestern offerings. The Welch family is looking into Pennsylvania’s roots in rye whiskey and Tall Pines Distillery, located in Salisbury, adding some more unique events, that moonshine prior to prohibition. With a opened its doors in 2016 and the Welch include bringing in comedians and holding focus on the region’s history and a business family never looked back. Keith, along karaoke nights, among other things. model that focuses on taste and quality with his wife Lisa and sons Josh and Jake, above anything else, the Welch family went all in to create what has evolved “We’ve become a destination distillery, has created a strong line of deliciously into a popular distillery. Complete with so a lot of people come see us,” Welch smooth moonshine products that they a tasting room and a beautiful outdoor said. “We’ve had so many people from offer on site, as well as ship to customers’ space that includes a bar and seating area, all over the country and even all over the front doors all over the state. multiple spaces for campfires, cornhole word. We’ve had people from Italy and games and intimate family-style seating Puerto Rico come and try our different Tall Pines distillery is the first legal areas gives visitors a unique rustic experience products, so we get a nice turnout from moonshine operation in the area since to consume their moonshine. that as well as locals. The local community prohibition. 8 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023 While Welch does not currently grow

his own grains, he does get almost all Things didn’t boom overnight for Welch, his ingredients from local farmers and who started with a 60-gallon homemade vendors, including grain, fruits and other pot still and managed with the space he had. products used in mash recipes. Leftover Welch has since continued to renovate mash is often sold to local farms to feed his garage to include its tasting room, livestock. an indoor space and is working to create more space for storage and to ramp up “We do purchase all of our grains and we production. buy local ingredients as much as possible,” Welch said. “All our corn comes from Soon Welch will be increasing his a small feed mill in Rockwood and the 1,000-liter production to 4,000 liters as multigrain that we have, rye and barley, the brand has continued to grow. with the growth in the industry we use a company in Butler, and they get all of “We’ve been really fortunate, and we their grains locally that are produced have made it a lot farther than a lot of there. I’m not one to always look for distilleries do in the six years we have been just the best price, I do want to support open,” Welch said. “I’ve always been kind local. Sometimes we pay a little bit more, of an entrepreneur spirit, so whatever I but I’d rather do that to give back to the can do to improve that and to grow it. area. The farmers in this area have had That’s just who I am. Sometimes we’ve some tough times. I don’t think they get taken risks that were a little bit scary at enough credit for what they accomplish.” times, but we’ve done well so far.” One thing that helped exponentially in increasing interest in Tall Pines Dis- tillery was Welch’s inclusion in a History Channel show, Road Hauks. The show, which focuses on building specialty vehicles, Keith Welch’s 2010 Camaro, took a Camaro, and combined it with a known as The Bootlegger, copper still to create the vehicle. appeared on History Channel’s Road Hauks series. “That really helped us a lot to get the word out,” Welch said. “We use that vehicle in parades, and we also have a 1956 Ford that is all built up with four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. Those were expenses that we put out but with social media being what it is, we’ve had people that see the cars and the logo on the side and have found out about us and come to visit. If you got a parade and there’s 2,500-3,000 people, there and they post it on Facebook you can reach 250,000-300,000 people. It’s been worthwhile for us.” The distillery expanded through the COVID-19 pandemic and added outdoor seating that it planned to add anyway, along with an outdoor bar and patio so positivelypa.com 9

County? Somerset that it could continue to operate as an are looking forward to that,” Welch said. County essential business. Among Tall Pines Distillery’s top Learn More “COVID really made that a necessity,” products are a Huckleberry moonshine www.tallpinesdistillery.com Welch said. “We opened that up and it was and a Bananas Foster moonshine. The fantastic. It has been a tremendous amount distillery is also well known for its rye 10 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023 of our income and it has allowed us to butterscotch and maple whiskeys. Tall make friendships with so many people. Pines currently offers a Five Alarm COVID in a lot of ways was good for us moonshine made with Carolina Reaper because as the old timers say, when times peppers, to create a strong heat taste, are good, people drink, and when the and a portion of the sales go back to the times are bad, people drink more.” local fire department in Salisbury. The distillery is currently involved Welch plans to continue to be innova- in numerous opportunities to grow, as tive, possibly expand into making gin and a second location in Pineville, Missouri, be ready to jump at new opportunities as offers all the same products. Welch is they arise. currently working to get his products into the nation’s capital, with a bar coming “This is one of the fastest growing to the area that will be modeled after his industries,” Welch said. “There are a ton distillery in the Washington D.C. Marriott of people in the craft beverage industry Renaissance hotel. The bar at the hotel from breweries to wineries and distilleries, primarily serves their products. so it’s getting to be more and more competition. You have to create or do “We have a deal with the Marriott something that stands out from everyone Renaissance, and they carry our products else and that’s what makes people keep in their bar and eventually we’re going to coming back.” have a retail outlet there as well, so we

Heyler Ref lects on Years of Service to Agriculture Ed Heyler and late wife, Dorna, celebrate decades of farming Story by William Whisler From a young age, Ed Heyler was immersed in agriculture. Having grown up on a century farm in Northern Pennsylvania, farming was simply in his blood. Following two years in the Air Force during World War II, Heyler pondered two career paths: farming or teaching. After mulling his options, Heyler pursued a career in teaching agriculture, blending his two passions, before eventually deciding to do both. “When I got out of the service I went to Penn State on the GI Bill,” Heyler said. “(When I returned from the war) I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to farm or teach so I took a GED, (then went to Penn State) and I’ve done both since then. I went to school and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted positivelypa.com 11

