National YDJM Finalist

Magen Busker Selected as 2021 National Young Distinguished Junior Member Finalist

From the time I was born, you would find me in our milking parlor. I guess you could say I was raised in a barn. The farm was a partnership between my grandpa, my two great uncles, and my great aunt. The farm is located along the Pecatonica River. At that time, we had a 206-cow free stall barn. The milking parlor was a double 12 herringbone parlor. In my very first years, you could find me in my stroller or pack-n-play in the parlor. As I grew up, I would pick-up the microfiber towels to take them to the washing machine. Later on, my responsibilities graduated to chasing cows to the front of the parlor, getting the cows in from the pastures, getting the cows into the holding area, and scraping out the stalls.

As time went on, there were several major changes to our farm. In 2009, we built a new cold housing, curtain-sided calf barn with 108 stalls. Prior to this, calves were housed in an indoor building with small crates where we had several issues, mostly pneumonia-related. Then, in summer 2010, the farm flooded to the point where we had to move every animal to a couple different facilities. Luckily Larson Acres, located 45 miles away, was able to take the cows to their place. The yearling aged animals went to what was then our heifer facility, and the calves went to my first cousin Kim’s house where we made pens in a machine shed.

In 2013, my two great uncles and my great aunt were getting older and didn’t want the responsibility of taking care of the dairy cows. Also, my aunt, two uncles, and my mom were taking on a larger part of the operation-wanting to be included more in the management and decision making of the operation. So, it was decided that my great aunt and great uncles would take some land and most of the machinery and continue to farm the land for crops. The new partnership for the dairy would consist of my grandpa, my mom, my two uncles, and my aunt. This partnership would get the cows, some land, and a few pieces of machinery. Following the restructuring, there needed to be a shift in responsibilities. I started to feed calves with help from my Mom, Jennifer, and my Grandpa, Glen. My Uncle, Glen Arthur, would feed cows, Uncle, Jason, would handle field work, Aunt Becky would handle herd health and reproduction, and we hire employees to milk for us.

Prior to the separation, we fed milk replacer to our calves. Utilizing a pasteurizer was something we had discussed previously, but were not able to put into practice. In March 2014, with my mom and myself feeding the calves, were we able to switch from using milk replacer to using a pasturizer. We felt that by switching, the pasteurized milk would be better for the calves due to feedIng actual milk versus a powdered replacer as well as being able to use milk from our treated pen. Over a short period of time, the pasteurIzer would pay for itself. When a calf is born, I am responsible for giving it 1cc of Muti Min, Inforce, First Defense Tri-Shield, and 10cc of Colostridium Perfringens types C and D antitoxin as soon as possible after birth. I also use a refractometer to test our colostrum, so that each heifer calf born recieves four quarts of the best quality colostrum. Calves recieve another bottle of mid-range quality colostrum 12 hours later. Each calf receives free choice grain at three days old. Calves are gradually increased to be fed one gallon of pasteurized milk twice a day until they are eight weeks old. The following week they recive a half gallon of milk twice daily and then are weaned. I assist with dehorning calves at three weeks old with Dr. Larson’s dehorning paste. I have done both parts; clipping the hair around the horn and applying the paste. In 2016, we started building our new facility that we moved into on April 10, 2017. We expanded to a 700-cow free stall cross vent barn with a double 12 parallel milking parlor that can be expanded to a double 20. We also switched from milking two times a day to milking three times a day in August 2017. This building has allowed us to provide higher cow comfort, gain efficiencies, and increase milk production. Since the expansion, I started helping with registering our cattle. On top of that, I helped with herd health and veterinary work such as retained placenta, displaced abomasum’s(DA), and vaccinations. I have wanted to be a vet ever since kindergarten, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to start with more vet work. We used to have the vet do all of our DA surgeries and I would always be eager to help the vet do them. In order to save money, we have started to roll and tack cows on our own. My grandpa has tacked all of the cows, but I hope to learn soon. When we do a roll and tack, I am normally the one who holds the cows head down. I help a lot with vaccinating the heifers. We have a vaccination schedule that aligns vaccinations with when the heifers are moved to a different barn.

When I was only one year old and could walk, I showed my first Holstein in pee wee showmanship with the help of my uncle. Since then I have shown regularly at the Northwest Black & White Show, Winnebago Co. Fair, Stephenson Co. 4-H Show, and Stephenson Co. Fair. When I was 10, I was honored to show at Illinois State Holstein Show. Prior to this, I attended the show and competed in the Little Miss Holstein Contest winning in 2011 and 2012. Someday I hope to be the Illinois Holstein Dutchess. A couple years later, in 2017, I got my first experience on the colored shavings with my Holstein Senior 3-year-old, Scottmore Doorman 3875-ET (White Mikki) and my 4-year-old Schaufine GW Atwood Lala at World Dairy Expo. I will never forget that the shavings were green that year. Later that year, I got to take the six hour drive down to show at North American International Livestock Expo(NAILE). This was one of my favorite experiences ever. The first year we went, we just showed in the junior show. I was so proud of my 150,000 lbs. cow, Hosto Glen Skittles who placed first in her class. Skittles was also Nominated Jr. All American.

Along with showing, I am a member of the Country Cuzins 4-H club. In my 4-H club, I have held a variety of different offices including president, vice president, secretary, and recreation co-chair. I help younger 4-H members with their 4-H projects. I have competed in 4-H dairy cattle judging and 4-H dairy quiz bowl. In my club I have been on different committees including chairman of dairy promotion, Dairy Day’s Parade float, and dairy window display. I am a member of the Northwest Junior Holstein Club. I love competing in dairy bowl. My first year I was so nervous but, as I got older, I was able to get over that. I have been in the Top 10 individuals four times. I was selected to go to nationals for the first time in 2017. I was selected as the alternate which meant that I went to national convention and competed in jeopardy. When I was 15, I was on the national dairy quiz bowl team that placed fourth. When I was 12, I wrote a speech and competed at our state contest. I won and I was chosen to go to nationals. I didn’t place, but I loved the opportunity. My future is not certain, as I am young with many options ahead. Someday, I hope to come back and own at least part of the family farm but, first I want to go to college. I am still exploring the possibility of becoming a veterinarian.