SUMMER 2015 • HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION USA, INC.
IN THIS ISSUE:
• National Holstein Convention Highlights
• 2015’s Top Award Winners
• New Officers and Directors
The Holstein Pulse is proudly sponsored by
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BOARD UPDATE
New Officers and Directors Elected
G
ordie Cook of Massachusetts was
elected president of the Holstein
Association USA (HAUSA) board of
directors at the organization’s annual
meeting, held June 26 in St. Charles,
Illinois, during the 130th National
Holstein Convention.
Boyd Schaufelberger of Illinois was
elected vice president. R. Paul Buhr
of Wisconsin and Patrick Maddox of
California were re-elected as directors
for Regions 5 and 9, respectively. John
Andersen of Idaho was elected director
for Region 8, while John Marshman of
New York was elected at-large director.
The president and vice president serve
for two years, while the directors serve
three-year terms.
The board honored retiring President
Glen E. Brown of Utah and Directors
Jonathan Lamb of New York, and Bill
Wright of Utah.
There were 103 delegates who attended
the National Holstein Convention. They
voted to:
• Amend an Association bylaw and the
constitution to remove the requirement
that the Annual Meeting be held only
in June or July. The amendment will
not affect future Annual Meetings
already scheduled.
• Amend an Association bylaw to allow
one additional delegate for every 100
(formerly 150) active members in each
election district. This will increase the
total number of delegates beginning
with the 2017 Annual Meeting.
• Amend an Association bylaw to allow
appointment of an unelected nominee
to an unfilled seat from another state in
the same regions.
• Approve an increase in per diem
allowance for the president and vice
president from $150 to $450, and for the
directors from $150 to $300, effective
with the November 2015 board meeting.
• Approve a resolution to pursue
discussions with Holstein Canada on
electronic data sharing of pedigree
information.
2015 Annual Meeting
Staff gave updates on the 2015
Management-by-Objective Business Plan
and year-to-date financials. At the end of
May, registrations stood at 149,437, up
one percent. There were 306,453 animals
in 1,851 herds enrolled in Holstein
COMPLETE® for the same period, an
increase of five percent and one percent
respectively.
Right: Retiring President Glen E. Brown turns over the gavel to
incoming President Gordie Cook.
Above: Newly elected to HAUSA: Patrick Maddox, Region 9 director;
John Marshman, at-large director; John Andersen, Region 8 director;
and Boyd Schaufelberger, vice president.
(Not shown: R. Paul Buhr, Region 5 director).
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The Association and its subsidiaries
show year-to-date consolidated
net operating income of $224,000,
according to Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer Barbara Casna, who presented
the consolidated financial statements
through the end of May 2015.
Bill VerBoort, general manager of
AgriTech Analytics (ATA), reported
the dairy records processing center
continues to grow its business in more
states. Through the end of May, 973,742
animal records were processed, a 2.5
percent increase in the number of cows
enrolled since the beginning of the year.
The next board of directors meeting
will be held November 17-18, in Fresno,
California. The 2016 National Holstein
Convention and Annual Meeting will be
held June 27-July 1, 2016, in Saratoga
Springs, New York.
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
A Grateful Farewell from Glen Brown
President’s Address at the 2015 National Holstein Convention
A
s I reflect back on my years of being part of this
Association, being able to be here in St. Charles, Illinois,
is very special to me. I would be ungrateful if I didn’t recognize
a very special friend and associate who lived in St. Charles.
M.B. Nichols sold me my first group of cattle. Many were
selected from this very area and were shipped by rail car, and I
waited anxiously for the train to arrive. Mr. Nichols was a great
ambassador for Holstein cattle. He paid attention to details and
made a real impression; he had a great eye for cattle, and we
ended up being great friends.
This past year has been a real
important one in regards to our
relationship with Zoetis. As an
Association, we are fortunate to be
able to work together on projects
that are mutually beneficial to each
of us, as well as providing services
and important information that are
wanted and needed by not only our
members, but the dairy industry as
well.