Heyler enjoys spending time on his farm harvesting crops and working in his greenhouse. to be involved in agriculture. I was given The spry and tenacious farmer barn with some help from his neighbors an offer to teach, and it was the only wouldn’t have it any other way. and two sheds were added alongside the teaching job I ever had.” barn. A pole barn and a greenhouse to “It makes you get up in the morning,” accommodate the family’s plant business Heyler taught vocational agriculture full- Heyler said. “There’s work that must be was also constructed. time for 33 years in the Northern Tioga done. I’ve always said that farming is a School District, primarily at Cowanesque little bit different than business. I can’t Heyler originally managed a poultry Valley Junior/Senior High School. Heyler just decide to lock the door and say this farm that at one time included 2,000 laying began teaching in 1950 and retired in 1983. is it. There are crops growing which need hens and replacement pullets, along with 100 to be taken care of and there’s livestock turkeys, 120 capons and around 600 broiler Still, Heyler, a Farm Bureau member that needs to be fed, so you go out and chickens which they dressed themselves since 1965, longed to have a farm of his own. you do what you need to do.” and sold locally to the fresh market. “I still needed to get my hands in For his dedication to agriculture, Ed In the 1970s, Heyler was forced to farming,” Heyler said. “So, when this Heyler was recognized by the Pennsylvania change direction when a loss of rail place came up for sale – it was a retired Farm Bureau with the 2022 Distinguished service to New York City hampered their farm that had not been farmed in years – Service to Agriculture Award. The award egg market and following a farming we bought it and we built it from there.” is presented to an individual whose dedi- accident in the 1970s, it became difficult cated work and service has significantly for Ed to dress poultry, so he exited the Today, after 72 years in the field, the contributed to the advancement of poultry business and started a small cow/ 97-year-old Heyler still runs his beef cattle Pennsylvania agriculture. calf beef operation that he still runs today. farm in Westfield, along with his son Marty. Heyler also continues to grow corn, oats, Heyler, to the amazement of his five Once Heyler purchased his farm in 1953, and hay. children, Sam, Dan, Dick, Marty and Nancy, the family renovated what was a barely never passes on an opportunity to get livable house into a family farmhouse “The types of livestock we’ve raised work done in the field. Dick noted that with five bedrooms, two bathrooms, two has changed over the years,” Heyler said. during his father’s most recent birthday living rooms and a kitchen. Heyler built a “We started with laying hens and a side party in August, Ed left to go bale hay. 12 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023

of capons and turkeys. I worked at those and pots for Memorial Day. The family Heyler expanded Cowanesque Valley’s on nights and weekends because I was still teaching. We lost our egg market because even constructed a small roadside stand agriculture program to require two full- we shipped on the railroad to New York City and then that ended, so we needed to where they sold strawberries, vegetables, time instructors and had added a 15-station do something different. We decided to switch to beef. My son Marty bought a fall produce and sweet corn. welding facility and course, which expanded farm adjacent to mine and we run our cattle together. Basically, it’s a cow/calf operation “We also had the into allowing adults to with some freezer beef on the side.” greenhouse which we Tioga take classes in the evening. Ed maintained the farm over the years, started with a six-by-six County In his community, while his wife Dorna helped run the hot bed and ended up greenhouse. The greenhouse grew over with two greenhouses,” Heyler has been a long- the years and by the mid-2000s the family time lay speaker and has was selling thousands of packs of bedding plants, flowers, and vegetables – as well Heyler said. “We only quit been a member of the as designing and creating memorial urns using the greenhouse in United Methodist Church 2019 because I lost my wife, and I was since the 1950s. Heyler has also conducted getting older, and my health was not so numerous funeral services of community good. We sold the greenhouse and now and family members, sometimes conducting we concentrate just on the beef.” one or two per month. In the classroom, Heyler’s impact on Heyler is proud of what he was able his students and the field was widespread. to accomplish in the classroom and is elated to see the success of his former students. “I can still go around the communi- ty and say I had him in school and he’s doing well, or I had her in school and Heyler walks in his pasture to check on his cattle. positivelypa.com 13

she’s doing well,” Heyler said. “It’s a very Ed and Dorna Heyler, pictured with their five children. rewarding occupation.” The same is true of his farm. “It was a good place for me to let off steam,” Heyler said. “If I had a bad day at school I could come down and get on my tractor over on the hill and plow or do whatever needed to be done and I’d feel better.” For Heyler, continuing to farm along- side his son and to have his children continue to come back to the farm has been everything he’d dreamed of. “It’s just been a good living from the standpoint of you become assimilated as part of the community,” he said. “It’s a good place to raise a family. We had five children who have all turned out and they’ve all done well. They still all come back when possible and help me. I’m grateful.” 14 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023

Lori and Mike Steele started their nonprofit, Wings For Army Veteran gives back through hunting and Our Heroes in 2015. fishing adventures Story and Photos by William Whisler The military has always played an important part in Mike Steele’s life, and as a retired United States Army helicopter pilot, Steele has often looked for ways to give back to those who have served in combat or as a first responder. Steele, who retired from the military in 2003, was a CH-47 Chinook pilot who served in two conflicts, including the Grenada and the Gulf War. Since then, Steele has opened up his 240-acre Windber farm to former military members, firefighters, police officers and EMS workers who have been injured in the line of duty by treating them to outdoor adventures like guided pheasant hunts and fly-fishing expeditions. Mike Steele and his wife Lori operate Mountain View Acres on their farm. Mountain View Acres is their for-profit business aimed at allowing hunters more success in guided pheasant hunts on their land. The idea stemmed from Mike’s frustration in spending a day hunting and not being able to get more than one or two birds during a hunt. Their farm also is home to horses, a rescue alpaca, a goat, chickens and peacocks. Mike and Lori also operate an AirBnb on the property. positivelypa.com 15

