CAKE FOR THE FARMERS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31117, 21 July 1966, Page 2

CAKE FOR THE FARMERS

Federated Fanners j of New Zealand will • have a very special s cake to mark its twenty-first annivers- i ary. The cake is a gift ( from the Women’s I Division of the Federated Farmers, mixed, baked and decorated in the farm kitchen of Mrs F. J. T. Poppe, of Elmdale, near Marton.

Measuring 12 inches square at the base and just over eight inches high, the cake is decorated with small farm animals and intricately piped with icing. Mrs Poppe's creation will be the centrepiece at the cocktail party for delegates to ttie Dominion conference of the federation on July 27, in Wool House, Wellington. Mrs Poppe was a foundation member of the Wanganui branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union which was the second branch to be formed. She has been a member of the Women’s Division for 41 years and has held executive positions at branch level without a break. During this time she has served more than 20 years on I the provincial including eight years as provincial presidenit and she is in her seventh year as a Dominion officer. In addition to the Women’s Division she has taken a keen interest in the Country Girls’ Club movement over the last 13 years, as patroness and senior advisory member at; both club and district level, i “I’ve never used a recipe 1 for a cake yet,” she said, I when asked her recipe. “But : there’s 131 b of fruit and three dozen fresh farm eggs in that cake.” The cake tin for the bottom tier—'bought 25 years ago and kept in action ever since—takes a mix based on 81b of fruit. Since her husband died six months ago Mrs Poppe has carried on the 250-acre sheep farm with the assistance of a married couple. She takes an active part on the farm and when telephoned she was in the woolshed helping with the crutching.