Annual Award Winners Announced at Final Convention Banquet!

Capping off an exciting National Holstein Convention was the announcement of our annual Holstein Association USA award winners.! Follow along with the exciting with our videos below...

Watch your mailboxes for the Summer 2013 issue of the Holstein Pulse, which will feature more in-depth Convention coverage.

Distinguished Young Holstein Breeders - Chad & Amy Ryan, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Distinguished Leadership Award - Horace Backus, Mexico, New York

Elite Breeder - Robert Miller, Orangeville, Illinois

Congratulations to all of our honorees!

Results from the Junior Awards Luncheon!

Several outstanding Holstein Junior members were recognized at the 2013 National Junior Awards Luncheon on Thursday, June 11, 2013, in Indianapolis, Ind.

More coverage and pictures will be provided in the Summer 2013 Holstein Pulse, but following is a listing of the various winners who were recognized for their achievements!

Dairy Bowl
Junior Division (ages 9-15 as of January 1)
Champions: Iowa
Runner-ups: California

Senior Division (ages 16-21 as of January 1)
Champions: California
Runner-ups: Illinois

For more information on the dairy bowl contest, visit the Holstein Foundation web site.

Dairy Knowledge Exam
Junior Division (ages 9-15 as of January 1)
1st place: Hannah Van Dyk, CA
2nd place: Jordon Oellerich, IL
3rd place: Hayley Fernandes, CA

Senior Division (ages 16-21 as of January 1)
1st place: Alex Gambonini, CA
2nd place: Sarah Sheehan, IL
3rd place: Joey Adams, IA

Prepared Public Speaking
Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)
1st place: Lora Wright, MO
2nd place: Hanna Richman, NJ
3rd place: Caleb McGee, PA

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)
1st place: Allison Herrick, NY
2nd place: Skylar Clingan, IN
3rd place: Hannah Van Dyk, CA

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)
1st place: Mallarie Stookey, IN
2nd place: Christine Leonard, MN
3rd place: Taylor Pires, CA

Folding Display Contest - Creative Division
Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)
1st place: George Sebright, PA
2nd place: Kaylen Miller, IL
3rd place: Noah Iager, MD

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)
1st place: Emily Irwin, IL
2nd place: Daniel Kitchen, PA
3rd place: Mary Ellen Sousa, NJ

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)
1st place: Jacob Shaffer, PA
2nd place: Molly Elgin, VA

Folding Display Contest - Scientific Division
Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)
1st place: Jacy Smith, WA
2nd place: Hayley Fernandes, CA
3rd place: Cady McGehee, FL

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)
1st place: Katie Osborne, IL
2nd place: Cole Davis, NC
3rd place: Brock Irwin, IL

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)
1st place: Marcy Bartelheimer, WA
2nd place: Christina O'Brien, NJ
3rd place: Ashley Mohn, PA

State Scrapbook - Traditional Division
1st place: Minnesota
2nd place: Florida
3rd place: Iowa
4th place: Illinois
5th place: Pennsylvania

State Scrapbook - Digital Division
1st place: Missouri
2nd place: Illinois
3rd place: Iowa
4th place: California
5th place: Florida

State Banner
1st place: Illinois
2nd place: Florida
3rd place: Washington

Also announced at the Junior Awards Luncheon were the six Distinguished Junior Member finalists:

• Rocco Cunningham, CA
• Carissa Doody, MD
• Isaac Haagen, PA
• Charles Hamilton, WI
• Hayley Potts, VA
• Michael Schmitt, MN

For more information about the other Holstein Association youth programs, visit the Holstein Association USA Junior web site!

Board of Director Elections Held During 2013 Holstein Association USA Annual Business Meeting

At the 2013 Holstein Association USA Annual Business Meeting, a large responsibility of the delegates was to vote on and elect new officers and directors to the Holstein USA Board of Directors. Candidates elected by the delegates were:

President: Glen E. Brown, Utah

Vice President: Gordie Cook, Massachusetts

Region 1 Director: Peter B. Waterman, Maine

Region 4 Director: Gayle Carson, Tennessee

Region 6 Director: Mark Kerndt, Iowa

At-Large Director: Corey Geiger, Wisconsin 

Watch the Holstein Association USA web site soon for a complete press release regarding Holstein Association USA's 128th Annual Business Meeting!