“Our children at the time, Sierra was our funding and we gave that chair to 13 and Cody was 12. We’d take them a veteran. Since we’ve started, we have out on the game lands and hunt, and purchased five chairs and given three we’d walk all day and get one or two away. We always keep two here on the farm birds,” Mike said. “We went and bought for hunts. This year we were able to get birds, maybe 50 some our first year and another chair and we’re giving that one released them for the kids to hunt them away at our Veteran’s Day fundraiser.” and someone found out about it, and asked if I could buy a couple birds for Throughout the year, Wings For Our them to put on their place so I realized it Heroes currently puts on two events: a was something we could do. We probably Fall pheasant hunt on the farm and a hunted 20 the first year and sold 30. The fly-fishing expedition that takes place at a next year we got into it full bore and nearby stream for a private trout fishing we’ve been buying birds since. Now we adventure. The hunting trips normally buy about 1,500 birds a year.” bring in four-to-six hunters and the fishing trips can pretty much accommodate They began the nonprofit organization as many fishermen – or women – that Wings For Our Heroes in 2015, as a way apply for the trip. to give back to those who fought to protect the country and those working to keep A track chair is used on the their communities safe. Steele’s farm to help veterans with accessibility issues. After a few years into their Mountain View Acres business, Steele came up with an idea to give back by putting on a hunt for former military in Pennsylvania. The idea took off from there. “A few years in we had decided that we wanted to give back and that we were going to buy an (action trackchair) and put on this hunt for Pennsylvania people,” Mike said. “We were going to go to the local commanders and have them pick somebody. When we found out about the price of the chairs, we were looking for some donations, but nobody would donate because we weren’t a nonprofit and they couldn’t tax deduct it. So, in 2015 we started Wings For Our Heroes and it’s been going crazy since then.” Since it’s inception, Mike and Lori have been overwhelmed by the support that they have received for their charity. “For a small community, they really supported us,” Mike said. “We had one donation the first year that allowed us to buy our very first chair, which was our goal, to buy a track chair. We bought the track chair and did two events that year and then the next year we just built up all 16 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023

Wings For Our Heroes hosts a spring fly fishing event in Somerset County.

Mike Steele, center, poses with the hunters and volunteers who participated in this year’s pheasant hunt. 18 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023

The Steeles use guide dogs to help aid in the hunts. The Steeles welcome individuals from all over the country to take part in their events, and Wings For Our Heroes covers all of their costs – travel, hotels, mileage on a vehicle, etc. “We cover all of that because we don’t want them to have any travel expenses,” Lori said. “For them to come in should have zero cost. All their hotels, airfare and mileage are covered. We provide any clothing or equipment as well. We don’t want people to not be able to afford to come. We will get them here somehow. We had one person who had PTSD who was able to bring his wife with him because he wasn’t able to travel alone and that was a blessing. A lot of the money we raise is from our dinner dance fundraiser.” positivelypa.com 19

Any former military or first responder Mike and Lori are planning to expand really helpful that it doesn’t fall complete on us.” interested in applying for the trip can do the offerings of Wings For Our Heroes “We have about 25 people that we so through an online application or by if possible, having bought a deer stand can call who would be there in a minute,” Mike added. “We’ve had many different printing it out and mailing it in. to be able to host hunters for deer hunting people support us. We had a gentleman who was working on his senior project “We put out a note on wingsforo- trips at some point. Mike said that they come out and volunteer some time to help with the last hunt. It’s been a blessing.” urheroes.org that we are going to have are also considering using the track Anyone looking to donate to Wings the pheasant hunt on this chairs to allow for some- For Our Heroes can do so by mail, through the website, or through PayPal date and then we accept one who can’t walk to be through Facebook. Wings For Our Heroes is also a listed charity on Amazon Smile. applications,” Mike said. Somerset able to take a hike with “Whoever we get, we County their family or go canoe- Anyone that purchases something on almost always approve ing or kayaking. Amazon through the smile.amazon.com URL can select Wings For Our Heroes them and bring them on, “The original plan was as their charity. Amazon donates 0.5 percent of the purchase to the selected and we haven’t had any just outdoor adventures,” charity at no cost to the shopper. big flux where we had to turn people Mike said. “We’re always looking to con- Learn more: away. If we had a situation like that we tinue outdoor adventures. We base it off www.wingsforourheroes.org would just continue to add on until we of that, but as it grows, we will continue got them all through. We put it out on to adapt and try new things.” Facebook, Instagram, and our website.” The Steeles thanked the many volun- The dinner dance fundraiser takes teers who have allowed Wings For Our place each year on Veteran’s Day and the Heroes to grow into what it is today. event is hosted at a local wedding venue “We couldn’t do it without all of the and includes a live and silent auction, volunteers,” Lori said. “Some of the with the proceeds benefitting Wings For volunteers are hunters and they bring Our Heroes. their own dogs to use as guides. So that’s 20 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023