BY GLEN
There need to be more active dairy
BROWN
producers overseeing the direction
of the Council. It is not enough for surrogates to be our
representatives. The purpose of all
that is done by the Council is for the
talented and
benefit of dairymen in our country.
“...With the
committed members from all
parts of this great country,
Holstein USA will continue
to be the gold standard
for breeding Holsteins
throughout the world.”
The EnlightTM program has been very well received and the
participation continues to grow. Our Basic ID program benefits
as a result of the interest in the program. We look forward
to a strong working relationship that will serve the Holstein
Association well. Zoetis’s leadership and staff that have
been involved have been great to work with and we certainly
appreciate each one of them. Genomics will be an important
tool for our future, but we must never forget that recalibration,
meaning milk recording and classification plus the health traits
observations, is absolutely essential to maintaining credibility.
The transfer of the service work of genetic proofs and genomic
evaluations from USDA to the Council on Dairy Cattle
Breeding has added to the responsibilities of the President
of our Association. I have come to appreciate more fully the
efforts regarding the council’s progress that past Presidents
have made in regard to our relationship. The MLAs, or
Material License Agreements, have yet to be signed. Holstein
Association early on was criticized for not having accomplished
this. We have since learned that not a single MLA has been
signed by any of the data providers, a work still in progress.
Watch a video of the President’s and
CEO’s addresses from the Convention
at www.youtube.com/HolsteinUSA.
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I acknowledge all the good work and the
efforts of good people involved, including
our current capable CEO. As I leave this
position, I wish to identify a couple of
concerns regarding the workings of the
Council.
It is certain that many of the
decisions and directions of the
Council have a financial impact on
those who could influence or desire
to withhold information that we are
entitled to. USDA did not have that
potential conflict; we must expect
and insist on open accountability.
Production has not been much of a problem of late for our
industry and with the Holstein cows providing the lion’s share
of it, the immediate future needs look attainable. We need to
focus on continuing to improve the breed while maintaining
the production. The economic challenges we have recently
experienced and those that appear to lie ahead require that we
will need a more efficient and longer living cow that is trouble
free and can function in a changing environment.
Holstein USA will continue to be the organization that provides
unbiased data and tools to breed the cows for the years ahead.
The steward or guardian of the breed is an important role that
has and will continue to be taken seriously by this Association.
It will require innovative and forward-thinking leadership to
keep this breed association relevant in a rapidly changing dairy
world. We have fulfilled that responsibility for the past 130-plus
years and with the talented and committed members from all
parts of this great country, Holstein USA will continue to be
the gold standard for breeding Holsteins throughout the world.
We have one of the finest youth programs anywhere. It has and
will continue to provide a solid base of members and leaders
for our industry along with the Holstein Association. Those
who give their time along with the charitable gifts of money,
including industry associates, enable this program to prosper
and grow. The staff of the Association are to be
thanked and appreciated for their part. The Junior
members that attend the National Conventions
outnumber the adults, and put us in a good
position for the future. If you have some time, you
would enjoy a visit to their activities.
As bright as our future looks, it is not without
challenges. As we go forward we will have to
remain relevant.
I am pleased with the History project and thank
those who have made it possible. A full report will
be given later.
There will be a number of important matters of
business that will come before our convention.
One proposed amendment to the constitution and
several amendments to the Bylaws along with a
proposal to adjust the directors’ compensation.
We look forward to your vigorous debate and
consideration of these items of business. As always
we are fortunate to have great candidates to choose
from for our officers and directors.
As I conclude my term as President, I express my
appreciation and thanks to my wife and family for
their support over the years while serving. It has
been great to work closely with our outstanding
CEO John Meyer. Each member of this
Association benefits from his leadership.
I have been fortunate to work alongside two New
Englanders, Vice President Gordie Cook and
former President Chuck Worden. I have been part
of 10 teams over the years, each one different but
equal to the others.
Above all, thanks to you members who offered me
this opportunity. I have greatly appreciated it.
— Glen Brown is President of
Holstein Association USA, Inc.
