CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Since 1923, five generations of Goldscheitters have lived on their family farm.

“I'm pretty proud,” said Gerri Goldscheitter of Sarver. “Most carry that on with the boys in the family, but we have all girls.”

The passion for agriculture that runs through their veins led them to being honored at the Butler Farm Show.

Bill and Gerri Goldscheitter and their three daughters, Hannah, 19, Hope, 17 and Faith, 14, who own Goldscheitter Dairy in Sarver, won the 2019 Eagle Bowl at the Butler Farm Show on Friday. The award recognizes the work of a family who participates in the show.

After sending in an application for three years, Gerri Goldscheitter said they finally won.

“We're honored,” she said. “We haven't been participating here really that long.”

Accomplishment is what the award means to the Goldscheitters, she said.

The stainless steel bowl is awarded annually by the Butler Eagle to a Butler Farm Show family that participates to the greatest extent and with the highest degree of success.

Criteria also include good sportsmanship, volunteerism and a high level of involvement by all members of the family in support of the show.

Goldscheitter Dairy is one of the largest dairy farms in Butler County with a herd of 430 dairy cows, milking 200. The family also farms about 800 acres, including corn and hay.

Each family member plays a role on the farm.

Gerri Goldscheitter's day begins at 6 a.m. to feed between 18 and 30 calves and tend to other barns. She is also the barn manager of the farm's employees.

When their daughters were younger, they did not have time to participate in the farm show, Goldscheitter said. When their herd size grew larger, they hired employees, which created time for them to be involved in the 4-H program. Participation only grew from there.

The family has participated in the Butler Farm Show for seven years.

In addition to the show ring, they also volunteer to set up the cheese auction, assist other exhibitors and help with other behind-the-scenes work.

This week, they showed Tuesday and Wednesday and participated in open class and the cheese auction as well as the livestock show on Thursday.

At this year's show, the family had 11 dairy cows. Hope and Hannah each had a market steer in the livestock barn.

Prior to the five years they have had dairy cows, Hope and Hannah showed goats.

“It's a nice little vacation from home,” said Knoch High School senior and 4-H member Hope Goldscheitter about the farm show.

Although Hope is still considering her college plans, one path she has in mind is agriculture.

Knoch High School graduate Hannah Goldscheitter, who caught the “cow bug,” works on the family farm. She was the named the 2016-2017 Dairy Princess.

This year, she won Senior Grand Champion for her Holstein cow and Supreme of All the Breeds for the 4-H show.

The family also won Supreme Holstein Exhibitor for the second year.

They also show at the Big Butler Fair and Lawrence County Fair. Additionally, they were part of the Butler County Dairy Promotion Team for three years.

“I'm lucky,” Hannah said about her involvement in the farm show. “Most people don't get to do this.”

Farm shows allow families to bond, while educating the community about where their food comes from, said Gerri Goldscheitter.

“Food does not just come from Giant Eagle,” she said. “You have local food from your area. If there wasn't agriculture, nobody would eat, have clothes — it's not just about milk, cheese and meat.”

Winners of the first Founders Award were the Randy and Kathy Kummer family of Meridian.

The Butler Farm Show's final day is Saturday.