Brattleboro, Vt., December 28, 2023 — Holstein Association USA is making some fee adjustments for 2024. More details on these changes are listed below.

Junior Membership Fee Change

Junior membership fees will be changing from $20 to $30 effective January 1, 2024. However, membership applications with a postmark date on or before December 31, 2023, will be charged the current rate. Junior membership is a one-time fee, expiring when the Junior member reaches their 21st birthday.

Registration Fee Change

On February 1, 2024, registration fees will increase. New pricing can be found at www.holsteinusa.com/animal_id/register.html

Classification Fee Change

Classification fee increases are effective for the March 2024 Classification program. Find a complete list of the updated fee schedule at www.holsteinusa.com/programs_services/classification.html

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Two Junior Holstein Members Named National Judi Collinsworth Memorial Scholarship Recipients

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. December 20, 2023 — Holstein Association USA is thrilled to support two Junior Holstein members with college scholarships. The National Judi Collinsworth Outstanding Junior Exhibitor Memorial Scholarship award recognizes National Junior Holstein Exhibitors who have shown committed involvement and interest in the Holstein industry.

Receiving the top $1,000 scholarship this year is Brianna Meyer of Wisconsin. Brianna is currently studying Dairy Science and Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin — Madison. She has hopes of attending vet school and working with dairy cattle as a large-animal veterinarian in the future. In addition to serving on the Junior Advisory Committee, Brianna was a youth council member for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

Brianna says showing Registered Holsteins has been an incredibly valuable
experience, and taught her many life lessons, including humility and openness to learning. A recent highlight in Brianna’s showing career was exhibiting Hilrose Curshabull Prizm in the Fall Calf Class at the International Junior Holstein Show at World Dairy Expo and taking home the first-place prize.

“I plan to stay involved in Holstein Youth programs to give back to the next generation of dairy youth. Being involved in Junior Holsteins has made a huge impact on my life, specifically from the people who believed in my abilities and pushed me to be my best,” Brianna says. “I wish to give future generations the same invaluable opportunities that I have been granted and provide them the same help and support the way that others in the dairy industry have supported me.”

Receiving the $500 scholarship is Hayley Daubert of Virginia. Hayley attends South Dakota State University where she is active as the Dairy Club Activities Coordinator, serves as a South Dakota Dairy Ambassador, is the SDSU Emergency Medical Services Club Secretary, and is on the SDSU Little International Milk Quality Contest Committee.

Although Hayley attends college far away from home, she remains involved on her family’s farm by running the website and social media accounts. Hayley continues to show her Registered Holsteins when she can, an experience she says has taught her about teamwork.

“In addition to growing my own herd and selling farm-fresh, artisan cheese, I plan to pursue a career in the medical field as a paramedic to help my small community,” Hayley shares about her future goals.

Scholarship recipients must be a National Junior Holstein member and enrolled in a 2- or 4-year college or university. Youth must also have exhibited their animal at a National Junior Holstein Show during the current show season. Applicants are judged on their leadership profile, Holstein involvement and interest, and participation in other activities. More information can be found at www.holsteinusa.com/pdf/forms_apps/collinsworth_award.pdf

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Important Updates on Early Onset Muscle Weakness Syndrome from Holstein Association USA

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. December 4, 2023 — Holstein Association USA has continued to monitor information related to Early Onset Muscle Weakness Syndrome (MW) over the past several months. The development of the haplotype calls for Muscle Weakness (HMW) has been a top priority for Holstein Association USA, along with colleagues at the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB), USDA-AGIL and the National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB).

During the Fall 2023 Holstein Association USA Board meeting in Chicago, Illinois, the Holstein Association USA Board of Directors approved staff’s recommendations for further action regarding MW.

Holstein Association USA will make the haplotype results available in conjunction with the official genetic evaluation release on December 5, 2023. This information can be found in the same place as other haplotype information, including the free Family Tree Search, within Red Book Plus Online, on genomic reports, and within Enlight.

Results for HMW will be reported as 0 (free), 1 (carrier), 2 (homozygous affected, 3 (probable carrier), or 4 (probable homozygous) on evaluations. CDCB predicts a number of Holstein genotypes in the database will receive a status of 3 or 4 for HMW, due to the inability to confirm the presence of the mutated haplotype through available pedigree information.

Next Steps

Holstein Association USA staff will analyze the HMW haplotypes released in December and collect comments from Holstein breeders and scientific researchers. Following a satisfactory review outcome, Holstein Association USA plans to add MW to the list of officially recognized undesirable genetic conditions in February 2024.

Additional resources and information on MW can be found on the Holstein Association USA web site. A regularly updated list of bulls with an NAAB code with a direct test result on file can be found at www.holsteinusa.com/lists/early_onset_muscle_weakness.html.

The best tool available for discovering and understanding new genetic conditions is farmer reporting. Therefore, breeders performing gene tests on animals are asked to forward those results to Holstein Association USA, at [email protected]. Farmers who have calves born with abnormal features or health issues that are suspected to be caused by genetic problems are asked to complete the Abnormality Report Form available at www.holsteinusa.com/pdf/forms_apps/abnormality_report.pdf and email it to [email protected], or contact the Genetic Services department at 800.952.5200.

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Hotel Rooms Available for the 2024 National Holstein Convention

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. December 1, 2023 — Hotel rooms for Holstein Association USA’s 2024 National Holstein Convention are now ready to be booked at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City. Conveniently attached to the event center where the Convention activities will take place, the hotel also features several amenities, including spacious guest rooms with floor to ceiling windows, a large fitness center, a rooftop pool and terrace, and two restaurants.

Located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, the Hyatt Regency is within walking distance of numerous restaurants, bars, and activities. Discounted rates for the National Holstein Convention are available from June 22 through June 29, 2024, as room availability allows. Rooms can be booked today at www.holsteinconvention.com/accomodations.

Holstein Association USA’s 2024 National Holstein Convention and 139th Annual Meeting will be held June 24-27, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Coined “Udderly Utah,” the 2024 Convention will feature traditional favorites such as host day tours, Junior contests and activities, the National Convention Sale, and the annual Awards Banquet. New in 2024, Holstein University will highlight a variety of topics within the dairy industry and beyond through engaging speakers. Exclusive trade show hours, a family friendly welcome reception, and an adult social mixer will provide additional networking opportunities for convention attendees.

Stay up to date on the latest information by following the National Holstein Convention on Facebook and Instagram. Additional details can be found at www.holsteinconvention.com. The website includes a detailed Convention schedule, ideas for local tours, activities, and restaurants, and much more. Holstein Association USA members and enthusiasts are encouraged to book hotel rooms early and make plans for a fun week in Salt Lake City, Utah this summer.

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Holstein Association USA Celebrates 2023 All-National Showcase Program Honorees

Brattleboro, Vt., November 27, 2023 — Holstein Association USA members from across the country have been showcasing their Registered Holsteins at National Holstein Shows over the past several months. As the 2023 show season wraps up, Holstein Association USA is thrilled to recognize outstanding breeders and exhibitors through the All-National Showcase program.

"Animals who place in the top 10 of their class at National Holstein Shows earn points throughout the year, based on the size of the show," says Tim Ziemba, who serves as National Show Coordinator for Holstein Association USA. "Congratulations to each of this year’s deserving All-National Showcase honorees."

Now in it’s fourth year, the All-National Showcase Program recognizes U.S. Registered Holstein cows and their owners for top-notch performances at Registered Holstein shows. This year’s honorees will be recognized on Holstein Association USA’s Facebook and Instagram pages. A PDF with a complete list of honorees is also available at www.hoslteinusa.com/allnational

Congratulations to the following All-National and Reserve All National Holsteins, along with their breeders and exhibitors!

All-National Breeder
Oakfield Corners Dairy, NY

All-National Exhibitor
Jim Butler, IL

Summer Heifer Calf
All National: MS MAPLESIDE WAR BLING-RED, Edmond Petit & Chet & Renee Baker, VT
Reserve All-National: MS LIBERTYS LEXUS, Tyler Meyer Matt Oechsle & James R Bertsch, OH

Spring Heifer Calf
All National: PEACE&PLENTY FOOT JUB192-ET, Peace & Plenty Farms LLC, MD
Reserve All-National: GENESEE ALTITUDE LEAH, Jim Butler, IL

Winter Heifer Calf
All National: CAL-DENIER-I DL ALEXUS-ET, Velthuis Farms Ltd, ON
Reserve All-National: RYAN-VU CRUSHTIM STARSTRUCK, Dylan & Cameron Ryan, WI

Fall Heifer Calf
All National: K-HURST ALLEYOOP PRIMED, K Doeberiener, D Reed, L Bowen & T Carter, OH
Reserve All-National: IN-STYLE JEWEL IN THE NIGHT, Jannalee Coleman,J Isaac Folt & Riley Whisler, NY

Summer Yearling Heifer
All National: REYNCREST TATOO AUTOMATIC, Reyncrest Farms Inc., NY
Reserve All-National: LADYS LAMBDA LOVELESS-ET, Budjon, P Vail, Genosource & Heartland Dairy, WI

Spring Yearling Heifer
All National: MS WINDBROOK LYZARD-ET, Ava Grace Hebgen & Avery Best, WI
Reserve All-National: MS BLACKJACK SK ELECTRIC, Blackjack, T Dickerhoof & G & M Schmidt, MN

Winter Yearling Heifer
All National: LEHOUX VICTOR TOPAGE, Jim Butler, IL
Reserve All-National: CAMPBELL-RUN-IHC DNV REGGIE, Randall & Patricia Kitchen & Daniel Kitchen, PA

