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PGWA Continued its Outreach and Education by Todd Giddings, Education Committee Chairman The PGWA again conducted outreach and education programs at Ag Progress Days on August 15, 16, and 17, 2006. The estimated attendance was 42,000 people over the three-day term of the Ag Progress Days exposition, and many of these attendees visited the PGWA display tables and the adjacent Master Well Owner Network table in the Conservation Tent. Agriculture is Pennsylvania’s largest “industry”. Almost all Pennsylvania farms depend on ground water from wells for their water source, including the large amounts of water used by livestock. In the heat of the summer, a Holstein dairy cow will consume as much as 45 gallons per day. This is why the PGWA has outreach and education programs at Ag Progress Days to reach the agricultural community. The new location of the Conservation Tent drew more visitors than last year and the PGWA member volunteers were kept very busy operating the ground-water flow model and the model water well for groups of children and adults. The pictures on the PGWA photo display board were used to explain each step in the proper construction and grouting of a new residential water well. A clear-plastic see-through model well was operated to explain the role of the pitless adapter, sealed well cap, and grout in preventing contamination from entering the well bore and the aquifer. The ground-water flow simulation model was very popular with the children who enjoyed injecting dye into the model aquifer and then pumping it out of a downgradient well by using a syringe. Dick Raab, a drilling contractor and PGWA director, teamed up with Susan Greene, a hydrogeologist and PGWA member on Tuesday and Wednesday to operate the models and answer questions. On Thursday, Neil Negley, a drilling contractor and PGWA director, and his wife Jolynn, were joined by Master Ground Water Contractors Ken Kerstner and Herb Wilson to answer visitor’s questions and operate the models. The PGWA thanks these six member volunteers for their many hours of service to PGWA’s outreach and education mission to reach the agricultural community in Pennsylvania. They took the time away from their businesses and traveled to State College because they believe it is important to actually carry out the outreach and education mission of the PGWA. In 2007 the Ag Progress Days are August 14, 15, and 16, 2007, and more volunteers are needed. Please consider helping us reach out and educate members of the farming community. Contact Tom Keyes, Outreach Committee Chairperson for more information and to sign-up to help us at our booth.
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