2024 January / February Ohio Holstein News

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Represent dairy farmers on national and state committees to provide input

Official Publication of the Ohio Holstein Association Volume 96 • Number 1

January/February 2024

Published 5 times per year in February, April, June, October and December by the OHIO HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 479, Wooster, OH 44691 www.ohioholstein.com

Subscription price in the U.S. is $30.00 per year ($10 per year for Junior Members). The NEWS subscription list is filed geographically by town and state. When you change your address, please be sure to give us your old address as well as the new one. Advertising rates available upon request. News and advertising forms close one month preceding date of issue.

Address all mail to the: OHIO NEWS P.O. Box 479 • Wooster, OH 44691

330-264-9088 • Fax 330-263-1653

Email farm.writer@hotmail.com

Send UPS or Fed Ex to 1375 Heyl Rd., Wooster, OH 44691

OFFICE STAFF

Executive Director Dallas Rynd 740-207-5005 • silvermistholsteins@yahoo.com

Office Secretary Diana Miley 330-466—2767 • oholstein@sssnet.com

Editor ............................................................ Melissa Hart cell 517-398-1957 • farm.writer@hotmail.com

Ad & Layout Designer ................................ Erin Robinstine cell 517-398-7722 • erin.robinstine@gmail.com

OFFICERS

President: Chris Lahmers, Marysville 614-306-7194

Vice President: Ryan Welch, Polk 419-651-5281

Secretary: Erica Davis, Washington CH 614-371-8533

Treasurer: Danette Simpson, Belmont 740-391-1122

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

Bill Indoe - Past President 330-608-9770

Paul Haskins, Butler 419-618-4028

Joe Cole, Bloomville 740-396-0454

Evan Kiko, Paris 330-205-9354

Ty Etgen, Harrod 567-204-6310

NATIONAL DIRECTOR

Steve Moff, Columbiana 330-482-9018

BOARD MEMBERS

Dist. 1 Gary Kibler, Warren .......................... 330-770-8014

Dist. 2 Evan Kiko, Paris ................................ 330-205-9354

Dist. 3 Steve Specht, Dover ......................... 330-204-9831

Dist. 4 Open

Dist. 5 Dallas Rynd, Ashville ....................... 740-207-5005

Dist. 7 Allison Mangun ............................... 330-749-9036

Dist. 8 Ryan Welch, Polk ............................. 419-651-5281

Dist. 9 Joe Cole, Bloomville ......................... 740-396-0454

Dist. 10 Dan Morlock, Pemberville 419-265-5771

Dist. 11 Jay Ackley, East Liberty 937-935-8272

Dist. 12 Ty Etgen, Harrod 567-204-6310

Dist. 13 Chris Lahmers, Marysville 614-306-7194

Dist. 14 Eric Topp, Wapakoneta 419-953-3427

Dist. 15 Curtis Bickel, Wilmington 937-728-0174

Postmaster: Send address changes to: Ohio News, P.O. Box 479, Wooster, OH 44691

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE OHIO HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING:

“The mission of the Ohio Holstein Association is to provide services and programs to its members and young people so that they might attain a better living from their involvement with Holsteins.”

On the Cover

We are back in western Ohio for the convention hosted by District 12. Three farms will be hosting farm tours, Brownhaven Farms, Topp-View-PC and Etgen-Way Holsteins. The tours will be self-guided and everyone is free to visit each farm for as long as they wish. We thank these families for graciously hosting and more information on each farm is available in our special farm tour section on pages 8-11. This is our All-Ohio issue and we thank Select Sires Member Cooperative for sponsoring it and the presentation of the winners. Walnut Hill Feeds has also underwritten advertising for those winners who use their Champions Select feed and we want to thank them for their generosity as well.

The next issue will be our March-April issue that will be full of Spring Sale consignments! Save your ad space by March 11th by contacting Melissa Hart 517-398-1957 or email: farm.writer@hotmail.com.

From the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dallas Rynd

Congratulations to the All-Ohio and Jr. All-Ohio winners! It takes lots of hard work and commitment to keep your animals in top condition during the show season. Ohio has lots to be proud of when it comes to quality animals.

We are looking forward to the annual state convention. This year’s convention will be March 8 and 9 at the Howard Johnson’s in Lima. Please mark your calendar and make plans now to attend. There will be lots of fun things planned for you. There are tag sales, a virtual sale, the annual meeting and the awards banquet. We will be meeting prior to the virtual sale on Friday night to talk about Futurity.

We will be presenting some by-law changes at the annual meeting. Please take time to review those changes which can be found in the November-December 2023 is-

sue of the Ohio News. These changes were recommended by the By-Laws Committee and were passed by the Board. The updates to the by-laws will be voted on by the delegates at the annual meeting.

I am pleased to report that we have a very strong Board of Directors and Committees. Ohio has one of the most active state associations in the country. At our December Board meeting, we had 28 at-

tendees. Our meetings are always open, if you would like to attend.

As always, if you have suggestions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me or your district representative. Best wishes for a safe and happy new year! I hope to see you in Lima in March!

740-207-5005

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

As I write this article today, winter has finally arrived. The good news is that the mud is gone, sure to come back. I hope everyone survives the cold temperatures. I am excited to write this article as it is the last one I have to write as president. All jokes aside, I have enjoyed my time serving as the president of the Ohio Holstein Association. It has been good to reconnect with members of the board and see the association move forward. I would encourage people to get involved with the association to help ensure its progress in the future.

The State Holstein convention in Lima Ohio is right around the corner. Thank you to those on the planning committee, we appreciate your time and effort putting the event together. Please be sure to get your reservations in as soon as possible. Even if you are unable to participate in person, please take advantage of the virtual auction Friday night. We appreciate all of our consigners and sales crew. In addition, two local herds are hosting farm tours, Topp-View PC and Etgen-Way.

I would make one last pitch for our juniors to get involved. There are tremendous opportunities for juniors to meet new people and travel around the country. Salt Lake City was the first convention I had an opportunity to attend. I am forever grateful for Joyce Mason and Sue Fullenkamp for getting me involved in the junior programs.

Lastly, this area will be looking for a National Director to replace Steve Moff on the National Holstein Board. We thank Steve for his years of service representing our area. We appreciate the dedication, time and leadership Steve has provided. It would be great to have someone from Ohio to fill this void. The states represented are Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.

I appreciate the support everyone has shown me as well as this association. An association operates most effectively when its members are involved. Thank you for your time and investment into the Ohio Holstein Association. Hopefully we will have warm weather by the time convention gets here.

Thank you,

614-306-7194 •

Chris Lahmers

clahmers@cobaselect.com

Deadline for the March/April 2024 issue of Ohio Holstein News is March 11

CONVENTION FARM TOUR Merchandising Question and Answer with Ty Etgen | Etgen-Way | Harrod, Ohio

Ty and Heather Etgen with sons Cash and Henry Ty and Heather Etgen welcome Ohio Holstein Convention visitors as part of the self-guided farm tours on March 8th, 2024.

FARM ADDRESS: 9440 Sugar Creek Rd, Harrod, Ohio 45850

Q. Tell us about your operation.

A. I farm just shy of 300 acres, milk 100 cows, raise all my own forage and corn. We focus on cow families and do a lot of embryo work. I try to target 100 embryo transfers per year and we met that goal in both 2022 and 2023. I breed for and select bulls that are high type, high udder composite, not too high pins (try not to use anything below -1.0) decent DPR (try not to use anything below -1.0)  positive milk and positive components. Knowing that every bull I have in the tank is high type and high UDC, I try to focus each mating on outcross sire stacks, a correct mating on rear legs side view, strength and correct mating on rump angle. I raise all my own heifers (currently 110 heifers) and sell all of my bull calves at birth. I try to focus on making really high quality forage so I can feed a high forage diet. I think that’s where an operation like mine can make money. Currently I’m feeding an 83% forage diet consisting of alfalfa haylage, corn silage

and a little bit of triticale, with 9 lbs. of “mix” purchased from ADM consisting of vitamins, minerals, bypass fat and bypass protein. I own all my own forage equipment and that has really helped keep the quality of my forage where it needs to be. I don’t like relying on other people to get the job done when it needs to be done.

Q. How do you determine which animals or embryos you are going to consign?

A. Years ago I used to consign just nice average stuff with nice average pedigrees and I struggled to get the prices that I wanted for my consignments. Being quite frustrated, the last three years or so I’ve started consigning my best stuff and have done well. That is what people want, I’ve learned that you need to sell your best.

Q. Once you’ve decided to have a sale, how you do go about prepping an animal for the sale?

A. Whether I’m consigning a cow or heifer, roughly a month before the sale they are pulled out of the “general population” group and put into an individual boxstall where I can individually feed them and make sure they get what they need whether it’s putting weight on or taking weight off to get them to look their best as if you were taking them to a show. If I need to put weight on a heifer, I will feed better quality grass hay and  I’ll give her more energy, usually corn silage. If I need to take weight off, I will feed just rough lower quality grass hay and 2.5 lbs of 45% heifer feed.

