Complimentary | May / June 2019

M A G A Z I N E

Farming in AdamsEvolves with Generations

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A publication ofGettysburg Times, LLC PO Box

3669, Gettysburg, PA 17325

PublisherHarry Hartman

editorAlex J. Hayes

Magazine designJoAnne Turner

Contributing Writers

Ashley Andyshak HayesAlex J. Hayes

Michael Cooper-WhiteMary Grace Keller

Josh Martin

PhotograPhyJohn Armstrong

Mary Grace KellerDarryl Wheeler

advertising sales Brooke Gardner

Dave KelleyTanya Parsons

Nancy PrittCarolyn Schreiber

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a note FroM the editor

May/June Calendar of Events...................................4 & 5

Nightly Taps Honor Soldiers in Gettysburg............................7

Gettysburg Native Riding Towards Pro Cycling Career...8 & 9

Farming In Adams County...................................10 & 11

Land of Little Horses..........................................12 & 13

Totem Pole Playhouse..........................................14 - 16

What’s inside

Adams County residents often miss out on opportunities to explore and appreciate their own back yard. One of the Companion staff’s goals is to promote the wonderful aspects of this unique area.

Upper Adams is probably known best for farming but it is all around us – near

Fairfield, Littlestown and Hanover. Farming is changing rapidly and Mary Grace Keller takes a look at how one of America’s oldest professions is evolving.

Just outside of Gettysburg, a unique farm attracts thousands of visitors each year. Many of

us may drive past it daily and never slow down to check it out. Michael Cooper-White and Darryl Wheeler take us inside Land of Little Horses.

Keep driving west on Route 30 and you will find one of our area’s true treasurers – Totem Pole Playhouse. I recently chatted with director Rowan Joseph about how Totem Pole is expanding its operations to secure its future.

No one has an excuse for missing a meaningful performance of Taps at Soldiers National Cemetery this summer – you have 100 chances to check it out. Wendy Allen coordinates 100 Nights of Taps and recently spoke with Ashley Andyshak Hayes about how it has grown.

Finally, a young motorcycle racing prodigy lives right here in Gettysburg. Josh Martin recently spoke to Kayla Yaakov about her rise to the top and goals for the future.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Companion. Have a great spring exploring Adams County!

BY ALEX J. HAYES

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rMay 16 p.m., Beginning-Intermediate drawingAdams County Arts Counciladamsarts.org

May 34:30 p.m., Gamelan Gita Semara ConcertGettysburg Collegewww.gettysburg.edu/academic-programs/sunderman-conservatory/

May 36 p.m., Across the PondBoyer Cellarswww.boyercellars.com

May 37:30 p.m., Neil and ShannonKnob Hall Winery Gettysburgwww.gettysburg.knobhallwinery.com

May 411:30 a.m. Home run derby and BiserTrail RededicationGettysburg Area Rec Parkwww.gara-recpark.info

May 44 p.m., Gettysburg Children’s Choir and Chamber ChoraleUnited Lutheran Seminary Chapel717-339-1334

May 47 p.m., JewelweedBattlefield Brew Workshttp://www.battlefieldbreworks.com/

May 107:30 p.m., Comedian Jeanne robertsonMajestic Theaterwww.gettysburgmajestic.org

May 1110 a.m. to 1 p.m. Gettysburg Community Benefit Tennis TournamentGettysburg College Tennis Courtswww.ywcagettysburg.org/gettysburg-benefit-tennis-tournament/

May 119 a.m., American Cancer Society relay for lifeOakside Community Parkmain.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=91174

May 124 p.m., Gettysburg Chamber OrchestraUnited Lutheran Seminary Chapel717-339-1334

May 16 – 19Gettysburg Bluegrass FestivalGranite Hill Camping Resorthttp://www.gettysburgbluegrass.com/

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May 183 to 5 p.m., Codo Ensemble - A Celebration of Classical MusicEichelberger Performing Arts Centerwww.theeich.org

May 194 p.m., Wayne Hill and FriendsUnited Lutheran Seminary Chapel717-339-1334

May 258 a.m. - 3 p.m., rummage SaleXavier Center,465 Table Rock Road,Gettysburg717-334-3298

May 2711 a.m. - 3 p.m.,Littlestown Chapel Memorial day Car Show at The outlet shoppesFun for the whole familywith great cars, inflatables,food and shopping! Rain Date June 1st

June 6 – 8Gettysburg Brass Band FestivalVarious Locationswww.gettysburgbrassbandfestival.com/

