Author Archives: Sarabeth C. Royer

About Sarabeth C. Royer

Hi! My name is Sarabeth Royer and I am a Freshman at Pennsylvania State University studying Animal Science in the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Schreyers Honors College. I love working with animals,reading, spending time with friends and family and being outside. I live with my family on a Dairy and Poultry Farm in Lancaster County.

What are you Thankful For?

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Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I am so excited! I can’t wait to go home, spend time with my family, sleep… a lot, and of course eat. Not to mention spend some time with my girls (the cows of course!) So I am sure that all of you reading this were following me… until the cows part, but to each their own! Thanksgiving is all about getting together with family to celebrate, to give thanks for all of our blessings. I love any excuse to get together with my family, and while it seems to be an “American tradition” for families to get together watch or play football, it seems that my family has never really gotten that memo!

Royer Thanksgiving Extravaganzas of the past: So, for the past about seven years my extended family has all come to my family’s farm for thanksgiving. Here are my top 3 Thanksgiving events that may or may not be family traditions.

1. When younger, my cousins and I used to all go out to the “old barn” and play in the pile of cotton seeds! For those of you who have never jumped off a stack of hay bales onto a pile of cottonseed… its AH-MAH-ZING! We use cotton seed as a part of the cows diet. They get fed a TMR or “total mixed ration,” that is comprised of all different foods. Corn, silage, grains, etc. its like a huge tossed salad for the cows. The best part is definitely the soft, sticks to your clothing cottonseeds that are the best insulation for a free fall.

Picture Courtesy of http://thesiekmantriplets.blogspot.com.

2. Thanksgiving of 2011 quote “GIRLS! The heifers are out.” (Sara Royer aka Mom) That’s right, only about an hour before people were to start arriving at our house, a group of heifers got out of their pen! Heifers are basically like teenager cows (not a baby, or calf, but still not considered a cow because they have not had calves yet.) Heifers, curious and full of energy, are notorious for getting out at the most inconvenient times… like Thanksgiving day!

Jen, Lindsay and I in our Muck Boots after fetching the heifers that got out!

3. “There is a hole in this boat?!”
We have about a two acre pond in front of our house that is absolutely gorgeous. Especially on crisp fall mornings when the deer come to drink from it. This picturesque site is the setting for another Thanksgiving extravaganza!

My Mom, Aunt, Dad, Sisters and me in front of the pond!

So one year, we (the cousins) decided to take a metal boat onto the pond. Know, this metal boat had been just sitting by the side of the pond for as long as I could remember, and had therefore accumulated some… love from the elements over the years! When two of my sisters and two older cousins went out onto the pond with the boat, they were soon “taking on water!” The boat has since retired, and the deer can drink from our pond without  the fear of having a boat splashing by!

I hope you all have happy, relaxing, and safe holiday breaks,

-Sarabeth

WE ARE… Number 1!

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We’re not number 5… not number 4, number 3, number 2… We’re number ONE!

Lets take a few moments today to talk about different areas in Agriculture where Pennsylvania is ranked first in the Nation. That’s right, good ol’ PA has a lot to offer when it comes to food, something we all love!

Number 1 in … wait for it… probably would have never guessed… SNACK FOODS! In fact, Pennsylvania is known as the “Snack Food Capital of the World.” According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA,) “with major producers of pretzels, potato chips, confectioneries, and chocolate, Pennsylvania’s snack food and confectionery industries generate more than $5.1 billion in sales annually.” We also have incredibly successful companies like Hershey’s Chocolate, Hanover Pretzels, and H. J. Heinz that have their international headquarters within the state. My personal favorite, those Hershey kisses!

Pennsylvania is also leading the nation in…. food processing companies! According to the PA Department of Ag, there are over 2,300 food processing companies in the state, ranging from potato chips and chocolate to fruit and ice cream. Also, as mentioned in a previous blog, Chester County in south eastern Pennsylvania is considered the Mushroom capital of the World. Some might scoff at this title, but PA boasts “an annual production of more than 425 million pounds, valuing more than $330.7 million per year.” (PDA website)

Alright, so straying away from all of the yummy foods, our next Number 1 title is in… Wood?

