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Century Farm farmer honored for outstanding conservation

Mary Lou Bytof

   Recieving two agricultural awards in one year may seem like an impossible row to hoe, but not for farmer Dale Bentz of Wellsville.

   In March, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture awarded Bentz, his wife, Sondra, and their Old Mountain Road Farm with the distinction of a Century Farm to commemorate the dedication of the Bentz family for farming their land in Warrington Township for more than 100 consecutive years.

   Later this year, Bentz also recieved a 2019 Outstanding Conservation Farmer Award. Granted by the York County Conservation District, it honors Bentz for his 10-year effort to improve three waterways on his farm and for seeking new methods to control erosion on his property.

   "Doing things the 'right way' comes naturally to Bentz both on his farm and through his job," according to the Conservation District. As a co-owner of RiverLogic Solutions, a watershed restoration contracting company, Bentz and his partner provide stream restoration, dam removal and wetland construction in the Mid-Atlantic region. When he is not traveling for the company, Bentz works from home on the buisiness and maintains the farm.

   Upon applying for the Century Farm designation, Bentz had to meet three criteria. He had to provide documentation that his farm is his permanent residence. Also, the farm must consist of at least 10 acres of the origial holding. Currently, the farm is approximately 34.5 acres.

   While sifting through a shoebox full of deeds for the property, Bentz recalled the family history of land ownership.  On March 9, 1916, his geat-grandfather, William Bentz purchased 37 acres from Lewis and Elizabeth Deardorff at a cost of 133.30 per acre. However, William had previously owned the farm. He originally had purchased it in 1894, sold it in 1902, and then bought it back in 1916.

    With farming being labor-intensive work and crop yields dependent on the weather, it was common in the area for people to buy farms and sell them a few yeras later, Dale Bentz said. He added that he does not know why William sold the property in 1902.

   William had 10 chidren who helped him on the farm. They lived in the farm house where Dale and Sondra now reside.

   William's oldest son, Chester A. Bentz, Dale's grandfather, purchased the farm on September 19, 1919. In 1961, Lawrence L. Bentz, Dale's uncle, took over ownership of the farm. In 1969, Dale's father Laverne K. Brentz purcased the farm.

   Dale has owned and worked the farm since 1999. He grows wheat, soybeans, and hay.

   In honoring him, the York County Conservation District said, "He takes great care to control noxious weeds on his property and maintains the areas around his farm extremely well. And he is continuously seeking methods to improve his land in order to control erosion."

   To honor farmer families who have contributed so much to our state's economy and the nutrition of its citizens, the Department of Agriculture began the Century Farm designation program in 1976. In 2004, the program expanded to recognize Bicentennial Farms.

                                         St. Michael's Church turns 200

   St. Michael's Lutheran Church will celebrate its 200th anniversary on Sept. 29, recognizing a rich history in the small village of Rossville.

   A service will be held at 9 a.m. at the church, 3335 Rosstown Rd., followed by a luncheon.

   According to the history of the West Pennsylvanian Synod, the Lutheran congregaton in Warrington Township near Rossvill was founded sometime between 1763 and 1789, shepherded by the Rev. Lucas Raus, who made his was to Rossville from Dover during this time to form the Rossville congregation. Many of these services were held in schoolhouses.

    In 1819, 200 years ago, historical records show that the Lutheran and Reformed Congregation erected a "Brick Church" north of Straight Hill where the current brick building and cemetary now sit. It is by virtue of these records from the year 1819 that the congregation recognizes that date as the latest possible date of its organization.

   In 1837, with the insertion of a regular pastor, the congregation grew rapidly. By 1849, the Lutheran membership was more than 200.

   With this growth, the congregation wanted a church building of its own and, in 1848, the members voted to seperate from the Reformed Congregation and build a seperate church on the current site where it sits today. The name "St. Micahel's Evangelial Lutheran Church" was given when the new church stone was laid on the church calendar day of St. Michael and All Angels.

Bears rebound over Huskies

Joe Guty                                            

   After a (long) road victory last week, Northern hosts Greencastle-Antrim H.S. this Friday night under the lights at Bostic Field. It’s Homecoming and the Polar Bears (2-2 and 1-0 in the Mid Penn Colonial) will face a gritty Blue Devil squad (1-3, 0-1 Mid Penn Colonial).

