President Larry A. Tande, CEO John M. Meyer, Tim Baker, Jennifer Baker, and Vice President Chuck Worden.
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Brattleboro, Vt. (July 1, 2010)...Holstein Association USA is pleased to announce Tim Baker, of Star-Summit Holsteins in Byron Center, Mich. as the 2009 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder. Tim was honored at the recent National Holstein Convention in Bloomington, Minn. on June 29.
Tim has worked with Registered Holsteins his entire life, and their family has a rich history in the dairy industry. This fall will mark the centennial anniversary for their farm, which was purchased by Tim's grandfather in October 1910. Baker's father, Henry, took over the dairy in 1957, and purchased his first Registered Holstein in 1959.
Tim's herd began in 1980, when his father gave him is first Registered calf for a 4-H project. That first calf went on to score VG-86 and produced over 230,000 pounds of milk, and many offspring can be found in Tim's current herd. He says, "My criteria then and still today for purchasing cows includes good quality cow families, top production, high type and components." Tim took over management of the farm himself in 1997. Today, he is milking 60 cows twice a day.
Baker's herd is enrolled in Holstein COMPLETE, and they classify every seven months, which is a valuable component of their marketing program. Right now in the herd, they have 42 Excellent, 30 Very Good and 6 Good Plus cows, with none lower.
Since he has taken over management, Star-Summit has received the Progressive Genetics Herd award six years and the Progressive Breeders Registry award seven years. Baker's herd is 92 percent homebred with a BAA of 111.5 percent, and production averages of 30,319 pounds of milk, 1,079 pounds of fat and 972 pounds of protein. They have been recognized with Holstein Association USA's Herd of Excellence recognition for two years - in 2008 and 2009. Adding to these impressive statistics, the farm has had 19 cows produce over 200,000 pounds of milk, eight of which are still in the herd today.
Tim's main goal for calves born on the farm is to have a continual increase in milk production while maintaining or improving type. Some bulls he is currently breeding cows to are Picston Shottle-ET, Regancrest Dundee-ET, Roylane Jordan-ET, Wilcoxview Jasper-ET, Ms Atlees SHT Aftershock-ET and Gen-Mark Stmatic Sanchez. Baker says that of all bulls he's used in his herd, Regancrest Elton Durham-ET has, by far, had the greatest positive influence in his herd, siring several Very Good and Excellent high-producing cows for them.
"Owning Registered Holsteins has been the most influential aspect of our farming operation, because of the many ways it generates opportunities for marketing genetics of the herd," said Tim. "Income generated from the sale of Registered cattle has helped the farm survive the tough times and provides for improvements in good times," he continued, adding that the extra income has allowed them to modernize buildings and equipment, increasing the efficiency of their operation and the overall health and well-being of their cattle.
"Future investment in Registered Holsteins, I believe, is the only way to maintain this operation." Tim feels that given their size, location and the current status of the US dairy economy, the sale of Registered Holstein genetics will be critical to their future. "I wouldn't be milking today if it weren't for Registered cattle," Baker finished.
Tim has been a long-time member of the Michigan Holstein Association and has served six years on the Michigan Holstein Association board of directors, spending one term on the Executive Committee. He presently serves on the state show committee. He has also been involved with the Ottawa County DHIA board, and was president of their board in 2006-2007. Tim joined Holstein Association USA in 1991, and is taking a more active role this year, serving as a delegate at the 2010 National Convention.
Tim says, "I enjoy sharing my passion for quality animals with young people, and I believe it is very important to educate youth on dairy practices, as they are the future of this industry." He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children: Gerrit (11), Jack (9) and Elise (5).
For more information or to obtain a photo of the winners, contact Lindsey Worden, Communications Manager, at 800.952.5200, ext. 4096.
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