Jay Mattison, CEO of National DHIA, talks
with President Glen E. Brown; President Brown
and his wife, Frankie Lee; President Brown and
CEO John Meyer present Herd of Excellence plaque
to Thomas Kestell of Waldo, Wisconsin; delegates
applaud the Early Bird Session speaker; and the
Mills family, winners of the 2015 Distinguished
Young Holstein Breeder Award: Isaac, Sara,
Tabitha, Joe, and Bryanna, visiting Lindale
Holsteins during one of the convention’s farm
tours.
FROM TOP: ©HolsteinWorld/Randy Blodgett
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CEO’S MESSAGE
We Are Forging a Strong Future
2014 State of the Association Address
E
ach year, it is my honor to stand before you and provide
you with my thoughts on the state of our Association. It is
a duty that I take very seriously.
No matter how you look at it, the state of our beloved breed,
our industry, and our Association is strong.
• You registered 373,056 Holsteins in 2014—exceeding last year
by four percent—and exceeding 10 years ago by 27 percent.
You’ll see these numbers in our annual
report. They are great indicators of the
strength of our breed and the growth
trajectory of our Association. They are
important to assessing the health of our
organization. But everyone in this room
today is intimately aware that our breed
and our Association are about more than
statistics.
BY
JOHN M.
MEYER
• You identified 248,688 animals through the Basic ID
program. This program has grown 107 percent in 10 years.
What keeps me up at night is trying to figure out what new
The combination of registered
measurement, what new message
and Basic ID animals recorded
truly communicates our contribution
Our breed is the breed of
reached an all-time high of
today? Based on all the discussions
621,744 in 2014.
I’ve heard and hallway conversations
business. Our cows are the
we’ve had, here is what we are
• Holstein COMPLETE®
engine propelling the dairy
facing in the world we live in now.
enrollment totaled 296,206 cows
industry
forward.
across 1,851 herds—a six percent
One … our industry—you, our
increase in animals over the previous year.
breeders, our members—are under constant scrutiny and
pressure about the care we provide our animals.
• Your Association’s classification team evaluated 301,705
animals in 9,405 herds.
• You welcomed 707 new adult members to the Association
and 870 new junior members.
• We also introduced Enlight —our comprehensive, online
management tool which helps dairy producers who own
Holstein cattle efficiently manage herd genetics.
TM
• In its first six months, more than 505 herds enrolled in
Enlight. And more of you continue to take advantage of its
value on a daily basis.
©HolsteinWorld/Randy Blodgett
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Two … consumers are concerned about the products we are
using and how they impact the safety of our food supply.
Three … we hear that domestic demand for milk is down.
Demand for our product within the U.S. is waning, and has
been for quite a while.
But here is what I actually see—and this is the good news:
First, I see a group of people—including those right in front
of me—who are unequalled in the care and passion they have
for their animals. These are people who care for their cows
The Holstein Association is made
up of talented individuals who
have accomplished great things.
better than they usually care for themselves. You shirk doctor’s
visits for your own health when you shouldn’t—but you don’t
hesitate to call a veterinarian when needed. You seldom take
time off for yourselves, but you make sure your cows have the
time they need out of the milking string to rejuvenate.
Second…I see a group of
people in front of me who
are constantly striving to
develop and incorporate
better practices and
processes to ensure the
milk they deliver to the
consumer is the safest and
highest quality it possibly
can be.
Third…I see a global
desire and demand for
our product growing
at a remarkable rate.
Rising global incomes
and growing global
consumer awareness of
the nutritional value of
milk are tremendously
impacting the growth
of markets and market
potential.
hands. How are we educating them? Mentoring them? Helping
them prepare for change? And helping them grow into the
leaders our Association will need for tomorrow?
Yes, we have a legacy of seeing beyond existing boundaries—
but we must continue to keep the pressure on. We must
continue to challenge
ourselves to overcome
self-imposed limitations
and to exceed societal
expectations. What
are the wildest
possibilities we can
ask of one another?
Of our Association?