Farm Fresh All recipes courtesy of PA Eats Nourish PA: Cranberry Apple Stuffed Winter Squash Serves 6 Ingredients Directions 3 acorn squash, halved and seeded Preheat oven to 375°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons olive oil aluminum foil and grease with oil. Place squash, cut-side-down 2 cups packaged bread cubes, or 1/2 loaf stale white bread, on prepared baking sheet. Bake until squash is fork tender, cut into 1/2-inch pieces about 35-40 minutes. Set aside. 1 apple, such as Granny Smith, Gala, or Fuji, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces In a medium bowl, toss bread cubes, apple, raisins, walnuts, 1/4 cup raisins brown sugar and cinnamon together until combined. Stuff 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans cavity of squash with bread mixture. Bake squash, cut-side-up 1 tablespoon brown sugar, or sugar on baking sheet until filling is light golden-brown, about 20-25 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice minutes. Serve warm and enjoy.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Hot Chocolate Serves 2 Ingredients Method 2 cups milk of choice Bring milk to simmer in medium saucepan over low heat. 1/4 cup cocoa powder Once simmering, turn off heat and whisk in cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons Smucker’s Natural Creamy Peanut Butter peanut butter, honey, and salt until smooth. 2 tablespoons honey, plus more for garnish Pinch salt Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows, honey and Utz Sourdough Specials Pretzels for garnish (and dipping!) crushed pretzels. Mini marshmallows 22 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023

Sheet-Pan Dutch Baby Pancake Serves 8 Ingredients 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup milk 4 large eggs 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 (15-ounce) can sliced peaches, for serving Powdered sugar, for serving (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 425°F. Place butter on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until butter is melted, and pan is hot, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt together until combined. Add flour in 3 additions, beating well between each addition until smooth. Carefully remove baking sheet from oven. Pour batter evenly into prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden-brown, about 30-35 minutes. Top with peaches and powdered sugar (if using). Slice and serve warm. positivelypa.com 23

Sheet-Pan Sausage and Cabbage Dinner Serves 4 Ingredients 1 pound turkey sausage, or Italian sausage, or kielbasa 1/2 head cabbage, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 pound red potatoes, or russet potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces 3 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, or 1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 400°F. Place sausage, cabbage and potatoes in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Add oil, salt and pepper and toss to coat. Bake, flipping vegetables and sausage halfway through, until vegetables are tender and sausage is golden-brown, or until internal temperature reaches 160°F, about 20-30 minutes. Top with parsley (if using) and serve. Are You Turning 65 This Year and Going on Medicare? Choosing your Medicare plan can be overwhelming. It can be hard to figure out what you want, or more important, what you need. Farm Bureau’s experienced and trained staff are ready to help. At no cost to you, we can: • Answer your questions • Explain and compare your options • Work within your budget • Help you make informed decisions about your Medicare coverage options Health Services Knowledgeable. Helpful. Dedicated. For Medicare Plan and Rate information that is available to you in your county, please call PFB Health Services @ 800.522.2375. 24 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023

Slow-Cooker PA Apple Butter Serves 1 quart Ingredients 6 pounds assorted sweet and tart PA apples, peeled, cored and roughly chopped 1/2 cup PA apple cider 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon each ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt Directions Combine apples and cider in large slow cooker. In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, cinnamon, spices and salt. Sprinkle spice mixture over apples and toss to combine. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours, until apples are very tender. Use immersion blender to puree apples in slow cooker (alternatively, puree in batches in blender and return to slow cooker). Continue to cook on high without lid, letting mixture reduce for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Let cool completely and store in airtight container in refrigerator. Serve over biscuits, toast, chicken, pork and more. positivelypa.com 25

Josiah and Angela Meck own and operate Honey Brook Farm in Schuylkill Haven.

Honey Brook Farm Meck family embraces delivery them all sold in a day and had thought eventually sold her and Josiah the farm food box trend that maybe I could do this (as a career). in 2019. One thing led to another, and we started Story and photos by William Whisler having people ask us if we did pork or “It’s been rewarding. I don’t think other things. So, three years later in 2022, that everything has worked for us right Josiah and Angela Meck’s venture into we did 40 beef, we’re going to do 40 hogs, off the bat,” Angela said. “But just to see owning their own farm really began as 700 chickens, 20 turkeys and 10 geese. the progress of where we were in 2019, a solution to a problem they faced as We’ve really expanded a lot in those then 2020 and even with both of us landowners. three years, and it has been awesome.” working off the farm in 2020 until 2021 and turning that into where we are now. How would they mow the rolling hills Growing so quickly from just seven Heading into 2023, it is really rewarding.” of land that they purchased? steers to the size of Honey Brook Farm today has its challenges, most notably to Honey Brook Farm has emerged as an Josiah, who holds a degree in agriculture Josiah was the challenge of having the innovative leader in farm to table, as the from Penn State had a simple answer. infrastructure in place to house the animals. Meck family has kept with current trends and offers their own unique subscription “What happened was we have this “It was difficult, and the difficult part meal boxes with delivery right to the terrible hillside of a pasture over there. to me was the infrastructure,” Meck said. consumer’s front door via their online We purchased the farm in 2019 and I “We kind of used what we had at first store, powered by Barn2door.com. was still working a full-time job, but we and it wasn’t the greatest, but it worked. needed to manage that somehow and Then as we expanded and made a little The monthly boxes come in two we didn’t want to buy the equipment to bit more money here and there, we were different options, including a 10-pound mow that thing,” Josiah explained. “We able to create this awesome facility to variety box and a 15-pound variety box. decided that we could get some steers hold our pigs other than figuring out and they would mow it off, and that how to keep them in a certain spot. We A 10-pound box comes with three was right around when COVID hit, and use box wire, but really, it’s the outside pounds of ground beef, two steaks, one everyone was looking for beef.” perimeter that is important. We started pork or beef roast, one chicken (either a off with the little bit of infrastructure small whole chicken, or farmer’s choice on From there, Honey Brook Farm, located that was here and expanded from there.” parts) and one pork cut (pork chops, butt in Schuylkill Haven, became a reality. The chop, ribs, tenderloin, etc.) or sausage. farm has already significantly expanded The Meck’s farm, which has been in its operation and currently partners with Angela’s family since her grandfather’s A 15-pound box offers four pounds seven different local restaurants. grandfather purchased it in 1913, originally of grounds beef, two steaks, one roast was known as Honey Brook Dairy before (pork or beef), one chicken (either a “I had seven steers and had thought, Angela’s family stopped farming and small whole chicken, or farmer’s choice how hard can it be,” Josiah said. “I had on parts), one pack of sausage or ground pork, one pork cut (pork chops, butt positivelypa.com 27