June 6 – 9Adams County Barn Art Show and SaleGAR Hallhttp://www.hgaconline.org/

June 158 a.m. to 3 p.m. 63rd Annual Antique Market & Craft showDowntown New Oxfordwww.newoxford.org/antique-market--craft-show.html

June 158 a.m. spirit of Gettysburg 5K and Kids RunsYWCA Gettysburg & Adams Countywww.ywcagettysburg.org/spirit-of-gettysburg-5k/

June 18-22

American Association of Community Theaters FestMajestic Theateraact.org/aactfest-2019

June 22Noon, PA Cider FestHauser Estate Wineryhttp://www.paciderfest.com/

June 306 p.m., dearest HomeUnited Lutheran Seminary Chapel717-339-1334

June 28-29Latimore Valley FairLatimore Valley Fairgroundshttp://www.emmr.org/

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Story By ASHley AndySHAK HAyeS • SuBmitted PHotogrAPHSIn Ypres, Belgium, the Menin Gate stands as a memorial to soldiers of the British Empire who

lost their lives during World War I. Each evening at 8, traffic stops, and a bugler plays Last Post, the counterpart to the familiar

24-note call known in the United States as Taps.Wendy Allen was visiting the Menin Gate 15 years ago and saw how the nightly observance

moved visitors.“It was a very moving ceremony,” she said. “I thought, ‘we should do this in Gettysburg.’” The Belgian countryside also reminded Allen of Gettysburg, where more than 3,500 Union

soldiers are laid to rest in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.“It seemed like a natural fit, something for the community to really come together (around),”

said Allen, who is the owner of the Lincoln Into Art gallery in Gettysburg and vice president of the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania.

In 2018, Allen’s dream of a nightly playing of Taps in Gettysburg came true. The first season of 100 Nights of Taps brought buglers from all over the United States to Gettysburg to help visitors pay their respects to the soldiers who fought and died during the Civil War.

One Hundred Nights of Taps is a partnership between the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania, the Gettysburg National Military Park and Taps for Veterans, with musical direction from Jari Villanueva, a Baltimore-based bugler whom Allen describes as a “foremost expert in Taps.”

Though the summer of 2018 brought the area more than its fair share of rain, the buglers didn’t miss a night between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

“Last summer was unbelievable,” Allen said. “The buglers are so devoted. It’s an honor working with them.”

The 2019 roster of buglers once again comprises military veterans, civilians, students, and others from more than 15 states.

Allen recently recalled the final night of 2018’s 100 Nights of Taps as “overwhelming.”“On the last night, I came up to gate house and I was waiting for everyone to arrive…I walked

up to the Soldiers’ Monument, and I could not believe the crowd. I was shocked,” she said. Several hundred people gathered to hear the final bugler of the summer; so many people, in

fact, that some had trouble hearing the solitary notes. Allen said that organizers are planning to have a small sound system on hand for this

summer’s opening and closing ceremonies, but she doesn’t want to take away from the organic connection between the bugler and the audience.

“I want this to be a civilian ceremony of thanks,” she said. “I don’t want there to be (anything) between the bugler and the people. It’s a chance for people to reflect and give thanks.”

Just as at the Menin Gate, Allen said people who come to the 100 Nights of Taps are deeply moved, especially those who have family members or loved ones who have served in the military.

This summer’s 100 Nights of Taps will begin on Memorial Day with an opening ceremony at 6:15 p.m. Each evening through Labor Day, a bugler will play Taps at the Soldier’s National Memorial at 7 p.m., rain or shine. The program is free and the public is invited each night.

For a full roster of buglers for 2019, and more information about 100 Nights of Taps, visit tapsbugler.com/100-nights-of-taps.

Nightly Taps Honor Soldiers in Gettysburg

The closing ceremony for 100 Nights of Taps drew hundreds of onlookers.

Mitchell Mummert, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Jordyn Myers, York, Pennsylvania.

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Kayla Yaakov deftly maneuvers her motorcycle through hairpin corners with the agility of a ballerina, fearlessly overtaking rivals by executing daring passes before screaming down straightaways in excess of 130 miles per hour, showing the courage of a fighter pilot. At one with the high-performance machine she commands, Kayla’s mind calmly races ahead to upcoming corners and braking points, plotting in attempt to discover the fastest lines on the course.

The symmetry between rider and motorcycle only ceases when the checkered flag is waved,

usually signaling another victory for the Gettysburg native, who at the tender age of 11 has already collected more than 300 victories in her brief but brilliant racing career. Kayla’s bright smile and the blond ponytail flying from under her helmet have been common sights at road racing tracks across the United States.