What message can
we give about our
value to society, and
our commitment to
providing nutritious
dairy protein to the
world?
They will see opportunities and challenges that we
can barely imagine. Soon enough, this Association
will be in their hands. How are we educating them?
Mentoring them? Helping them prepare for change?
And helping them grow into the leaders our
Association will need for tomorrow?
The Holstein Association
is made up of talented
individuals who have
accomplished great
things. How do we
build from where we are
today?
It is an exciting time that’s
There is a role for
rife with challenges but
all ages, all interests,
rich with possibilities.
all sizes within our
You are a special group
Winning Dairy Bowl teams, Junior and Senior, both from Illinois.
Association. There is
of people doing special
a place for the large
things. These challenges
producer who provides milk efficiently and consistently. The
are not unlike those faced by previous generations—by those
artful breeder who supplies the genetic base that continues
who cast a vision for the Association that serves us all so well
to provide the world’s best dairy cow is a key part of the
today—and those who continue to propel us forward.
Association. All of these members contribute to an abundant
Our members who are now in their 70s, 80s, and beyond—
supply of wholesome fresh milk for the world.
those are the ones who saw the potential in this organization,
We all bring a unique vantage point and special skills. But we
nurtured it, sacrificed for, and established its humble but strong
also share a common passion to produce the finest dairy animal
beginnings with a foundation that we still work from today.
on Earth—the ideal Holstein. That shared interest is what
Our members in their 50s and 60s—these are the caretakers
binds us across generations, sizes, interests, geographies, and
who have seen our industry through some incredibly
sometimes even diverging opinions.
challenging times, who have helped ensure that the Holstein
Our breed is the breed of business. Our cows are the engine
breed stands strong above all others to ensure that it maintains
propelling the dairy industry forward. Holsteins are the choice
a focus on traits the dairy industry continues to count on to fuel
for serious milk production, profound genetic improvement,
the needs of consumers.
and showcasing everything our livelihood represents.
Our members in their 30s and 40s—this is the generation now
With 25 million registrations over the life of our Association,
forming its own vision for the future of our Association—those
you have 25 million reasons to believe. 25 million reasons to be
who are tackling the challenges I mentioned earlier head on.
proud!
You are embracing change and charting a path for our industry,
our breed and our organization that will help determine its
Thank you.
relevance for years to come.
Finally, we challenge our youngest members in their teens and
20s. They will see opportunities and challenges that we can
barely imagine. Soon enough, this Association will be in their
— John M. Meyer
is Chief Executive Officer of Holstein Association USA, Inc.
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Dedication
to a Dream
BY SUSAN HARLOW
Hard work makes it happen for 2015 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder and family
The Millses have worked at rebuilding the dairy facilities in the 12 years since they bought their Juniata County, Pa., farm.
J
oel Mills, the 2015 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder,
and his wife, Sara, have come a long way since they first
started farming 12 years ago, with little more than a desire to
dairy. Neither one is from a farm background but they believed
in teamwork and commitment to a dream.
comfort by rebuilding the freestalls. “When you come from
zero, you’re going to have to invest in something that’s going to
last long term,” Joel says. Today they have a well-run farm and
a beautiful herd of 116 Registered Holsteins. But they are not
done yet. “We are a work in progress,” Sara says.
Joel grew up in southern Pennsylvania, where his family had
rented a house on a Chambersburg dairy farm, Tidy Brook
Farm. His favorite thing to do was to watch the farmers scrape
manure, and his love
of cows was born. Joel
worked for Tidy Brook
for 18 years.
Family and teamwork
Both Joel and Sara emphasize that Millwork Holsteins is a
family farm. Their
nutritionist Steven
Ernst agrees. “This
family’s teamwork and
determination are true
strengths,” he says.
He met Sara at a
“The Millses’ approach
church youth group.
has been one of steady
Sara, whose family
success based on strong
had moved from
management and great
Minnesota, says, “The
cows.” Critical to their
most experience I got
success is that Joel and
was marrying someone
Sara work as a team,
who had worked
helped by their three
on a farm. I learned
children, Bryanna,
most everything once
Joel chooses bulls for high type and production as he builds the Millwork herd.