chop, ribs, tenderloin, etc.) and a specialty The family already has built a pavilion chickens. That would probably be my meat as available. on their property to offer an event space ideal happy place, just based on the Each box comes with a recipe card for an item in the box and the subscriptions and hopes to continue finding new ways amount of acreage we have, I think that last for 12 months, but a customer may skip months or cancel at any time. to bring people to their farm. we can handle that.” Honey Brook Farm has its own store “It’s been another avenue to bring The Mecks young children are the on site, that is open on Wednesdays and Fridays. Customers can come to the store to people to the farm as potential customers sixth generation to live on the farm in purchase beef, pork, chicken or whatever product they are looking for. Among the and also offering that up as an opportunity Angela’s family and Josiah and Angela farm’s most popular products are their chicken, sausages and bacon, according to show the farm to people who may not hope that exposing their children to life to Josiah. know that much about farming or agri- on the farm may get them interested The Meck family also sells quarters, halves and whole beef and quarters, culture,” Angela said. “We in continuing the farm halves, and whole hogs along with other beef, poultry, pork and lamb products. pretty much jump at any someday. Along with the farm, Josiah also has opportunity to talk about Schuylkill “I really hope that this his own sawmill on the farm, where he agriculture. We sometimes County is something, whether it’s specializes in creating custom cutting and take baby animals to the the exact business plan charcuterie boards. schools or daycares, that I have or something “We offer custom milling, if people want to bring us their own logs we’ll cut it into anything like that. I think else in agriculture, I’m lumber for them,” Meck said. “We do a lot of live edge tables, kitchen islands and it’s really important that hoping that they have things like that. My big thing is that I really enjoy doing a lot of higher end custom people know where their food is coming an interest in it to continue the family’s cutting boards or charcuterie boards.” from. We want to be involved in the presence here,” Josiah said. community and be able to provide a fu- “It’s great that they can have some of ture for our kids if they want to pursue it.” the memories that I had here as a kid,” With their current success in the Angela said. “They’re the sixth generation industry, Josiah is hoping to continue to be here, so it’s pretty neat that we can expanding the farm in the future. Meck give them that opportunity.” would also like to see the farm be able to take on more restaurant clients. Learn more: “My ultimate goal would be to do www.honeybrookfarmpa.com about 100 beef and 100 pigs,” Josiah said. “Then add in roughly around 1,000