Fall Yearling Heifer
All National: HODGLYNN UNIX RACY, Carter Kruse, IA
Reserve All-National: IN-STYLE MOMENT LAST DANCE, Crave Brothers Farm LLC, WI

Milking Yearling
All National: BLEXYS CHIEF BLOODY MARY-ET, Budjon Farms & Joey & Laurie Airoso, WI
Reserve All-National: MILKWORTH KD ADELINE, Quality Holsteins & Beckridge Holsteins, QC

Summer Junior Two-Year-Old Cow
All National: DUCKETT DOC BREE, Blackjack Holsteins & T & L Cattle Ltd, MN
Reserve All-National: JACOBS DESTINY BALLA-ET, Jim Butler, IL

Junior Two-Year-Old Cow
All National: MILKSOURCE AUDI, Milk Source LLC, WI
Reserve All-National: BUDJON-VAIL DLAM THUMPER-ET, MH Genetics & Bridgerland Holsteins, UT

Senior Two-Year-Old Cow
All National: PREMIERPOINT MAS CARMONA-ET, Maple-Leigh, Arizona Dairy & Grai-Rose Cattle, WI
Reserve All-National: CASH-AL ARTIST MILEY CYRUS, CLF LLC, NJ

Junior Three-Year-Old Cow
All National: VALRICK SIDEKICK PETUNIA-ET, Ross A. Risner, WI
Reserve All-National: MCGARR-FARMS UNIX ZANY, Westcoast Holsteins, BC

Senior Three-Year-Old Cow
All National: JEFFREY-WAY HARD ROCK TWIGS, K Doeberiener, L Bowen, W Schilling & P Conroy, OH
Reserve All-National: GLENIRVINE UNIX SALLY, Milk Source LLC, L Fisher, C Letter & R Sabo, WI

Four-Year-Old Cow
All National: RYAN-VU UNIX SHASTI, Maple-Leigh Futures & Chad & Amy Ryan, WI
Reserve All-National: OAKFIELD SOLOMON SUNSET-ET, Jonathan & Alicia Lamb, NY

Five-Year-Old Cow
All National: JACOBS HIGH OCTANE DIA, Jim Butler, IL
Reserve All-National: CORNEREST D BACK LAUDIA, F. Hayden Weaver, PA

Six-Year-Old & Older Cow
All National: UNDERGROUND ADELINE, Eaton Holsteins & Glamourview - Iager & Walton, NY
Reserve All-National: ERBACRES SNAPPLE SHAKIRA-ET, Ferme Jacobs Inc., Ty-D Holsteins, Ferme Antelimarck 2001, Kilian Theraulaz, & Attaboy Holsteins, QC

150,000 Lb. Lifetime Milk Production Cow
All National: ALFINCH ZELGODIS TACI, Frank D & Carol Borba & Frank A & Diane Borba, CA
Reserve All-National: RACH-LEN DUNDEE LILLY, Eaton Holsteins, S Morrill, J Zeh & Glamourview, NY

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Holstein Association USA Welcomes Nominations for 2024 Award Recipients

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. November 14, 2023 — Outstanding Holstein breeders and dairy industry leaders are recognized each year with Holstein Association USA’s annual awards. These include the prestigious Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder, Distinguished Leadership, and Elite Breeder recognitions.

“A highlight of every National Holstein Convention is recognizing our deserving award recipients for their contributions to the Holstein breed, Holstein Association USA, and the greater dairy community,” says Holstein Association USA CEO John Meyer. “We look forward to continuing to add to the high-caliber list of award recipients and encourage you to nominate people you feel are deserving.”

Holstein enthusiasts are invited to submit nominations for the Elite Breeder and Distinguished Leadership awards. Applications for the Elite Breeder and Distinguished Leadership awards are considered for three years after initial submission. Current Holstein breeders between the ages of 21 and 40 are encouraged to apply for the Distinguished Young Holstien Breeder award.

About the Award

The Elite Breeder Award honors a living Holstein Association USA member, family, partnership, or corporation who has bred outstanding animals and thereby made a notable contribution to the advancement of U.S. Registered Holsteins.

The Distinguished Leadership Award is given to an individual who has provided outstanding and unselfish leadership that has contributed to the improvement of Holstein Association USA and/or the dairy industry.

The Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder Award recognizes significant accomplishments of young Registered Holstein® breeders ages 21 to 40. Submissions can be made for individuals, a couple, or business partners. The winning applicant will receive travel and lodging expenses (for up to two people) to National Holstein Convention, complimentary tickets to the Convention banquet, and a $2,000 cash award.

Award applications are available on the Holstein Association USA website at www.holsteinusa.com/awards/individuals. Nomination applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2024. Honorees will receive their recognition during the 2024 National Holstein Convention being held June 24-27, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. More information about the 2024 National Holstein Convention can be found at www.holsteinconention.com

Additionally, a scholarship is available to students interested in agriculture who plan to pursue their master’s degree in business administration. The Robert H. Rumler MBA Scholarship awards $3,000 to a qualified individual pursuing their MBA at an accredited university. Applications for this scholarship must be received by April 15, 2024.

The previous award winners since 2007 are recognized below. Congratulations to these well-deserving recipients!

Previous Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder Award Winners

2023 - Ty Etgen, OH
2022 - Mitch Kappelman, WI
2021 - Mackenzie, Andy, Tyler, and Kelly Reynolds, NY
2020 - Kurt and Sarah Loehr, WI
2019 - Sheri Regan-Danhof, IA
2018 - David Harvatine, NY
2017 - Craig Carncross, WI
2016 - Joe Loehr, WI
2015 - Joel Mills, PA
2014 - Greg Andersen, ID
2013 - Chad & Amy Ryan, WI
2012 - Jonathan & Alicia Lamb, NY
2011 - Brad Groves, MO
2010 - Timothy Baker, MI
2009 - Jan & Jeff King, NY
2008 - Mark & Angie Ulness, WI
2007 - Bruce & Brenda Long, WI

Previous Distinguished Leadership Award Winners

2023 - John Marshman, NY
2022 - The Honorable Collin Peterson, MN
2021 - Dave Fischer, IL
2020 - Patricia Gifford, NY
2019 - George A. Miller, OH
2018 - William C. Nichol, PA
2017 - Jerry Strandlund, WA
2016 - Dick Witter, PA
2015 - M. Duane Green, MI
2014 - Marlowe Nelson, WI
2013 - Horace Backus, NY
2012 - Dr. Robert E. Walton, WI
2011 - Charles E. Iager, MD
2010 - Ida B. Ruby, OR
2009 - Dennis C. Wolff, PA
2008 - Richard T. Coyne, NY
2007 - William T. McKarns, OH

Previous Elite Breeder Award Winners

2023 - Bomaz Farms, WI
2022 - Sandy Valley Farms/Bauer Brothers, WI
2021 - Emerald Acres, WI
2020 - James and Nina Burdette, PA
2019 - David Bachmann Sr., WI
2018 - Tom and Gin Kestel, WI
2017 - Olmar Farms, MN
2016 - Harvue Farms - David Hardesty, VA
2015 - Conant Acres, ME
2014 - Robthom Holsteins, MO
2013 - Robert Miller, IL
2012 - Regancrest, IA
2011 - Frank Raymond Ruby, OR
2010 - Doug Maddox, CA
2009 - Robert J. Schauf, WI
2008 - Max "Kip" Herzog, CA
2007 - Marvin Nunes, CA

Previous Robert H. Rumler MBA Scholarship Recipients

2022 - Jacob Achen, MN
2021 - Trent Dado, WI
2018 - Tera Baker, MI
2017 - Kelly Driver, NY
2014 - Susie Chelesvig, IA
2010 - John Tauzel, NY
2008 - Kasey Osborn, NY
2007 - Nikolaus Sutter, WI

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Junior Holstein Members Encouraged to Apply for 2023 National Judi Collinsworth Memorial Scholarship

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. November 2, 2023 — Applications are now open for the 2023 National Judi Collinsworth Memorial Scholarship. With a commitment to fostering excellence in National Junior Holstein members, the scholarship is designed to support the academic aspirations of young Holstein enthusiasts.

Two scholarships will be awarded, including one top $1,000 scholarship and a second $500 scholarship. National Junior Holstein members enrolled in a 2- or 4-year college or university who have exhibited their animal at a National Junior Holstein Show during the current show season are eligible to apply.

“After revamping the scholarship format last year, we are thrilled to continue to offer this opportunity to our Junior Members,” says Kelli Dunklee, Holstein Association USA Event and Program Lead. “It’s more than a scholarship, it’s an opportunity to support and encourage our remarkable youth as they transition into college and future careers in the dairy industry.”

The selection committee considers leadership, participation in Holstein activities, and involvement in school, community, and other agricultural organizations. National Junior Holstein members enrolled in college who have competed in any of the National Junior Holstein shows throughout the 2023 show season are invited to submit applications.

The deadline for submitting scholarship applications is December 1, 2023, so eligible students are encouraged to act promptly. Applications can be found at www.holsteinusa.com/juniors under National Junior Shows.

About the Award

Judi Collinsworth worked at Holstein Association USA in Brattleboro, Vermont as the Executive Director of Member and Industry Relations. She spent a great deal of time working to improve and expand the programs available to Holstein youth and was responsible for telemarketing, member-related programs, State Association communications, member services and Association external affairs.

Scholarship recipients must be a National Junior Holstein member and enrolled in a 2- or 4-year college or university. Youth must also have exhibited their animal at a National Junior Holstein Show during the current show season. Applicants are judged on their leadership profile, Holstein involvement and interest, and participation in other activities. More information and the application can be found at www.holsteinusa.com/pdf/forms_apps/collinsworth_award.pdf.

