January 26, 2011: Sixty plus Rotarians, Young Farmers, partners and
guests (including Mary Seiler with Bob and Abby Fogle and Dottie Roush, Jack’s
widow, with Bob and Vi Soper) were present for Urban/Rural Night Chicken and
Waffle Dinner at Christ Community United Methodist Church. Wesley Knapp
presided, Earl Ferster gave the invocation, and Charlie Benner introduced the
program entitled Alternative Energy in
Agriculture. In Snyder County, several different types of farms are making use
of alternative energy sources and they were present to respond to questions.
Doug Klingler spoke about his double crop field of sunflowers and barley (two
crops on the same field in a year) and ethanol production. Mac Curtis responded
to questions about his use of slatted floors on his hog farm which allows for
the collection of waste which goes through a digester and produces methane gas
which in turn make electricity. Charlie spoke about compost piles which provide
for the safe and sanitary disposal of dead animals. Ruth and Marvin Weaver,
owners of three chicken houses and the Foxboro Bed and Breakfast, use solar
panels on the south side of the chicken houses to produce electricity. Costing
between $800 and $900 per panel, the use of both federal and state grants means
a 7 year payback (as opposed to a 20 year payback without grants). The panels
are under a 25 year warranty. Thanks are extended to both the program participants
and the Busy Bees, who did the work to provide the dinner.