Q. How do you advertise?

A. I try to consign stuff out of my best cows and cow families which should create interest in itself. Advertising in the Ohio news helps and also advertising on Facebook. Which is something I need to do a better job of.

Q. What’s one of the mistakes you’ve made in the past that you learned from?

A. I’ve just hosted one tag sale six years ago here at the farm and it didn’t go real well. That really bothered me for a couple of years but looking back now I’m thankful for it. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if the

tag sale would’ve been a success. Out of the thirty calves I had in the tag sale, 19 of them went on to be excellent cows. Three at 94, three at 93 and three at 92. Most all of my best genetics are out of these cows.  I chose to keep costs at a bare minimum. I managed the sale myself, sale staff was myself and a few friends of mine that helped do the clipping. I had it late winter/ early spring when the Ohio Holstein convention was in Sidney thinking that I would increase the amount of people that would stop by and look. I made the catalog myself from copies of registration papers. I think if I were to do it again, I would have a professional catalog made.

I’ve been trying to consign to local state sales here in Ohio and Indiana to help support the associations. For whatever reason my animals sell much better in Indiana than they do here in Ohio. I do prefer to sell privately though. Private sales are much more profitable. Most sales, you have to have TB tests done and that means two vet visits to the farm which is roughly $250 and then you have trucking to get the animal to the sale and then there’s 15% commission. With all of this said, if you don’t have an animal that’s worth much more than the average price, it’s not worth sending them to a sale.

One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made in the past is not utilizing social media to advertise my farm and my animals. I’m trying to work on that and do better at it. I feel I’m not very good at it as well as not being able to take a good picture to post, therefore in the past I’ve  put off doing it.

Q. What is one of your biggest successes in cattle marketing?

A. My biggest success has been through embryo sales. I have been very competitive in the embryo market and have sold probably over 150 embryos over the last four years privately as well as through consignment sales. When you consign, you can usually negotiate a lower commission with embryos, usually 9-12% instead of 15%. You don’t have the health papers

continued on page 11

CONVENTION FARM TOUR Merchandising Question and Answer with Phillip Topp | Topp-View PC | Botkins, Ohio

Phillip and Carrie Topp welcome Ohio Holstein Convention visitors as part of the self-guided farm tours on March 8th, 2024.

FARM ADDRESS: 9477 Botkins /road, Botkins, OH 45306.

Find their Tip-Off at Topps III Sale ad on pages 30 & 31!

Q. Tell us about your operation.

My wife, Carrie and I went on our own in 2017 on our very small five-acre farm. We have three children, Aubree, Aiden and Aliana who are all involved with the farm.

At Topp-View PC we rent 50 acres of hay ground, I buy most of the grain and the barn has 33 free stalls, a couple of box stalls and all of the heifers are on a bedded pack.

I bought the farm right out of high school in 1999. We always kept heifers there when I was in with my brothers, Eric and Keith. When I went on my own, we had to redo the parlor and convert 45 free stalls into 33 free stalls with three oversized box stalls. Our free stalls are very large.

I was raised with Holsteins and we had some good Brown Swiss, but today we have all breeds. I really don’t care what color they are, as long as they are good, functional, strong cows with good udders and good feet & legs. As I worked sales, I would buy a heifer here and there that had a good pedigree, or one that I thought I could make a great one from.

Off the farm I have a fabricating business with a couple of my high school friends. We have two full time guys who work with us and I am also part owner of a butcher shop called Butcher Bobs in LaGrange, Indiana.

Q. You have consigned to several sales, how do you determine which animals you are going to consign?

I try to keep enough embryos to put in my own cattle but they can get outdated, so I will sell them to promote my genetics. As far as youngstock and cows, I try to sell them when I feel they are the most valuable which anymore is that 4-8 month range for show calves. I try to sell heifers that have

good pedigrees without holes and that have strength of chest, open ribbed with good feet & legs, that can go on and do well in the show ring for other people. I try to sell my best and develop the rest for my kids to show. I consigned a couple to the Spring Social at Chupps Farm sale in late February that I think are two of my best calves right now.

Q. What do you do to prep a consignment for a sale?

In the spring, my heifers tend to have a little more condition but I think that’s a good thing. If they do get sold and have to adjust to a new place, if they take a step back they have some condition to carry them through that transition period. I don’t get crazy with any big changes to their diet. I also try to keep my heifers in good condition and well bedded all year round. You have hosted tag sales and have been a part of state sales, the following questions pertain to hosting a sale:

Sale manager?

For our tag sale I like to try to do all myself. I will tag about 25 or 30, keeping it small where I can manage it all. I try to get videos or photos online and keeping the sale small, also keeps it manageable. It gets cost prohibitive to have a bunch of people come in and do the prep work, so with the help of our family, we try to do it ourselves.

Sale Catalog?

For our tag sale we do this ourselves. I will have twenty calves and 5-8 fresh cows, they seem to sell well in the spring.

Animal Selection & Pricing?

These heifers can change from day to day, the ones that look the best before the sale and don’t have a hole in their pedigree are the ones we use. I try to price them a little cheaper than what they are worth so that if someone wants to re-sell them, there is still a little left for them to make some money as well.

Support After the Sale?

If those buyers need some help with sire selection, I am happy to help them.

continued on page 11

The Topp Family from left: Alaina, Carrie, Phillip, Aiden & Aubree Topp

CONVENTION FARM TOUR Convention Farm Tour Host: Brownhaven Farms | New Bremen, Ohio

Brownhaven Farms of New Bremen, Ohio will graciously host a farm tour for the Ohio Convention on March 8th, 2024 at 07353 SR 364, New Bremen, Ohio

Founded in 1959, Brownhaven farm began in a two-stanchion barn with Holsteins and

Guernseys. Today the Brown brothers running the farm are Lou and his wife Deb along with Alan and his wife Ruth in addition to many family members.

Brownhaven Farms Highlights:

• 409 cows with an RHA: 24877M 891F 783P and the herd is 99% registered.

• They milk in a double 10 Germania parlor but are expanding this spring to a double 20 Surge parlor.

• They have a 250-cow drive through barn and just recently finished an 80-stall calf barn.

• Their manure is kept in a 3 million gallon holding tank and their comprehensive nutrient management plan includes 900 acres.

• They farm 400 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa and they have been extruding the soybeans since 1974 to feed the herd.

• They recently added a second bulk tank to accommodate the spring flush and only use

it when needed.

• They had 213 heifer calves born in 2023 and all the help on the farm is family.

• They averaged seven tours per year for the last 10 years with people wanting to see their wetlands, conservation practices, the monarch butterfly habitat, the blue bird boxes, the quail that were released last year and their cover crop management.

• They recently hosted a farm safety meeting with the local fire department to discuss the silos, the manure storage and the most dangerous equipment on the farm including feed mixers and choppers.

• In 2019 Brownhaven was honored with the Member of Distinction Award from Dairy Farmers of America.

The Browns are excited about hosting the farm tour and welcome everyone on March 8th! A full feature on Brownhaven will be included in the May-June issue of the Ohio Holstein News

continued from page 8

and two vet visits, no trucking, therefore it has been much more appealing to me. Toppglenn Atwood Waki has been my primary donor for selling embryos from. She is one of my best cows, her daughters are very impressive and are following in her footsteps. She has produced close to 400 good embryos. She averages close to 30 embryos per IVF. Transova only bills you per egg up to 15. So, when she averages 30 embryos per IVF, that cuts my cost per embryo in half.

Q. What do you think about online bidding?

A. I think online sales have found their place and have taken off pretty well. They are very advantageous from a seller and sales force standpoint. The seller usually gets less commission taken out and as far as whomever is hosting the sale, there’s a lot less work involved which is a big deal. I think the internet bidding at live auctions has really played an important role. Every sale I’ve been to, there is a large number of bids that get taken through the internet. Although online sales have gained a lot of traction, everyone enjoys a live auction where you can look at the animals in person and also socialize with friends and

TOPP-VIEW PC FARM TOUR

continued from page 9

And if they want some ideas for nutrition or need a fitter, I try to line someone up or sometimes I will do it myself.

Who Are You Selling To?

It’s whoever comes and buys. I sold one to Missouri last year and I was shocked. It’s cool to see where your genetics go, but it’s hard to keep track of it as well.

Time of Year?

I think spring fever has something to do with it. People are ready to get out after a cold winter in the Midwest. Plus, people like to see a fresh clip job in March, they haven’t seen that in a few months, so I think people like to get out and see the cattle and want to buy something for the spring shows and the rest of the show season.

Advertising?