Editor: Will Whisler Mailing Addresses of PA Farm Bureau Publisher, Editor, and 510 S 31st Street Managing Editor Camp Hill, PA 17001 10. Owner PA Farm Bureau 510 S 31st St., PO Box 8736 United States Postal Service United States Postal Service Camp Hill, PA 17001-8736 PS Form 3526, 2022 PS Form 31512.6, 2K0n2o2wn Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Statement of Ownership, ManageSmtaetnetm&eCntirocfuOlawtionnership, ManagOewmneinngt &orCHiroclduilnagti1onPercent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None P1o. sitivPeulyblPiceantinosnyTlvitalen:ia Posit1iv2e.ly PTaexnnSstyaltvuasn:ia 1. Publication Title: Has not changed during 2. Publication #: 022. 4-91P7ublication #: 024-917 preceding 12 months 3. Filing Date: 93/.30/2F0i2lin2g Date: 9/30/1230.22 Publication Title: Positively Pennsylvania 4. Issue Frequency: Q4.uarteIsrslyue Frequency: Quar1te4r.ly Issue Date for Circ Data: Fall 2022 5. #Issues Published Annually: 45. #Issues Published Annually: 4 15. Extent of Circulation: Avg # copies #cc Single Issue 6. Annual Subscription Price: $63. .00Annual Subscription Price: $3.00 Preceding 12 Mos Near Filing Date P7A. FaMrmaiBlinugreAadudress of PA Farm Bau.reTaoutal # Copies (net press) 33,875 7. Mailing Address of 31,800 Publication: 510 SP3u1bstliScat.t,ioPnO: Box 8736 510 S 31st bS.t.1,.PPOaiBdooxut8s7id3e6 county 31,101 30,506 Camp Hill, PA 17001-8736 Camp Hill, PAre1q7u0e0s1te-8d7m36ail subscriptions Contact Person: JustinCColanptapcetrPerson: Justin Clapcp.eTrotal Requested Distribution 31,101 30,506 Telephone: 717-76Te1l-e2p7h4o0ne: 717-761-27d4. 0Non-Requested Distribution 8. Mailing Address of HQ: P8A. FaMrmaiBlinugreAadudress of HQ: PA Farm Bure3a. uIn-County at other classes 42 43 510 S 31st St.4,.POOutBsoidxe8t7h3e6Mail 510 S 31st St., PO Box 8736 1,105 558 Camp Hill, PA 17001-8736 Campe.HTiollt,aPlAN1o7n0R0e1q-u8e7s3t6ed Distribution 1,147 601 County: CumbCerolaundty: Cumberlanfd. Total Distribution 32,248 31,107 9. Publisher: J9u. stinPCulbalpispheerr: Justin Clapgp.eCropies Not Distributed 1,627 693 Editor: Will WEhdisitloer: Will Whislehr. Total 33,875 31,800 Mailing Addresses of PA FaMrmaiBlinugreAadudresses of PA Fa1r6m. BEulreecaturonic Copy Circulation Publisher, Editor, and 510 SP3u1bsltisShterer,eEt ditor, and 510 S 31staS. tPreaeidt Electronic Copies 0 0 Managing Editor CampMHailnl,aPgAin1g7E0d0i1tor Camp Hill,bP.ATo1t7a0l 0P1aid Print Copies 31,101 30,506 10. Owner P1A0.FaOrmwnBeurreau PA Farm Bureaanud Paid Electronic Copies 510 S 31st St., PO Box 8736 510 S 31st cS.tT.,oPtaOl PBroinxt 8D7is3t6ribution 32,248 31,107 Camp Hill, PA 17001-8736 Camp Hill, PAan1d70P0a1id-8E73le6ctronic Copies 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgag1e1e.s, aKnndoOwtnheBroSndehcuorlditeyrHs,oMldoertsgagees, and Odt.hPeer rScecnut rPitayidHolders 96.4% 98.06% Owning or Holding 1 Percent or MoOrewonfinTogtaolrAHmoloduinngt o1f PBeorncdesn,t or Mo1r7e. ofPTuobtalilcAamtioonuonft SoftaBteomndesn,t of Ownership required Mortgages, or Other Securities: NonMeortgages, or Other Securities: No1n8e. Signature & Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manger or Owner H12a.s nToat xchSatnagtuesd: during Has not chSainggneedddbuyriJnugstin Clapper, Publisher, Date 9/30/2022 12. Tax Status: preceding 12 months preceding 12 months 13. Publication Title: P1o3s. itivPeulyblPiceantinosnyTlvitalen:ia Positively Pennsylvania 14. Issue Date for Circ Data: F1a4l.l 20Is2s2ue Date for Circ Data: Fall 2022 15. Extent of Circulation: 15A. vgE#xtceonptieosf Circula#tciocnS: ingle IssueAvg # copies #cc Single Issue Preceding 12 Mos Near Filing DaPtreeceding 12 Mos Near Filing Date a. Total # Copies (net press) 3a3.,8T7o5tal # Copies (ne3t 1p,r8e0s0s) 33,875 31,800 b. 1. Paid outside county 3b1.,110.1Paid outside co3u0n,t5y06 31,101 30,506 requested mail subscriptions requested mail subscriptions c. Total Requested Distribution 3c1.,1T0o1tal Requested D3is0t,r5ib0u6tion 31,101 30,506 d. Non-Requested Distribution d. Non-Requested Distribution 3. In-County at other classes 34.2In-County at other c4la3sses 42 43 4. Outside the Mail 1,140.5Outside the Mail 558 1,105 558 e. Total NonRequested Distribution e. Tota1l,1N4o7nRequested Distrib6u0t1ion 1,147 601 f. Total Distribution 3f2.,T2o4t8al Distribution 31,107 32,248 31,107 g. Copies Not Distributed g1.,6C2o7pies Not Distribute6d93 1,627 693 h. Total 3h3.,8T7o5tal 31,800 33,875 31,800 A NEW SEASON16. Electronic Copy Circulation 16. Electronic Copy Circulation 0 0 a. Paid Electronic Copies a. Pa0id Electronic Copies 0 STARTS WITHb. Total Paid Print Copies 3b1.,1T0o1tal Paid Print Co3p0i,e5s06 31,101 30,506 and Paid Electronic Copies and Paid Electronic Copies BIG SAVINGS.c. Total Print Distribution 3c2.,2T4o8tal Print Distribu3ti1o,n107 32,248 31,107 and Paid Electronic Copies and Paid Electronic Copies 0% Financing and Cash Back Offers!*d. Percent Paid 9d6..4P%ercent Paid 98.06% 96.4% 98.06% 17. Publication of Statement of Ow17n.ersPhiupbrliecqautiiorendof Statement of Ownership required 18. Signature & Title of Editor, Pub1l8is.heSr,igBnuastiunreess&MTiatlnegoefrEodr iOtowr,nPeurblisher, Business Manger or Owner GO BIG WITH PRESEASON SAVINGS DURING DEALER DAYS.Signed by Justin Clapper, PublisherS, iDganteed9b/3y0J/u2s0t2in2Clapper, Publisher, Date 9/30/2022 It’s never too early to plan for the new season ahead—or save. Take advantage of big savings available now on a wide range of reliable New Holland tractors, haytools and material-handling equipment. New Holland has ev- erything you need to go big this year—and the savings to make it easier. Trade-ins are welcome! Hurry, offers end March 31, 2022. Stop by today or visit nhoffers.com. *For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your participating New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment may be required. Offer good through March 31, 2022. Not all customers or applicants may qualify. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. standard terms and conditions apply. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. 2022 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. 800-222-3373 WWW.MESSICKS.COM ABBOTTSTOWN CARLISLE MOUNT JOY HALIFAX positivelypa.com 29

