A Conversation With: Don Carter
Holly Tonini
Observer-Reporter
Don Carter heads a 115-acre family farm in Mt. Pleasant Township, where it produces corn, soybeans and small grains.
Hence, his membership in the Washington County Farm Bureau, which recently celebrated its 57th anniversary.
Carter, who is set to take the reins as farm bureau co-coordinator alongside Sara Belback next year, is just one reason the organization has collected more than 80,000 pounds of food over the past 10 years during its annual food drive for the Greater Washington County Food Bank. Last year alone, the farm bureau, with the help of nearly 40 locations, including 14 4-H Clubs, county libraries, local businesses, county government agencies and county organizations, was able to donate 13,000 pounds. That’s quite an accomplishment, considering the early years started with just seven collection boxes.
We recently caught up with Carter to find out more about this year’s food drive that’s running through March 30.
Q. What is the Farm Bureau Food Drive?
A. The food drive is the way our organization, the Washington County Farm Bureau, can give back to the community.
Q. What is your specific role with the food drive?
A. I, along with a committee of people, will coordinate the event.
Q. When did this initiative begin?
A. The event started about 15 years ago by our president at the time, John Sargent. For the first five years of the project, we donated food to the Ronald McDonald House, until we began taking food to the Greater Washington County Food Bank.
Q. How does this initiative help the community?
A. Our food drive will benefit the needy people of Washington County. We also have two contests during our food drive. There is a contest for the county libraries and 4-H clubs. The libraries and clubs that collect the most pounds of canned good will receive monetary prizes. It is a win, win, win situation for all parties involved. We keep the collection as locally focused as possible. For example, the food collected in the Avella area will benefit the residents of Avella.
Q. How can the community help with this initiative?
A. We would ask that county residents take their collections to their nearest library. Or, for a complete list of collection sites, visit the Food Bank website at www.gwcfb.org.
Q. Do you accept help from anyone?
A. Yes, we will work with local civic organizations, clubs and associations. If anyone would like to support the Farm Bureau Food Drive, they can contact me through the food bank at 724-632-2190.
Q. What other events or programs does the Farm Bureau support?
A. The Washington County Farm Bureau is participating in the Farmtastic Book Program by promoting the book “Sleep Tight Farm,” by Eugenie Doyle. The farm bureau donates this book to local libraries that participate in the food drive and farm bureau members can purchase the book to give to local schools. We participate in this program to help educate young readers about farming. A new book is available every year and is available for purchase. This year, orders will be accepted until the end of April. Also during the Washington County Food Drive, the Washington County Women’s Leadership Committee of the Farm Bureau collects paper products, such as paper towels, paper plates, toilet paper, small travel size hygiene items, boxes of cereal and snacks for the Ronald McDonald House. The project is called Farmers Care!
Q. Is the Farm Bureau accepting new members?
A. We are always looking for new members! It’s a grassroots organization, always working for the future of farming. We strive to preserve agricultural education funding and Future Farmers of America programs through local outreach, promoting agriculture and educating all generations about today’s farm practices, and seeking to reduce or eliminate property taxes. Once you become a member, you can save even more with County Farm Bureau Local Discounts.
Q. How did you get involved in agriculture?
A. I grew up on my family’s dairy farm here in Washington County. I am the third generation to help work on the farm that is currently owned by my father and brother. I also had an uncle who was an agriculture teacher for more than 30 years at the Fort Cherry High School and advised the H.G. Parkinson FFA Chapter, and I have an uncle who was a DHIA milk tester in the Washington and Lancaster county areas for more than 50 years. In addition, I have several relatives who are or were directly involved in agriculture.
Currently, I work full time at the Chet Whelpley Agway store group in Washington, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, and work part time on the farm.
Q. How do you feel about the future of agriculture?
A. I feel incredibly optimistic, especially because I have one niece who recently received her Keystone FFA degree, and another niece who is a Greenhand this year.