Of course we are advertising in the Ohio Holstein News, Facebook is a great marketing tool, but as far as the tag sale, having success with our previous two tag sales helps with getting buyers to the sale. Out of the cattle that we’ve sold, we have had a couple of All-American nominations and junior champions at bigger shows and that history means something. The calves that didn’t sell that my kids have shown had some good results as well. They had an Ayrshire that was nominated All-American and Jr All-American, we had a Jersey junior two-year-old that won her class at the Ohio State Fair Junior show, so some of those that didn’t sell were

successes for my kids.

fellow breeders that you don’t get to see very often. I also think it’s a great place to meet new people. Back 10 plus years ago, a very successful dairyman/mentor of mine from California told me that his goal at any show/sale he attended was to meet and talk to at least one new person that he didn’t know. I have tried to do the same thing and throughout  the years have made a lot of new friends this way. You don’t get that with an online only sale unless it’s held in a banquet room at a hotel or a bar in Nashville.

Q. Do you use online bidding?

We use Cowbuyer for online bidding, they do a great job. North to south, east to west, they cover the whole United States really well. I think they are necessary for us and they have worked well with me.

Q. What’s one of the mistakes you’ve made in the past that you learned from?

No pictures are better than a bad picture. One bad picture on Facebook or Cowbuyer can hurt you. I’m getting better at taking photos, but I’ve definitely had some bad photos and they didn’t sell and my kids ended up with them.

Q. What is one of your biggest successes in cattle marketing?

I mentioned those champions and All-Americans in an earlier question and that makes you feel like all the work is worth it. We have also been fortunate that our animals have gone to some good homes and they were successful for them and that’s what it’s all about.

One piece of advice for selling: You have to sell your best because you don’t want to get a bad name for selling a bad one. It’s not good for your name, your farm or you breeding program.

One piece of advice for buying: I’m big on strength. Once they get older they will need to have strength, the strong ones last. I like to look for good feet and legs, width through the chest and rump. A good rump structure will bring you a high and wide rear udder.

Queen’s Corner

By Aubree Topp

As my queen duties come to an end I'd like to thank the exhibitors, breeders and people of the dairy industry who make the industry work. Thank you for the opportunities and experiences I was given throughout the year. And to the next queen, have fun and soak up all the memories.

This or That with Queen Aubree Donuts or Cupcakes

Ice Cream or Cheese

Chips or Popcorn

Tacos or Quesadilla

Green Eyes or Brown Eyes

Pizza or Burger

Swim or Run

Eye Shadow or Eye Liner Would You Rather…

Have Incredible Strength OR Be Incredibly Fast Explore Space OR Explore the Ocean

Win the Lottery OR Live Twice as Long

I HAD

No Idea!

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Carissa Pittman, Wooster, OH (D-7)

1. How old are you? 17

2. Favorite show ring moment? I have a couple that I think are tied for the favorite spot but a more recent one would be when I won my first class at World Dairy Expo with my Brown Swiss senior yearling in the junior show in 2023. Also in 2023, I exhibited my first Holstein at World Dairy Expo. I placed 5th in the Senior Three-year-old cow class in the junior show. These recent moments are tied with the time in 2017 when I won junior champion at the first show I went to, outside of my county fair. That moment is really what started it all for me, so it is definitely one I will cherish forever.

3. What would you say to someone who is thinking about going to the 2024 National Holstein Convention?  I would definitely tell them to meet and talk to new people as I met some of my closest friends there. I would also say to step out of your comfort zone and try some of the activities there. National Holstein convention was one of the best experiences I have experienced. I had a blast and encourage all Ohio Holstein youth to go this year.

4. Dream job?  Although I don't know a specific job that would be my dream job I think cloning in the dairy industry is really interesting, so something like being a geneticist for dairy cattle would be really cool.

5. If you could have any superpower, what would you choose and why? I think being able to talk to animals would be my superpower because it would make things a lot easier if they could just tell me what they want and I can tell them what I need them or want them to do--especially while at a cow show!

6. What is one thing on your bucket list? Winning Showmanship champion at World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI.

7. Biggest fear? I have the basic fears of insects and heights but my all time biggest fear is letting someone I care about down.

8. Ever met anyone famous? Who? Well if cows count then I have met Shakira, Footloose, and Delilah. I even met Delilah on her own stomping grounds. If cows don't count then the only person I have met that is famous was Billy the Exterminator when I was really young.

9. Do you have a hidden talent? My only hidden talent that I can think of is that I am good at art.

10. What's your most unpopular opinion? Probably that I like cats over dogs but it has to be MY cat.

Bullseye with the Juniors

GARRETT HASTINGS, CHARDON, OH (D-1)

"Right now, I am using AcetyleneRed, Warrior-Red, and Eye Candy to add some show type to the cows I have. I breed mainly for good feet and legs and high and tight rear udders, which I believe these bulls will help me achieve. Some of my best heifers right now are sired by Diamondback, Warrior-Red, and Royalcrush. They've all been big, growthy heifers with lots of rib. My best young cows are by Altitude-Red and Delta Lambda. The Altitude daughters are big, tall and have welded-on udders. My Delta Lambdas are very correct and dairy."

COLE POND, WOODSTOCK, OH (D-13)

"Some of the bulls I'm currently using are Chief, Sidekick, and AltitudeRed because I've seen many across the country and they are nice crosses to my cows. I have some nice Altitudes on the ground. Some bulls I want to use are Architect, Dropbox, and Perennial because they are young sires that I've seen correct calves of. I've seen a lot of nice calves out of those bulls along with some pretty Eye Candy daughters as well. Doc has been a bull that has made nice cows everywhere, and I certainly like the Docs I currently have. I always look at Type, UDC, and the linears--mostly to check feet and high pins."

Carissa Pittman

Come to the Junior Ohio Holstein Convention!

Please join us at this year's Ohio Holstein Convention March 8-9 in Lima to get involved with Junior Holstein on the state and national level! We will be hearing from Rachel Van Buren about her time as a New York Holstein Junior member and how it has transformed her life.

VanBuren has been quite involved in the New York Holstein Junior program as a board

member but this is her last year as a junior member. “Our mom got us involved in the Quiz Bowl contests and as I met new friends, I just wanted to be more and more involved.” She added, “We looked up to the older kids who sat on the JEC (Junior Executive Committee). Many of them went to Cornell and I think that’s when I realized this was a really good fit for me. I’ve spent three years on the JEC and

it’s been a great opportunity for me to meet others and develop leadership skills.”

VanBuren is a senior at Cornell University majoring in dairy science; when asked what’s next after graduation: “That’s the million-dollar question. I am interested in genetics and dairy reproduction, but I’m not committed to anything yet.”

National Convention Anyone?

We will also be gauging interest for National Holstein Convention, which will be June 24-27 in Salt Lake City, Utah. If you are interested in dairy jeopardy and/or dairy quiz bowl, please note that we will have a quick knowledge assessment to place interested youth. Other contests to be held at National Holstein Convention are folding display, prepared public speaking, state banner, and digital scrapbook. There is also a band on Friday night in addition to a pool and arcade at the hotel.

If you or someone you know is interested in these opportunities and you may or may not be able to attend Ohio Holstein Convention, please reach out to junior advisor Sarah Thomas at (919) 548-5531 or saraht17@ vt.edu.

Rachel Van Buren

Ohio Holstein Association CALENDAR

February

20 Deadline to make your meal reservations for the awards luncheon at the Ohio Convention

March

8-9 Ohio Holstein Convention, Lima, Hotel Headquarters, Howard Johnson, 1920 Roschman Ave., Lima, OH 45804, 419-222-0004

8 Farm Tours – Self guided farm tours to Topp-View-PC, Brownhaven Farm, Etgen-Way Farm

8 Futurity Meeting before convention sale 5:45 pm, Lima

8 Ohio Holstein Convention Sale 7 pm, Lima

9 Ohio Holstein Convention Annual Meeting 9 am, Lima

9 Ohio Holstein Queen Contest 8:30 am, Lima

9 Ohio Holstein Women Annual Meeting 8:00 am, Lima

11 OHN ad deadline for March-April issue

25-29 NY Spring Dairy Carousel, Hamburg, NY

27-30 Spring Dairy Expo, Columbus, Ohio

April

19 Ohio Spring Sale, Sidney, Ohio

June

8 District 5 All-Breeds Show, Circleville

15 District 3 All-Breeds Show, Dover

24-27 National Holstein Convention, Salt Lake City, UT

Russ-PP x EX94 McGucci x EX94 Advent x VG87 Blitz x EX90 Skychief 1st place 4yr old, Sr.& Grand Champion, Mideast Fall R&W Show & Mideast Fall R&W Jr. Show

Cover of the Year Contest

The cover contest was announced in January when we asked Ohio Holstein fans to vote for their favorite cover of 2023. It was a close contest with active voting for all covers.

We are excited to announce the May-June issue featuring Damon & Jackie Bertke’s daughter, Paige Bertke of Stein-Way Dairy on the cover.

Thank you for voting in our Ohio Holstein Cover Contest!

• 1st Jr 2-Yr-Old, International Junior Holstein Show

• 1st Jr 2-Yr-Old, Mid-East Summer National Holstein Show

• Reserve Intermediate Champion, Mid-East Summer National Holstein Show

ON THE NATIONAL FRONT

For the team at Holstein Association USA, the beginning of the year has been a time to dive into 2024 goals and projects and reflect on how we can continue to constantly improve.

