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The Enterprise Club
Meeting # 1398
January 11, 1986
Our club met on this fine winter evening at The Flaming Pit restaurant just north of Gaitersburg, Maryland. Mr. Harry Goff was our host and as always he had things under control. We had a special little cozy side room all to ourselves; a pretty young lady to serve us drinks and after 30 or 40 minutes of socializing and adjusting our attitudes we were served one of the best prime rib of beef dinner I have ever had. Everything was just delicious from beginning to end.
Mr. and Mrs. Goff will be off for Florida toward the end of January for about three months. We hope they get away because Mrs. Goff hasn't been too well and is in the hospital at the present time. Mr. Goff said he expected her to be released from the hospital in a day or two.
Mr. Goff's guests for the evening were Mr. J.J. Hutton, Mr. George Lechlider, and Mr. Roscoe Whipp.
Membership absentees were Mr. Rudell Beall, Wayne Burdette, Mike Morris and Mr. John Doody. Mr. Doody is slowly recovering from his stroke and the secretary read a nice thank you note from Mrs. Doody telling about her husbands progress and how much they appreciated the flowers from the club membership helping them celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in November. A collection was taken up repay Robert Beall who had purchased the flowers as a gift from the club.
The minutes of the last meeting with Mr. Goff were read as were the minutes of our November meeting with Tim Conner as host. There were a couple of minor corrections.
Our Historian forgot to bring an "old" set of minutes to read and was warned about the possibility of being elected secretary as part of his punishment. He couldn't apologize enough. Then our president asked for a ladies night report from our committee of two and the same individual said they didn't have a report but then changed it to " there will a ladies night sometime in the future." He definitely needs to be punished.
Crop prices were quoted as follows tonight:
Wheat $ 3.70 Hogs .47 cents Corn $ 2.74 Feeder Cattle .52 cents to .57 cents Ear Corn $ 13. Fat Cattle .56 cents to .60 cents Oats $ 1.38 Green Calves .55 cents to .85 cents Barley $ 1.78 Culled Cows .33 cents to .35 cents Hay $ 2.50 Dairy Heifers $900. Straw $ 1.50 to $ 2.00 Lambs .63 cents to .73 cents Soybean Meal $ 185.to $ 190. Milk $ 12.69 Soybeans $ 5.58
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# 1398
Jan. 11, 1986
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Questions:
Mr. George Lechlider:
Since we have plenty of hay to feed, would it be smart to buy feeders now? Ans: Yes (Beef cattle numbers have gone way down in the U. S.)
Mr. Stanley Stabler commented that years ago when measuring a barrel of corn, you were allowed two shakes of the barrel before Christmas and one shake after.
Al Cowell:
We have a bad thistle problem in a field that wasn't mowed last year. What should we use to kill them?
Ans: 1/2 pint of 2/4D and 1/4 pint of Banville. Clip the field first and then let the thistles start to come back for about one month. Then apply the 2/4D and Banville.
Robert Beall:
#1 We have a neighbor with a barn, 20 acres of good grass,afence and water. What's a fair monthly price for it's use? Ans: $ 1000 a year.
#2 Also a neighbor has a blue grass hayfield. What should the share arrangements be when he provides the hayfield and I provide the machinery and most of the labor in making the hay? Ans: 50/50
Drew Stabler:
What's the best grass to plant for pasture this spring? Ans: Orchard Grass and Red Clover.
John Richardson stated that his Dad has a wood-splitter for sale for $350.
It's powered by a tractor. John also said that he read an article recently in a farm magazine about a milking parlor floating on water. There were 18 milking machines. The experiment was too costly because of maintainance and the cows got seasick. (John better change his brand of booze or milk).
Also John said that his Dad sold a hay baler that he purchased new in 1956 for $300 more than he paid for it. The baler never sat out over night. Mr. Richardson has a reputation for taking excellent care of all of his equipment. John has inherited some of Mr. Richardson's outstanding qualities but unfortunately not enough.
Tim Conner said that he read an interesting article in The Washington Post a couple of weeks ago about there not being a food shortage in the world. The United States has taught other countries to produce and feed themselves. Mr. Lechlider said that politics causes food shortages when in reality there is enough food in the world to feed everyone. SAD!
Adjourned to meet with Al Cowell in February.
Respectfully Submitted,
James H. Conner
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The Enterprise Club Meeting # 1399 February 8, 1986
Our club met on this crisp February evening at the home of Al and Shirley Cowell at their attractive home in Ashton, Maryland. A light snow had fallen the previous day and it was a pretty winter scene as we drove up to the house.
Al has a herd of Herford beef cows but we didn't see them this evening. We had other things on our wind like socializing and eating. We were treated to thrist quenching drinks and fine ordeves before sitting down to a delicious meal of roast beef and crab casserole. Shirley and several friends did a great job of serving us under crowded conditions. The vegetables were outstanding especially the corn pudding. The desert almost made me swallow my tongue. I think it was a fancy apple pie.
After dinner we moved a few feet to the living room for our meeting. Al introduced his guests of the evening. They were Mr. Hans Johannson, Mr. Bob Sullivan and his second son David Cowell. David is going to tie the knot in May. The lucky young lady is Debbie Johannson.
Members not in attendance this evening were Mr. Rudell Beall, Mr. John Doody, Mr. Harry Goff and Mr. Wayne Savage who simply forgot. That's what happens when you work eighteen hours a day or is it " Old-Timers " disease?
The secretary took a good five minutes finding the previous meeting minutes with Al from April of 1984. After reading those he read last months minutes with Mr. Goff as host. There was one minor correction.