Climbing on a motorcycle for the first time at age three, Kayla soon yearned to race just as her father, Dave Yaakov, had done for more than 15 years. Initially, it took a bit of coaxing for Dave to give his daughter the green light to race.

“I saw a bunch of pictures of him riding and

being a great racer, and I told him that I wanted to race,” said Kayla. “He didn’t take me seriously the first few times, he thought I just wanted to go out and ride. One day he was like, ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ I told him I was 100 percent sure.”

Kayla said she finished in the middle of the pack in her racing debut, which came on a flat track, surprising both herself and her dad. By mid-season she was putting distance on the competition and having fun every step of the way. She hasn’t looked back since, moving from flat track to motocross and now road racing.

Story By JoSH mArtin • PHotoS courteSy of yAAKov fAmily

Gettysburg Native Riding TowardsPro Cycling Career

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“Within the first year I was pretty shocked how she was able to have bike control at that age,” said Dave. “Not so much throttle-brake control but bike control, being able to tell what the bike is doing.”

Kayla’s ascension was so meteoric that by the time she was nine she was sanctioned to compete in adult races – and the wins kept on coming. While accurate to say Kayla is something of a racing prodigy, her work ethic and unending love of riding are equally responsible for her success. During the season she practices 2-3 times per week at a course Dave built around the family’s home. Covering nearly a half-mile, the paved circuit features tight corners and sloping hills.

Kayla’s favorite part of the course is a sweeping corner that sits just a few feet from a dining room window.

“It’s huge because there’s no real place around here to do that,” said Dave of the home track, which he built. “We would have to travel a lot so this saves a lot of time.”

Kayla’s comfort level on a powerful motorcycle capable of reaching blurring speeds in the blink of an eye is remarkable. She says nerves have never really factored into her riding.

“As soon as I get on the track any nervousness goes away,” she said. “I usually think about what I need to do and accomplish in that race or practice session. It’s just me, my bike and the track.”

Kayla lights up when describing the joy she feels when racing, her eyes alive and smile wide, revealing a set of braces that most kids can relate to. What separates her from nearly every pre-teen in the country, however, is her talent on two wheels. Her readiness to fight for every inch on the track belies her bubbly personality.

“I can be aggressive, I’m not afraid to stuff someone into a corner,” she said with clarity, but no sign of cockiness. “I have really good entry speed and I attack corners pretty well. It’s kill or be killed so you have to ride your hardest.”

Riding on the edge can, and sometimes does, result in crashes. Kayla admitted that she spilled her bike while practicing a few hours prior to an interview for this story. That crash was minor, slightly bending the handlebars. Others, like one she had during a competition last year, can turn a bike that costs in excess of $20,000 into scrap parts.

“She needs to push and find those limits,” said Dave, whose first priority is Kayla’s welfare. “You want to do that here and not at the track, so you know what your limit is. If you’re not pushing, and even sometimes crashing, you’re just riding around.”

Dave isn’t apprehensive about his daughter blazing down a straight stretch at 130 miles per hour because as a former racer, he understands the real danger lies elsewhere.

“The straightaways are where you’re resting,

that’s not the concern,” he said. “Corners you ride hard, the bike is on edge and you can get beat up. There are certain tracks with certain corners that don’t appeal to me, but I don’t worry about the straightaways.”

During the season racing is an all-consuming obsession. A typical week starts with Dave spending up to three days preparing Kayla’s bikes. She is competing on Honda NSF 250’s but also enters 125 classes at certain tracks. The bikes and gear are then loaded into the family’s van. Dave said they are on the second such vehicle after putting more than 80,000 miles on their first van in just a year-and-a-half trekking to races that have taken them to California, Michigan, Florida and Georgia, among other states.

Fridays are for on-track practice, with races taking place Saturday and Sunday. Kayla typically competes in multiple classes per weekend, entering as many as seven races.

“I usually do five races per day,” said Kayla of a typical WERA (Western Eastern Roadracing Association) event. “Some people are like, ‘how do you do that?’ I’m a kid, I have a lot of energy!

After that, it’s rinse and repeat.“Everything is timed down to the hour, and

hopefully everything fits in,” Dave said while surrounded by motorcycles in various stages of preparation in his garage. “I have to work, take care of Lucy (Kayla’s younger sister), get the RV ready, make sure Kayla is doing homework. It’s just how it is.”

Dave said he would gladly give up the title of bike mechanic and stick to dad and coach, but racing is expensive business. Sponsors are the lifeblood of most racing teams. Kayla’s success has drawn national attention. In order to fully promote their brand, the Yaakov’s are active on social media, posting videos of Kayla racing and her various marketing appearances.

