Thursday, July 12

Due to the fact that TFC is not currently building a chapel, Cerwin needed something to do – especially in winter when there are no truck shows and places to take the mobile chapel – so he asked our son Jere (CEO/Manager for Lancaster DHIA) if he needed any drivers for picking up milk, blood, and forage samples for the lab.

Their first need was for someone to fill in for our brother-in-law, Mel – who does the Baltimore run – while he and Cerwin’s sister Velda went to Florida for two weeks in January. Mel and Velda pick up items for the lab on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Shortly after Cerwin was hired, there was a need for an early Monday morning driver for the southern Lancaster County run. That continues to be his designated job. However, he has been busy this summer – filling in for those who go on vacation or need a sick leave.

What is nice for him is that (other than his designated Monday job) he can pick and chose the mornings that suit him. It is also nice that this run is done every day of the work week, so if he fills in for someone, he knows the stops.

I have been wanting to go along with him, but it was a busy spring in our home office – where I work for TFC. Most of the busyness had to do with the upcoming Truck Rally or doing bulk mailings for the staff.

Thursday was finally the day I choose to get up early (3:00 am) and go along on his run.

We left the house about 4:10 am to be at the DHIA lab by 4:30 am. Cerwin checked in about 4:27 am.

He depends on this notebook to give him information and for documenting his pickups.

He picks up milk, blood, and forage samples at designated locations: a milk tester’s garage, a local farm store, a farm, or UPS. He already has several garage door codes in his memory.

I don’t think anyone will be testing this cow’s milk today – except maybe the calf. 🙂

Recording the pickup

Because we left the DHIA lab shortly after 4:30 am, the first part of our drive was in the dark, but eventually we enjoyed daylight and some of the beautiful southern Lancaster County scenery.

It was about 6:30 am when we were going through Lancaster a second time. The streets were busy, compared to our 5:00 am drive when we were headed south.

UPS was our last stop. Notice the white boxes on the right of the open door. Those were for us. Most of them came from Vermont. There was also a package from Virginia.

The UPS pick up

Recording the information

By the time we got back to the lab (7:10 am) the van was filled with a variety of samples.

Jere came out to the receiving area to talk to Cerwin.

I think Jere takes after me and “talks” with his hands. 🙂

The milk testing lab was already busy – with samples that had come in during the previous evening – from the afternoon and evening drivers and testers.

Darvin (DHIA Lab/PCDART Support) appeared to be adjusting something.

Sherry was hoping that I wouldn’t get a closeup of her.

After we were finished at the milk and blood testing lab, we drove a short distance to the forage lab and dropped off the forage samples.

By 7:30 am we were leaving for our second pickup run.

This Amish family was harvesting what appears to be broccoli.

Another Amish farm

We dropped off some supplies at a milk tester’s house, then moved on to the next stop.

Recording a pickup in his old neighborhood.

This is the farm where he lived from the ages of 12-20.

He enjoyed showing me the farm, his school, church, and where many of his parents friends and neighbors lived. That was fun.

After this we went back to UPS for another pickup.

Our last stop was at Sheetz to get gas for the van so the late morning and afternoon driver had plenty of fuel for his run.

He also cleaned the front window – which was quite necessary.

Back at DHIA (Dairy Heard Improvement Association) with our final pickups.

That was fun. Now I know why Cerwin enjoys this job. He was finished for the day – and it was only 9:00 am.