herd of exceptional type, visited a few local farms and experienced some great social occasions. Two Aussie jersey mates Shane Oslear and Adam Gavenlock had visited for a few days and we departed together, headed for RJ Farms. Host Mum April greeted us and took us straight to the Belleville Bulls Ice Hockey Arena. We were treated to a VIP behind the scenes tour and even got to meet the team’s goalie! One of our host siblings, Donnie, 21, was a fantastic tour guide and took us to have farm tours at Donnanview Holsteins, Donnandale Holsteins, Hollylane Jerseys and Avonlea Jerseys. October 31st… Happy Halloween!! We were greeted by some extremely cute trick-or-treaters before heading to the Ice Hockey Arena for a Belleville Bulls game. Shane and Adam then continued on their seven-week tour and I stayed at RJ Farms in preparation for the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. This was a nineteen-hour trip but the Expo facilities were brilliant and it was great to be at the largest Jersey show in the world!! We then headed directly to Toronto for the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair where I helped Rapid Bay. Not only did I get to celebrate my 23rd birthday there and tour up Toronto’s CN Tower but also I was part of the crew that worked with Vandenberg Amedeo Gorgeous, Supreme Champion 2009!! November 18 I returned to Jaspar Jerseys where I spent the majority of my remaining eight weeks. I didn’t do much else other than sleep for the first few days; travelling and lack of sleep had caught up with me. Soon enough I was back in farm mode, helping Jim with chores, doing some barn clipping and visiting a Mink farm. Hockey season had begun and it was great to go and watch my host brother JJ and his team playing on the ice most Friday and Saturday nights. I also watched my younger host sister Katie on the ice playing Ringette and older sister Melissa would often take me shopping or out for the night in her local college town of London. Her birthday and New Years Eve were fun times! As Christmas approached it was a festive and exciting season. I attended the Jersey Christmas party for the local counties of Huron and Perth, and had great Canadian Christmas experiences when cooking and decorating with Tam. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day were eventful and very delicious! I consumed higher than normal amounts of food and drinks, with the favourites being cinnamon buns, lamb and pickled eggs!! Snowfall began to increase and with thirty centremetres of it on the ground, I experienced my coldest temperature of minus eighteen degrees Celsius! It was soon time for me to leave, and packing all my Canadian purchases and wonderful Christmas presents required an additional suitcase, quite a few muscles and some overweight charges! January 8 I flew to Edmonton to spend one last night with Markus, Amanda and some friends who I had made in Alberta. Then it was back to Lone Pine, to
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— JerseyJournal February / March 2010
spend my last night in Canada with the Haeni’s. I watched my host brothers play on a newly built ice hockey rink, right in their own backyard! January 10 I departed Vancouver International Airport, bound for International Dairy Week, Australia!! My friend Noelle and her Mum picked me up from Sydney Airport and had a “Welcome Back” balloon and a packet of Tim Tams for me! How very Australian! Thank you! My six and a half months in Canada was the best experience of my life. I saw some extraordinary scenery, met lots of amazing people, and worked with many incredible cows. I learnt so much about not only the Canadian dairy industry but also about the Canadian way of life. I hope that the Canadians might have learnt something from me too, about Jerseys in Australia and our culture. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone who has an interest in dairy farming or breeding stud cattle. My goal is to return to Canada at least once every three years to visit the friends that I made and to keep in touch with the Canadian show circuit. Thank you to my host families, Jersey Canada and to everyone who helped me live my dream!