Happening Here Nov. 11 – Jan. 1 | Dauphin County Nov. 18 – Dec. 18 | Lehigh County Nov. 18 – Jan. 8 | Blair County CHaenrsdhyelaynpeark Christmas Christkindlmarkt Holiday Lights on the Lake Hersheypark.com Christmascity.org lakemontparkfun.com More than 5 million lights highlight This one-of-a-kind Christkindlmarkt Altoona is celebrating 26 years of Hersheypark’s most merry event of the brings the spirit of Bethlehem alive for five Holiday Lights on the Lake this year, year. Guests can visit with Santa, snap weekends in November and December. kicking off the festive and family-friendly festive photos with Hershey characters The heartwarming event features live attraction on Nov. 19. More than 1 million and more while enjoying the park’s biggest- Christmas music, ice-carving and glass- lights will illuminate more than 50 acres ever light show. blowing demonstrations and handmade of land, which can be explored from the crafts and collectibles. comfort of your own car, van or bus. DON’T FORGET the Do-It-Yourselfer on your list! Stock up and save on everyday essentials from A to Z to get you through the toughest conditions • Batteries and bulbs to boot dryers • Hats and handwarmers to portable heaters • Shovels and scrapers to snow blowers For your home or your business, Grainger can help weather the winter. www.grainger.com/farmbureau 30 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023

Jan. 13-15 | Somerset County Fire & Ice Festival Somersetinc.org Visitors will have their choice of a number of activities at the 28th annual Fire & Ice Festival in uptown Somerset in January. The “Winter Carnival” themed festival will feature ice sculptures, carnival games, an ice slide, fireworks, a bonfire and plenty of local shopping and food options. Jan. 26 -29 | Franklin County IceFest PA Icefestpa.com The 2022 edition of Pennsylvania’s largest ice festival kicks off on Jan. 26 for four days of fun in Chambersburg. Spectators can watch in amazement as artists carve ice sculptures throughout downtown, or they can participate in other activities like an ice slide, dancing, a chili cookoff, cornhole tournament or a 5K. Of course, there will also be plenty of food vendors, a beer garden and ex- tended hours at many downtown shops and restaurants. positivelypa.com 31

Membership Benefits | Together We Can Pennsylvania Farm Bureau knows you work hard for your money and your membership should too. Visit www.pfb.com/services or scan the QR code to see how to get your share of $2.7 million in annual savings. To redeem discounts, use the required codes, websites, and/or phone numbers found by logging into the Members Only website at www.pfbmembers.org. Member Benefits are subject to change without notice. Membership Dues Are Non-Refundable Home and Auto Travel PFB Member Services www.pfb.com/ford Special Rate ID: 00209780 Health Services 800.522.2375 to download certificate www.pfb.com/healthservices Must be a member for 30+ 800.258.2847 days; rebate not always Financial and Insurance stackable, some exclusions Corporate Rate:8000002941 www.farmbureaubank.com may apply 877.670.7088 $500.00 off exclusive Ford trucks AWD Disc.Code: A298838 800.331.1212 Code: 11361045 www.avis.com/pafb National Fleet Discount BCD Offer Code:Y775738 Must show membership card 800.527.0700 Exceptions may apply www.budget.com/pafb PFB Legal 717.232.5000 Service Plan SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH Code: PFB-7555-024 Farm and Business Nationwide® offers a variety 855.692.8330 of insurance and financial www.picknrg.com/en/us/lp/digital/ Lancaster Farming Renewals code: PAFB services to Farm Bureau pfb_7555 New member code: PAFB39 members including farm*, Code: 1586181PHL www.lancasterfarming.com auto*, home*, pet*, travel*, www.StaplesAdvantage.com Renewals10% off powersports, commercial and life insurance. Online purchases 1.800.8-SADDLE *Select discounts may apply. Code: Farmbureau Membership number required 1.800.LIFELOCK To learn more, contact your local Nationwide ww.lifelock.com www.pfb.com/caseih agent or visit Nationwide.com/pfb. to download certificate Save® Health and Wellness www.pfb.com/cat Additional Benefits Code: Group 946 Rx www.scriptsave.com to download certificate Save even more with County Farm Bureau Local Discounts! 1.888.497.7447 www.johndeere.com/farmbureau For a complete list of discounts offered by www.clearvaluehearing.com +375 locally-owned businesses in nearly 800-974-7036 Only available at John Deere 50 counties visit pfb.com/localdiscounts. dealerships www.myfreepharmacy/Pennsylvania Local discounts not offered in all counties Account#:855488417 www.grainger.com/farmbureau Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Member | Deals Plus Publications PFB adds value to membership and keeps pfb.enjoymydeals.com members informed through a variety of print and digital publications. Members Pennsylvania Farm Bureau receive 5% off advertising rates in our print 510 S. 31st Street P.O. Box 8736 publications. Contact advertising coordinator for details. Camp Hill, PA 17001-8736 717.761.2740 A total $6 portion of annual member dues covers subscrip- www.pfb.com tions to these publications, $3 for Positively Pennsylvania and $3 for Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Grassroots Advocate (formerly Country Focus). Members receive 4 issues of each publication per year on a quarterly basis. Publication frequency and details are subject to change.

