Story by Kaleigh Grim, Farmers' Night Coordinator
On February 19, 2025, an evening of dinner and entertainment was held at Lyons Fire Company to celebrate farmers at the Kutztown Rotary Club’s Annual Farmers Night. Berks County farmers’ hard work and commitment to a dignified vocational service has spurred this event to bridge centuries.
Vocational service is part of Rotary International’s five avenues of service; Farmers’ Night recognizes the value of a very useful occupation. Former club president, Kurt Rohrbach, stated in his opening invocation, “May they feel our thanks, not just in these words, but in every bite of food nurtured by their hands.”
Approximately 175 people attended the dinner, including farmers of northern Berks Co., Kutztown and Fleetwood Rotarians, local Grange members, FFA members, sponsors and others. A buffet dinner, cake, special recognitions and a milk-drinking contest were part of the fun.
Senator Judith Schwank shared a legislative update as the featured speaker. “I don’t know what is going to happen on the federal level. All I can tell you is Pennsylvania is already dispersing funds to farmers,” Schwank said. With one-third of the state budget coming from federal resources, she also shared concerns amid changes taking place in Washington. “We might have to make some hard choices as we go forward,” said Schwank.
The Biehl family from Corner View Farm of Kutztown was recognized as Kutztown Rotary’s Farm Family of the Year. “We’ve been milking cows for 115 years on our farm. It’s a passion. It’s a lot of hard work but many of you know that,” fourth-generation farmer Brad Biehl said. His father, Dalton Biehl, shared sentimentally, “I saw my son and my grandsons working the fields, so it’s a privilege to see five generations on the farm. Next year we’ll have the honor to celebrate 100 years of century farming.”
Future Farmers of America (FFA) clubs from Kutztown, Oley and Brandywine school districts were represented. Each group presented a Student of the Month, with those selected students giving short speeches to the attendees. Brandywine’s FFA student, Brinley Hess, addressed the crowd twice, as the student-of-the-month, and again as Berks Co. Alternate Dairy Princess. Lyndsey Smith of Kutztown, and Baily Hornig of Oley Valley were also recognized.
According to dairy farmer Jim Younker of Kirbyville Holsteins, “We come when we can. It’s a nice social gathering. I enjoy seeing the youth be recognized in the FFA program.” As he greeted his neighbors, Younker said it’s nice to see the other farmers. “We usually see them out and about, but we don’t see them cleaned up usually,” he added.
Success.
Kutztown Rotary Club thanks our sponsors: Fleetwood Bank, Albright’s Mill, A.D. Moyer Lumber, Edward J. Hildenbrand Funeral Home Inc., First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union, Tompkins Community Bank, Blue Marsh Insurance, F.M. Brown’s Sons, Fulton Bank, Antler Ridge Winery, Danenhower Apiaries LLC, Oley Valley Feed Inc., Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppe, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania State Council of Farm Organizations, Setter Ridge Vineyards, Weaver’s Ace Hardware, and Way-Har Farms.