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Holstein Marketplace Sires Welcomes Two New Bulls

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. October 13, 2023 — Holstein Marketplace Sires is excited to release two new bulls. HIGH CALIBER is an elite, free agent sire with a balanced proof. BERT-MAR MOOI ALEX-RED is a high Type red sire, tracing back to LUCK-E ADVENT ATLANTA-ET EX-94 2E. Atlanta is a full sister to Holstein International’s Red Impact Cow of 2020.

“We are ecstatic to add these strong bulls to our diverse line up of Holstein Marketplace Sires bulls,” says Holstein Marketplace Sires Manager, Tim Ziemba. “They both provide a tremendous opportunity to add top-notch genetics to your herd.”

712HO01024 DEWGOOD HIGH CALIBER-ET is bred and owned by Dewgood Holsteins of Oconto, Wisconsin. He’s an Overdo son from a GP-82 Altazazzle who traces back the Rudolf Missy family. HIGH CALIBER is one of the highest free agent bulls currently available, boasting a +3167 GTPI, +1124 NM, +117 F and +57 P. He is also a solid health trait sire at +6.4 PL, +0.2 DPR and 1.3% SCE. To top it off, he combines these numbers with +1.66 PTAT and 2.07 UDC.

“Caliber means the amount of quality and ability of someone or something, and HIGH CALIBER certainly fits this description,” says bull owner Dean Good of Dewgood Holsteins. “HIGH CALIBER offers moderate framed cows with great udders, high components, low somatic cell count and great calving ease.”

HIGH CALIBER has conventional semen placed at most popular IVF centers around the United States. He is already CSS and EU certified for worldwide export and has sexed semen available.

712HO01025 BERT-MAR MOOI ALEX-RED is bred and owned by Bert-Mar Farms in Osseo, Wisconsin. The unique red bull comes from a well-known maternal line, starting with his Altitude dam, Bert-Mar Alexandra-Red-ET EX-91. His second dam, Bert-Mar Ariel-Red-ET EX-90, is a daughter of Luck-E Advent Atlanta EX-94. ALEX-RED is an extreme +3.81 PTAT and +3.19 UDC, making him one of the highest udder composite Red bulls available. To top it off, Alex is +577 M and -0.2 DPR.

“We expect ALEX-RED to transmit exceptional udders and beautiful balanced frames, just like the infamous Luck-E “A” family is well known for,” says breeder and owner Erica Lundberg of Bert-Mar Farms.

ALEX-RED is ready to make fancy, well balanced Red and White daughters who put milk in the tank! He is currently available domestically with conventional semen and will be available for CSS export and sorted semen later this fall.

To purchase Holstein Marketplace Sire semen, contact a Holstein Association USA Regional Sales Representative or reach out to Holstein Marketplace Sires Manager at 315.730.3312 or [email protected]. You can also buy online by visiting www.holsteinusa.com/marketplacesires, click the red “Buy Now” button, and complete the order with the secure online system.

Holstein Marketplace Sires provides a unique avenue for Holstein breeders to market their genetics. Under this program, bull owners retain ownership of the bulls, and Holstein Marketplace Sires coordinates the marketing and sales of the bulls’ semen. Launched in 2019, the program provides a new selection of bulls offered by breeders, for breeders. The program’s goal is to create more opportunities for Holstein breeders to market semen to fellow breeders.

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Holstein America Broadcasts September 28 on RFD-TV

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. September 12, 2023 — Holstein Association USA’s award-winning documentary, Holstein America, is back with a new episode on Thursday, September 28.

Inspired by the stories of Registered Holstein breeders from across the country, Holstein America celebrates modern-day dairy farming and those responsible for providing delicious and nutritious dairy products to consumers around the world.

Make plans to tune in for Holstein America at 9 p.m. CST/10 p.m. EST, Thursday, September 28, on RFD-TV.

“Holstein America is the only nationally televised program devoted exclusively to the dairy community,” says John Meyer, CEO of Holstein Association USA. “Our September episode shows how Registered Holsteins help family farms build a brighter future, generation after generation.”

Holstein America was named best documentary by the Livestock Publications Council during the 2023 Ag Media Summit. Since 2018, the series has paid tribute to U.S. Registered Holsteins, the world’s perfect cow — and the people who raise them.

In the September 28 episode, Holstein America travels from the shores of scenic Door County, Wisconsin to the Pacific Northwest to visit family farms making their mark with U.S. Registered Holsteins. Throughout the country, Registered Holsteins point a clear path forward for herd selection, productivity, and profitability.

The Registered Holstein cow today is the picture of efficiency, and she provides so much for so many. In this episode of Holstein America, you will meet a farm family using beef-on-Holstein crosses to market high-quality beef to their neighbors. Another farm in the Heart of America’s Dairyland employees sophisticated engineering to digest methane gas and turn it into sustainable energy sources.

The hour-long program, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, also explores programs and services offered by Holstein Association USA, including the organization’s recently expanded multi-breed classification program.

Join us for Holstein America at 9 p.m. CST, Thursday, September 28, on RFD-TV.

RFD-TV is a leading independent cable channel available on DISH Network, DIRECTV®, AT&T U–Verse, Charter Spectrum, Cox, Comcast, Mediacom, Suddenlink and many other rural cable systems. Reference local listings for more information.

After the show, visit www.holsteinusa.com to find a complete collection of the Holstein America series. Also stay tuned to Holstein Association USA on Facebook and Instagram for more information.

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2024 Delegate Election Underway for Holstein Association USA’s 138th Annual Meeting

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. August 30, 2023 — Holstein Association USA’s delegate election process is currently underway. Each year, members have the opportunity to nominate members from their state to serve as voting delegates at the following year's Holstein Association USA Annual Meeting. The 138th Annual Meeting will be held on June 26-27, 2024, in conjunction with the National Holstein Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Each member has been sent a Nominating Petition in the mail. Members can use this form to nominate eligible nominees from their state (or district), including themselves. Eligible nominees are individual members or representatives of corporate, partnership, institution, or estate members.

“You, our Holstein Association USA members, are important in helping us to forge change,” says Holstein Association USA President Jonathan Lamb. “We need you to be involved in your local and national Holstein associations, and serving as a delegate is a meaningful and important way to do so.”

Members become ineligible to serve as a delegate after serving as a delegate at three consecutive Annual Meetings. A list of Ineligible nominees for 2024 can be found here.

All members who are nominated will be notified and have an opportunity to accept or decline their nomination.

Once the petitions have been processed and the nominees notified, ballots will be mailed to all members to vote and elect the delegates for their state (or district).

Delegates elected to serve will receive a reimbursement of $1,000 for their expenses after they have attended a participated in the 138th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. More information about the 2024 National Holstein Convention can be found at www.holsteinconvention.com.

Important dates for delegate election::

• July 27, 2023 — Nominating petitions mailed to members
• September 29, 2023 — Nominating petitions must be received by Holstein Association USA
• October 13, 2023 — Deadline for nominees to withdraw names from the ballot
• October 30, 2023 — Ballots mailed to members
• December 29, 2023 — Ballots must be received by Holstein Association USA
• February 1, 2024 — 2024 delegate election finalized

If you have any questions about the Holstein Association USA delegate process, contact Daren Sheffield 800.952.5200, ext. 4276 or by email at [email protected]

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Virtual Interview Contest Applications Open for Junior Holstein Members

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. August 17, 2023 —Junior Holstein members are encouraged to participate in the Virtual Interview Contest. The competition helps youth practice their resume and cover letter writing skills while receiving feedback from agricultural professionals. The virtual format of the competition makes it easy for youth from across the country to participate.

“The National Junior Holstein Association Virtual Interview Contest allowed me to sharpen my interview skills, particularly strengthening my ability to respond to impromptu questions,” says 2022 Virtual Interview Contest participant Sarah Craun from Virginia. “I enjoyed the interaction with the interview panel, and I am grateful for the real world learning experience that will certainly benefit me in my future career endeavors.”

Youth will first submit their resume and cover letters for a mock scenario, and up to 15 applicants from each division will be selected for a virtual interview with a panel of three judges. Every individual who participates will be given written feedback on their cover letter and resume. Those who reach the interview phase will also receive written feedback on their interview.

The Virtual Interview Contest is open to youth ages 12 to 21 as of January 1, 2023. Individuals must be a Junior member of Holstein Association USA to be eligible. Youth will be split into three categories based on age. Following are the mock scenarios for each age division.

Junior Division Mock Interview Scenario (ages 12 to 14 as of January 1):

Applying to be sponsored for a free trip to the 2024 National Junior Holstein Convention.

Intermediate Division Mock Interview Scenario (ages 15 to 17 as of January 1):

Applying for a job shadowing experience with Holstein Association USA in one of the following areas: Classification, Marketing & Communications, Genetics, Sales, or Customer Service.

Senior Division Mock Interview Scenario (ages 18 to 21 as of January 1):

Applying for your first job in your desired career path after completing your post-secondary education.

Cash prizes of $250 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place will be awarded in the junior and intermediate divisions. In the senior division, youth will be given cash prizes of $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $100 for third place.

Entries for the Virtual Interview Contest are currently being accepted and interested youth should send a cover letter and resume corresponding to their appropriate age division to [email protected] by October 1, 2023. Youth who make it to the virtual interview round will be notified in November with interviews to follow in December.

For more details on the content or how to apply, visit the Junior Holstein website or contact Kelli Dunklee at [email protected] or 802.451.4124.