AgrAbility PA Lends a Helping Hand to PA Farmers Story and photos provided by AgrAbility PA Photo right: Garvin (left) reached out to AgrAbility PA for assistance. AgrAbility Pennsylvania is home to tens of thousands of farmers, hundreds of acres PA staff member Abbie Spackman (right) of farmland, and fields filled with food, fiber, and fodder. But it is also home recommended testing out a side-entry to AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians (AgrAbility PA) – a grant-funded statewide skid steer, which would perform the same program that provides services and support to assist farmers and agricultural tasks but is more accessible and has a workers with a disability or long-term health condition continue working in fully enclosed cab. Garvin tried out a few production agriculture. side-entry models and he found it much easier to get in and out of the unit. Farming is physically grueling work – it ranks as one of the most dangerous Photo left: Cathie, a farmer in Claysburg, occupations in the county. Many farmers cope with arthritis, amputation, vision uses raised beds and a utility vehicle to and hearing loss, and back and knee problems, among other health conditions – manage her physical workload on the pushing the pain behind their pride to continue the daily demands of working farm while working with a heart condition. in agriculture. positivelypa.com 33 Aging farmers are especially at risk. According to USDA’s National Agri- cultural Statistics Service, the average age of a Pennsylvania farmer is 56. Aging farmers tend to experience limited mobility and a slower reaction time – leading to more injuries and incidents on the farm. AgrAbility PA is here to help. Funded by a competitive grant program offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA),

AgrAbility PA helps farmers with disabilities financial resources and planning, and remain productive and successful in education and networking. The program is agriculture. committed to reaching both traditional farming populations as well as underserved The grant funds support the program, populations in agriculture, including which is administered jointly between women, veterans, Amish, urban farmers, staff members at Penn State Extension and minority and ethnically diverse farmers – an educational organization dedicated across the state of Pennsylvania. to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities The program staff also educates – and United Cerebral Palsy of Central healthcare professionals statewide at Pennsylvania (UCP Central PA) – a both rural and urban medical centers nonprofit specializing in support and as well as rehabilitation facilities and services for people with disabilities. The programs to better support the needs current funding will sustain the AgrAbility of farmers and workers with disabilities. PA program in Pennsylvania until 2025. Mental health and stress management The program has been in existing in is also a growing need – AgrAbility PA Pennsylvania since 1995. refers farmers and workers so they can get the help they need. AgrAbility PA assists farmers and agricultural workers with disabilities or “Research has identified stress long-term health conditions through management as one of the top needs on-site farm or worksite assessments, among farmers,” said Suzanna Windon, Dennis, a farmer in Middleburg, underwent a double leg amputation due to complications from bacterial meningitis. He uses several pieces of assistive technology on his farm: a towable spider lift, additional tractor steps and handrails on his equip- ment, and automatic bed covers on his trucks. 34 Positively Pennsylvania Winter 2023

Dawn, a farmer in Bedford County, uses an Eco Weeder to ease pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Ryan, a farmer in Blairsville, uses a flatbed prepares a report that documents recom- A utility vehicle helped with mobility truck lift to make transfers from a wheel- mendations, resources, and referrals for around the farm, an ergonomic tractor chair, vehicle seat, or tractor seat. He’s the farmer or worker. seat provided relief from back pain, and shown using a power wheelchair on ergonomic tractor steps offered safer rubber tracks called an Action Track- “It starts as a conversation,” Spackman access onto and off equipment. stander — it can transform into a standing said. “We sit down with them in the barn or or upright position. Both pieces of at the kitchen table and learn more about “When you love something so much assistive technology allows him greater what they do, what the work involves, and face the possibility of not being able access to the barns, his workshop, and and what’s going on in their lives.” to continue, it is well worth making the the rugged terrain around the farm. Ryan phone call to see how they can help,” has a spinal cord injury. AgrAbility PA does not provide direct Garvin said. “The knowledge AgrAbility funding for assistive technology, modifi- PA had about options and assistive tech- AgrAbility PA project director and an cations, or equipment. However, the nology was very helpful.” assistant professor of youth and adult program staff works with the Pennsylvania leadership in Penn State’s Department of Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Helping farmers continue farming Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and (OVR), the Pennsylvania Assistive Tech- is crucial for Spackman. “Those are the Education. She is also the director of the nology Foundation (PATF), farm credit people who feed us, provide for us, and college’s Ukrainian Rural and Agricultural agencies, and other third-party funding take care of our earth,” she said. Development Program. sources to help farmers and workers obtain financial support. Spackman recalled a recent conversa- AgrAbility PA’s hallmark service is to tion she had with a farmer about their provide a free, on-site farm or worksite Farmers like Garvin, who lives and involvement with AgrAbility PA. She assessment for a farmer or agricultural works in Northumberland County, asked the farmer: What has impacted worker with a disability or long-term exemplify that impact. Garvin knew you the most? health condition. Abbie Spackman is the from a young age he wanted to spend his project assistant and case coordinator life farming. Plagued by back and knee “You provided hope,” the farmer said. for AgrAbility PA. She visits farms and problems in his 30s and 40s, he reached If you or someone you know would worksites to identify barriers or obstacles out to AgrAbility PA to receive a farm benefit from services and support offered that farmers and agricultural workers are assessment in 2018 and implemented by AgrAbility PA, contact: encountering as they work to complete assistive technology for his farm through 814-867-5288 or agrability@psu. essential everyday tasks. Abbie discusses “braided” funding — combining funds edu. Learn more about AgrAbility PA: safe and appropriate assistive technol- from OVR and PATF. agrabilitypa.org or Facebook, Twitter, ogies, modifications, or equipment and Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest. positivelypa.com 35

Protect your next At Nationwide®, we’re committed to protecting your future and your next —  whatever that might be. To learn more, visit nationwide.com/pfb Products are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and affiliated companies, Columbus, Ohio, and are subject to underwriting guidelines, review and approval. Availability varies. Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member FINRA, Columbus, Ohio. Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. The Farm Bureau and the letters FB are registered service marks of the American Farm Bureau Federation and are used under license by Nationwide. © 2021 Nationwide CPO-0836PA.1 (12/21)