Isaac, and Tabitha.
we started on our
They hire no outside labor. Joel takes care of the cows, including
own.” Seven years later, they rented a farm in Chambersburg,
feeding and breeding, and Sara does most of the milking, calf
Pennsylvania. By then they already had a prefix: Millwork
care and book work. But she says her main role is to support her
Holsteins.
husband, the “mastermind” behind the farm. “I try to encourage
Four years later, in 2007, Joel and Sara had enough money
and do what I can to help him out. The more I get involved in his
and solid credit to buy their own farm, in Juniata County. It
dreams, they become my dreams which turns into our dreams.
no longer had milking equipment, and cow numbers had been
That is how we got to be where we are.”
too low to keep the fields fertile. In two months they had built
Only the field work is hired out. The children are pitching in
a parlor and moved in their cows. They continued to plow
more and more as they get older, and Joel and Sara hope that
their profits back into the farm, refurbishing the buildings, and
will allow them time to merchandise more cattle through sales
building a new heifer barn and, recently, a calf barn with a
of animals, embryos, and bulls. Meanwhile the children show
milk room. They constructed a concrete manure pit, replaced
through 4-H.
the holding area and walkways, and last year improved cow
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Breeding Strategies
Joel, who has a good eye and instinct for breeding excellent
cattle, makes all the mating selections. He breeds for high type
and production, with solid components, using the highest GTPI
bulls. When selecting for milk production, he likes to see the
group of bulls average around 1,000 pounds of milk. He puts
special emphasis first on feet and legs, for longevity, and second,
on udders.
Health traits are
becoming increasingly
important to him,
especially somatic
cell score. He also
pays attention to
Productive Life and
Daughter Pregnancy
Rate, so they are not
— Joel Mills
negative for multiple
generations. When selecting bulls, he also looks at the linear
type profile to make sure there are no undesirable traits.
“When you come from
zero, you’re going
to have to invest in
something that’s going
to last long term.”
Joel has been a firm believer in genomics from the start. Ninetyfive percent of the bulls he uses are genomic, and he tests two or
three calves out of their best cows each month. The herd has an
average TPI of 1684—just five years ago it was 1341.
On the production side, Joel uses bulls from the families of
Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy and Wabash-Way Evett. On the
type side, he says the Regancrest-PR Barbie-ET family as well
as sons of De-Su BKM McCutchen, Val-Bisson Doorman,
Mountfield SSI DCY Mogul-ET, and Amighetti Numero UnoET have had a positive impact on their herd.
Six cow families have many descendants in the Millwork herd
that have done well. Consistent for a balance of production and
type have been Millwork Million Tavie, Tidy-Brook Cel WendyET, and Millwork Time Dora. For type, Joel notes the families
of Romato Rudolph Bille, Romato Mason Camille, and Romato
Lee Kelly, three cows from the Canadian herd the Millses
purchased when they first started.
Some of their current stand-outs include a heifer, Millwork Oak
Devin, +2360, out of a high type and production bull, Pine-Tree
Altaoak-ET. They have flushed her once to Seagull-Bay SilverET and plan to flush her again. They’re also impressed with
another calf, Millwork Defender Bretta, +2422, out of S-S-I
Mogul Defender.
However, they don’t focus on one cow family. “We’re trying to
make them all good,” Sara says. “We have to milk all of them
and breed all of
them.”
The Millses use
Holstein’s Tag ID
and EASY ID, and
are on Holstein
COMPLETE.
They also classify
in the Limited
program. At their
last classification,
in March, they
added another
Excellent cow,
giving them seven
Excellents, and 14
Joel Mills uses almost
all genomic bulls, and
Very Good cows,
genomically tests several
bringing that total
calves from their best
to 40. Last year for
cows each month.
the first time, they
had two homebred Excellents. They have won the Progressive
Genetic Herd Award for five years. They have four cows on the
current Locator list and have sold one bull to AI.