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Junior Holstein Members Gather in Kentucky for National Junior Holstein Convention

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. July 3, 2023 — Junior Holstein members celebrated their shared passion for the Holstein cow and the dairy industry during the 2023 National Holstein Convention Lexington, Kentucky. Held from June 23 to 27, 2023, over 300 Junior Holstein members attended the convention. These young dairy enthusiasts competed in contests, experienced tours, attended workshops, and made new connections throughout the week.

“Lexington proved to be the perfect back drop for Junior Holstein members to engage in friendly competition” says Kelli Dunklee, Holstein Association USA Event and Program Lead. “The variety of contests and activities throughout the week provided these future dairy leaders with countless opportunities to learn new things, gain lifelong friends, and have lots of fun!”

Prepared Public Speaking
Forty-seven youth members honed their presentation and speaking skills during the prepared public speaking competition. Speech topics ranged from farm stress to dairy innovation, to dairy breed history and milk marketing. Following are the results from each age division.

Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)
1st place: Cash McCauley, Michigan
2nd place: Madalyn Troutman, Pennsylvania
3rd place: Savannah Judd, Massachusetts

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)
1st place: Samantha Justice, Missouri
2nd place: Lily Marshman, New York
3rd place: Madison Wiese, Wisconsin

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)
1st place: Kylie Konyn, California
2nd place: Gabriella Taylor, New York
3rd place: Sara Reed, Pennsylvania

Folding Display Contest
Twenty-seven entries were submitted in this year's Folding Display competition. Participants create a free-standing display educating people about a dairy industry-related topic of their choice. Youth are divided into three age divisions, and each division has two categories - Scientific and Creative. Following are the results for each category.

Creative Division
Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)
1st place: Hailey Zook, Pennsylvania
2nd place: Trey Daubert, Virginia
3rd place: Aden Carter, Pennsylvania

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)
1st place: Chelsea Empet, Pennsylvania
2nd place: Lauryn Irwin, Pennsylvania
3rd place: Kassidy Gantos, North Carolina

Scientific Division
Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)
1st place: Bryson Baldwin, North Carolina
2nd place: Kimber Hough, Pennsylvania
3rd place: Madeline Branch, North Carolina

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)
1st place: Sophie Griswold, Pennsylvania
2nd place: Atley Shafer, Maryland
3rd place: Aiden Empet, Pennsylvania

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)
1st place: Salem Sifford, Virginia
2nd place: Kristen Houser, Pennsylvania
3rd place: Cholee Roell, New Jersey

State Scrapbook
The state scrapbook contest gives each state the chance to tell the story of activities and events their Junior Holstein associations take part in each year. The books were judged on the cover, news clippings, photos organization, originality, and variety of activities.

1st place: Illinois
2nd place: New England

Digital State Scrapbook
State Junior Holstein Associations also had the opportunity to participate in the Digital Scrapbook Contest. This contest is judged on the same criteria as a traditional scrapbook, but entries must be presented on a computer or another digital format.

1st place: California
2nd place: Missouri
3rd place: Ohio
4th place: New England
5th place: Virginia

State Banner
The state banner competition allows states to creatively showcase their associations, displayed throughout the week at the Convention. Judges assess the banners based on promotion of state, Holstein related, attractiveness, originality, and overall appearance.

1st place: Virginia
2nd place: California
3rd place: Michigan

Mission Membership
One state is recognized each year for increasing their membership. The honor is calculated on a percentage increase from January 1 to June 1 of the convention year. Minnesota took home the honor in 2023 for the second year in a row, with a membership increase of 24 new members.

NHWSO Awards Scholarships
Three Junior Holstein members were awarded scholarships by the National Holstein Women’s Scholarship Organization (NHWSO) during the National Junior Holstein Convention. This year’s recipients receiving scholarships were Emory Bewley, Doreen Dyt, and Irene Nielsen.

New Representative Elected to Junior Advisory Committee (JAC)
Three new youth representatives were elected to the National Junior Advisory Committee (JAC) during the National Junior Forum. Gabriella Taylor was elected to the Area 1 position, Aubree Topp was elected to the Area 2 position, and Clarissa Ulness was elected to the At-Large position.

The JAC is the governing body of the Junior Association and oversees the organization's activities. Youth committee members are elected by the Junior membership at the National Junior Forum, and members serve two-year terms.

For more information about Junior Holstein Association’s youth programs, visit www.holsteinfoundation.org, or contact Kelli Dunklee, youth programs specialist, at 800.952.5200, ext. 4124, or by email.

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Distinguished Junior Member Finalists Announced at National Junior Holstein Convention

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. June 29, 2023 — Six outstanding young adults have been named Distinguished Junior Member (DJM) finalists by Holstein Association USA. The highest honor given to a Junior Holstein Member, the award has been recognizing young adults for their dedicated work with Registered Holsteins and involvement in the dairy industry since 1922.

“The commitment these young adults have to the future of the dairy industry is inspiring,” says Kelli Dunklee, Holstein Association USA Event and Program Lead. “It’s been a joy to watch these Junior Holstein members develop a passion for the Registered Holstein cow throughout the years.”

Holstein Association USA named the DJM finalists on June 27, 2023, during the National Junior Holstein Convention Awards Banquet in Lexington, Kentucky. Congratulations to the 2023 Distinguished Junior Member finalists!

2023 DJM Finalists:

• Quinn Dum, Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania
• Madeline Hensel, Pittsville, Wisconsin
• Kylie Konyn, Escondido, California
• Ainsley Noble, Lancaster, Wisconsin
• Jacob Schaefer, Little Falls, Minnesota
• Lauren Siemers, Kiel, Wisconsin

DJM judging is a two-part process. Youth members competing put together a book highlighting their Junior Holstein work, activities and projects, breeding program, and personal views. The Junior’s entry book is worth 60 percent of the final score, and the top 12 individuals are named DJM Semifinalists based on their book score.

Phase two of the contest takes place at National Junior Holstein Convention, where the semifinalists are interviewed by a committee of judges. The interview is worth 40 percent of the final score, and the six individuals with the highest combined scores are named DJM finalists.

2023 Distinguished Junior Member Finalists:

Eight Junior Holstein members ages 9 to 16 were selected as Young Distinguished Junior Member (YDJM) finalists. The applicants were judged on their YDJM books, which highlight their accomplishments and leadership with the Junior Holstein Association and beyond.

The YDJM finalists were recognized during the 2023 National Junior Holstein Convention in Lexington, Kentucky. Congratulations to these outstanding Junior Holstein members for their impressive accomplishments!

2023 YDJM Finalists:

For more information about the Distinguished Junior Member and Young Distinguished Junior Member awards and other Holstein Association USA youth programs, visit www.holsteinusa.com/juniors.

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Holstein Association USA Honors Bomaz Farms with the 2023 Elite Breeder Award

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. June 21, 2023 — The 2023 Elite Breeder award recipient is well known for their profitable, high producing Registered Holstein® cows with high components. Holstein Association USA is pleased to recognize Bomaz Farms of Hammond, Wisconsin for the farm’s significant contributions to advancing Registered Holstein genetics.

Bob and Kay Zwald operate the dairy, alongside their son Tom and his wife Ashley, and daughter Annette and her husband Steve Schalla. Beyond their impressive herd of Registered Holstein cows, the family is known in the dairy community for their honest and humble approach to their work.

Over the years, Bomaz Farms has been an early adopter of genetic tools allowing for faster genetic progress. The family’s aptitude for dairy cattle genetics has resulted in a successful herd of cows, and they have had more than 500 bulls in AI programs across the world with the Bomaz prefix.

“Our goal is to breed profitable, hardworking cows that make money every day and can produce the kind of bull that's going to make money for the commercial breeder,” Bob says.

The family implements in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer into their genetic program. They also utilize tools such as classification and genomic testing. Seeing their herd’s genetics improve with each generation is rewarding to the family.

“The most fun thing about dairy farming is seeing progress through the generations,” Annette says. “We have two-year-olds that are calving sooner and making more milk, or looking better, lasting longer. You really get to see that happen.”

The farm’s general herd management goes hand in hand with their genetic program. In 2020, the family started milking in a new 40-stall rotary parlor and expanded the herd from 700 to 1,500 Registered Holsteins.

“We really focus on everything that makes a cow healthy and profitable, like good feed, housing and cow comfort,” Bob says. “Whatever makes the cow happy makes us happy, and in turn, she seems to respond with good production.”

The five-time Herd of Excellence recipient has a current rolling herd average of 34,000 pounds of milk, with 4.2% fat and 3.3% protein. In 2022, the Bomaz herd also had an average classification score of 85.3.

Their dedication, careful study of genetics and integrity have allowed the family to build a herd that’s positively influenced Holstein genetics on a global scale. Deserving recipients of the Elite Breeder award, the family says they are humbled to be recognized with the honor.

“I put it back at the family,” Bob says. “It's an award for the farm, and it surely wouldn't happen without the family members being part of it.”

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John Marshman Recognized with Holstein Association USA’s Distinguished Leadership Award

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. June 20, 2023 — John Marshman has been selected as Holstein Association USA’s 2023 Distinguished Leadership award recipient. A dairy farmer from Oxford, New York, Marshman has served extensively in local, state, and national agricultural groups throughout the years.

“John Marshman quietly leads by example with integrity, honesty, humility, perseverance and determination,” says Patsy Gifford, New York Holstein Association co-executive manager. She adds that Marshman has used his sharp, number crunching mind to guide the New York Holstein Association as a member of the finance committee for almost 20 years.

