MEADVILLE, Pa. — Frank Bizjak, of Carlton, Pennsylvania, and the late Paul and Phyllis Kunz, of Centerville, will be enshrined into the Crawford County Agricultural Hall of Fame.
The awards will be presented at an open program Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Crawford County Fairgrounds Youth Show Arena.
The Elder Ag & Turf Equipment Company, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania, is receiving the county’s Ag Industry Award at the same ceremony.
Frank Bizjak
Frank Bizjak graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education, and began his career in agricultural education at Conneaut Valley High School. He has been employed by the Conneaut School District for the past 24 years and now teaches at Conneaut Area Senior High School.
He was a former member of the Crawford County Extension Board, and is currently a director on the Crawford County Fairground Building Association, chairman of the Crawford County 4-H & FFA Livestock Sale Committee, and ex-officio member of the Crawford County Fair Board.
Paul and Phyllis Kunz
Paul and Phyllis Kunz will be recognized posthumously. They lived in Centerville and were the owners and operators of Dolly Run Farm. Both stayed active with the farm as much as possible until their deaths — Phyllis in 2001 and Paul in 2004. Paul and Phyllis raised registered Guernsey dairy cattle and sold numerous animals to 4-H members and fellow Guernsey breeders alike. Paul delivered milk in the Titusville area, produced and sold maple syrup, was a Conde Milking Equipment distributor and a seed corn dealer for several companies. He also worked for the Soil Conservation Association for a time.
He was also a member of Gresham Grange, Northwest Pa. Maple Syrup Association, Guernsey breed chairman for the Crawford County Dairy Committee, past president of the NW Guernsey Breeders Association, board member of the Pennsylvania Guernsey Breeders Association, Agway director, Atlantic Breeders Co-op and Country Belle Co-op director. He helped to initiate the Dairy Herd Improvement Association of Crawford County and was a Charter member of the Crawford County Farmers Association, and a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.
Phyllis worked beside her husband and assisted in Paul’s many volunteer positions. She worked at the former Grandview Healthcare, now Golden Living Center, and was an Avon representative for over 30 years. She was an avid gardener and a zealous dairy promoter. Both were members of the Bethel United Methodist Church.
The farm is still owned and operated by the family as the fourth generation has taken ownership and the fifth generation is learning and growing on the farm and through 4-H.
Business award
Elder Ag & Turf Equipment Company of Stoneboro will receive the Ag Industry Award. Harry Elder Sr. acquired a contract in 1952 to sell Minneapolis-Moline tractors and other related farm equipment. In 1953 the business started on the family farm, now currently the Goddard State Park Office.
A facility was purchased in 1954 in the village of Clarks Mills, where the business operated for 22-plus years, moving to the present Stoneboro location in 1976. In the early 1980s, Harry Elder Jr. and Joyce came to work full-time for the business and continue to work for the family business to this day.
A second John Deere store was purchased in East Palestine, Ohio, in the early 1990s, and in February of 1998, a new facility was built on Route 14 in East Palestine named Elder Ag & Turf Equipment Company. The store is managed by Harry’s daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and C. H. McCutcheon. A third location in Fairmount City, Pennsylvania, was added in 2013. With the addition of the third location, Elder Sales and Service, Inc. is now doing business as Elder Ag & Turf Equipment Company at all three locations. Currently there are three generations working and still involved in the business.
The awards program is administered by Crawford County Pomona Grange. Agricultural organizations and previous recipients have selected the 2015 recipients of this year’s awards.
To Frank Bizjak: Please explain why rabbits and poultry are not permitted into the Friday night livestock auction at the Crawford County Fair? These 4-H members work hard to raise quality animals but do not get the equal opportunity as other 4-H members. Thank you for your explanation. TJ Hasychak