Not many people realize that wood is an agricultural product, and trees can be crops. Actually, forests cover more than 60% of Pennsylvania’s land, and continue to grow. (PDA Website) Pennsylvania is world renown for our Christmas trees and Hardwood lumber. “Forest products are our second most exported product group, following only our food products. Nothing beats the outstanding quality and beauty of our black cherry, red maple, red oak, and sugar maple trees. Pennsylvania’s forest products account for nearly $700 million of the State’s many exports.” (Forestry Services, a department within the PDA) This is a big deal, and our hardwood is sought after internationally. In fact, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary George Greig just hosted a visit with business leaders from Linyi City, Shandong Province, China, to discuss the “advantages of using PA hardwoods for manufacturing high-quality wood furniture for consumption by the growing Chinese middle class.” I would say that is pretty impressive.

Way to go Pennsylvania Ag!

Check out the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Website, you can learn a lot from this incredible resource. The Department’s building is right in the Capital, across from the Farm Show Building in Harrisburg.

http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_department_of_agriculture/10297

Have a great week, and again, feel free to ask me any questions or topics you would like me to discuss,

-Sarabeth

Mushrooms…. Pennsylvania’s State Fungus?

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It’s good in pasta, on top of pizza, in a nutritious salad, and even in your mom’s favorite recipe for casserole. What Pennsylvania Agricultural Product do I speak of? Mushrooms!

You know, we have a state flower, and flag, but do we have a state Fungus?

These past two weeks in my Biology 110 class, we have been learning all about Fungus. I now know the reproductive cycle, anatomy and ecological importance of fungi. However, I feel that my professor failed to say one thing that I think is pretty important… Did you all know, that Chester County (in PA) is the Mushroom capital of the world! I repeat the WORLD? This is a pretty big deal, for a county right here in Pennsylvania!

Located just outside Philadelphia, Chester County produces 51% of the NATION’s mushrooms. That’s kinda a big deal. Check out Kennett Square’s website. This town is the mushroom “cap” of the mushroom capital!

http://www.historickennettsquare.com/tours.html

The 2012 Guide to Local Farm Products for Chester County states : “Mushrooms contain a lot of nutrients and can be a wonderful addition to a healthy diet. Mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free and very low in sodium; they also provide important nutrients such as selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin D and more. In fact, mushrooms contain more potassium per serving than bananas.” That is pretty fascinating right! A lot of people mistake mushrooms as just a garnish, without much nutritional value.

Not many people also realize the importance of mushrooms in the Pennsylvania economy. Hundreds of jobs just within the County can be attributed to the over a million pounds of mushrooms they produce a week. Kennett Square also has a mushroom festival to celebrate the especially prevalent fungus in case you were wondering! I hope you all will embrace eating some Pennsylvania Agricultural Products by enjoying some delicious mushrooms! For you cooks out there, here are some creative recipes for mushrooms… check it out!

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/fruits-and-vegetables/mushrooms/

Have a fantastic week, and Bon Appetit ; )

-Sarabeth

Some Food For Thought

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This past week, on Wednesday, I sat in on a presentation by Elanco, the worldwide Animal Health Company that provides everything from medicines for your dog to medicines for my family’s cows! This global corporation has always impressed me (plus, on the flier it said free pizza!) Anyways, so I sat in on their presentation and it was fascinating!

I do not know about your majors, but being in the College of Ag, almost every professor at some point talks to us all about the growing population. There are statistics out there saying that by the year 2050, the population will reach 9 billion, and in order to feed these new mouths, we will need to produce 100% more food. Elanco’s study on this issue has declared that 70% of this must come from technology, because there is literally not enough arable land to plant on. This is quite a daunting task to think about.

Not only is this a seemingly impossible task, when you add some of the negative connotations regarding biotechnology among consumers, this is truly a hard feat. What many people don’t realize is that biotechnology can be a lot of things. This can entail finding ways to use less water to produce more wheat. It could involve using genetics to optimize corn production, by growing bigger ears with more corn and thus more food. Biotechnology can be highly scientific, involving chemistry, biology, and engineering, but this does not mean it is not safe. For instance, in 2007 compared to 1944, we can produce 1 gallon of milk with 65% less water and with 90% less land. In 2007 compared to 1977, farmers have been able to produce 1 pound of densely nutritious beef with 14% less water and 34% less land. All of these improvements are due to higher efficiency and biotechnology. (United States Farm Bureau and Elanco) Statistics like this need to continue in order to feed a growing population. However, improving efficiency alone will not do.