Serving on the Holstein Association USA Board of Directors from 2015 to 2022, John was appointed to the Audit committee for his entire tenure on the board. His fellow board members say he could be counted on for well thought out and researched recommendations.

“Servant leadership is prioritizing the team and organization above oneself for the greater good,” fellow board member Peter Dueppengiesser says. “It is often talked about, but in John Marshman, I witnessed it being lived out in many ways.”

Marshman’s passion for the dairy industry was evident from a young age, and he was a Distinguished Junior Member finalist in 1985. He studied animal science at Cornell University, where he was a member of the dairy judging team. He went on to graduate from the university’s dairy executive program as well.

Soon after, John and his brother, David, took the reins at Marshman Farms. Today they care for 420 milking cows and 400 young stock. Early adopters of polled genetics with a passion for Red and White Holsteins, the family’s Tiger-Lily prefix is recognized around the world for elite Red and White polled genetics.

True to his nature, John says that, above all, family is the cornerstone of progress. His daughter, Lily, and wife, Sheila, are major supporters of his well-being and life.

Known as a man whose personality is as humble as it is noteworthy, John says he is beyond honored to receive the Distinguished Leadership Award.

“I've never thought of myself as leading the charge. I am more of the type who does the supporting,” he says. “It's overwhelming to realize that others think of me in the same vein as those who were previously been honored. It's a prestigious award, and I appreciate it.”

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First Generation Farmer to Receive 2023 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder Award

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. June 19, 2023 — The 2023 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder followed an unconventional path to his career as a dairy farmer. Growing up in town, Ty Etgen always jumped at the chance to spend time on his friends’ farms. Today, he’s living out his dream as a successful Registered Holstein® breeder and dairy farmer.

Holstein Association USA is thrilled to recognize Ty Etgen as this year’s Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder. Ty is the sole owner and manager of Etgen-Way, a herd of 100 Registered Holstein cows near Harrod, Ohio. He’s sharing life on the farm with his wife, Heather, and sons Cash and Henry.

“The whole list of Distinguished Young Holstein Breeders is impressive, and to be on that list, it means a lot to me,” Ty shares. “Fifteen years ago, I had nothing, and to be recognized with this award, it’s awesome.”

As a youth, Ty found his way to the dairy industry through jobs on dairy farms and involvement in 4-H and FFA. After high school, he dove into working full time on a dairy farm for a year and a half. Ty then furthered his education with a degree in dairy cattle production and management from Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI). He notes his participation on the dairy judging team and an internship at Air-Osa Dairy in California as key learning experiences during his college years.

After graduating from college, Ty farmed in a partnership for a couple of years before starting a small herd of his own. In spring 2015, Ty and his family broke ground on a new 110 cow barn and double-seven herringbone parlor. Today, he takes on all the primary responsibilities on the dairy, and continuously works to improve his Registered Holstein herd.

The herd at Etgen-Way is milked twice a day and has a rolling herd average of 23,044 pounds of milk, with a 4.0% fat test and a 3.1% protein test. Breeding high-scoring cows is also important to Ty, and in 2022 the herd had a BAA of 111.4.

Ty and Heather, who met while showing dairy cattle, also enjoy competing in the show ring. Whether doing day to day chores or getting ready for a show, Ty says he’s thankful for the work ethic he’s teaching his two young sons. He’s also quick to give credit to the many mentors and friends he’s had in the dairy industry who have helped him pursue his dreams.

“One thing that got me where I am today is, I’ve always been surrounded by great people that challenged me and pushed me on,” Ty says.

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Diedra Harkenrider Starts as Director of Development of the Holstein Foundation

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. June 13, 2023 — The Holstein Foundation and Holstein Association USA recently welcomed Diedra Harkenrider of Freeville, New York as the Director of Development of the Holstein Foundation. In this role, Harkenrider will oversee the Holstein Foundation’s programs and lead fundraising efforts for both the Holstein Foundation and Holstein Association USA. This includes driving fundraising for future National Holstein Conventions.

She has a wealth of fundraising and leadership experience along with a rich history with the Holstein Foundation. Harkenrider helped develop the Holstein Foundation’s Young Dairy Leaders Institute and served on the Advisory Committee.

“Thirty years ago, I was on the original Advisory Committee that established the Young Dairy Leaders Institute and then worked with Classes 1, 2, and 3,” Harkenrider says. “I’m very proud of what that program continues to do and offer to young adults.”

Harkenrider was raised on her family’s Registered Holstein and Ayrshire farm in Pennsylvania, and went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech. Early in her career, she worked as Managing and Associate Editor for the Guernsey Breeders’ Journal, and in sales for Holstein World.

Most recently, Harkenrider served as Senior Associate of Philanthropy, Division of Philanthropy and Engagement for Ithaca College in New York. She also volunteered as Co-Chair of the National Holstein Convention Sponsorship Committee in 2016, where she and the committee exceeded their fundraising goal.

“I'm excited to get back to my dairy roots,” Harkenrider says. “The dairy fraternity is a wonderful group of people. I know we’re here because of cows, but it is your relationships with people that last a lifetime.”

Harkenrider looks forward to using her skills and experience in marketing, sales, philanthropy and fundraising in her new role. To get in touch with Diedra, contact her at [email protected].

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Holstein Association USA’s Research Grant Program
Accepting Applications

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. June 1, 2023 — Holstein Association USA’s Research Grant Program has been providing funding to universities and non-profits in the United States performing research studies that potentially enhance the profitability of Holstein cows since 2017. Researchers are now invited to submit applications for research proposals with expected outcomes that benefit Holstein cattle.

Holstein Association USA is interested in research projects designed to advance the profitability and health of Registered Holstein® cattle. Research projects covering a wide variety of topics, such as genetics, nutrition, physiology, dairy foods, or economics, are welcome. The applications must include expected outcomes benefiting the profitability of Holstein cattle.

Executive summaries of each proposal should highlight how profit and well-being of Holstein cattle might be increased. The goal is that the research supported will benefit Registered Holsteins and the greater dairy industry.

“We are investing this money in a particular research project, because down the road when a project gets applied to the national herd, all Holstein Association USA members will benefit from it,” says Dr. Roger Shanks, Dairy Genetic Consultant, responsible for managing Holstein Association USA’s Research Grant Program.

Applications are due on or before August 15, 2023 and can be found on Holstein Association USA’s website. Grants are expected to be funded within the range of $10,000 to $80,000 per year and grant durations are expected to be one to three years.

Six research projects have been funded since the program began. A diversity of projects have been funded over the years with topics including inbreeding, twinning, the genomic evaluation of diet digestibility in Holsteins, heat tolerance, and beef on dairy.

More information about the grant guidelines and process, current projects, and applications can be found at https://www.holsteinusa.com/programs_services/research_grant.html. Contact Dr. Roger Shanks at [email protected] with questions or for more information about Holstein USA’s Research Grant Program.

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Holstein Association USA Announces Promotions

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. May 26, 2023 — Today, Holstein Association USA, Inc. Chief Executive Officer John M. Meyer stated, “I’m excited and happy to announce ten promotions that will have a positive influence on the Holstein Association USA, Inc. well into the future.”

Lindsey Worden has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Lindsey will manage and direct the daily, ongoing business operations of the Holstein Association, ensuring alignment with current goals and policies throughout the organization. She has been with the Holstein Association for over 16 years, starting as Holstein Foundation youth programs intern during the summer of 2006, and later joining the HAUSA team full-time in the communications department in 2007. For the last nine years, Lindsey has led the Holstein Genetic Services department.

Meyer states, “Lindsey has an impeccable track record and I’m excited to promote her to this new position within the Association. Lindsey and I will continue to work closely together as she evaluates current internal practices and policies and works with others to help create and streamline internal processes as appropriate. Her vast history with the Association, and her dairy experience bode well for Lindsey and the Association as she assumes these new responsibilities.”

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley is assuming new responsibilities administering HAUSA’s international efforts, responding to inquiries, ensuring the Association is appropriately represented at international activities, managing usage of USLGE-allocated funding, and serving as staff liaison to the International Marketing Committee. This will be in addition to his current role as Dairy Analytics and Innovation Scientist, a position which he has held since 2020.

Jenna Brown has been promoted to Senior Manager, Customer Service. Jenna is responsible for leading the Customer Service team to provide exceptional service to HAUSA’s members and other customers, and maintaining strong relationships to ensure that our members’ needs are met. Jenna brings over six years of HAUSA service to this position.

Bridget Cummings has been advanced to Senior Manager, Identification Services. Bridget has been a dedicated HAUSA colleague for over 18 years, working in various departments and roles within the organization. In this position, she manages all procedures and policies related to registering and transferring Holstein cattle, ensuring work is maximized for efficiency and accuracy, while providing excellent member service. She also provides field support for our members in the state of Maine.

Kelli Dunklee is assuming the role of Holstein Association Event and Program Lead. In this role, she is responsible for directing, implementing, and administering youth programs and policies, and continues to serve as the staff liaison for the Junior Advisory Committee. In addition, Kelli plays a leading role in planning our annual National Holstein Conventions and provides management and administrative support for Holstein Foundation and Association activities, including state association communications, National Holstein Shows, and the delegate election process. Kelli brings over 28 years of experience to this position.

Amy Fletcher has been promoted to Senior Manager, Classification Operations. Amy has been with the Holstein Association for almost 13 years and has led the day-to-day responsibilities of ensuring our multi-breed classification program is conducted in an efficient and fair manner for the last several years. She has played a leading role in the implementation of our new classification handheld software, and onboarding three new breeds (Guernsey, and more recently Milking Shorthorn and Ayrshire) into our classification program.