2023 Top BAA Herds Announced

The 2023 High Ranking BAA Lists were published in early January on the Holstein Association USA website, www.holsteinusa. com, and in the Winter 2024 issue of The Pulse. The Holstein Breed Age Average (BAA%) value provides a way to compare the score of an animal (and herd average) to the average of the breed, taking into account the age of the animal and stage of lactation.

In 2023, 951 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 67, and the average BAA% was 108.0. Being named on any of the Top BAA lists is an incredible accomplishment. Congratulations to all the Michigan herds who earned a spot on any of the lists!

2024 National Judges List & Conference

Holstein Association USA’s 2024 National Judges and Approved Judges lists are now available on Holstein Association USA’s website, at www.holsteinusa.com/shows/ judges, or in the Winter 2024 issue of The Pulse.

Some important changes have been made to the program after the National Show Committee met last fall, to help provide more clarity and transparency.

• To place on the National Judges List, applicants must have judges as a lead judge in a State Holstein or higher-level show within the last 10 years.

• The list previously known as the Qualified List has been renamed to the Approved List.

• The Approved List is made up of applicants who have participated in a Judges Conference within the last five years and received a satisfactory rating from the

conference.

For those interested in applying or reapplying for the list, a 2024 Judges Conference is planned for May 22, 2024 at Oakfield Corners Dairy in Oakfield, New York. Holstein Association USA members 22 years or older with an interest in judging are eligible to attend. More information will be available soon on www.holsteinusa.com and on Holstein Association USA’s social media channels.

Bullseye

LAWRENCE WHITELEATHER, WHITELEATHER HOLSTEINS, MINERVA (D-2)

The bulls we have been using at Whiteleather Holsteins are as follows:

007HO10920 Gold Chip -We are seeing really balanced, stylish daughters with great udders and a lot of show type.

777HO03913 Unix – These cows are not as big and have good udders. They are still stylish but he is more of a milk bull.

200HO10992 Sidekick – We find these cows are sharp and angular with a lot of type, but are a little narrow with not as much milk.

007HO12587 Diamondback – We have found this is a bull that will make the offspring really strong, but watch the rear udder, those attachments aren’t as good as they could be.

7HO9576 Doc – These daughters are really stylish but not as strong as you'd like to have them. They are fancy cows with great udders.

250HO14579 Hancock – He’s a Doc son and puts on really good udders but watch out for strength.

A TWO-WEEK PEEK

An Ohio Dairy Woman’s Journal

Entry by Danette Simpson, District 3

Enjoy a peek into the daily life on the farm with Danette Simpson of Plainfield Farms. Danette is the current treasurer of the Ohio Holstein Association and she and her husband Don live in Belmont.

My daily routine is getting up around 5:15 AM and getting to the barn by 6. We usually have a late breakfast then go about different things during the day, then evening milking at 5 p.m., and then supper. I milk every day, both morning and evening.

Monday January 15th, 2024, 14° at 5:30 AM typical cold day from hoses that didn’t drain and water that’s frozen. We have two new baby calves. One huge Holstein heifer and a Kid Rock great granddaughter of Vanilla that is our first jersey born with the Plainfield Farms prefix. With morning chores done, I’m working on year-end paperwork and laundry. Don is hauling manure trying to get the manure pit empty while the ground is frozen. Rigatoni casserole is in the oven for supper after milking. Don is taking a rare night off to watch football.

Tuesday January 16th, 22° at 5:30. I have Cecilia, my 2-year-old granddaughter today. We helped get the cows milked and then went to the house where CeCe did some sled riding before we go in the house (about 5 minutes). We had breakfast, jumped on the bed while singing “no more monkeys jumping on the bed,” colored, play games on my tablet, lunch, then nap time. After nap time, I had to make a parts run, post office, and go to Lowe’s to pick up a space heater. Don and the hired guy, Michael, hauled manure all day. CeCe went home. Evening milking. Pizza for supper.

Wednesday January 17th, 4° at 5:30 AM almost everything starts this morning. Don broke the key off in the John Deere skid loader. The hired guy (Michael) jammed the rest of the key into the switch and got it started. More parts running. More manure hauling today. I made a couple loaves of wheat bread. Making baked steak and roasted potatoes for supper.

Thursday January 18th, 24° at 5:30 AM morning milking done & kitchen cleaned. A little Instagram scrolling then bills. I helped Don pump a cow with fluids. Back to the bills. Organize and put away registration papers. Evening milking. Burgers and salad for supper. The manure pit was emptied today (yay!)

Friday January 19th, 18° at 5:30 AM around 3 inches of snow last night and more expected today. Morning milking done. Make breakfast and clean up. Going to go get my granddaughters Hallie and Kennedy since Hallie doesn’t have school today. I get them a snack while I make some butterscotch brownies for Michael to take since his grandfather passed away. We play a little inside until lunch and after lunch we go for a ride on the sled before we go to the barn to see the baby calves. Kennedy wants one more sled ride, then it’s nap time for Kennedy. I paint Hallie’s fingers and toes and she paints my toes. Rest time for Hallie. After that we play until barn time. It's snowing so hard it’s hard to see the roads so Sarah is stayng the night. Leftover Rigatoni casserole for supper.

Saturday January 20th, 18° at 5:30 AM about two inches of snow overnight. Morning milking done. I make breakfast casserole and put soup beans in the crock pot. I get ready to go to lunch and the Symphony with my daughter Emily, son Robert, and daughter-in-law Arika. The Wheeling Symphony is going to play the score of the Harry Potter the Sorcerer’s Stone while showing the movie. It was very interesting. Evening milking We had a unbred heifer get down and split herself. Moved her outside. Soup beans with cornbread for supper.

Sunday January 21st 8° at 5:30 AM Morning milking done. We

load the split heifer into the stock trailer. Sarah is taking her to a friend that is a butcher. Too late to go to church. Sawmill gravy and toast for brunch a nap and a trip to the grocery store. Evening milking then smoked sausage and perogies for supper.

Monday January 22nd did not check the temperature. Morning milking done. I changed a hose in the parlor that had a hole in it. Made breakfast and cleaned and did laundry until evening milking. Sloppy Joe’s French fries and cheese sauce for supper.

Tuesday January 23rd 38° at 5:30 AM. Morning milking done. Sarah and I clean the water tanks. Try to figure out the plumbing problem in the old farmhouse. The shower and toilets are backing up despite the septic tank being pumped and the drains being snaked. Someone is coming around 2:30 to see if it could be a broken pipe from the house to the tank. We ended up having to replace the pipe. I did some quilting. Evening milking and enchiladas for supper.

Wednesday, January 24th 46° foggy and wet. I have CeCe today. Helped milk until the last bunch---kinda. CeCe and I went to see the jersey baby. Then to the house for breakfast. We listened to soundtracks from The Princess and the Frog and A Goofy Movie. She decided to lay down for a nap at 10:45. After her nap, we had lunch, then more playing. And then a movie, Finding Nemo. I put some vegetable soup in the crock pot. CeCe went home. Evening milking, I helped get started, then went to my father-in-law’s to see what was wrong with the Dish Network. We had to upgrade his system. They’re installing a new one tomorrow. They moved heifers today and Don finally replaced the ignition switch in the John Deere. Vegetable soup for supper.

Thursday, January 25th 56° at 5:30 AM. Foggy. Feels like spring. A group of heifers knocked down a gate and got out. Don brought them back to one of the pastures and decided to leave them there over the weekend. I cleaned the outside of the parlor doors before coming to the house for breakfast. Cleaned up the kitchen and ran the dishwasher. Booked flights for the father-in-law for Florida. Don cleaned out the manure tank and pump equipment. Evening milking. Chip beef gravy for supper.

Friday, January 26th 61°. It’s payday, so I’m writing checks and running errands. Picking up a few groceries and office supplies. After milking leftover vegetable soup for supper.

Saturday, January 27th. 41°. I washed the outside of the bulk tank. We loaded up two cull cows to go to the sale barn. After milking, Robert came to help put up a motion light on the outside of the utility room door. I assisted him. I took all of the kids and the grandkids to see Disney on Ice, then out to eat at Undo’s. (A local Italian place) It was so great to look at all the kids faces during the show. It really fills my heart.

Sunday, January 28th. Didn’t look at the temperature. A little rest before tidying up. Making snacks for the company coming over for the playoff games this afternoon and tonight. Going to help get started with the milking, and then come down and enjoy some company. There’s chili, pizza, wings, buffalo chicken dip, soft pretzels, mini egg rolls, chips, cookies, brownie bites and carrots. Junk food for supper.

Thanks for coming along on the Two-Week-Peek into life at Plainfield Farms.