It’s time to get excited and creative about the idea of more biotechnology in agriculture, because this is where more of our food will be coming from.

Check out this video, called “Some Food for Thought.” It is really neat!!!!!

Some Food For Thought

I hope this helps you to not only see more of the agriculture around you, but also, start the conversation of food production worldwide, and how to provide enough delicious and nutritious food for a growing population.

-Sarabeth

 

What came first… the Chicken or the Egg?

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So I realized that in last weeks blog, I failed to mention one of the biggest misconceptions about eggs! Many people believe that eating eggs from chickens in reprehensible because it could be a baby. THIS IS FALSE! Chicken eggs, that you buy in the grocery store are NOT fertilized, they never could turn into baby chickens. Even if you put that egg under a warm lamp and waited, it would never ever turn into a chick! An egg is simply a delicious form of protein produced by chickens that when fertilized by a rooster, could form a baby, but the eggs you buy in the grocery store never even got close to becoming babies. So, do not worry about that!

Whew, know that that’s been handled, I want to know from you all, what are some things about Agriculture that you’re a little iffy about! Maybe you don’t know the difference between Organic and Non-Organic, or why farmers wait till corn is dry to harvest it! I want to know what you want to know because my goal in this blog is to eradicate some misconceptions that people have about this industry that I love so much! So seriously, feel free to respond with questions you want answered.

In the meantime, I’m going to talk about another misnomer floating around about farms, and in fact Factory Farms. The truth is that “factory farms” are pretty much a myth! According to the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, 98% of all farms in the United States are family owned. Many larger crop farms in the Midwest might have many more owners. Or large vineyards in California will have corporate sponsors. The truth is that most farms are like my family’s. It’s a family business where parents and children work hard to produce healthy and nutritious food. I am proud of the fact that my family’s farm produces eggs that can travel as far as New York City, or stay within my home county of Lancaster. And that the milk our cows produce can be in your cereal tomorrow, or in a bar of Hershey’s Chocolate. You see, its small family farms like my family’s that grows Chicken for Tyson, and Beef for Cargill. While food is processed and packaged in factories, do not be confused as to where it comes from. Your food comes from hard work, soil and sunlight. Your food comes from families, like mine.

For the Dairy Industry, it is 1% below the National average of 98%

 

Family Farms are the norm in Ag.

Both of these posters are from a site on Facebook, called “Keeping it Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl.” It is so neat and has a lot of cool and true (I always verify!) facts and statistics about Agriculture. Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/lens.of.a.farm.girl !

-Sarabeth

PS really, I want you guys to ask questions! 🙂 If you can’t think of one, tell me what you want to know more about!

 

Homecoming Parade… Chicken Hats = FUN!

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This past weekend was the Homecoming Parade here at Penn State, Main Campus. I hope you all were able to come out and demonstrate your PSU pride! OR, came out to see the pretty floats, listen to music, and enjoy the tremendous parade that walked by. I was lucky enough to walk in the parade with the Poultry Science Club here at Penn State! It was so much fun. We had chicken hats, we handed out candy… we even have our very own chicken mascot! It was all good fun, that is until someone decided to be “funny” and yell out, “Really we have a chicken club at Penn State, that’s so dumb! What do you do? Play with Chickens?” Not only is this rude to other people who are trying to enjoy the parade, including young families, it’s very hurtful. I would like to continue this blog with all positive things about Chickens and Penn State’s Poultry club. I just wanted you all to know that the fuel for this weeks topic stems from my bruised Homecoming Parade experience.

First of all, chickens are pretty awesome! In my Introduction to Agriculture class in High School, I learned a lot about Poultry. For instance, in my home county, Lancaster, there are actually more chickens than people! Chicken meat is a great source of protein, and is the most widely eaten meat in the world. While Americans generally eat beef and ham, chicken and fish are much more common in other parts of the world! Chickens that are raised for meat are called Broilers, or Broiling Hens. Over the years, through meticulous scientific research in feed and genetics, we are able to grow larger chickens in less time. This is incredibly important when looking at the issue of feeding a growing population!