“The whole season will be tough without getting a few more sponsors but hopefully we’ll get some,” said Dave. “If you’re in the right place at the right time you can make a connection and get some help. You have to keep putting yourself in position to be in front of the right people.”

Kayla has certainly put herself in the

right position on the track, piling up wins at an astonishing rate. In 2017 she won 27 of 57 WERA races, including three national championships. She was named the American Motorcycle Association Youth Road Racer of the Year.

Last year she captured an astonishing 43 wins in 50 WERA races. She has picked up where she left off this season, garnering four wins and a runner-up finish at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway while competing in the Expert class. With her level of sustained success, the novelty of a girl beating adults has worn off.

“I think people take me more seriously now,” she said. “At first they didn’t really know me but I talk to everybody at the track and I think people would describe me as humble. I’ve made a lot of friends at the track and we help each other out. It’s pretty cool.”

The only thing capable of slowing Kayla down, it appears, are age limits. Riders are not permitted to turn professional until they are 14, meaning she will have to continue collecting trophies, and not cash purses, for a few more years.

“That’s a good thing and a bad thing at the same time,” she said. “I know I’m capable of going into those classes (now). But the good thing is I’ll get a few more years of experience under my belt. I’ll be a lot faster.”

For now, she’ll continue to be content as a straight-A, sixth-grade student at Gettysburg Area Middle School who cites math as her favorite subject and plays saxophone in the school’s band. She enjoys riding her BMX bike, playing guitar, hanging out with friends and chasing after Lucy, who shares Kayla’s boundless energy.

Kayla hopes to make a professional career in racing, with the ultimate goal reaching Moto GP, the highest level of motorcycle road racing in the world. Whether that dream is fulfilled remains to be seen, but Kayla is perfectly happy in the present, having fun racing her motorcycles and sharing a lifelong passion with her dad.

“Everything,” Kayla said, when asked what her dad has meant to her racing. “As soon as I showed a little interest toward it he was amazed that I would share the passion that he had. It’s running in the family now.”

The Yaakov’s would like to thank the following sponsors for their continued support of Kayla’s racing career: ONE-X USA, All Motors, Sportbike Track Time, Sportbike Track Girl, Track Day Winner, MOTO-D Racing, Spectro Performance Oils, SBS Brakes, Bridgestone Tires, TST Industries, LLC, Shoei Helmets North America, Cox Racingroup, Helite MC Air-Bag, D&F Wraps, Aerospace Welding Services, Jamon Productions, Cad Cycles and Cad Reality.

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Farmers are the backbone of Adams County.Their children start work as soon as they’re big enough to carry a

bucket. The adults work 12-hour days and they don’t gripe about it. It’s just what they do, what they were raised to do, what their family has done for generations.

There’s nothing simple about agriculture. Many farmers have college degrees. They need to understand the science behind pest management, stay on top of government regulations, contend with unpredictable weather, and have the foresight to plant based on what might be popular months from now.

Despite these challenges and more, generations of farmers continue to grow in Adams County.

- GETTY ACRES DAIRY FARM -“I don’t know any different,” Ed Wilkinson said. “I was feeding calves

when I was probably eight, nine years old.”He owns Getty Acres dairy farm with his father Larry, brother Dan,

and son Carl. Counting Carl’s three daughters, 5-year-olds Morgan and Hayden plus 1-year-old Mackenzie, that’s four generations of Wilkinsons on the farm at once. Larry started the farm in 1977.

Ed’s day usually starts at 6 a.m. They have 270 cows that provide milk to Rutters, plus the youngins, beef steers, and several crops. In order for business to run smoothly, the Wilkinsons and their staff have to stick to a tight schedule. That’s the way the cows like it.

“They’re creatures of habit,” Ed said.Cows like to be milked, fed, and put to bed at the same times each

day, according to Ed. They’re milked three times daily. Each session takes about nine minutes. On average, one Getty Acres cow will produce about 10 gallons per day, Ed said.

Computers keep track of records and a herdsman can use his smart phone to look up a cow’s history without leaving the field, according to Ed.

Working with family has its perks. Each person has a niche they fit into naturally, according to Ed. He tends the crops most days. Ed says many dairy farmers grow crops in order to feed their herd and to have more products for sale. Getty Acres grows corn, wheat, soybeans, and hay.

Larry handles the young calves and Dan is in charge of trucking. Carl, who went to school for diesel technology, mans the shop and repairs that comes with it. He remembers helping on the farm at an early age.

“As soon as they could carry buckets, they were expected to do something,” Ed said.

Carl said his daughters love the calves, which live in rows of white hutches until they’re eight weeks old. After that, they’re moved into

pens with other cows their age and transition from drinking milk to eating feed, according to Ed.