Making Milk
The Millses pay close attention to milk production because
that’s what brings in most of their income. They have a rolling
herd average of 23,620 pounds of milk, 924 pounds of fat, and
726 pounds of protein, milked 2X in their parlor. They do an
excellent job on milk quality, with a somatic cell count usually
below 50,000, helped by consistent milking procedures and
good maintenance of their milking equipment and freestalls,
which have rubber mats bedded with sawdust. They dry-treat
their heifers and culture their own milk samples.
The Millses work closely with their nutritionist on a ration that
currently consists of concentrate, soybean meal, ground corn,
corn silage and alfalfa haylage. They feel that a high-forage diet
helps cow health and that a highly digestible, low-NDF diet is
the key to production. They grow all their own forage, with the
exception of dry hay, and double-crop triticale with corn.
Joel has been active in 4-H and a leader since he farmed in
Chambersburg, and the whole family attends meetings with
him. He is also on the board of directors of the Mount Joy
Cooperative and on the county land preservation board. As
their children grow, the Millses want to spend even more time
contributing to the community.
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Genomics Helps Holsteins Lead the Way
T
he great advantage genomics gives Holsteins over other
breeds is the enormous number of cattle on which there
is data. “The large reference population is really the power of
genomics,” said Dr. Nate Zwald, USA general manager for Alta
Genetics, one of four speakers on the panel titled “Holstein
Genomics Today,” at the National Holstein Convention.
On the farm level,
genomics is offering
many advantages.
Genomic testing is
an important asset
for Chuck Ripp, a
dairy producer from
Dane, Wisconsin,
helping him focus
on his highest
genomic animals
and get an earlier
handle on culling so
he can cut his losses
from raising animals
with lower genetics.
“[My dairy] should
be more profitable
because I don’t have
to raise all those
heifers,” Ripp said.
Genomics improves
the accuracy
Dr. Nate Zwald of Alta Genetics spoke on
of identifying
the panel, Holstein Genomics Today.
parentage, too—
calves misidentified at birth are one of dairy producers’ biggest
problems, he said. (Twenty percent of newborn calves are
identified incorrectly, Zwald said.) It also helps Ripp control
inbreeding, essential on a dairy that has undergone three recent
expansions.
14
14
On the downside, testing adds time and cost to his dairy
operation, although the Holstein Association’s new tissue
sampling units help speed up the process, he said. Genomic
testing, which he does on 550 heifers, all but 5 percent, within a
week of birth, costs him between $21,000 and $25,000 a year.
Ripp said he isn’t aiming for a few superstar high-genomic
animals, but for a closed herd that improves as a whole.
“Technology is making it easier to get all that information, and
testing is coming back sooner. When you barely get a calf off
milk and you already have her genomic numbers, that’s pretty
neat,” he said.
Dr. Dan Weigel, director of outcomes research for Zoetis, said
the top genomic heifers are proving to make a lot of milk for
producers. Now genomics can help breeders improve health traits
that need strengthening, such as still births at first calving, most
of which have low heritability. But genomics is just information,
only useful if you use it. “It doesn’t make your calves better,”
he said. “You’ve got to have a plan and you have to figure out
exactly what to do with that information.”
Weigel spoke about breed comparisons, pointing out recent
statistics from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding that show
Holsteins with better fat, protein, and somatic cell score values
than Jerseys. “The Holstein heifer also has the best conception
rate of any breed,” he said.
Zwald said that breeders must continue to focus on profitability
in order to maintain the Holstein as the gold standard of dairy
cattle. “There is no question that we have a target on our back,”
he said.
The impact of type on profitability is large, but not as important
as it was 50 years ago, when the Holstein breed had functional
problems, Zwald said. And he cautioned breeders to stop
breeding for larger cows. “The rest of the world is complaining
about it,” he said. “It shouldn’t take a tall cow to have a good
udder, and it shouldn’t take a big cow to have good feet and legs.”