Robert Riggs, our historian, read us an old set of minutes from Feb. 20, 1875. The meeting was at Rock Spring Farm between Norbeck and Rockville. Now we know it as Flower Valley. Nothing but homes. What a shame!
The Ladies night committee reported no progress. They've been too busy with more pressing problems.
Robert Beall gave us somewhat of an encouraging report on Mr. Doody's recovery from his stroke. He is making slow progress. Robert suggested that we invite one of Mr. Doody's sons or son-in-law to come to our meetings with Mr. Doody or in his place. Everyone seemed to think that was a good idea, and Robert will talk to the Doody clan about it.
Crop prices this evening were as follows:
Wheat: #3.40 Hogs: .45 cents to .46 cents Corn: $2.60 to $2.65 Feeder Cattle: .50 cents to .60 cents Oats: $1.50 Fat Cattle: .58 cents to 61 cents Barley: $1.60 Green Calves: .40 cents to .50 cents Hay: $2.20 to $2.60 Culled Cows: .38 cents to .39 cents Straw: $1.50 to 2$2.00 Dairy Heifers: $600. to $900. (Mark Buxton is getting $3.00) Lambs: .73 cents Milk: $12.68 Soybean Meal: $190 to $194 Soybeans: $5.25 to $5.30 Alfafa Hay: $60. to $130. a ton ( differnence is quality )
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# 1399 2/8/86
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Questions:
Robert Riggs: Since you can spread liquid nitrogen and wheat together, could you spread nitrogen and lespedeza at the sametime? Ans: Yes, but you need a truck with a special kit or nozzles to do it. Apply a normal rate of 10 to 15 pounds.
Robert Beall told us a story about Mr. Oursler and his pig that had a wooden leg. It seems the pig had saved Mr. Oursler grand daughter from drowning and alerted the whole household by knocking down the front door of the Oursler's home when the house was on fire and everyone was asleep. The pig was quite a hero and when Mr. Oursler was asked why the pig had a wooden leg, he replied, "you don't eat a pig like that all at once."
Bob Sullivan stated that he had cows across some old journals or papers written by a doctor in the area in the 1840's and 1850's. It sounded like a daily diary of the doctors rounds while visiting and treating his patients. Bob couldn't remember the doctors name, but he said he would be happy to share the "diary" with anyone that was interested in reading them.
Mark Buxton: How much faith should we have in soil testing done by a facility or company that also sells fertilizer? It seems this one outfit that also sells fertilizer always recommends more fertilizer than another facility that doesn't sell fertilizer.
Ans: It sounds as if they are not to be trusted. Sampling is the key. Have it done by The University of Maryland. If you don't use The University, tend to believe an independant company that is not connected with selling fertilizer.
Bob Stabler: What have you heard about the dairy reduction program? This is a federal government plan to take 800,000 milk cows out of production to get rid of the milk surplus. This will not affect the price of milk supposedly. Cows and heifers that are sold under this program will be specially branded and sent to market. 15% of Wisconsin dairy farmers have already signed up for this government program and subsidy. A dairy farmer about to retire will probably be very interested in this program. A man that rents a dairy operation and wishes to go out of business would have to have his landlord sign the papers. Once you have signed, the agreement lasts for five years.
Adjourned to meet with Mike Morris in March.
Respectfully Submitted,
James H. Conner
Secretary
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The Enterprise Club
Meeting # 1400
March 8, 1986
Members and guests met on this March evening with Mike Morris at his home in Woodfield, Maryland. Mike is a builder and a farmer and Bob Stabler said a few other things too.
We were treated to some delicious refreshments before dinner but they weren't as delicious as the meal served by Mike's wife Sherri and in-laws. The ham and chicken and all the side dishes were all cooked to perfection. Everyone had room for a superb cheese cake for desert. Randy Stabler ate two because his dinner plate had been removed before he had finished. If you snooze you lose! Poor Randy.
After dinner we assembled in the living room for our meeting.
Those fortunate enough to be guests were: Misters Harold Morris (Mike's Dad), Norman Young, Chris Stiles, Roger Spencer, Leroy Harper, Andre' Boyd, Pat Morris, George Lechlider, Randy Stabler and Fred Lechlider.
Quite a few of our members were either traveling or under the doctors care. Absent members were: Mr. Goff, Mr. Rudell Beall, Mr. Doody, Mr. John Richardson, Mr. Wayne Burdette, Mr. Stanley Stabler, Mr. Drew Stabler, Mr. Al Cowell, and Mr. Mark Buxton.
Mr. Doody is making slow progress in his recovery from a stroke and Mark Buxton is recovering from a new kind of back surgery although I'm not sure you call it surgery.
After the secretary read the minutes of the last meeting with Mike and last months meeting with Al Cowell, our Historian read an old set of minutes from August 13, 1921. These were most interesting. Mr. George Willson was the host for that meeting almost 65 years ago.
Mr. George Lechlider said that he's done some investigating and has found that The Senior Farmers Club of which he is a member, is the oldest such club not only in the nation but in the world.
Crop Prices were quoted as follows this evening:
Wheat $3.40 Hogs: .42 1/2 to .43 cents
Corn: $2.43 to $.60 Feeder Cattle: .50 to .65 cents
Oats: $1.50 Fat Cattle: .57 to .60 cents
Barley: $1.60 Green Calves: .55 cents
Hay: $70 to $100 a ton Culled Cows: .55 cents
Alfalfa: $3.00 a bale Dairy Heifers: $500. to $700.
Straw: $1.50 to $2.00 Lambs: .60 to .64 cents
Soybean Meal: $160 to $204 Milk: $12.67
Soybeans: $5.37 delivered