Spring/Summer 2024 Premier Pioneer

Premier Select Sires recently announced record sales to member owners of $41.5 million dollars for 2023. This reflects $2 million dollars in growth for semen and product sales in the year completed December 31. Operating profit was $800,000 and all segments of the cooperative showed increased sales.

“We are proud to serve the farmer owners of the 23 eastern United States in our area of service ranging from Kansas to Maine and to Florida. We listen to what our customers need and are glad to be seeing increased sales to those customers by meeting those needs with a highly trained team,” CEO Mark Carpenter announced during the meeting.

7HO15085 PARFECT, 7HO14160 LUSTER-P, and 7HO14454 LIONEL were the three highest selling sires in 2023 and feed additive Select DTXTM from Agrarian Solutions was recognized as the fastest growing product line in the history of Premier Select Sires. Select DTX has seen rapid adoption on many farms due to a recent research trial that showed 3.5 pounds of milk gain and increased conception on cows using DTX compared to the control group.

VP of Marketing Kirk Sattazahn also credited the activity system CowManager® for increased

satisfaction by customers.

“Premier has always been focused on service and customer support. We are seeing how CowManager plays a key role in helping dairy and beef cattle owners make smart decisions at the farm level while receiving mating and reproductive assistance from the Premier team servicing the account,” said Sattazahn.

During the meeting, new officers from the board of directors were elected. These include Kenny Taylor from Tennessee as President, James Cook from Virginia as 1st Vice President, Jim Houser from Pennsylvania as 2nd Vice President, John Edd Harris from Georgia as board Secretary, and Mike Saylor from Tennessee as board Treasurer. New delegates and board members were also elected and seated during the meeting.

President Taylor reported that there was not much new news on the planned merger between Select Sires and ST Genetics.

Taylor reported, “I am glad that Premier Select Sires will remain a locally owned cooperative with equity that stays with the American farmer. As an increasing number of other semen providers get bought out by foreign owned private enterprises, our key beneficiary at Premier remains the American dairy and beef cattle owner.”

FIND THE SEMEN STRAW

2023 in review 23 States served

14,395 Members $41.5 M In sales to member owners

New record! $2 M In growth (Semen and product sales)

7HO15085 PARFECT

7HO14160 LUSTER-P

7HO14454 LIONEL

Top sires

1. Find this semen straw hidden somewhere in the newsletter (hidden straw may be smaller than the one shown here) 2. Go to www.premierselectsires.com and click the“Newsletter Contest” button on the home page

3. Tell us where you found the straw to enter the drawing!

You may also send your submission in the mail. Write us a note including the following information: your name, account #, address, and where you found the semen straw. Mail it to the following address for a chance to WIN!

Newsletter Contest Attn. Laura Williams

MEMBER FARM FEATURE

CAVE VIEW FARMS

Named for its view of Weyers Cave, Virginia, Cave View Farms is a 610-cow dairy farm owned by Gerald Garber, Keith Wilson, and Paul Wilson. In operation since 1962, Cave View is now milking in their fourth parlor. They have added cows and grown their facilities as the operation expanded over the years.

Gerald says that the management team strives to provide a positive environment for all parties involved with the dairy.

“If you want to work at a dairy, I want this to be the one you want to work for. If you’re a cow, I want this to be the place you want to be,” said Gerald.

Herdsman Brent Hamlin oversees the genetic and reproductive program at Cave View. The farm has been using Select Sires genetics since they began in 1962, and for the past year and a half has been working exclusively with Premier Select Sires.

“We’re looking to create healthy, productive cows,” said Brent. “We’re at around 4 percent fat and 3 percent protein. In addition to production, we’re working towards cows being in the herd longer, and our Premier reps are helping us find the right bulls.”

Brent primarily works with Premier Area

Sales Manager Mike Marchand.

“We’ve been looking at what causes a cow to leave the herd, and we are focusing on what we need to do to help the cows stay in the herd for another lactation,” said Mike. “We’re watching repro, and we’re emphasizing mastitis resistance, health traits, and other tools like the HHP$® index.”

Premier Dairy Program Specialist Luke Johnson also works with the farm by pedigree mating the cows through the Select Mating Service®. About a year and a half ago, Luke used Premier’s heifer calculator to determine the appropriate number of replacements Cave View needed to create to meet their goals. Since then, the farm has been using sexed semen on the heifers for first and second service and has otherwise been creating more beef x dairy cross calves.

Cave View does still create excess heifers to sell as springers and is well known and respected in the community for their highquality heifers. With repeat buyers, they sell 50-60 heifers each year.

In addition to genetics and services, Brent says that Cave View has found a lot of value in Premier’s line of herd management products.

“Premier has introduced products to us to

help address some production and health issues, and we have been very happy with what they have to offer,” said Brent. “Mike will sometimes bring in others to teach us more about the products, whether it’s Premier Product Manager Jeff Hostetter or a rep from the product manufacturer. They really stand behind what they sell.”

The farm uses products such as BioCycleTM Plus Concentrate, Ca3 BioFresh® Bolus, TriStart, Tri-Start Jr.+ Paste, Accel RS, Accel Milk Fortifier, and First Day Formula® CR (more details on the following page).