• 6th in the National Holstein Futurity

• 1st Jr 3-Yr-Old District 12 Show

• 5th Jr 3-Yr-Old Mid East Fall National Holstein Show

Due back for 2024 to 7H16104 Eye Candy

Chief x VG88 Unix x Blexy EX97

• 1st place, 2023 Mid-East Summer Holstein National & District 12

Due back for 2024 to 799H34 Blondin Energy

Currently on our flush program

Owned with Derik Baumer

Lotto

• 1st Summer Jr 2-Yr-Old Mid-East Summer National Red & White Show, Mid-East Summer National Junior Red and White Show & District 12 show

• 3rd Summer Jr 2-Yr-Old Mid East Summer National Holstein show

Due back for 2024 to 799H18 Luxor-Red

Owned by Paige & Madison Bertke and Ryan Schwieterman

ALL-OHIO JUNIOR 3-YR-OLD

Sidekick x Windbrook x VG88 Goldwyn x Paige EX96

ALL-OHIO SUMMER JR. 2-YR-OLD (tied)

x VG Carson x VG Ladd P

NOMINATED RED & WHITE SUMMER YEARLING

1st & Junior Champion, Mid-East National R&W & OSF R&W

1st & Junior Champion, OSF B&W • 7th, Madison

Owned with Ack-Lee, Bobby & Melissa Hart, Plainfield Holsteins

NOMINATED GUERNSEY SPRING YEARLING

1st, NGS-Harrisburg & OSF • 2nd, NGS-Louisville • 3rd, NGS- Madison

Owned with Ack-Lee

RESERVE ALL-AMERICAN JERSEY FALL CALF

2nd, Madison • 5th, National Jersey Show Louisville

Owned with Ack-Lee

NOMINATED GUERNSEY SUMMER YEARLING

1st OSF • 4th NGS-Louisville • 7th, NGS-Madison & NGS-Harrisburg

Owned with Ack-Lee

One to watch for 2024, Pondvue Butterscotch-Red VG-88. 2nd place Senior Yearling in milk and Best Udder at Mid-East National at Louisville just fresh. She just scored 88 with an excellent udder in December. Owned with Ack-Lee and Damon Bertke.

2023 was a very good year in the showring for our partners and us. We exhibited 7 total head at the various shows this year. Of those 7 head, we had 4 nominated for All-American in 2023. We cannot thank our partners and everyone at Ack-Lee Holsteins enough for their wonderful care and preparation of our animals.

We look forward to the 2024 show season & seeing all of our old and new friends again.

Box 47, Bucyrus, Ohio, 44820

Valerie & Jim Spreng

• jspreng@sprengcapital.com

• 419-569-0553

Austin Trbovich and Rachel Cole were married on February 3, 2024 in a stunning outdoor venue. Congratulations!

Allison Ryan of MVP Dairy and McCarty Family Farms was recently the featured guest on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast with Peggy Coffeen. Allison shared her passion about dairy promotion and the episode can be found on Spotify and Youtube.

Congratulations to Kelly Hawvermale on signing with the Muskingum University Archery Team.

There will be a futurity meeting at 5:45 pm on Friday, March 8th before the convention sale begins. All are welcome to attend

to give your input on making the National Holstein futurity a success.

Make plans to tour all three of the convention farm tours, Topp-View PC, Etgen-Way and Brownhaven. Details are on pages 8-11.

Attention Districts – don’t forget your auction item for the fun auction that benefits the Ohio Holstein Women projects and scholarships for our youth!

If you have a confirmed date for your district show, give it to Diana at the Ohio Holstein office so it can be included on the calendar in the magazine and on the website.

Catch up on everything Ohio Holstein

through the Ohio Holstein website and Facebook page. Updated information is constantly being added in both places to keep members informed.

Our Ohio Holstein Ad of the Year winners will be honored at the convention. There are winners for a half and full-page breeder ads. Thank you for YOUR participation in the cover of the year and ad of the year contests.

If you have a potential spring sale consignment contact Eric Topp 419-953-6448. The sale will be held in Sidney on April 19th.

Ad deadline for the March/April issue of Ohio Holstein News is March 11

ALL-OHIO

& JR. ALL-OHIO AGED COW

Silver-Mist Sanchez

Cate EX-94

Aubree Topp

RESERVE JR. ALL-OHIO AGED COW

Futurama Byway

Shanet EX-92

Aubree, Alaina & Aiden Topp

JR. ALL-OHIO MILKING YEARLING Oakfield

Analyst

Rayna-Red, VG-85

Aubree, Aiden & Alaina Topp

Nominated All-American & Jr. All-American Red & White Holstein Milking Yearling

Analyst x VG-87 Jordy x Rosedale Lucky-Rose, EX-94

Her September 2023 Diamondback sells in the Spring Social at Chupp’s Farm on February 24, 2024!

OTHER NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS THAT CALL TOPP-VIEW PC HOME

Topp-View Lman Rags 2 Riches EX-91

Ladies Man x EX-91 Novak x EX Gembo

• Jr. All-American Guernsey 4-year-old

• 5th 4-year-old, WDE

• 1st 4-year-old & HM Sr. Champion, WDE Jr. Show

• Reserve Grand Champion, OH State Fair Junior Show

Lazy-M-JKLady In Red EXP EX-90

Greek x Cyclone x EX-90 Ladyluck

• Jr. All-American | Nominated All-American Milking Shorthorn Jr. 3-year-old

• 4th Jr. 3-year-old, WDE

• 1st Jr. 3-year-old, Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion, WDE Jr. Show

OFFERED IN THE TIP-OFF AT THE TOPPS ALL-BREEDS TAG SALE III

Jacher Tatoo JuJu

Tatoo x EX-91 Altitude x GP-81 Touchdown

• 3rd Open & 1st Jr. Spring Calf, OH State Fair

Hardcore Lottery Firebug-ET

Lottery x EX-93 Snoopy x EX-92 Firepower

Nominated Jr. All-American Milking Shorthorn Fall Calf

6th Fall Calf, WDE & 3rd Fall Calf, WDE Jr. Show

Kingsire Jazzy VG-86

Kingsire x Reagan x Burdette

Res. Jr. All-American

Nominated All-American Ayrshire Summer Jr. 2-year-old

• 6th Summer Jr. 2-year-old, WDE

• 2nd Summer Jr. 2-year-old, WDE Jr. Show Owned with Maci McLean

Highlights FROM TIP-OFF AT THE TOPPS ALL-BREEDS TAG SALE II

Topp Guns War Happening-Red - Junior Champion, Indiana State Fair Holstein Show

Owned by Kale, Kley, Ryan & Logan Beer

Toppglen Reynolds Pixiestick - 1st Winter Calf, Ohio State Fair Ayrshire Show Owned by Ben & Hannah Simpson

EBRACRES BROKAW Dalyne-ET EX-94

RESERVE ALL-OHIO 150,000 COW

PLAINFIELD BOURBONS

Bacardi VG-87

ALL-OHIO SUMMER JR. 2-YEAR-OLD

GLAUSTAR CALIF All Out-RED-ET EX-95 ALL-OHIO AGED COW HM ALL-AMERICAN AGED COW

Owned with Jay & Kristy Ackley

MS SIDBEAUTY PF Bourbon-ET EX-94

ALL-OHIO 5-YR-OLD

SCO-LO AWE

Nemo 2432-RED VG-87

RES. ALL-OHIO MILKING YEARLING

Owned with Miguel Weaver, Steve & Neal Deam

MILEY WARRIOR Graceful-RED

RES. ALL-OHIO SUMMER YEARLING

NOMINATED AA SUMMER YEARLING

Owed with Jay & Kristy Ackley, Jim & Valerie Spreng, Bobby & Melissa Hart

PLAINFIELD UN Maybelline

ALL-OHIO FALL CALF

Owed by Clay Hershberger & Cole Strickland

CURR-VALE Lady Diem-RED-ET EX-92 MAX SCORE ALL-OHIO 4-YR-OLD

Owned with Richman Farms, Bobby Hart & Tom Stene and David Thorbahn

PLAINFIELD ANLST Royce-RED

RES. ALL-OHIO WINTER CALF

Owned by Aubrey & Kennedy Grove & Halle Simpson

AND ... RESERVE ALL-OHIO JUNIOR BEST THREE FEMALES • ALL-OHIO DAM & DAUGHTER

PLAINFIELD UNDND Manhattan RES. JR. ALL-OHIO WINTER CALF

Owned by Seth Stuckey

We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who had success with animals purchased from our farm and thank you to our great partners who entrusted us with the care of their animals and to the Ackley family for the great care of All-Out and Graceful.

DONALD & DANETTE SIMPSON 65030 Plainfield Rd • Belmont, OH 43718

Don: 740-391-3301 • plainfieldholsteins@gmail.com • Asst. Herdsman: Sara Gehrig

Since 1944 • BAA: 112.0 • A 15-year PBR Herd • Like us on Facebook! • Visitors Welcome

Ohio Holstein Association, Inc.