Dr. Michael Bishop of Illumina cited the Holstein breed’s
advantage in genetic information and pedigrees, “the depth
and breadth of the records you have that go back so many
generations to build upon, and the pedigree structure you have
and the ability to train those markers to the population and have
them be so accurate.
“You Holstein breeders are truly the envy of the world.”
Wherever he travels, he said, “it’s the Holstein breed that
basically leads the way.”
The National Holstein Sale, held June 24, grossed a little over
$1 million, with an average $9,800. Mil-R-Mor Drm Reflection-ET,
a calf donated by Bob and Kaye Miller of Mil-R-Mor Farm,
Orangeville, Illinois, brought in $3,000 to benefit the Holstein
Foundation. The top seller, a February 2015 Alta1stClass, was
bought by Peak Genetics for $103,000.
Telling Our Personal
Stories: How Dairy Can
Gain Consumer Trust
L
ike other industries, dairy is at a crossroads, in an era where
there is an “evaporation of trust” in the old institutions,
Stan Erwine, vice communications, president of farmer relations
and activation for Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI), told the
National Holstein Convention.
Bob Miller of Illinois and John Andersen of Idaho were neighbor
delegates at the convention.
Millennials—that is, people between the ages of 11 and 33— trust
Google more than they trust traditional media sources. And they
trust their families and friends most of all, Erwine said. Many
consumers now base their decisions on emotion rather than
reason, he said. “We live in a touchy-feely emotional world….that
means we must communicate in an emotional manner.”
Consumers now also expect more than good food; they expect
farmers to treat animals, workers, and the environment well,
and they expect transparency.
Nevertheless, dairy farmers can reach consumers and gain
their trust, but only through a strong, united voice. They
must use traditional and social media, but also face-to-face
communication such as farm tours. Personal connection is
critical. “If we can all work together, we can tell dairy’s story.
Our voice would be heard if everyone told their story to a friend
or a neighbor,” Erwine said.
Erwine discussed Where Good Comes From, the initiative
from DMI promoting a unified image and a deeper trust in
dairy. It includes ways for dairy farmers to share information,
and will feature video spots and the just-released Dairy Good
Cookbook. Find out more at dairygood.org.
Tim Ewing, regional sales representative, greeted many
members at the HAUSA booth.
1515
Junior Holstein Members
Shine at National Convention
T
he National Junior Holstein Convention was a-buzz with
the nearly 400 Junior Holstein members who competed
in activities and contests during the week. Here’s a look at the
contests and the winning Junior members:
Dairy Bowl
The awards went to Maryland’s junior division team of Todd
Allen, Jordyn Griffin, Ryan Allen, and Shelby Iager. They
were coached by Carole Doody. Senior division honors went to
Iowa, with a team consisting of Sally Hamlett, Royce Demmer,
Kaleb Kruse, and Ethan Hammerand. They were coached by
Jeff Hammerand.
In this highly anticipated competition,
teams of four contend head-to-head
to answer questions about the dairy
industry. A total of 28 teams competed,
in two divisions, for top honors.
Illinois won the junior division (ages
9-15) with a final round victory over
Florida. The team comprised Emma
Carlson, Jared Dickman, Connor
Erbsen, and Lane Heinzmann, with
coaches John Mitchell, Becky Meier,
and Glen Meier. Florida’s team was
Hunter Fioretto, Michael Fioretto,
Garrett Greaves, and Cady McGehee, with coaches Chris
Holcomb and Dianne Spann. The other top five teams were
Wisconsin, third, Pennsylvania, fourth, and Maryland, fifth.
Illinois also won the senior division (ages 16-21) with a
team made up of Sarah Duncan, Emily Irwin, Dylan Reed,
and Ryan Sheehan, with John Mitchell, Becky Meier, and
Glen Meier as coaches. The second place team, New York,
comprised Allison Herrick, Emily Lampson, Alton Rudgers,
and Tracy Rudgers, with coach William Herrick. The other
teams from the top five were Maryland, third, Wisconsin,
fourth, and Florida, fifth.