Darin Johnson has been advanced to Senior Manager, Identification Programs. Darin has been with the Association for 13 years, in both field and office-based roles. In this capacity, he manages HAUSA’s prominent identification programs, including our ear tag program and identification software.

Jenifer Levisee has been elevated to Senior Manager, Quality Assurance. In this role, Jen is responsible for providing leadership and direction regarding HAUSA’s genomic and genetic testing programs, parentage discovery and conflict resolution, genetic conditions, export documentation, and maintaining relationships with allied organizations. She brings over 25 years of experience working for the Holstein Association to this role.

Daren Sheffield is assuming new responsibilities as the Director, Holstein Performance Programs, Governance and Policy. Daren will provide oversight and guidance to several core functions of the Genetic Services department, including software, production records programs, pedigrees, herd reports and award programs. In addition, he will be a key resource in questions related to HAUSA’s bylaws and policies, provide leadership to governance procedures including the Annual Meeting delegate process, and serve as staff liaison for the Nominating Committee and Legislative and Industry Affairs Committee. Daren has been with the Holstein Association for over 18 years.

Tim Ziemba is taking on additional responsibilities as HAUSA’s National Show Coordinator, in addition to his role as Manager of Holstein Marketplace Sires. As National Show Coordinator, Tim will manage the approved National and Junior Holstein Shows, ensuring that HAUSA polices and rules are adhered to and that each show receives appropriate support from the National office, as well as managing the Show Judges List and serving as staff liaison for the Show Committee.

According to Meyer, “Those being promoted today represent a combined 143 years of dedicated service to the Holstein Association USA and its members. Every one of these team members are experts in their field, and I’m excited to continue working with them as they grow in their positions, and the success of the Holstein Association continues to grow into the future!”

Lindsey Worden	Dr. Jeffrey Bewley	Jenna Brown	Bridget Cummings	Kelli Dunklee
Amy Fletcher	Darin Johnson	Jenifer Levisee	Daren Sheffield	Tim Ziemba

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Holstein Association USA Honors 2022 Herds of Excellence

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. May 17, 2023 — Annually, Holstein Association USA recognizes breeders who have developed herds with incredible production and type with the Herds of Excellence award. Ten outstanding Registered Holstein® herds have achieved this honor with their 2022 records. The award is a testament to the hard work, attention to detail, and consistency these dairy farm families put into caring for their cows.

“We’re thrilled to recognize these excellent Registered Holstein cows and their breeders,” Holstein Association USA CEO John Meyer says. “These herds are shining examples of how Registered Holstein cows can excel in both production and type.”

The award is broken down into three divisions based on herd size, including the Large Herd Division (500+ cows), Medium Herd Division (100-499 cows), and Small Herd Division (10-99 cows).

This year’s honorees are:

Large Herd Size Division (500+ Cows)

Bomaz Inc. — The Zwald Family, Hammond, Wis.
94.6% homebred; Age Adjusted Classification Score (AACS) — 85.3 points
ME Production Averages — 32,546M 1,323F 1,055P
Five Year Honoree

Siemers Holstein Farms Inc. — The Siemers Family, Newton, Wis.
79.8% homebred; AACS — 84.3 points
ME Production Averages — 35,673M 1,553F 1,101P
Seven Year Honoree

Medium Herd Size Division (100-499 Cows)

Koepke Farms Inc. — The Koepke Family, Oconomowoc, Wis.
100% homebred; AACS — 85.0 points
ME Production Averages — 35,245M 1,406F 1,070P
Six Year Honoree

Koester Dairy Inc. — The Koester Family, Dakota, Ill.
99.5% homebred; AACS — 85.3 points
ME Production Averages — 35,283M 1,518F 1,114P
Seven Year Honoree

Hilrose Dairy, LLC. — The Brantmeier Family, Sherwood, Wis.
100% homebred; AACS — 88.8 points
ME Production Averages — 36,735M 1,410F 1,081P
Eleven Year Honoree

Pollack-Vu Dairy LLC — The Pollack Family, Ripon, Wis.
99.4% homebred; AACS — 85.3 points
ME Production Averages — 34,589M 1,406F 1,094P
One Year Honoree

Small Herd Size Division (10-99 Cows)

B-Long Holsteins — Bruce, Brenda & Bret Long, New London, Wis.
100% homebred; AACS — 88.4 points
ME Production Averages — 36,168M 1,452F 1,166P
Twelve Year Honoree

Doorco Holsteins — Dan, Julie, and Austin Vandertie, Brussels, Wis.
100% homebred; AACS — 88.7 points
ME Production Averages — 36,491M 1,425F 1,117P
Six Year Honoree

Ever-Green-View Holsteins, LLC — The Kestell Family, Waldo, Wis.
97.8% homebred; AACS — 88.3 points
ME Production Averages — 40,822M 1,705F 1,288P
Thirteen Year Honoree

Show-Mar Holsteins — The Brantner Family, Evans City, Pa.
100% homebred; AACS — 89.5 points
ME Production Averages — 38,394M 1,562F 1,181P
Three Year Honoree

The awards will be presented during Holstein Association USA’s 137th Annual Meeting in Lexington, Kentucky. To register for convention or learn more, visit www.2023nationalholsteinconvention.com. Read more about the 2022 Herds of Excellence in the Spring 2023 issue of The Pulse. Select pages of The Pulse are available at www.holsteinusa.com under the Latest News tab.

About the Award

The Herd of Excellence designation honors Registered Holstein breeders who have developed Holsteins herds excelling in both production and type. To be recognized with this accolade, herds must have classified within the last year and have an age-adjusted classification score of 83 points or higher; have at least 70 percent of the herd homebred; and be inrolled in Holstein Association USA’s TriStarSM production records program.

Additionally, qualifying herds must meet the following production criteria:

• Large Herd Division - 15 percent above breed average ME for milk, fat and protein
• Medium Herd Division - 20 percent above breed average ME for milk, fat and protein
• Small Herd Division - 25 percent above breed average ME for milk, fat and protein

Congratulations to the 2022 Herds of Excellence!

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Pennsylvania Cow Earns Title of 2022 Star of the Breed

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. May 16, 2023 — Holstein Association USA’s Star of the Breed award is an elite accolade designed to recognize a Registered Holstein® cow with outstanding production and exceptional type. This year’s recipient, Show-Mar Crush Everyone, has eye-catching dairy character, an incredible udder, and impressive milk production. To top it off, her owners say she has the style and personality to match.

Crush Everyone is owned by Wesley Brantner of Saegertown, Pennsylvania. Wesley works on his family’s farm, Show-Mar Holsteins. The 70-cow herd is owned by his parents, Mark and Jelena Brantner. To the Junior Holstein member, the award holds special significance.

“Winning the award means a lot because it shows you are on the right track to better cows,” Wesley explains. “I appreciate that the Star of the Breed award looks at both the way she is classified and the way she’s milking.” Show-Mar Crush Everyone qualified for the award with her fourth-place finish in the Four-Year-Old cow class at the Northeast Spring National Show in 2022. She has a lifetime production record of 108,990 pounds of milk with 4,165 pounds of fat (3.8%) and 3,421 pounds of protein (3.1%). She’s also classified Excellent 92.

“Crush Everyone has an incredible udder, with a high, wide rear udder, a good tight seam, and it attaches really well,” Wesley shares. “She’s got a lot of style, and is really dairy with a nice pretty head, wide pins, and good feet and legs.”

The 2022 Star of the Breed will be recognized during Holstein Association USA’s 137th Annual Meeting at the 2023 National Holstein Convention in Lexington, Kentucky this summer. To learn more or register for convention, visit www.2023nationalhoslteinconvention.com.

For the full story on Show-Mar Crush Everyone, see the Spring 2023 issue of The Pulse. Select pages, including the Star of the Breed article, are now available online at www.holsteinusa.com under the Latest News tab.

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Fourteen-Year-Old Registered Holstein Sets New Lifetime Milk Record

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. May 4, 2023 — A new U.S. Registered Holstein cow recently broke the record for most lifetime milk. Nor-Bert Colby Connie achieved this incredible feat with her lifetime milk production record of 486,300 pounds through her latest completed lactation. Connie has calved again and is continuing to add to the record total.

Connie has equally impressive numbers for components, with a lifetime record of 27,062 pounds of fat and 17,737 pounds of protein through her last completed lactation. These tremendous fat and protein totals are currently the highest lifetime totals for fat and protein in the Holstein Association USA database.

This new record comes in quick succession to the one set by Chrome-View Charles 3044, who achieved the record earlier this year with a total of 478,200 pounds of lifetime milk, 14,447 pounds of fat, and 12,576 pounds of protein. Having two cows break the lifetime milk production record within a matter of a few months is a testament to all that’s possible with U.S. Registered Holstein cows.

Connie is owned by Nor-Bert Farm in Bremen, Indiana. Roger and Deb Dankert farm alongside their son Jeremy Dankert and daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Monty Freeman. Jennifer and Monty also have three children, Dalton, Dillon and Breanne, who are involved in the multigenerational farm.

The team at Nor-Bert Farm say Connie is a low maintenance cow, who prefers being alone and doing her thing — making lots of high-quality milk. With a classification score of Excellent 94 3E, Connie is easy to pick out in the barn.

“She has open ribs, a big frame, and impressive width, with a really good udder on her,” Jeremy shares. He believes these physical traits, along with good feet and legs, have also had a positive impact on Connie’s ability to produce so much milk. The 14-year-old cow has also achieved Holstein Association USA’s National Elite Performer status.