103rd Convention & Annual Meeting

Schedule of Events

Friday, March 8th, 2024

10 am- 5 pm Farm Tours and Tag Sale

Etgen-Way, Ty and Heather Etgen 9440 Sugar Creek Road Harrod Ohio, Milking 100 Registered Holsteins and Farming 300 Acres

Topp-View-PC, Phillip and Carrie Topp --9477 Botkins Rd, Botkins, OH 45306 Brownhaven Farms, 400 head of Registered Holsteins, Lou & Deb Brown and Alan & Ruth Brown at 07353 SR 364, New Bremen, Ohio

6 pm Ohio Holstein Convention Pre-Sale Heavy Hors d’ oeuvres, dairy bar & beverages, Banquet Room

7 pm Ohio Holstein Convention Virtual Sale, Banquet Room

8:30 pm Ohio Holstein Junior Activities, arcade and swimming, Meet in Lobby Area

9-11 pm Live Entertainment- Nashville recording artist Matt Dietz

Saturday, March 9th, 2024

7:30 am Dairy Bar Opens by Banquet Room in Hallway

8 am Ohio Holsteins Woman’s Association Annual Meeting

8 am Outstanding Junior Interviews

8:30 am Ohio Holstein Queen Contest Interviews

9 am Ohio Holstein Junior Meeting

9 am Ohio Holstein Annual Meeting Banquet Room Ohio Holstein Board of Directors Reorganizational Meeting to follow Annual Meeting

11:30 am Awards Luncheon, Ohio Holstein Queen Contest & Ohio Holstein Woman’s Auction, Banquet Room Hotel Headquarters: Howard Johnson • 1920 Roschman Avenue • Lima, OH 45804 • 419-222-0004

KEN

Wooster, Ohio

• 330-464-4134

ACKLEY REGISTERED HOLSTEINS

East Liberty, Ohio

• 937-935-8272

Nom. All-American R&W SR 3-Yr-Old

• 1st , Int. Champion & Res. Grand Champion, Mid-East Fall National R&W Show & Mid-East Summer National R&W Show

• 6th & BBO Sr 3-Yr-Old, International R&W Show

• 1st Sr 2-Yr-Old & Res. Intermediate Champion, OSF R&W 2022

SIRE: Pine Tree Splendid P

Lucas, Ohio

• 419-571-4720

By Barb Lumley

Yesterday’s Cowpath

The following is from the Ohio Holstein News May-June Issue 1985.

Dr. Gale Baumgardner was the Executive Secretary of the Ohio Holstein Association.

The cover featured a picture of the consignors and friends at The Southfork Sale in “J R” country. The Southfork Sale was held on December 8, 1984 at Southfork Ranch, the filming site of TV’s “Dallas”. Five Ohio consignors participated in a precedent setting sales event and aptly represented Ohio Registered Holsteins. The Southfork Sale was organized and sponsored by Prices’ Dairies, Inc. and Brent Abbot to sell “elite” offspring of registered Holsteins. Forty one (41) “lot/ packages” grossed $11.7 million and resulted in a public auction per “lot/package” average of $287,000.00. The top selling “lot/package” at $1.1 million was the consignment from Carlos and Doug Long, Clayton, Michigan.

Ohio’s elite consignments brought a total of $1.6 million back to Ohio. Consignors included Cottonwood Vale Farms, Leroy Leininger and Family, Fayette, Ohio. Chel-Brook Chief Arlene sold with pregnancies by Bova, Tradition, and Valor. Dix-Jim Bess Pete consigned by Jim and Dixie Snavely, Sidney, Ohio. Embryo transplant pregnancies by Bova, Valor, Joe and Board Chairman accompanied the Ohio Dix-Jim consignment. Roc-Hil-Vale Farm, Bernie and Janet Frye, Woodstock, Virginia and Rosebuff Dairy, Ron Buffington, Columbus, Ohio, consigned Cross-Country Sunshine Nugget with added ET’s. A “Sweet Sixteen” package consisted of sixteen highly pedigreed females from numerous consignors and included consignments from Springhill Farms, Tom Lang and Family, Big Prairie, Ohio, and Quietcove Farms, Wapakoneta, Ohio, and J. Patterson and J. Gross.

Official Southfork activities were held at “The Ranch” and included “black tie” pre-sale receptions with elegant buffets. Entertainment was highlighted by the Charlie Pride Show and talented Miss Texas performers. The opportunity to win a classic “Gatsby Cabriolet” car (valued at approximately $60,000) added excitement to the activities. Each successful buyer was entitled to randomly select a key for a chance to start the car. The key drawn by the new owners of Ohio’s “Sunshine” cow, Greg and

Shelley Hardy, Tipton, Michigan, successfully started the car.

Ohio Holstein Association: Executive Secretary – Gale Baumgardner

President – Hugh Knoop, Fletcher Vice-President – Karl Havens, Fremont

Secretary – Jim Spreng, Bucyrus

Treasurer – Terry Blickensderfer, Homeworth Executive Board Members – Bill Ramsey, Louisville; Michael Nolan, Wakeman

National Director – Sterling Timmons, Chagrin Falls

District Board Members: 1. Robert Cavanagh 2. Bill Ramsey 3. John Young 4. Harry Bouton 5. Gregory Fisher 6. Charles Carmichael 7. Larry Gortner and Tom Lang

8. Mike Nolan 9. Jeffery Hoepf 10. Neree Emmons 11. Kenneth Rausch 12. Dennis McCoy and Loren Elsass 13. James Pond 14. Donald Topp 15. Robert Yeazel

1985 Ohio Junior Holstein Association

Officers: President – Gregg Topp, New Bremen;

Vice-President – Mark Kolb, Oxford: Secretary – Chris Cavanagh, Burton; Treasurer – Lisa Knapp, Castalia.

Western Ohio Heifer Sale – 47 head averaged $1,188.28 Top Heifer – Quietcove Valiant Pricilla sold for $2500 to Barbee-M Farms, Botkins, Ohio. Barbee-M Quickshot Lulu sold for $2,200 to Michael Broering, Maria Stein, Ohio.

Eastern Ohio Heifer Sale – 60 head averaged $1,649.16 Top heifer- Loganway Enchantment Bellene sold for $6400 to William Alfonsi and Duane Logan, Farmdale, Ohio. Windemere Elevation Carrie sold for $6100 to Donna Vaughn, Hartville, Ohio.

In her column, “Gale’s Gatherings” Dr. Gale Baumgardner commented, “Change is always with us. Sometimes we make the decision to make the changes, other times the changes just seem to happen”. She discussed some of the changes recently made by the association at the annual meeting.

In “Hugh’s Views” President Hugh E. Knoop asked, “Did you ever wish you could reach into the radio or TV and grab the guy making the noise? Well, I heard one the other day that made me want to shake him.” A radio announcer had commented that salt caused cancer, that we should not eat eggs as they are too high in cholesterol,

and he told us not to eat meat as meat is the food for kings and royalty and will make us too fat. Then to top it all, he said we should not consume dairy products as they cause all of the above. President Knoop then encouraged dairymen to support continuing the advertising program.

In “The Holstein Connection” Ken Janes asked “In two years will your herd be better than it is today?” He commented, “If you’ve made the right breeding decisions and you continue to make the right management decisions, you’re herd will be”. He talked about raising calves and the use of calf hutches.

On the women’s pages and in the “Mistress Muses” Jean Timmons talked about summer picnics, milk testing by BJ, Burleigh Shanover, and record making cows. She told about the first Holsteins coming to Geauga County in 1881. In 1907 Holstein breeders in the county formed the Western Reserve Holstein Breeders Association, now the Geauga-Portage Holstein Club. In “Barb’s Banter” Barb Osterloh talked about the importance of advertising dairy products and their importance in children’s diets. In “Crafts” The Quick Patch, Margie Lewis submitted the directions complete with pictures showing how to make a quick and easy patch for a worn blouse or shirt or a torn leg in trousers.

The following sales were advertised:

Royal Flush ET Sale, Urbana Ohio June 19, 1985

Leatherbrook Dispersal, Bryan, Ohio June 20, 1985

Bolyard’s Holsteins Dispersal, Conover, Ohio July 6, 1985

Jaydel Dairy Farm Dispersal, Sidney, Ohio July 8, 1985

EdindellFarms Complete Dispersal, Streetsboro, Ohio July 15, 1985

Firelands Sale, Wellington, Ohio July 25, 1985

Harvest Hills Sale, Dover, Ohio October 9, 1985

Fisher-Place Mandingo-Twin EX 90 was featured by COBA/Select Sires on the back cover. He graduated with his first proof as of January 1985 as one of Valiant’s greatest sons from Wapa Bootmaker Mandy 3E-96-EXMS-GMD. All-Time Reserve All-American Two-Year-Old.

I HAD

No Idea!

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Dr. Brenda L'Amoreaux

1. Coffee or tea? Chai tea latte, actually

2. If you could have free meals for life at one fast food chain, which one would you choose? Arby’s

3. Sunrises or sunsets? Sunsets

4. If you could learn one skill instantly, what would it be? How to do orthopedic surgery

5. If you could do anything and know that you could NOT fail, what would you do? Be a billionaire entrepreneur

6. What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on? St. Lucia with my family

7. What is the title of the last book you read? Spare by Prince Harry

8. What’s your favorite show from the 1990s? Friends (favorite show of all-time)

9. If you could donate $100,000 to any philanthropic cause or charity organization, what would it be? Wounded Warriors

10. On a Sunday afternoon in February we will find you… Breaking heifers for Spring Show

BONUS: What is your favorite magazine? Ohio Holstein News, obviously!

