BREEDER OF THE YEAR- Northern Alberta Holstein Club- RIETVELD DAIRIES Ben & Mary Rietveld started Rietveld Dairies Ltd. in Fort Saskatchewan, AB in 1980. Jason & Kristine Rietveld bought the farm from his parents in 2013. Together with 3 children Tyson (19), Troy (8) & Janaye (6) they milk 115 cows in a free stall barn with a select few housed in tie stalls. The most influential cow family is Rietben Baxter Cecelia who goes back to Gypsy Grand. Cecelia is scored EX-94 and is an 11 Star Brood Cow and has 2 Superior Production awards. She has 2 ME, 3 EX and 9 VG daughters. We have 4 VG daughters sired by her son Rietben Slapshot in the herd. She was also the Presidents Club Cow Winner for NAHC in 2014. Rietben R E Rhythm EX-93-2E 4*, goes back to Roxy, was also a very influential cow in the herd. She won the Presidents Club Cow award for Alberta in both 2004 & 2006. We had a few homebred animals that did well at the shows in 2018. Rietben Slapshot Barbara was 1st Senior 3 year old and Reserve Intermediate Champion at Alberta Dairy Congress in 2018. Sledgestar Jacoby Alanna (owned with Tyson Rietveld) placed 2nd Senior calf at the BC Spring Show, 1st Senior Calf at Alberta Dairy Congress and Champion of the Dairy Congress Junior Show. We are very proud of how our homebred cows have classified. This past year we bred 21 VG 2 year olds, 13 EX or ME and 6 Star Brood cows with Cecelia receiving her 11th star.
Rietben Baxter Cecilia EX-94 11*
Rietben Lotus Mya
Jason became a delegate on Alberta Milk this past fall. He is also President and Head Coach of EASA (Edmonton Adaptive Sports Association) Sledge Hockey team. Kristine is on parent council at Fort Saskatchewan Christian School and treasurer of Josephburg Minor Hockey Association. All 3 kids are members of the Rollyview 4H Dairy Club and Jason & Kristine have been involved in leadership in the club. Tyson has also competed in WCC. Rietveld Dairies Ltd. was a host for Alberta Open Farm days in 2018 with approximately 200 visitors to the farm. We also hosted a Dairy Production class from Lakeland College and a High School Animal Husbandry class this past year. We have preschool and Kindergarten field trips at the farm every year. Some of Holstein Canada’s programs such as registration is valuable and classification is a key tool to help improve the breed and market Canadian cattle. The Alberta Holstein Association helps promote their breeders. They sponsor Bred & Owned awards and provide subsidy to travel to shows.
Grossville Aftershock Fiona EX-93
Lakefield Golden Stacey VG-88
Rietben Denzel Corsage EX-94-2E 2*
ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION 2018 Annual Report
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