   And for the Polar Bears, it will be a welcome relief to play at home. Northern jostled with Mifflin County H.S. (in Lewistown) last Friday before pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 42-28 league win.

   Junior quarterback Jordan Heisey threw for three touchdowns while senior running back Kyle Swartz bulldozed the Huskies as he totaled 275 yards. Northern’s offensive and defensive lines had several outstanding series which helped the scoring cause – Northern’s highest point output this season.

   “The line did a great job blocking and receivers ran good routes,” said Heisey. “Mifflin County is a physical team every year and we never know what exactly they’re going to bring but we prepared well this week.”

   In the first quarter Northern struck first as Jordan Heisey connected with Luke Horvath on a 13-yard pass play at 8:30. Mason Yohn’s extra point made it 7-0. At 3:27, the Huskie’s Chris Sheetz found a wide-open Jacob Krepps on a 13-yarder to even it up at 7-7 after Ben Yingling’s kick made it through the uprights.

   The Huskies took the lead early in the second quarter as Sheetz found Jaden Jackson open for 39 yards. Northern countered as Heisey’s 20-yard TD pass to Tyler Weary (and Yohn’s extra point) at 7:09 tied it up.

   The second half produced more offensive fireworks from both teams. Kyle Swartz scored on an 8-yard run at 10:02 before Sheetz connected on a 45-yard play to Krepps at 5:05. Heisey then broke the tie with a 30-yard TD pass to Tim Geiser at 1:45. The Huskies added Brycen Hassinger’s 16-yard run at 8:16 but that was all for the hosts as Swartz scored on a 27-yard run and 10-yard blast at 7:46 and 1:46 in the final quarter.

   “We converted some plays tonight in that second half that we would have been in a certain fight without them," said Head Coach Bill Miller. "And when push came to shove, we ran the ball."

                                    NHS squashes Bulldogs and 'Hounds

Andy Sandrik

While not quite on top of the Mid-Penn Conference mountain just yet, the Northern boys soccer team has certainly established itself as the team to beat in the Mid-Penn's Colonial Division.

The Polar Bears dominated two division opponents, Big Spring 9-0 on Thursday and Shippensburg 8-1 on Tuesday, while also suffering its first loss, 3-2, to undefeated Palmyra in a divisional crossover on Saturday.

   Northern (7-1-1, 4-0-1 Colonial), a team that has outscored its competition 52-7, checks in at No. 5 in the latest District 3-3A power rankings.

   The Polar Bears hit the road to face Boiling Springs today, before returning home to face Greencastle-Antrim on Tuesday.

Northern 9, Big Spring 0 

Northern 9, Big Spring 0

A scoreless tie was broken in the 23rd minute when Big Spring knocked in an own goal, igniting a Northern offense that was able to score three goals of its own before halftime.

   The Polar Bears got two goals apiece from Shep Soisson, Nate Spuler and Zach French, as well as goals from Spencer Siverling and Bailey Lutz. Ashton Davies came through with three assists, while Spuler, Brown, Connor Swope, Lutz and Cody Patterson also provided assists.

   Northern keeper John White needed just two saves to earn the clean sheet.

   Palmyra 3, Northern 2

   Playing against an undefeated Palmyra side that had not given up a goal all season, Northern held its own against the Cougars on Saturday.

   Palmyra took a 2-0 lead into halftime, but the Polar Bears clawed back in the 53rd minute with a goal from Zach French that was assisted by Ashton Davies.

   The Cougars put Northern in a tough spot with a goal in the 62nd minute to pull ahead 3-1. The Polar Bears got a goal in the 79th minute, on a score from French that was assisted by Connor Swope, but ultimately fell short in their comeback bid.

   Palmyra outshot the Polar Bears by just one shot, 16-15, while Northern held a 4-0 advantage in corner kicks.

   Polar Bears keeper John White registered a season-high 10 saves in the loss.

   Northern 8, Shippensburg 1 

   Before Tuesday's game even reached the 15th minute, Northern was leading 3-0 over Colonial Division opponent Shippensburg. The Polar Bears then took a 4-1 lead into halftime before outscoring the Greyhounds 4-0 in the second half.  

   Northern thoroughly dominated Ship on the stat sheet, with the Polar Bears outshooting the 'Hounds 15-4 and holding a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.

   Northern got three goals from Ashton Davies and two apiece from Shep Soisson and Connor Swope, with Spencer Siverling providing the team's other goal.