Connie’s sire is Solid-Gold Colby-ET. The Dankerts say her dam, Nor-Bert Buckeye Christy-ET, was also a good cow with solid production. “Connie’s out of a really milky family that has good records on them,” Jeremy says.

Connie’s granddam, Nordic-Haven Formation Cara, was bought by Nor-Bert Farms many years ago. Cara is also a sister to Nordic-Haven Mtoto Calico, who was a high TPI cow, and the dam of AI bull Nor-Bert Calypso. Connie herself has had nine calves, including four daughters who have been high-producing cows in the Nor-Bert herd.

For many years, the Registered Holstein cow has been known as the most efficient producer of high-quality milk. Nor-Bert Colby Connie has fed an impressive amount of people in her lifetime. These calculations help put her lifetime milk production total into perspective.

Nor-Bert Colby Connie’s 486,300 pound lifetime milk production record total is equivalent to:

Her lifetime milk production total would also feed 10 people for over 80 years, if each person had the daily requirement of 3 servings of milk per day. Connie could also provide the daily dairy requirements for 301,581 people for one day.⁵

¹ Flores, Nancy C. “Making Homemade Cheese: New Mexico State University - Be Bold. Shape the Future.” Making Homemade Cheese, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Feb. 2022, https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_e/E216/.

² Staff, Wisconsin Cheese. “How to Host the Ultimate Pizza Party.” Wisconsin Cheese, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, 12 Oct. 2022, https://www.wisconsincheese.com/the-cheese-life/article/26/perfect-pizza-party.

³ Staff, The Dairy Alliance. “10 Crazy Facts About Ice Cream You Didn't Know.” The Dairy Alliance Blog, The Dairy Alliance , 22 Oct. 2020, https://thedairyalliance.com/blog/10-crazy-facts-about-ice-cream-you-didnt-know/.

⁴ Dairy-Cattle. “How Many Pounds of Whole Milk Does It Take to Make a Pound of Butter?” DAIReXNET, Cooperative Extension, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. , 16 Aug. 2019, https://dairy-cattle.extension.org/how-many-pounds-of-whole-milk-does-it-take-to-make-a-pound-of-butter/.

⁵ Ragalie-Carr, Jean. “How Many Servings of Dairy Do We Need a Day?” How Many Servings of Dairy Do We Need a Day? | U.S. Dairy, National Dairy Council, 21 Dec. 2018, https://www.usdairy.com/news-articles/do-we-really-need-three-daily-servings-of-dairy.

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Explore a Million Reasons Why Conformation Matters During Holstein Association USA’s Upcoming Webinar

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. April 25, 2023 — How important is the physical conformation of cattle in today’s dairy industry? How does the way a cow looks relate to economically important traits? Dr. Jeffrey Bewley will answer these questions in an upcoming webinar, titled “A Million Reasons Why Conformation Matters.”

Join Holstein Association USA on Wednesday, May 10 at noon CST for the free, half-hour webinar. Dr. Bewley, Dairy Analytics and Innovation Scientist at Holstein USA, will share insights from a recent study showing the relationship between desirable functional conformation and economically important traits.

“The study shows the physical conformation of dairy cattle remains an important factor for dairy profitability,” Dr. Bewley shares. “For example, cows with more functionally correct physical conformation produced more lifetime energy correct milk and stayed in the herd longer.”

Holstein Association USA staff analyzed a dataset with over 1 million cows to quantify how conformation related to milk production and longevity. The large dataset used matching data from official linear classification evaluations and DHIA production records. Learn more about the study at www.holsteinusa.com/typematters.

Click here to register for the webinar. Contact Dr. Bewley at [email protected] with questions or for more information about the webinar.

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Holstein Association USA Recognizes Eight Young Dairy Enthusiasts as Young Distinguished Junior Member Finalists

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. April 12, 2023 — Eight Junior Holstein Members have been selected for Holstein Association USA’s annual Young Distinguished Junior Member (YDJM) competition. The Young Distinguished Junior Member award is the highest honor given to members of the National Junior Holstein Association, ages 9 to 16.

Launched in 2004, the award recognizes the accomplishments of these young, aspiring dairy leaders. Youth members are selected based on their dedication to working with Registered Holsteins, achievements and leadership in Holstein activities, and school and community involvement.

The 2023 Young Distinguished Junior Member Finalists are:

• Sarah Craun, Mount Crawford, Virginia
• Cathryn Gunst, Pine River, Wisconsin
• Christopher Gunst, Pine River, Wisconsin
• Kiara Konyn, Escondido, California
• Mykel Mull, Chowchilla, California
• Jesslyn Risser, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
• Dylan Ryan, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
• Alexis Schultz, Marion, New York

The eight finalists were chosen by a panel of judges based on their knowledge of the dairy industry and participation in Holstein, dairy, and other activities. Their ability to be a good role model for other youth and positive spokesperson for the dairy industry were also taken into consideration.

The YDJM finalists will be honored at the National Holstein Convention being held June 23 to June 27, 2023, in Lexington, Kentucky.

For more information or to register for the 2023 National Holstein Convention visit www.2023nationalholsteinconvention.com. To learn more about the Young Distinguished Junior Members or Junior Holstein Association visit www.holsteinusa.com/juniors.

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Twelve Young Dairy Enthusiasts Named 2023 Distinguished Junior Member Semifinalists

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. April 11, 2023 — Holstein Association USA has named twelve individuals as semifinalists for the 2023 Distinguished Junior Member (DJM) awards. The Distinguished Junior Member award is the highest achievement for National Junior Holstein Association members and has been recognizing deserving young adults for over a century.

The Distinguished Junior Member award was established in 1922 and is the longest-running Holstein Youth Program. The honor recognizes individuals’ commitment to the Holstein breed, involvement in the dairy industry, and related activities. Twelve young adults were selected as semifinalists based on an application process including a resume, story of their Junior Holstein work, essay questions, video elements, and more.

The 2023 Distinguished Junior Member Semifinalists are:

• Caroline Arrowsmith, Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania
• Emory Bewley, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania
• Molly Cessna, Clearville, Pennsylvania
• Quinn Dum, Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania
• Madeline Hensel, Pittsville, Wisconsin
• Kylie Konyn, Escondido, California
• Ainsley Noble, Lancaster, Wisconsin
• Jacob Schaefer, Little Falls, Minnesota
• Lauren Siemers, Kiel, Wisconsin
• Abigail Stoltzfus, Berlin, Pennsylvania
• Gary Young, Chehalis, Washington
• Kelsey Zepp, New Windsor, Maryland

The DJM semifinalists will be interviewed at the National Holstein Convention being held June 23 to 27, 2023, in Lexington, Kentucky. Six DJM finalists will be announced during the Junior Awards Banquet on Tuesday, June 27.

For more information or to register for the 2023 National Holstein Convention visit www.2023nationalholsteinconvention.com. To learn more about the Distinguished Junior Members or Junior Holstein Association visit www.holsteinusa.com/juniors.

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New U.S. Registered Holstein Cow Claims Title for Most Lifetime Milk

Brattleboro, Vt., February 27, 2023 — Chrome-View Charles 3044 recently topped the record for the most lifetime milk produced by a U.S Holstein cow. The record-breaking cow is owned by Mason’s Chrome View farm in Nottingham, Pennsylvania.

The 13-year-old Registered Holstein^® cow is in her tenth lactation and broke the record with her lifetime milk production record of 478,200 pounds of milk, 14,447 pounds of fat, and 12,576 pounds of protein and counting.

“As is typical of dairy cows, she prefers to spend her time eating, chewing her cud, being milked, or resting in one of her three favorite stalls,” the farm’s herd manager Sarah Cady shares. “She vocally protests her dry period and is notably more content once she freshens and resumes her place in the lactating herd.”

Alan and Pamela Mason own Mason’s Chrome View and manage it along with their son Paul Mason. Together with their employees, they focus on providing the highest standard of care possible to their herd of 500 Registered Holstein cows.

“It is not one or two main things, but rather diligence in a multitude of small things that were key to her success,” Paul explains.

Chrome-View Charles 3044’s monumental milk production record surpasses the total of the record of 460,720 pounds of lifetime milk, set by Stone-Front Leader Hilda in 2020. Prior to Hilda, Koepke K0017229-1660 broke the record in 2003 with a lifetime milk total of 458,616. The record was established in 1978 by Breezewood Patsy Bar Pontiac with her final lifetime total of 425,769.

The Mason family says 3044 requires very little attention beyond routine animal husbandry practices. Now in her 10th lactation, she has consistently bred back on her first or second service. The rockstar cow also has sound conformation.

“Her build is classic Holstein of average size, open rib, excellent dairy character, remarkable feet and legs, and an udder still beautifully attached as a tenth lactation dairy cow,” Cady says. “These features have undoubtedly contributed to her longevity.”

The impressive production cow is classified Very Good 88 as a four-year-old and is a Holstein Association USA Region 2 Elite Performer. Her maternal line has the Chrome-View prefix tracing back to an animal born in 1958. She is sired by Cee-Whit Shottle Charles-ET.

For many years, the Registered Holstein cow has been known as the most efficient producer of high-quality milk. Chrome-View Charles 3044 has fed an incredible amount of people in her lifetime. These calculations help put her lifetime milk production total into perspective.

Chrome-View Charles 3044’s 478,200 pound lifetime milk production record total is equivalent to:

Her lifetime milk production total would also feed 10 people for over 80 years, if each person had the daily requirement of 3 servings of milk per day.⁵

Taking the average milk price over CHROME-VIEW CHARLES 3044’s ten lactations, and the amount of milk she produced, her lifetime milk production has a value of $92,402.50.⁶

With her extreme longevity, milk production, reproductive efficiency, and health traits, Chrome-View Charles 3044 is an incredible testament to what is possible with U.S. Registered Holsteins!