Also, Chickens provide delicious breakfast option in eggs, these are called Laying Hens. The average American consumer in 2011 ate 248 eggs! And Pennsylvania is ranked third in the Nation for Egg Production only behind Iowa and Ohio. That’s a pretty big deal! The Poultry Industry in the United States provides thousands of jobs, and provides all of us with delicious, nutritious food. I bet you also didn’t know that eggs are used in shots, so chickens are vital to our health!

My family has a Chicken House with close to 100,000 Laying Hens. What does this mean? Lots of work, but a steady supply of eggs for breakfast (or the way I prefer them, in cookies!) So I was really excited to join the Poultry Club here at Penn State. This club is nationally recognized, and the Poultry Judging Team regularly wins events at the National Level. So yeah, it might look strange walking around a parade with a chicken hat on, but did you eat Chicken today? Did you eat anything with eggs in it? Have you ever gotten a shot in your life?

What many people don’t realize is that Agriculture is highly scientific. We are not just playing in dirt. We are using new science to produce more food on less land. We aren’t wearing straw hats, we are feeding the world, the nation. We are feeding you.

Have a great weekend,

-Sarabeth

Here is a picture of my sister, Lindsay, and me in our Chicken Hats. I know you all are super jealous of this new fashion statement!

Also, statistics from this post were taken from The United Egg Organization, they have a lot of facts and statistics regarding consumer consumption of poultry products. You can look more information at http://www.unitedegg.org/GeneralStats/default.cfm

Elementary School Dreams…

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Everyone has that assignment in Elementary School where you have to say what you want to be when you grow up. For me, this was in third grade, and I was having a pretty hard time of it. My short stint as a Lego Construction worker did not seem to be working out, and I had never wanted to be a Ballerina or Police Officer like some of the other girls and boys. So, I decided to combine my parents’ jobs. My father is a Dairy Farmer, and my mom is a Respiratory Therapist. So obviously, I wanted to be a Dairy Therapist! My mom thought I should try to be a Vet instead, “more job openings” she confided in me! Therefore, I completed my assignment in 3rd grade in the hopes of one day becoming a Large Animal Veterinarian. Surprisingly, this elementary school dream is still swirling in my head!

                Some cool facts about Large Animal Vets you probably did not know. One, they take care of cows, pigs, horses, etc. all types of livestock animals. Whenever I tell people I want to be a Large Animal Vet, they start picturing Elephants and Giraffes and Lions! This would be awesome, but that is a Zoo or Exotic Animal Veterinarian, and a VERY competitive field! Also, currently there is an excess of Small Animal Veterinarians in the United States. They take care of companion animals like cats, dogs, and birds etc. However, there is definitely a shortage of Livestock Veterinarians. For instance, the average age of a Large Animal Veterinarian in my county (Lancaster, which is a huge Agricultural county) is thought to be about 49, just a little bit below the average age of Farmers (56)! This is partly because Veterinary school is so hard to get into. (Not many realize that it’s harder to get into Vet School than it is to get into Medical School! There are only 28 Vet Schools in the Nation.) Large Animal Veterinarians also have pretty bad hours, because Farmers could have emergencies at any time of the day or night. Just like farming, it’s not just a job but a lifestyle.

This is a Large Animal Veterinarian checking on a baby calf. Photo courtesy of http://www.vpr.net/episode/46208/large-animal-veterinarian-shortage/

 

Two summers ago I spent a week shadowing my family farms’ Veterinarian, and it was so much fun. We mostly dealt with herd checks of Dairy Farms in my area. This is when the vets check on the pregnant cows to make sure everything is going well, and then check the overall health of the herd. Large Animal Veterinarians travel to individual farms to perform operations, check on sick cows, help with calf deliveries, deliver and administer medicines, and breed animals. Fun stuff! In fact this past Sunday, I got to see the vet on a surprise visit.