Junior All-Ohio Sr. 3-Year-Old

The L’Amoreaux Family from left, Lindsay, Lauren, Brenda and Nevin L’Amoreaux

MISS SIDEKICK Lucy

JR. ALL-OHIO SUMMER YEARLING Sidekick x EX-91 Beemer

Owned with Richard Lewis & Tony Struna

ERBACRES Abrylyn- RED-ET

RES. JR. ALL-AMERICAN RED & WHITE HOLSTEIN SUMMER JR. 2-YEAR-OLD

RES. JR. ALL-OHIO SUMMER JR. 2-YEAR-OLD Warrior x EX-94 Redburst x KHW Regiment Apple-Red-ET, EX-96

MS LINDLAUR CHIEF Whitney ALL-OHIO WINTER CALF Chief x Warrior Owned with Richard C. Lewis

LINDLAUR DAMION Star RES. JR. ALL-OHIO FALL CALF Damion x 2022 All-Ohio Fall Yearling Warrior x EX-92 McCutchen

A JOY D Plum 1st Fall Calf, Jr. Champion Ohio State Fair Junior Show & Res. Jr. Champion Ohio State Fair 3rd Fall Calf WDE

We had an exciting 2023 show season and high expectations for these young animals. We did not accomplish this all ourselves. A world of thanks to our team: Evan & Jim Kiko, David Petershiem, Rod Cambell, Ben Buske, Clark Morgan, John Erbsen & Family, Greg Cornish, David & Joe Sarbacker, Jacoby Gilbert and Enjoy’s Drive Thru

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nation Window, the timing of insemination can be optimized for both conventional and sorted semen. The nutritionist can review herd data and monitor eating and rumination responses to feed changes. The herd manager can utilize their time more efficiently by focusing on the cows needing more attention, versus walking pens trying to get eyes on every cow. The multifunctionality of CowManager technology helps everyone on the dairy make better use of the real-time information and man hours.

New and long-term subscribers of the CowManager system have access to the latest version of the software. The system routinely updates the user portal and mobile app as part of their standard service. The latest software update is the CowManager Dashboard. This dashboard is an easy-to-use visual representation of real-time data to simplify your daily routine. All relevant alerts and insights are displayed in one place through various widgets, including the CowManager Insemination Window. The drag-and-drop dashboard is fully customizable and displays information from all modules conveniently in one place. Users can make their own overview of the information that’s most important and deep dive into cow data with just a single click. All alerts that require attention are available at just a glance.

All team members can have access to the information and alerts. You can share with your veterinarian, nutritionist, reproductive specialist and herdsman. Involving all key support on the dairy helps make the best use of the information. Together, your management team can integrate this information with the parlor data, dairy management software and sort gates to efficiently identify and treat or breed individuals based on your herd’s parameters. The reproductive specialist can gather fertility insights based off of estrus activities from non-cycling, cystic, to possible pregnant. Through the Insemi-

Your Select Sires Member Cooperative CowManager Specialist will be with you every step of the way from purchase, install and support. Contact your local CowManager specialists to learn more about the highly affordable payment options and the lifetime warranty guarantee. Our local team works with CowManager to monitor and support all of the systems we install. Designed by dairymen for dairymen, CowManager is an efficiency enhancer on the farm.

Select Sires Member Cooperative CowManager Specialists

Bekah Meller u 419-966-0810

Scott Winchell u 330-464-9398

CowManager Dashboard

In Memoriam

Anthony A. Struna

Anthony A. Struna, age 71, passed away Sunday, January 28, 2024, at University Hospitals of Cleveland Medical Center.

Born January 25, 1953, in Painesville, he was a son of the late Edward Anthony and Betty Jane (Hoffacker) Struna. Tony was a 1971 Graduate of Pymatuning Valley High School and a lifetime resident of Williamsfield. Following his graduation, he proudly served in the United States Army and married Randee (Mapes) Struna. Tony devoted his entire life to dairy farming, owning and operating Struna Holsteins with exceptional passion and skill.

Actively involved in his community, Tony served as one of the Williamsfield Township Trustees, dedicating his time to improving the local area. He contributed significantly to agricultural organizations, including the Ashtabula County Holstein Club Board of Directors, District 1 Holstein Board of Directors, the Ohio Holstein Association Board of Directors, and the Ashtabula County Agricultural Society. Tony was also a bus driver for Pymatuning Valley School District.

Furthermore, Tony played an integral role in promoting agricultural education among young people. He selflessly spent a significant portion of his time as a dedicated 4-H Dairy Advisor and Dairy Judging Team Coach. He also had a passion for fitting dairy cattle, where he prepared cattle for shows and sales held all over the

United States throughout the years, mentoring and guiding many along the way.

Tony's proudest accomplishments extended far beyond his professional endeavors – they centered around his deep love for family and friends. He cherished every moment spent with them and was always there to support them throughout their lives.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 52 years, Randee Struna of Williamsfield, daughter, Charity (Tom) Mazzaro, son Edward (Margaret) Struna, both of Williamsfield; he was Pappy to 7 grandchildren, Bailee, Calla, Mason, Stuart, Ellie, Matthew, and Mae; sister, Nancy (Barbara Jewett) Struna of Maryland; brother, James (Lisa) Struna of Jefferson; sister, Laura Jane (Jim) Kaiser of Akron; sister-in-law, Beverly Struna of Williamsfield, as well as many nieces and nephews and additional sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law who were an important part of his extended family.

In addition to his parents, Tony was preceded in death by his son, Stuart Struna; brother, John F. Struna; sister, Mary Ann Hejduk and nephew, Sam Hejduk.

Memorial contributions in Tony’s name may be made to the following charities: Muscular Dystrophy Association, 1991 Crocker Rd #600, Westlake, OH 44145; Ashtabula County Holsteins Club, c/o Matt Springer, 248 Footville Richmond Road, Jefferson, OH 44047; Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675/ www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Robot Installation! Our th

Thank you and congratulations to Maplewood Dairy

MEET THE CANDIDATE for Vice President

LISA KERR

From North Fairfield, Ohio, I am Lisa Kerr and I’m running for Vice President. I am a past treasurer of the Ohio Holstein Association and a member of District 8 Holstein Club.

I was raised on a dairy farm in northern Ashland County. Mom and Dad milked 80-120 registered Holstein cows under the prefix Falling Star Farm. Currently my sister and brother-in-law and nephew, Karen, Dewey and Clay Meyer milk 500-600 holsteins cows and own Meyer Hatchery at this location.

12993 Cleveland Rd Creston, OH 44217

Deadline for the March/April 2024 issue of Ohio Holstein News is March 11

I was involved in 4-H and showed at the county fair, got my degree in accounting and worked mostly in the manufacturing field in accounting. I lived next door to the farm and the kids were involved in 4-H, so we were still somewhat involved with the cows and young stock.

In 2007 I moved to North Fairfield with Scott Knoll, we milked 25-30 registered Holstein cows under the prefix WIL-ORAE.

Ms Daisy Mae-Red EX-94

n Mr Apples Action x EX92 Mr Burns x EX92 Talent x KHW Regiment Apple-Red-ET EX96

n HM Senior Champion OSF R&W Jr. Show 2022

n 1st Aged Cow OSF R&W Jr. Show 2022

• dam: Ms Delicious Daisy-ET EX-92

• 2nd dam: Ms Delicious Apple-Red-ET EX-92

• 3rd dam: KHW Regiment Apple-Red-ET EX96 EEEEE

#1 Embryos available from Latenite-P-Red, Hindsite-Red and Rompen-Red!

Background photo by Michal Hlavac, Unsplash

W.G. Dairy Supply, Inc.

GOLDEN-ROSE EX-94

From the Audrey Posch family • Potential 20th generation excellent Randy Schaeffer

SPRINGHILL JCP

5th Summer Jr. 2 Year Old WDE 2023 • From the Unify family Springhill & Elmhurst

ALSO SELLING:

• A 6/23 Doorman backed by 3 Ex-94 dams in a row

• A 9/23 Goldwyn that goes back to Starbuck Winnie

• A 6/23 Delta Lambda from the Dundee Paige family

• A 9/23 Tango-Red from the Apple family

• Embryos by Maximum-Red x Ex-94 Kingboy x Apple

• A 6/23 VIP granddaughter of Veronica

• A fancy 9/22 Kid Rock due in July to VIP

• A 12/22 Reynolds backed by 2 Ex dams and many other exciting consignments!

TOPPGLEN EX-95

Supreme Champion Jr. Show WDE 2023 Tanner Topp

MD-MAPLE LAWN SID

From the Lila Z family Hastings Dairy

catalog available on dairy agenda today

bidding available tHroUgH cowbUyer

Hosted by tHe osU bUckeye dairy clUb Garrett Hastings 440-321-6555 | Cole Pond 614-800-5137

EX-90

VG-87

HER 9/23 REYNOLDS DAUGHTER SELLS!