“When I make my scheduled visit, I’ll check out the animals and check product and semen inventories,” said Mike. “Every six weeks I take a mycotoxin sample just to see where things are at, and Brent and I touch base on how the cows are doing. Cave View has put their trust in Premier Select Sires, and we will do everything possible to help them reach their goals!”

“Premier’s service is really good, they have a broad selection of bulls, and they offer great products and support,” said Brent. “With some companies you feel like a number. I enjoy working with Mike and the other Premier reps who have been here, and they really take a team approach. As a cooperative, they can offer cost benefits and they’re in tune with what farmers want and need and they’re not pushing to sell you things. Mike knows our goals and he knows what will help us.”

Farmer’s Choice:

PRODUCTS USED AT CAVE VIEW FARMS

Herdsman Brent Hamlin of Cave View Farms shared his experience with several Premier products. Check out his feedback below!

Select BioCycleTM Plus Concentrate

A complete product containing L-form bacteria that is recommended when there is a combination of breeding, production, and herd health issues stemming form mold-driven problems.

“We started using BioCycle Plus Concentrate about 13 years ago. We were experiencing calf and heifer losses, mastitis cases, immune deficiencies and decreased production. Within 6-8 weeks of starting the product, we started seeing some improvement, and it really got the ball rolling and helped to correct the issues we mentioned. We’ve been using the product consistently ever since!”

First Day Formula® CR

A product to be fed to newborn calves as a replacement for or supplement to maternal colostrum.

“We primarily use our own colostrum and test it, and then use the First Day Formula Colostrum Replacer if we run out of colostrum, or we use it as a supplement for lower quality colostrum. We’ve been using this product for a year now and have found success with it.”

Tri-Start

A direct-fed microbial bolus for dairy and beef cattle that helps enhance the rumen environment to improve digestive performance during periods of change or challenge.

“Premier introduced us to the Tri-Start boluses about two years ago, and I use them mainly for off feed cows to help them get their rumination back going. Generally within two days I see a major improvement in their system.”

Ca3 BioFresh® Bolus

A non-caustic calcium bolus that contains 45.5 grams of calcium (both fast and slow releasing sources) that also contains 50,000 I.U. of Vitamin D3.

“We’ve found that the CA3 BioFresh Bolus helps jump start the cows’ system after calving. Before using Ca3 BioFresh Bolus, we were using a calcium drench. I don’t miss that! The bolus is much easier, user friendly, and more effective. We’ve been using the boluses for about two years now.”

Accel Milk Fortifier

A concentrated vitamin/mineral supplement for pre-weaned calves that contains a source of live naturally occurring microorganisms.

“Formerly, we were feeding our calves waste milk and powdered milk mixed, and the appetite just wasn’t there. We installed a pasteurizer two years ago which led to some improvements, but the calves still weren’t quite where they should be. We started using the Accel Milk Fortifier, and couldn’t believe the appetite the calves suddenly had! We have a video from shortly after starting on the product, and at feeding time the calves were bawling and climbing up the fence. With this product, I’d say we now have probably 75% fewer respiratory issues later in life. We will hopefully also benefit down the road with cow health. We’ve been using the product for about a year and look forward to seeing continued results.”

Tri-Start Jr.+ Paste

A product to help stimulate feed intake during periods of change. Contains live (viable) naturally occurring microorganisms, a short-chain fatty acid, egg protein (IgY), vitamins and selenium yeast.

“About a year ago, we began having a few E. Coli issues. Mike introduced us to Tri-Start Jr.+, which we started giving to calves if they were scouring. The Tri-Start Jr. helps bring the calves around pretty quickly.”

Accel RS

A recovery solution for young cattle that provides electrolytes, energy, digestive health supplements, and live naturally occurring microorganisms to aid in calf recovery.

“We’ve been using Accel RS for over a year now, and the calves seem to like it and it brings them around pretty quickly. We chose to switch to Accel RS from our previous product because it is a little bit more cost effective and it is very convenient to have our Premier rep, Mike, supply it. Mike keeps track of what is here and keeps us well stocked!”

Photos: 1. Herdsman Brent Hamlin, Part Owner Gerald Garber, and Premier ASM Mike Marchand; 2. Cows at Cave View; 3. View of the farm from a distance; 4. Part Owner Keith Wilson; 5. Cows on pasture; 6. Pasteurizer for feeding calves; 7. Calf at Cave View;

INCREASING PROFITABILITY WITH HHP$

Q&A

with Chuck Sattler

Vice President of Genetic Programs

Select Sires Inc.

What is HHP$? How and why was it developed?

HHP$ is a health trait focused selection index that can be used across the whole population of Holsteins or Jerseys. It is expressed in dollar values, and we have a unique formula for both Holsteins and Jerseys because each breed has different strengths and weaknesses so there’s a need for different focuses (this article will focus primarily on the Holstein HHP$ index, but resources for the Jersey breed can be found using the QR code on the next page).