J. George and Anna Smith Sportsmanship Awards
This is the first year for the Sportsmanship Awards established
by J. George and Anna Smith, who named the Holstein
Foundation as a beneficiary of their charitable remainder trust.
Dairy Knowledge
The Dairy Knowledge exam
attracted more than 170 participants,
who tested their knowledge with a
25-question written test. The winners
of each age division were:
Junior Division
1st – Siana Barrett, California
Senior Division
1st – Alex Gambonini, California
Dairy Jeopardy
More than 70 participants in three divisions competed in Dairy
Jeopardy, which is based on the popular TV game show. The
top individuals in each division were:
Junior Division
1st – Caroline Arrowsmith, Pennsylvania
Intermediate Division
1st – Nathan Arthur, Iowa
Senior Division
1st – Travis Holtzinger, Pennsylvania
Prepared Public Speaking
Junior Division
1st - Danielle Herrick, New York – How to Choose the Best
Sire for my Heifer
Intermediate Division
1st - Lora Wright, Missouri – Farmed and Dangerous
Senior Division
1st - Ashley Mohn, Pennsylvania – All About the Butter, No
Margarine
Scrapbook
1st – Florida
Digital Scrapbook
1st – Virginia
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New York Senior Dairy Bowl team- Alton Rudgers, Allison
Herrick, Tracy Rudgers, and Emily Lampson.
You can find a full list of
winners on our website,
www.holsteinusa.com.
Click on Latest News,
then Press Releases.
Right: Distinguished Junior Member finalists- Jessica
Pralle, Wisconsin; Jacob Shaffer, Pennsylvania; Kathryn
Osborne, Pennsylvania; David Hardesty Jr., Virginia,
Megan Rauen, Iowa; and Elizabeth Endres, Wisconsin.
Dairy Jeopardy winners
Senior Dairy Jeopardy winners: first, Travis Holtzinger,
Pennsylvania; second, Elizabeth Endres, Wisconsin, and
third, Amber Gabel, Pennsylvania.
Folding Display, Creative
Josh Nelson, Minn.
Penny War
Missouri was the winning state in the Penny War contest, in
which $1,000.39 was raised for the benefit of the Holstein
Foundation.
Junior
1st - Allie Goss, Pennsylvania – The
World of Dairy in the Palm of Your
Hand
Junior Advisory Committee
These youth members were appointed
to the Junior Advisory Committee:
Area 1–David Hardesty Jr., Virginia;
Area 3–Megan Rauen, Iowa; At-large–
Charles Hamilton, Wisconsin.
Intermediate
1st - Ross Laskey, Florida – The Many
Lives of Milk
DJM Finalists
Senior
1st - Ashley Mohn, Pennsylvania – All
About the Butter
Folding Display, Scientific
Junior
1st - Austin Holcomb, Florida – The
Yogurt Process
Intermediate
1st - Garrett Greaves, Florida –
Colostrum Management
©HolsteinWorld/Randy Blodgett
The National Holstein Women’s Scholarship
Organization presented $1,500 scholarships
to these Junior Holstein members: BackAnna Culbertson, Minnesota; David Hardesty
Jr., Virginia; Caitlyn Pool, Pennsylvania;
Taylor Leach, Kansas. Front- Megan Rauen,
Iowa; Jaylene Lesher, Pennsylvania.
Senior
1st - Marcy Bartelheimer, Washington – Break it Down
Banner
1st - New England
The Distinguished Junior Member
recognition is the highest honor a
Junior Holstein Association member
can receive. This year’s finalists are:
Elizabeth Endres, Wisconsin; David
Hardesty Jr., Virginia; Kathryn
Osborne, Pennsylvania Jessica Pralle,
Wisconsin; Megan Rauen, Iowa; and
Jacob Shaffer, Pennsylvania. They will
receive annual renewed memberships to
Holstein Association USA.
The Distinguished Junior Member award honors Junior
Holstein members, ages 17 to 21, who have excelled in their
junior project work, involvement on their farm, and in their
communities.
Distinguished Junior Member finalists
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©HolsteinWorld/Randy Blodgett