It’s not unusual for Carl to stop by the milking facility and scoop up a gallon of fresh milk in a jar to take home to his family.

Two of the biggest challenges Ed says the dairy industry faces are pricing and overproduction.

When milk prices soar, don’t blame the farmer. The number is decided at the federal level.

“Our cost of production is higher than what we’re being paid” the past two years, Ed said.

It can also be difficult to find employees. The hours are long and the work gets your hands dirty. Temporary foreign worker programs like H-2A do not work in favor of dairy farmers, according to Ed.

So what’s a dairy farmer to do? Diversify assets, sell crops on the side, and keep working hard.

- THREE SPRINGS FRUIT FARM -Adams County agriculture is probably best known for its fruit. The

rolling hills and fertile soil make this area the perfect place for farming, which is what Ben Wenk’s Swiss ancestor must have thought when he started what would become Three Springs Fruit Farm in 1842.

Ben and his father Dave are the seventh and sixth generations of Wenks to grow food in Adams County. Ben returned to the Aspers farm after graduating from Penn State in 2006 with a degree in agroecology.

Although farming is a family tradition, Dave said he wanted his children to choose their careers for themselves.

“You never know what your kids are going to latch onto,” Dave said.Ben returned and brought Three Springs to farmers markets in

Philadelphia, Baltimore, and D.C. He usually spends two days a week in Philly. By tapping into urban farmers markets, Ben gets Three Springs products into the hands of restaurant chefs, city dwellers, and offers wholesale delivery.

Three Springs produces tree fruit, berries, tomatoes, vegetables, and most recently — alcoholic cider.

Ploughman Farm Cider grew from what began as a hobby. One day after a successful trip to the farmers market, Ben and his dad went out for a drink. Ben ordered what he thought was a craft beer and it turned out to be alcoholic cider, one that was complex and different than any cider he had before.

Story By mAry grAce Keller • PHotoS By mAry grAce Keller & dArryl wHeeler

Farming in Adams Evolves with GenerationsFarming in Adams Evolves with Generations

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“That was a real kind of eye-opening moment,” Ben recalled.

With fresh ingredients readily available on the farm, he started experimenting. In 2015, he bought six acres purely for growing apples to be used in cider.

When making cider, Ben likes using bittersweet and bittersharp apples. Apples also come in sweets and sharps, but Ben prefers a more complex taste. It’s like comparing a three-legged stool to a lean-to, he said.

Ploughman’s first commercial cider was created Dec. 2, 2016, according to Ben. He takes Three Springs fruit, sends it out to be pressed into juice, and then the rest of the process happens right on the farm at Bendersville-Wenksville Road.

They currently offer 10 varieties of cider. Dave likes Stayman Winesap, an aromatic beverage made from apples of the same name. The Pinot N’Arlet is a favorite of Ben’s. It’s made from Macoun and Arlet apple cider aged on Pinot Noir grape skins, also from Pennsylvania.

When hail “devastated” eight acres of peaches in 2017, the Wenks took the remaining fruit and turned it into Distelfunk, a peach wine for what Ben calls the “more refined palate.”

Locally, Ploughman Farm Cider can be found at Tommy’s Pizza, Mason Dixon Distillery, and the Gettysburg Farmers Market on Lincoln Square.

“I’m convinced Adams County is one of the best places in the world to grow apples,” Ben said.

He hopes to have a tasting room on the farm so people can enjoy cider in Adams County like they do wine in Sonoma.

- HOLLABAUGH BROS., INC. -A few miles down the road in Biglerville, there’s another family

rooted in farming —Hollabaugh Bros., Inc.There’s four generations of Hollabaughs running around the family

farm and retail market. Twin brothers Donald and Harold started

the operation in 1955 and now the second and third generations are running the show, said Ellie Hollabaugh Vranich, granddaughter of Donald.

Ellie serves as assistant business and market manager.“I had this passion instilled in me from a very young age,” Ellie said.Growing up, Ellie thought she might like to become a music teacher.

She ended up graduating from Penn State in 2006 with degrees in agribusiness management and Spanish, but the choice was hers. She never felt pressure from her parents to take on the family business.

“They truly wanted it to be our decision,” she said. “I want that for my kids.”

She and her husband Erik are parents to 7-year-old Cooper and 4-year-old Claire. It seems that Cooper is ready to follow in his mother’s footsteps. This past summer he was proud to sell cucumbers he grew at the farmers market, Ellie said.

Donald and Harold started the business with 18 acres of land, Ellie said. Now, the farm spans 500.