HER 7/23 R&W UNSTOPABULL GRANDDAUGHTER SELLS!

HER 7/23 HURRICANE DAUGHTER SELLS!

HER 12/23 DELTA LAMBDA DAUGHTER SELLS!

2023 JUNIOR ALL OHIO WINNERS

SPRING CALF

RESERVE - MS ETGENWAY CRSHABLE SATEEN COLE HUDSON, CASH & HENRY ETGEN

SUMMER YEARLING RESERVE - WIL-O-KNOLL SIDE FAT MARTHA DALTON & DYLLAN KNOLL

FALL CALF RESERVE - LINDLAUR DAMION STAR LAUREN L’AMOREAUX

WINTER CALF

ALL OHIO - OAKFIELD US CUPCAKE-RED-ET JACOBY GILBERT & DILLON MORLOCK

WINTER CALF RESERVE - PLAINFIELD UNDND MANHATTAN SETH STUCKEY

SUMMER YEARLING ALL OHIO - MISS SIDEKICK LUCY LAUREN L’AMOREAUX

FALL CALF

ALL OHIO - BUCKS-PRIDE JOURNEY JOY-RED BRADY & BENTLEY COLE

SPRING YEARLING ALL OHIO - WABASH-WAY CRUSH ALLISON KENNLEY, GRACE, MYA & KANE SIEGRIST

SPRING CALF

ALL OHIO - MS WABASH-WAY RB TATUM-RED KENNLEY, GRACE, MYA & KANE SIEGRIST

2023 JUNIOR ALL OHIO WINNERS

RESERVE - OAKFIELD AVA BOO-RED-ET

ALL OHIO - BUCKS-PRIDE JOURNEY AMY-RED BRADY & BENTLEY COLE

ALL

ALL OHIO - MS MK CRUSHABULL VIP

FALL YEARLING

MACI MCLEAN

MILKING YEARLING

RESERVE - PONDVUE BUTTERSCOTCH-RED KALEB POND

SUMMER JUNIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - POND-RIDGE DOC GIGI COLE POND

MILKING YEARLING

OHIO - OAKFIELD ANALYST RAYNA-RED AUBREE, AIDEN & ALAINA TOPP

JUNIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - PONDVUE ANALYST TOOTSIE-RED COLE HUDSON

SPRING YEARLING

E. LANEY, C. & H. FROELICH, & D. MORLOCK

FALL YEARLING

RESERVE - PONDVUE BUTTERSCOTCH-RED KALEB POND

SUMMER JUNIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - ERBACRES ABRYLYN-RED-ET LAUREN L’AMOREAUX

WINTER YEARLING

2023 JUNIOR ALL OHIO WINNERS

AGED

SENIOR THREE-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - RUPP-VUE AWESOME MAGNETIC-ET CARISSA PITTMAN

SENIOR THREE-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - HARTLINE DRIVE LONA-RAE LINDSEY HARTLINE

SENIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - DO-RE-ME ABSOLUTE RAYA-RED CORA GUNKELMAN

SENIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - KIKO AWESRED MARVE 1858-RED LIZZIE KIKO

FOUR-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - LUCK-E ARTIST ARTISTIC ALLISON, CALLUM & LANE FRANCIS

FIVE-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - SOUTHERN-HILLS DEVR NICOLET HANNAH GRIFFITH

FIVE-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - REN-BOW CORVETTE LOLLIPOP RUTH BAMBAUER

FOUR-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - SILVER-MIST MY LADY-RED LILLY ELSASS

JUNIOR THREE-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - WIL-SAN DOC DAREDEVIL AUDREY & BRADY SIDLE

JUNIOR THREE-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - MS QUIETCOVE DENVER DAISY KENNLEY, GRACE, MYA & KANE SIEGRIST

2023 ALL OHIO WINNERS

ALL OHIO - MS LINDLAUR CHIEF WHITNEY LAUREN L’AMOREAUX

SUMMER YEARLING

ALL OHIO - WIL-O-KNOLL SIDE FAT MARTHA DYLLAN & DALTON KNOLL

SUMMER YEARLING

RESERVE - MILEY WARRIOR GRACEFUL-RED PLAINFIELD FARMS, B HART, J ACKLEY & J SPRENG

SPRING YEARLING

ALL OHIO - WHITELEATHER CLEAR MAGIC BENJAMIN & HANNAH SIMPSON

WINTER CALF

SPRING CALF

ALL OHIO - GLEN-PAUL RLIGHT BARACUDA AUDREY SIDLE & LOGAN TOPP

SPRING CALF

RESERVE - WABASH-WAY RB TATUM-RED KENNLEY, GRACE, MYA & KANE SIEGRIST

FALL CALF

RESERVE - BUCKS-PRIDE JOURNEY JOY-RED BRADY & BENTLEY COLE

WINTER CALF

RESERVE - PLAINFIELD ANLST ROYCE-RED AUBREY & KENNEDY GROVE

FALL CALF

ALL OHIO - PLAINFIELD UN MAYBELLINE CLAY HERSHBERGER & COLE STRICKLAND

2023 ALL OHIO WINNERS

RESERVE -

ALL OHIO - J-KIKO

ALL OHIO - BUCKS-PRIDE JOURNEY AMY-RED

RESERVE - SIEMERS W HOT 36873-RED-ET

ALL OHIO - HOLLOWBROOK CHI BUTTERED-ET

FALL YEARLING

DOC FELICITY-ET KIKO FARMS LLP

WINTER YEARLING

BRADY & BENTLEY COLE

MILKING YEARLING

RESERVE - SCO-LO AWE NEMO 2432-RED PLAINFIELD FARMS LLC, M WEAVER, & S&N DEAM

FALL YEARLING RESERVE - MS MK CRUSHABULL VIP MACI MCLEAN

MILKING YEARLING

DERIK BAUMER & DAMON BERTKE

SUMMER JUNIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO (TIE) - PLAINFIELD BOURBNS BACARDI PLAINFIELD FARMS LLC

SUMMER JUNIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO (TIE) - STEIN-WAY LOTTO TICKET-RED STEIN-WAY DAIRY

WINTER YEARLING

KRIS ACKLEY & JAMES NIPLE

SPRING YEARLING

QUIETCOVE FIRECRACKER-RED LILLY ANN ELSASS

2023 ALL OHIO WINNERS

JUNIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - HODGLYNN MIRANDA HALO JAY ACKLEY & WOOD FAMILY FARM

JUNIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - CAMPBROS DOC LIZA RODNEY & CINDY CAMPBELL

SENIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO (TIE) - DO-RA-ME ABSOLUTE RAYA-RED CORA, CURTIS & CARLIE GUNKELMAN

JUNIOR THREE-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - STEIN-WAY SIDEKICK PALMER DAMON BERTKE

SENIOR THREE-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - ETGEN-WAY SIDEKICK WHISPER TYLER ETGEN

JUNIOR THREE-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - EXPRESS-SMD HALLE-TW CINDY HOWMAN & JAY ACKLEY

SENIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO (TIE) - KIKO AWESRED MARVE 1858-RED LIZZIE KIKO

SUMMER JUNIOR TWO-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - PONDRIDGE DOC GIGI COLE POND

SENIOR THREE-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - SWEETVIEW SIDE-K HOSANNA-ET JAY ACKLEY & ALLISON & NICK MELVIN

2023 ALL OHIO WINNERS

GROUP AWARDS

JUNIOR BEST THREE

ALL OHIO - BUCKS PRIDE RESERVE - PLAINFIELD

SENIOR BEST THREE

ALL OHIO - KIKO

RESERVE - ETGEN

DAM & DAUGHTER

ALL OHIO - PLAINFIELD

RESERVE - KIKO

PRODUCE OF DAM

ALL OHIO - ETGEN

DAIRY HERD

ALL OHIO - KIKO

RESERVE - ETGEN

Congratulations!

AGED COW

ALL OHIO - GLAUSTAR CALIF ALL OUT-RED-ET JAY ACKLEY & DONALD SIMPSON

FIVE-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - MS SIDBEAUTY PF BOURBON-ET PLAINFIELD FARMS LLC

FIVE-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - REN-BOW CORVETTE LOLLIPOP RUTH BAMBAUER

AGED COW RESERVE - SILVER-MIST SANCHEZ CATE AUBREE TOPP

FOUR-YEAR-OLD RESERVE - KIKO BYWAY KITTIE 1627 R&P KIKO FAMILY FARMS LTD

FOUR-YEAR-OLD ALL OHIO - CURR-VALE LADY DIEM-RED-ET PLAINFIELD FARMS, B HART, RICHMAN FARMS, D THORBAHN

150,000 LB COW ALL OHIO - KIKO AFTERSHOCK JACKIE 1125 R&P KIKO FAMILY FARMS LTD

150,000 LB COW RESERVE - EBERACRES BROKAW DALYNE-ET PLAINFIELD FARMS LLC