National Holstein Dairy Bowl Competitions Narrowed to Two

While the Holstein Association USA Annual Business Meeting was underway, a floor below, over 100 youth were battling it out for a chance at the National Holstein Dairy Bowl championship! Finals will be held tomorrow morning, prior to the National Junior Forum.

In the Junior division, teams from California and Iowa advanced to the finals!

In the Senior division, the team from California also made the finals, and they will battle it out with Illinois for dairy knowledge supremacy!

Tomorrow will be an exciting day for Juniors all around, as results from many of the week's contests, including the coveted Distinguished Junior Member   Finalists will be announced. Stay tuned for complete results tomorrow evening!

On the adult side, new officer and director candidates will be elected during tomorrow's continuation of the Business Meeting. Keep up to date by following us on Facebook, or check back on the blog for complete results!

Host Day Highlights!

After an intense first day of Junior competitions, Convention attendees have Host Day as a chance to relax and see what the host state has to offer! Several people went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Dallara Indy Car Factory, while others took a drive north to visit Fair Oaks Farm Dairy Adventure Center and Bossir Holsteins. Following are some highlights from Host Day activities....

A beautiful Holstein greets every visitor to the Fair Oaks Farm Dairy Adventure Center

The Bos family and their team at the farm has developed a great herd of Registered Holsteins, which will be dispersing on Friday

Just a glimpse at two of many beautiful udders found in the cow pen at Bossir Holsteins, daughters of Sanchez (left) and Debonair (right)

Despite the humidity, the cattle at Bossir were comfortable and ready for visitors!

Junior Holstein members Taylor and Kiera Groves of Missouri showed off their pit crew skills during the "Indy Experience!" Something tells us these kids might have a little experience changing a tire or two in their life!

Meanwhile, back at the hotel....many Convention goers enjoy browsing the Distinguished Junior Member books, folding display contest entries, state banners and scrapbooks, and much more!

The evening was rounded out with a fun time at the Indy Social Night, featuring a great meal, and plenty of time for fellowship with other breeders, while admiring the National Convention Sale cattle lineup and listening to the talented and entertaining country band, Wildheart.

Many interesting items of dairy memorabilia sold in a brief auction during the social night. 

Of course, at a Convention in the home of one of the country's most famous race tracks, there must be a Holstein-spotted racecar!

Hundreds attended the social night to visit with fellow breeders

The sale is full of outstanding Holsteins which are being taken great care of, before heading to new homes tomorrow evening!

Mike Weimer, PA, checks out a calf in the sale. 

The Hamilton family from Wisconsin views many of the great young heifers in the lineup. 

Tomorrow is an action packed day for both adult and Junior members, with the Junior Dairy Bowl competition running all day, as well as the start of the Holstein Association USA Annual Business Meeting. Stay tuned tomorrow for more coverage, live from Indy!

Junior Convention Kicks off with Dairy Jeopardy

The 2013 National Holstein Convention is officially underway in downtown Indianapolis, Ind. Today marked the official start of the Convention, and activities are in full swing with a flurry of Junior activities!

The National Holstein Dairy Jeopardy contest started the Junior competitions at Convention and other contest were held throughout the day. In three age divisions, almost 70 people buzzed in for their shot at bringing home the top award. Here are the results:

Junior Division
1st Place: Connor Erbsen, Illinois
2nd Place: Ryan Allen, Maryland
3rd Place: Cynthia Hamlett, Iowa

Junior Jeopardy victors (l-r): Connor Erbsen, Ryan Allen and Cynthia Hamlett

 Intermediate Division
1st Place: Travis Holtzinger, Pennsylvania
2nd Place: Jordan Siemers, Wisconsin
3rd Place: Sarah Thomas, North Carolina

Intermediate Dairy Jeopardy Champions (l-r): Travis Holtzinger, Jordan Siemers and  Sarah Thomas

Senior Division
1st Place: Tony Lopes, California
2nd Place: Philip Shanks, Illinois
3rd Place: Hayley Potts, Virginia

Senior division winners (l-r): Tony Lopes, Philip Shanks and Hayley Potts

At the Distinguished Junior Member (DJM) Luncheon, 12 DJM semi-finalists were honored. These youth interviewed today with a panel of judges, and the top six finalists will be announced on Thursday afternoon at the Junior Awards Luncheon.