This past weekend, my sisters Jen, Lindsay and I went home to help with the chores on the farm. I was so excited to get some “barn time!” Some people have yoga, jogging, music or a favorite TV show, but animals, they are my relaxers! Spending time with the cute baby calves, and milking the cows just feels like home to me. On Sunday morning, however, Jen and I were milking (yep woke up at 4:30 woot woot!) and one of the cows was hurt. She had somehow gotten a wound on her right side! So, Jen and my Dad got her into a separate pen, and we called the vet. While Jen and I continued milking our other cows, my Dad went out to the barn to see where she could have possibly hurt herself. Once Rebecca came, one of our vets, she immediately prepped the cow for stitches because she was bleeding. The vet cleaned out the area, and stitched the wound up! For veterinarians, It’s all about little emergencies! The prognosis… still not sure how she hurt herself, but I just got an update from my dad, she is doing well! No more bleeding, and she is eating like normal, which is always a good sign for animal health.

So, who knows what I will actually end up doing “when I grow up,” I do know, however, that I will somehow be working with animals and in the incredible industry I love, Agriculture.

Have a great day, and remember to drink some milk!

-Sarabeth

This is a picture of my family’s Milking Parlor. We bring the cows into this everyday, twice a day to milk them. We have a fairly modern system that is much more convenient than hand milking over 200 cows!

Bovine Buddies

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So my family moved to a larger farm on the Western side of Lancaster County when I was in 7th grade. The transition was pretty hard for me, but I always had my best friend Rosie to talk to. She’s the best, she always listens attentively, and looks at me with those big brown eyes when I am sad, or need someone to talk to. Rosie, is basically the best friend a girl could ask for. She enjoys nice long walks, a good slice of hay, and a nice belly rub. You have actually already seen a picture of her, Rosie happens to be a cow, and she is pretty awesome. For those of you who think cows are only good for eating grass and making milk, “Think AGain,” they are very smart animals! My cow Rosie, can even tell me and my twin sister apart! No lie, you can ask her (my twin I mean!) Whenever Lindsay calls to Rosie from the meadow, she will look up at her, and then kinda meh, walk away, but If I call at Rosie, you bet your sweet bipey she is going to come sauntering over. Cows are truly incredible animals, and are highly underestimated among many people! I have known cows to figure out how to open gates, or to know exactly when my Dad will go out to the barn in the morning.

This is my twin sister, Lindsay, and I next to one of our tractors! Doesn’t everyone get prom pics with the family tractor?

I bet not many of you knew that there are several different breeds of cows. What type is Rosie?

 

This is me taking a nap with my bovine buddy, Rosie, at a fair. We were both pretty tired!

Gotcha! That was kind of a trick question, because she is a Red and White Holstein. Photo courtesy of http://www.goldencow.com.au/golden_cow/kids_spot.html

Anyways, my family mostly has Holsteins, Red and White Holsteins, and Jersey cows, and I think they are truly incredible animals. We milk about 240 cows and have just as many baby calves around! It sure is a lot of work, but we love it.

I have four sisters, and while going outside in the barn and getting dirty was’t always our favorite thing to do in life, all five of us have done our fair share of farm work. And to be honest, I miss it now that I am at college. On any given day on the farm, we milk our cows twice a day! (Yes even on Christmas, and our birthdays, and when its snowing outside.) We clean the barn, feed the baby calves, take care of sick cows, fix machinery, and so much more. Life on the farm certainly isn’t dull. Working outside has taught me so many lessons I cannot file on a transcript. Like the real applications of new life that we learn about in Biology. Or the importance of hard work and responsibility. I treasure every memory working outside in the barn, alongside my family.

What you have to understand, is that for my family, farming isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life. My dad works hard all day milking cows, and stays up late every night getting field work done because he loves it. Because he has a passion for working on the land in nature. Because he loves working with animals. Because he finds joy in working with his hands.

You see, I’m the kind of girl who is blessed to have a family that has instilled in me this same passion for Agriculture. This passion for producing the worlds food. I am the type of girl who likes to wear jeans, an old t-shirt and barn boots. I’m the kind of girl who has more bovine buddies than most. I’m the type of girl who admires my fathers’ rough and scarred hands, because they are feeding the world.