In the early days, the brothers sold their produce out of a little white shed. It’s still standing across the road from today’s retail market.

About half of the 10,000-square foot structure is devoted to retail space full of fruits, vegetables, baked goods, local meat, ice cream, kitchen supplies, pottery, and more. The rest of the building provides storage and offices, Ellie said. The building replaced a smaller facility that stood in its place until 2012.

One of the places Ellie’s children love is the Bee Room, a side room connected to the retail market. Ellie said it used to be for educational tours only two months out of the year, then the family decided to expand its use. Now it’s full of activities year-round such as tea parties and summer reading programs.

Ellie says working with family is great because each person has their own role in the business.

“We all kind of fall into our own areas,” Ellie said. “It’s amazing, I think, that we all have talents.”

Farming is tough enough with unpredictable weather, but the Hollabaughs must also try to predict what variety of produce will be popular in the future. The seeds they plant now have to turn into fruit/vegetables that customers will want months down the road. This season they’ll plant 19 acres of seedlings, Ellie said, more than they’ve ever done at once. Those trees won’t bear fruit until two or three years later, according to Ellie.

But all the best planning in the world can’t protect crops from nature’s fury. Years of planning can be ruined with a sudden hail storm, like the one they endured last May.

The Wenks at Three Springs are still recovering from the enormous amount of rain that fell on the county last summer.

Despite the risks that come with farming, families like the Hollabaughs, Wenks, and Wilkinsons persevere, and they don’t look at their neighbors as business rivals.

The way Ben Wenk sees it, “We’re all paddling the same direction.”“There’s not really competition,” Ed Wilkinson said.Ellie may have said it best.“Together, we are all stronger.”

Original Twin Brothers Harold & Donald Hollabaugh

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Story By micHAel cooPer-wHite • PHotoS By dArryl wHeeler

land of little horses:

While Union General Meade’s Old Baldy and Robert E. Lee’s Traveller may be the

most famous horses associated with Gettysburg’s civil war history, today’s grandest local equine attractions are the tiny steeds that delight more than 20,000 annual visitors at the Land of Little Horses (LOLH) five miles west of town.

“A lot of people are really surprised when they come here,” says LOLH’s new co-owner Maggie Baldwin, who purchased the 100-acre property and

business with her husband Bill in 2017. A total of 50 horses bedazzle the farm’s visitors who attend shows in which the animals perform jumping competitions, dance waltzes, run untethered liberty routines and demonstrate abilities to follow human commands.

While the horse population includes a half-dozen ponies, several full-size horses, and a huge Belgian draft horse named Minnie, it is the 35 miniatures that set LOLH apart from other venues

that feature equestrian shows. The miniatures, each of which has a name, may be small in stature but their intelligence seems far superior to that of their larger counterparts. Some of the miniatures are challenged to outsmart humans as they count and perform other tricks.

Baldwin makes the claim that, “we have several really smart horses,” and she’s so confident in the matter that this year LOLH is initiating a contest called “Are you smarter than a horse?”

In Our Own Backyard

A Magical Kingdom

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Participants will see if they can outwit one of the miniatures that continues in a LOLH hallmark tradition established decades ago, which bills it as “a horse with a human brain.”

Nearly a Half-CeNturyof History

Originally named the Gettysburg Miniature Horse Farm, LOLH was founded in 1970 by two world traveling merchant marines named Stu Erickson and Tony Garulo, who first encountered the tiny creatures on a visit to Argentina. An Argentine family named Falabella bred the small horses, which rarely grow taller than three feet, from full-size parentage. Erickson and Garulo were so taken with the miniatures that they determined to import two dozen and share them with Americans on acreage Garulo had purchased near historic Gettysburg. While they enjoy lifespans of 30-40 years, nearly double that of larger horses, LOLH’s original Falabellas are all gone, now replaced mostly by American-bred miniatures.

When first opened in 1971, the farm featured a performing horse El Chico and dog Gypsy. Admission was 75 cents for adults and 40 cents for children. By the mid-1970’s the facility had been expanded to include a gift shop, picnic area and snack bar. The 400-seat Arena where performances are held rain or shine opened in 1978. Under new owners, the name was changed to the current Land of Little Horses in 1993 and a Christmas show with a live nativity and lights throughout the park was held in 1994.

Over the course of LOLH’s history, the little horses have attracted national and even international attention. A 1980 article in National Geographic World featured four-month-old Sea Storm. That same year Garulo and miniature Kristina, dubbed “the horse with the human brain,” were featured on a national television program, Those Amazing Animals, and made additional Hollywood appearances at Universal Studios.