¹ Flores, Nancy C. “Making Homemade Cheese: New Mexico State University - Be Bold. Shape the Future.” Making Homemade Cheese, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Feb. 2022, https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_e/E216/.

² Staff, Wisconsin Cheese. “How to Host the Ultimate Pizza Party.” Wisconsin Cheese, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, 12 Oct. 2022, https://www.wisconsincheese.com/the-cheese-life/article/26/perfect-pizza-party.

³ Staff, The Dairy Alliance. “10 Crazy Facts About Ice Cream You Didn't Know.” The Dairy Alliance Blog, The Dairy Alliance , 22 Oct. 2020, https://thedairyalliance.com/blog/10-crazy-facts-about-ice-cream-you-didnt-know/.

⁴ Dairy-Cattle. “How Many Pounds of Whole Milk Does It Take to Make a Pound of Butter?” DAIReXNET, Cooperative Extension, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. , 16 Aug. 2019, https://dairy-cattle.extension.org/how-many-pounds-of-whole-milk-does-it-take-to-make-a-pound-of-butter/.

⁵ Ragalie-Carr, Jean. “How Many Servings of Dairy Do We Need a Day?” How Many Servings of Dairy Do We Need a Day? | U.S. Dairy, National Dairy Council, 21 Dec. 2018, https://www.usdairy.com/news-articles/do-we-really-need-three-daily-servings-of-dairy.

⁶ USDA. “United States Department of Agriculture.” USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 31 Jan. 2023, https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Agricultural_Prices/pricemk.php.

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Brattleboro, Vt., February 10, 2023 — Registration is open for the 2023 Holstein Association USA Judges Conference. This year’s conference will be held on Thursday, April 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in conjunction with the Wisconsin Dairy Showcase in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Judges Conference will start with a classroom session, where topics like why conformation matters, current showring trends, managing a showring, and common dilemmas will be discussed. In the afternoon session, participants will place classes of heifers and cows, hear placings and reasons from fellow participants and officials, and take part in group discussion.

Interested participants can register for the conference on the Holstein Association USA website with a credit card. The pre-registration fee is $50 and late registrants and walk-ins will pay a $100 fee. Pre-registration will close two weeks before the conference, on Thursday, April 13.

If individuals want to participate in the Judges Conference and not receive an official rating, they have the option to do so to gain experience, but will not be eligible to apply for the Judges List.

Participants must be 22 years old by the day of the conference to attend. To register online, visit www.holsteinusa.com/shows/judges_preregister.html. For more information contact Jodi Hoynoski at 800.952.5200 ext. 4261 or by email.

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Brattleboro, Vt., February 7, 2023 — Allflex has announced a price increase on ear tags, “due to the rising cost of doing business in today’s economy.” As a result, Holstein Association USA is updating pricing on ear tags, ear tag accessories and TSU’s.

Holstein Association USA has offered Allflex ear tags for more than 25 years. During that time, Holstein Association USA has typically absorbed the increased costs, and has not passed them onto our customers. This will be only the second price increase across all tag products in more than 25 years. We continue to offer a variety of products and product combinations to meet the ear tag needs of our customers, at a competitive price.

Submit new ear tag orders before 5 pm EST, February 17 to receive current pricing. Orders received after 5 pm EST, February 17 will be subject to new pricing.

New pricing can be viewed here.

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Holstein America Broadcasts February 13 on RFD-TV

Brattleboro, Vt., February 2, 2023 — Every dairy has a story, and for six years, Holstein America has shared modern-day farm life with audiences around the world. The documentary series, produced by Holstein Association USA, pays tribute to U.S. Registered Holsteins®, the world’s perfect cow, and the people who raise them.

Tune in to the next episode of Holstein America at 7 p.m. CST/8 p.m. EST, Monday, February 13, on RFD-TV.

In 2022, 970 herds had a BAA value eligible for inclusion in these lists. The average number of cows included in the BAA calculation for the entire group was 68, and the average BAA% was 107.7. Herds must have a minimum of 10 cows to be included for calculation on the list.

“As the nation’s leading television program devoted to the dairy community, we are honored to tell these important stories,” says John Meyer, CEO of Holstein Association USA. “This next episode of Holstein America is a wonderful example of the diverse reaches of the Registered Holstein cow.”

At the heart of the program are Holstein breeders, who ensure an abundance of dairy products are produced efficiently, sustainably and at the highest quality in the world. Holstein America visits a dairy in southwest Missouri, where two brothers are continuing a family tradition generations in the making. The show also spotlights an industry trailblazer from Pennsylvania, who helped pioneer early genetic innovations for dairy producers.

The upcoming Holstein America will also showcase work at colleges and universities to grow an even brighter dairy future. From the Midwest to the East Coast, student-run dairy farms are inspiring students to dream big in the dairy industry. At Western Kentucky University, see how the one-of-a-kind WKU SmartHolstein Lab sparks curiosity and future technology for dairy producers around the world.

Opportunities for careers in the dairy industry expand far beyond the barn. Hear the story of how a longtime cheesemaker in New England works to engage the next generation about where their food comes from.

The hour-long program, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, also explores programs and services offered by Holstein Association USA, including a look at genetic offerings through Holstein Marketplace Sires, and research into how dairy conformation plays a role in overall productivity and performance.

Join us for Holstein America at 7 p.m. CST, Monday, February 13, on RFD-TV.

RFD-TV is a leading independent cable channel available on DISH Network, DIRECTV®, AT&T U-Verse, Charter Spectrum, Cox, Comcast, Mediacom, Suddenlink and many other rural cable systems. Reference local listings for more information.

After the show, visit www.holsteinusa.com to find a complete collection of the Holstein America series. Also stay tuned to Holstein Association USA on Facebook and Instagram for more information.

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Brattleboro, Vt., January 9, 2023 — Holstein Association USA recently released the lists of top Holstein Breed Age Average (BAA%) herds for 2022 classifications. Members utilizing the Classic or Standard options of the Holstein classification program receive an overall BAA for their herd. The BAA value provides a way to compare an animal’s score to breed average, taking into account the age of the animal and their stage of lactation. The calculation puts cows of all ages on the same playing field.

"Providing recognition to breeders of outstanding Registered Holstein cattle across the country is one of the more enjoyable activities we perform at Holstein Association,” said Lindsey Worden, Executive Director, Holstein Genetic Services. “Earning recognition as a high BAA herd on any of the various lists is a notable achievement. It shows a commitment to breeding quality Holstein cattle, paired with outstanding animal husbandry and management that allows those cattle to express their genetic potential."

In 2022, 970 herds had a BAA value eligible for inclusion in these lists. The average number of cows included in the BAA calculation for the entire group was 68, and the average BAA% was 107.7. Herds must have a minimum of 10 cows to be included for calculation on the list.

Topping the 2022 highest overall BAA list are Delbert W. and Heather D. Yoder from West Salem, Ohio, with a BAA of 116.3. Also earning honors in the top five spots on the list are Matthew T. Mitchell, Tennessee; Juniper Farm, Inc., Maine; Conant Acres, Maine; and G. Alpheaus Stoltzfus, Pennsylvania.

Lists are broken down in several different ways to recognize members across the country with herds of all sizes. Lists of the Overall Top 200 BAA Herds, Top 25 BAA Herds by Region, Top 25 BAA Herds by Herd Size, and Top 15 BAA Herds for Colleges & Universities can be viewed at www.holsteinusa.com. Find the page under the Popular List section on the homepage or directly at www.holsteinusa.com/programs_services/baa_lists_2022.html. Congratulations to all herds on these lists!

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Brattleboro, Vt., January 5, 2023 — Junior Holstein Association members put their interviewing skills to the test during the 2022 Virtual Interview Contest. The program was created in 2020 to help prepare youth for real world opportunities by sharpening their resume writing and interview skills.

Applicants submitted cover letters and resumes based on a mock interview scenario and were selected to move on to the second phase of the contest based on their combined cover letter and resume scores. During the second phase contestants were interviewed by a panel of three judges. Final scores were calculated based on each applicant’s cover letter, resume, and interview. All youth received feedback from the judges to help further prepare them for future interviews.

“The National Junior Holstein Association Virtual Interview Contest allowed me to sharpen my interview skills, particularly strengthening my ability to respond to impromptu questions,” says contest participant Sarah Craun from Virginia. “I enjoyed the interaction with the interview panel and I am grateful for the real world learning experience that will certainly benefit me in my future career endeavors.”

Congratulations to the following 2022 Virtual Interview Contest winners!

Junior Division (ages 12-14 as of January 1)
1st place: Lauren Silveira, California
2nd place: Alison Gartman, Wisconsin
3rd place: Chloe Chapman, California

Intermediate Division (ages 15-17 as of January 1)
1st place: Elsie Donlick, New York
2nd place: Sarah Craun, Virginia
3rd place: Salem Sifford, Virginia

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)
1st place: Emily Syme, Connecticut
2nd place: Madison Sifford, Virginia
3rd place: Jon Chapman, California

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Holstein Association USA, Inc., provides programs, products and services to dairy producers to enhance genetics and improve profitability — including animal identification and ear tags, genomic testing, mating programs, dairy records processing, classification, communication, consulting services, and Holstein semen.

The Association, headquartered in Brattleboro, VT., represents approximately 25,000 members throughout the United States. To learn more about Registered Holsteins® and the other exciting programs offered by the Holstein Association, visit www.holsteinusa.com, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.