I am the kind of girl who loves Agriculture, and isn’t afraid to show it!

This is a picture of my family’s Dairy Farm : )

 

Here is my family. (My mom was taking the picture.) Amanda, Lindsay, Jennifer, my Dad, myself and Alysha. Obviously these aren’t our barn clothes, but we decided to all get a picture with the tractor one day after Church!

 

 

Penn State and Ag… Huh?

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Alright so quiz time! Who knows what The Pennsylvania State University was first called?

  1. Pennsylvania State College
  2. The Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania
  3. Centre County Community College (CCCC)
  4. None of the Above

So what did you guess? Well since my blog is about Ag, you may have chosen B. and if you did… you would be… CORRECT! : ) What is now known as The Pennsylvania State University, or PSU, first started as The Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania in 1855. Penn State’s first class graduated in 1861, marking a momentous time in agriculture education for they were the first graduates of an American Agricultural College to have a baccalaureate degree in Agriculture. So yeah, it was kind of a big deal!

Students at the Farmer’s High School of Pennsylvania
Photo Courtesy of Pennsylvania State University Archives on http://explorepahistory.com/displayimage.php?imgId=1-2-48E

However, as many like to say, Agriculture isn’t all about “cows, sows and plows” anymore. America’s farmers are producing the world’s safest and most abundant food source on less land and with less resources! If you get a chance, check out Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences website! http://agsci.psu.edu/

Photo Courtesy of PSU College of Agricultural Sciences website

There is an incredible amount of interesting research and development going on right here on campus.  On the news-feed I checked just today, there are 2 great examples of the innovative research and implementation of new technology going on at Penn State! One article on the home web-page reads, “Research moves LEDs from the theatre stage to the greenhouse.” (http://live.psu.edu/story/61223) And another for you iPhone owners! “App helps dairy farmers milk profits during volatile times.” The article states in an opening sentence, “A free mobile app developed by Penn State researchers can help dairy farmers plow through financial planning by helping them track feed costs and income.” (http://live.psu.edu/story/61218) On PSU livestock farms, there are cutting edge research projects happening, and gaining incredible results.

One of my favorite parts about the college is the saying on many posters, keychains, and folders that the College of Agricultural Sciences has, “Think AGain!”

You may think you have nothing to do with this incredible industry, but I hope that you all will “Think AGain.”

-Have a fantastic week,

-Sarabeth

 

Information for this blog post was from the College of Agricultural Sciences Webpage,http://agsci.psu.edu/about, as well as the websites noted in the blog.

Why Ag?

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Former Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Reading once said at a speech, “Raise your hand if you are personally related to Agriculture.” He scanned the crowd to see two people proudly waving their hands (one of them was me!). He continued by saying, “How many of you ate food today?” The crowd chuckled as people realized his ploy. Everyone should have raised their hands.

Every single person who eats, wears clothes, and resides in buildings has an intimate, personal relationship with Agriculture. The problem is that as generations get further and further away from the “family farm,” many people have mistaken notions, and a lack of knowledge about Agriculture. My goal with this Blog is to talk a little bit about Ag in Pennsylvania, and to hopefully eradicate some misconceptions about Agriculture. If you ever have any questions or want to know more about something, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Now, perhaps I should start with the basics… what is Agriculture? It can be defined as the production of food, fuel and fiber . Therefore keep in mind, Ag is considered as the production of eggs, beef, and blueberries, as well wool, cotton, and wood. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania  has a great diversity of Agriculture, from Christmas Trees to Dairy Products.

I have a passion for farming. Growing up on a Dairy and Poultry Farm in Lancaster County, PA with my parents and four sisters has instilled in me a love for this incredible industry. I urge anyone who is reading this to please, take a moment sometime today, and think of how many ways you have touched Agriculture. Because, that wooden desk is the result of a hardworking farmer, that milk you drank is the result of a local Family Farm, and that t-shirt your wearing started out in a cotton field. So tune in next week to learn more about an industry that I love so much, the bread and butter of society, Agriculture!

Have a great week,

-Sarabeth

This is me and my cow Rosie at our local Fair! I just love cows… they are pretty awesome : )