• Michael Bahl, Iowa
• Rocco Cunningham, California
• Carissa Doody, Maryland
• Isaac Haagen, Pennsylvania
• Charles Hamilton, Wisconsin
• Breinne Hendrickson, Wisconsin
• Chelsea Jones, New York
• Hayley Potts, Virginia
• Michael Schmitt, Minnesota
• Rebecca Shaw, Pennsylvania
• Derek Wasson, Pennsylvania
• Kathryn Wendorf, Wisconsin

Distinguished Junior Member Semifinalists

The eight Young Distinguished Junior Member (YDJM) were also honored at the DJM luncheon:

• Christy Achen, Indiana
• Andy Doughterty, Iowa
• Evan Gunter, North Carolina
• Ross Laskey, Florida
• Cole Leonard, Virginia
• Austin Nauman, Wisconsin
• Austin Schmitt, Minnesota
• Cody Sears, New York

Young Distinguished Junior Member Finalists

Juniors also competed throughout the day with the Prepared Public Speaking Contest and Dairy Knowledge Exam, the results for these two contests will be announced at the Awards Luncheon on Thursday.
Check back tomorrow for more highlights from Convention Host Day activities and Indiana Social Night!

CEO John Meyer on DairyLine Radio

John Meyer did an interview with DairyLine radio this morning talking about the various activities that will take place at the 2013 National Holstein Convention, as well as discussing some recent Holstein Association USA program updates. Follow this link to listen to the interview! 

2013 Holstein Association USA Convention and 128th Annual Meeting Preview

Final preparations are being made to welcome hundreds of Registered Holstein enthusiasts to Indianapolis, Ind., for the 2013 National Holstein Convention and Holstein Association USA’s 128th Annual Business Meeting.  Holstein Association USA and the Indiana Holstein Convention Planning Committee have worked to assemble a schedule of activities that will allow plenty of fellowship with other breeders and discussion about important topics facing our breed and Association. The 2013 National Holstein Convention takes place July 7-11 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown and Convention Center. Below are some highlights of the agenda; the complete schedule can be found at the Indiana Holstein Association web site.

Featured Speakers
Holstein Association USA is pleased to have two informative guest speakers on Wednesday, July 10. Both presentations will take place in the Marriott Ballrooms 5 & 6.

Dr. Gerard Cramer, associate professor at the University of Minnesota, will be talking about “The Role of Genetics in Foot Health Programs,” during the Early Bird session, from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Prior to joining the University of Minnesota faculty, Dr. Cramer operated his own veterinary practice in Ontario, focused solely on providing hoof trimming services, monitoring foot health on dairies, consulting on lameness problems and conducting trimming courses and research. Before starting his practice, Dr. Cramer owned and operated his family’s dairy farm.

Dr. Nate Dorshorst will provide the Annual Meeting Keynote at 1:45 p.m., speaking on “Added Value Opportunities with Advanced Reproduction in Registered Holsteins.” Dr. Dorshorst was raised on his family’s 50-cow Registered Holstein dairy in Wisconsin, and is currently a full-time ET practitioner with Lodi Veterinary Care. He helped to form the practice’s Bovine Advanced Reproduction division, which includes a donor boarding program, beef recipient program, USDA-certified collection facility and an IVF program. Dr. Dorshorst became a partner in the practice in 2010.

Director Elections
Delegates will vote on a number of officer and director elections during the Annual Meeting on Thursday morning, July 11. Vice President Glen E. Brown, Utah, is the sole candidate for president, and running for the vice president seat are John Bierbaum, Minn.; Gordie Cook, Mass.; John C. Kalmey, Ky.; Robert Nigh, Wis.; and Hank van Exel, Calif.

In the director elections, candidates include incumbent Peter B. Waterman, Maine, for Region 1 and incumbent Gayle Carson, Tenn., for Region 4. For Region 6 director, declared candidates are Gale Hoese, Minn.; Mark Kerndt, Iowa; Phil Specht, Iowa; and Chuck Will, Minn. Incumbent Corey Geiger, Wis., is the lone candidate for the open at-large director seat.

Annual Award Recipients Announced
A perennial Convention highlight is the announcement of Holstein Association USA’s annual award recipients. The 2013 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder, Elite Breeder, and Distinguished Leadership honorees will be unveiled during the final Convention banquet, taking place this year on Thursday evening, July 11.

Holstein Association USA staff will be blogging throughout the week with updates, pictures and video live from Indianapolis! If you cannot make it to the Convention this year, be sure to follow Holstein Association USA on Facebook, or bookmark this blog for the latest updates, including junior competition results, award recipients, and election results. For complete schedule and lodging information, visit the Indiana Holstein Association web site.