The miniatures and their “Mane Event” performances remain the farm’s central attraction, but the animal menagerie now also includes camels, alpaca, sheep, goats, deer, peacocks, pigs and more. Beyond being spectators at the show, visitors to the park can get up close and personal with some animals, enjoy pony and sulky cart ride or stroll leisurely through a small western town with its general store, saloon and mining sluice. When hungry for food or take-home items, guests shop in the gift shop and eat at the Sugar Shack snack bar or newly-upgraded Café that accommodates 80 diners.

At each Mane Event’s culmination, a mythical magical one-horned creature trots into the Arena

and delights the horse show attendees. “When the unicorn walks out and the whole audience gasps ‘aah’ it’s just a magical experience,” says Maggie. The Baldwins promise that LOLH’s famous Unicorn will play an even larger role in the shows this summer. And after a show, visitors can take selfies with Mystic or buy a cuddly one-horned horselette in the gift shop’s UNICORNer.

GrowtH aNd expaNsioN as lolH approaCHes 50tH aNNiversaryWhen they assumed ownership, the Baldwins

were committed to enhance further the park’s appeal and visitor-friendly nature. All programming may now be done under cover so LOLH is as accessible on rainy days as when the sun shines. The gift shop, café and arena all are air conditioned for visitors’ comfort on hot, muggy summer days.

Recognizing that vacationing parents often welcome a respite from having constant little companions, the owners have upgraded playground areas, expanded craft activities, and added benches for adults to rest while their children play. A kids’ dance party precedes every show in the arena as another way to afford children an opportunity for some time apart from their parents.

Beyond being a typical tourist entertainment venue, LOLH is increasingly an educational outlet where visitors of all ages can learn about animals, eco-friendly farming and gardening techniques and the rural way of life. The owners deem this particularly important as fewer and fewer members

of our current society have opportunity for direct acquaintance with farm animals and agriculture. A weekly day camp for children will be offered this summer from mid-June through July, with a primary focus on animal care.

Maggie, Bill and their employees are also committed to conduct and inspire others in best practices of animal care and husbandry. Each horse is attended by a team that includes a veterinarian, farrier (hoof-tender) and equine dentist. “We constantly have our eyes on the animals to insure all are being well cared for,” Maggie said.

As they anticipate the park’s 50th anniversary celebration, the Baldwins have plans to purchase an adjacent property that was originally part of its acreage. They hope to transform a private residence into a guest house and restore the original scenic driveway leading into the farm. Another area where they intend to expand the park’s hospitality is by hosting more private events like birthday parties or wedding receptions. They’re also eager to explore innovative programs that will serve the local population with possibilities like goat yoga and animal therapy for persons who can be cheered by interacting with the park’s various creatures.

GrowiNG people,Not Just aNimals

Involved with the park for over three decades,

Heidi Herriott serves as LOLH’s General Manager and Entertainment Director. Herriott, whose parents were LOLH’s managers when she was a youngster, trains new performers, both animal and human, and oversees show production.

Anyone who spends a few moments with Herriott will discern her passionate love for the park’s rich history and her infectious enthusiasm for its future. “As we begin our 48th season,” she said, “the beauty of it is how a small theme park has retained its charm.” Most similar mom-and-pop operations have either been forced to grow into large-scale operations or have gone out of existence.

Herriott, who has known all five owners, is grateful for the Baldwins’ sense of mission to enhance a wholesome environment where people can “enjoy spending time together.” “This is not only a place for people with little kids,” she said, indicating that folks of all ages enjoy “a place that provides a great day of entertainment interacting with animals.” Among the signs that tell Herriott guests are fully engaged in LOLH’s unique environment, is the fact that while at the park, “you don’t see people talking on their cellphones very much.”

Herriott’s eyes sparkle as she talks about training the little horses and other animals. Returning each spring from her other home in Florida, she says, “is really fun and I say to myself, ‘here we go again’!” It’s evident she’s equally committed to training and developing the talents of the park’s 30 or so seasonal employees. Herriott and the Baldwins held a job fair early in 2019 and were especially impressed with the caliber of young people who showed up to explore employment at the park. For Herriott, it’s gratifying to see some of the children of former employees now showing interest. “It’s a first job for a lot of them,” she said, “and it’s important for us to help grow them.”

While tourists are always welcome, moving forward the Baldwins hope to expand the number of local folks who make repeated visits and enroll their kids in the summer camp programs.

Meagan Weaver of Orrtanna has been a regular at the farm since childhood when she visited annually with her grandparents. Now Weaver’s own daughter Abby and son Luke attend LOLH’s camps for several weeks each summer. “It feels like I’m going back in time,” Weaver reminisces as she expresses gratitude her children can now share the same experiences she did as a youngster. “It’s just an all-around positive experience for the kids,” she concludes.

Many local residents travel hundreds of miles and spend thousands of dollars to visit a distant Magic Kingdom. Right in our own neighborhood we have this gem of a little farm with tiny horses and a resident one-horned Mystic where, in Herriott’s words, “the magic happens every day!”

The Land of Little Horses is at 125 Glenwood Dr, Gettysburg, PA 17325; take the Knoxlyn Road off U.S. Route 30 and follow signs. The park is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday and weekends through May 19 and daily thereafter until Labor Day; then Friday and weekends until Oct. 6. For more information, including reservations, see: www.landoflittlehorses.com

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Totem PolePlayhouse Grows

Story By Alex J. HAyeS • SuBmitted PHotogrAPHS

The theater in the woods is now the theater in the woods and beyond.

Totem Pole Playhouse is beginning its 69th season with a new model. Summer stock theater is still a focus, but the crew no longer spends its winter in hibernation planning for next summer.

Several years ago, Totem Pole began producing “A Christmas Carol” at the Majestic Theater in downtown Gettysburg. The show’s success lead to “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Luhr’s Center in Shippensburg in 2018.

This year, “A Christmas Carol” will be performed at Maryland Theater in Hagerstown before its annual run in Gettysburg. Joseph hopes to make “Jesus Christ Superstar” an annual production around Palm Sunday.

“We are setting up for Totem Pole to present and produce shows all year long,” Rowan Joseph, producing artistic director, said.

Longtime Totem Pole patrons do not have to worry about the expanded focus detracting from their beloved summer afternoons and nights at the theater in the Caledonia woods. Five shows will be presented at Totem Pole this summer, some produced by the theater and others by Theatre A Go-Go.

“The summer will always be at Totem Pole, where we have air conditioning but not heat,” Joseph said.

Tickets are now available for five shows that Rowan assures will delight a packed house - “Shear Madness,” “Smoke on the Mountain,” “Souvenir,” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” and “Wrong Turn at Lungfish.”

May 31 - June 16

Billed as “America’s Hilarious Whodunit!”, Shear Madness is

expected to keep audiences laughing as they try to outwit

suspects and catch the killer.

“New clues and up to the minute improvisation deliver a different

show every night,” the show’s website boasts.

Joseph said “Shear Madness” is one of America’s longest running

comedies but Totem Pole audiences will be the first to see it outside of

Boston and Washington D.C.

June 21 - July 7

“Smoke on the Mountain” mixes two popular parts of south central

Pennsylvania culture - bluegrass and gospel music.

Set in the Smoky Mountains in 1938, the show is the story of a

Saturday night gospel sing at a country church in North Carolina.

Between songs, characters share stories from their lives.

Totem Pole audiences have been treated to “Smoke on the

Mountain” three previous times, Joseph said, but this is the first time

the fan favorite will hit the stage in about a decade.

“It’s already selling very well,” he said.

July 12 - 28

Inspiration for the Meryl Streep film “Forrest Foster Jenkins,”

“Souvenir” is the story of a New York City heiress who rents the Ritz

Carlton hotel to entertain audiences with her singing voice, oblivious to

the fact that she cannot string two notes together.

Her awful show grew in popularity, culminating with a 1944

performance in Carnegie Hall.

“This will be the sleeper hit of the season,” Joseph predicted. “It’s a

really stellar cast and fun, fun show that people will really enjoy.”

auGusT 2 - 18

Totem Pole fans are already eager for the high-energy antics

at a Texas brothel.

“We have sold so many tickets that we have already added two

Friday nights,” Joseph said.

Miss Mona Stangly runs the business while staying on good terms

with politicians and law enforcement. Doors and legs are forced to

close when a reporter exposes the illegal activities.

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Friday Fun niGhTs aT

ToTeM Pole

With the exception of “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” no shows

will take the stage on Friday nights. Those evenings are reserved for

crowds to gather and let loose in a different way.

The schedule is still being finalized but attendees will be welcome

to bellow out “The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music” during a

sing-a-long on June 28 and croon about those “Summer Nights” during

a similar “Grease” event on July 26.

auGusT 23 - sePTeMber 8

Written by the late Gary Marshall of “Happy Days” and “Pretty

Woman” fame, this show tells the story of a bitter blind professor who

befriends a streetwise hospital volunteer.

Staging “Wrong Turn at Lungfish” is especially meaningful for

Joseph, a friend and colleague of Marshall.

Rowan Joseph, producing artistic director, Totem Pole Playhouse.

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