HHP$ has been in development for quite a while now, starting with conversations around 2016. We really liked the philosophy behind Dairy Wellness Profit Index® (DWP$®), and we had started using DWP$ and Zoetis® health traits in our breeding program. We saw a need to focus on health traits like mastitis resistance. The CDCB rolled out their own genetic evaluations for health traits around 2018 and that provided us the opportunity to create a custom health index using the CDCB health traits, which are commonly available across the industry, and it gave us a way to compare bulls and really all animals to others in the industry.

In talking with the member cooperatives and member owners who make up Select Sires, we received strong support in the direction we were going—emphasizing the mastitis resistance traits, focusing on other health traits, and building cows with improved longevity. Many of our competitors were primarily focusing on the Net Merit Dollars index (NM$), and the CDCB did redesign the NM$ index to include the health traits, but the new formula put only a small amount of weight on mastitis resistance. We really felt that we needed a profitability index that could capture the importance and economic value of health and longevity.

All of that moved us in the direction of developing the HHP$ index and making it available to the industry. We have strived to be transparent throughout the entire process—we made the formula public, assigned HHP$ values to our competitor’s bulls, and just tried to be as open about what we were doing as possible. Around 2020 we rolled HHP$ out to the industry and have continued to work on it ever since.

How does HHP$

compare to other profitability indexes?

All profitability indexes are focused at identifying animals that deliver the most lifetime profitability, so there are a lot of things in common, but I’d say there are three key differences between HHP$ and other industry indexes.

1. Mastitis Resistance: As I already mentioned, HHP$ places importance on mastitis resistance. HHP$ has a 15% relative weighting on mastitis and somatic cell score, while NM$ has 3% and TPI® has 5%. This emphasis helps HHP$ bring bulls that deliver those cows who avoid mastitis, especially in later lactations, to the top of the list.

2. Conformation: HHP$ does continue to include emphasis on udder conformation. We focus on udder depth, rear teat placement, and teat size in that index. Compared to an index like DWP$ that has zero emphasis on conformation

traits, that’s another key differentiator that makes HHP$ special.

3. Feed Efficiency: A final area that gets lots of attention when we discuss HHP$ is our philosophy on body size, body weight composite, and feed efficiency. NM$ and DWP$ aggressively select for smaller body size as a proxy for feed efficiency, and they rely on the Holstein Association bodyweight composite. When you study the bodyweight composite, the biggest traits they use to emphasize the cow’s bodyweight are dairy form and strength. That makes sense—cows that are wider and taller and carry more body condition are most likely to weigh more, but when you aggressively use that in a selection index, you end up rewarding cows that are narrow and skinny. We want to be careful about that, so we do something a little bit different with HHP$. We do have a negative weighting on stature, but we avoid going down the road of directly selecting against strength or aggressively selecting for high dairy form. It’s just stature that we use as our body size limiter in the HHP$ index, and we also directly emphasize the residual feed intake (RFI) PTA values coming from CDCB. This helps us continue to move forward in improving feed efficiency. So, HHP$ has a small negative weight on stature, and then a negative weight on RFI as well, for a total of about -4% relative value in the index. NM$ gives -13% to those traits, and DWP$ gives -11%. The HHP$ index is size neutral, whereas NM$ and DWP$ lead to a reduction in the size of the cows.

Why is the sire department using HHP$ as a determinator for selecting sire fathers?

We need to be developing bulls with an eye on the future. The matings we’re making today will be producing bulls whose daughters will be in the milking string five years from now, and we need to “skate where the puck is going.” Our thought process is that we should be looking to create bulls that fit the next version of NM$ or the next version of the TPI formula. We think the HHP$ helps us do that. Through that thought process, we came to the realization that we need to simplify some of our selection indexes so that we can more directly focus on those key traits that help cows last longer. That includes things like production, fertility, mastitis resistance, lameness resistance, etc. If we can reduce some of the minor emphasis traits—some of the clutter in the indexes—that allows us to reach our goals a little more quickly. That’s what we try to do with HHP$ and as we focus on sire development.

How does HHP$ impact sustainability?

Dairy operations are all different, and there are many ways a farm can be successful in breeding cows. It’s not a matter of right or wrong, but it’s a matter of knowing where you want to go and using the index that most closely delivers what you’re looking for.

A large portion of our customers are dealing with a reduced number of herd replacements. Heifer inventory has been declining for the last five years and it’s safe to predict that it is going to continue going down a little bit further due to economic

incentive for folks to make beef x dairy cross calves. That takes away from interest in creating dairy replacements, so we need our cows to remain productive and healthy for more lactations if we’re going to maintain herd size and production levels.

All of this fits the carbon conversation well. With herds managing their heifer inventories more carefully, there are fewer mouths to feed on the dairy farm. They have the same number of cows, but fewer heifers, which means lower feed bills and lower emissions. As we develop dairy cows that serve multiple purposes—not just making dairy replacements but also making feeder calves—it provides a new revenue stream for dairy operations and allows them to be more environmentally efficient with a lower carbon footprint. I think HHP$, helping cows achieve more lactations, is one of those opportunities to produce a win-win situation for both economic and environmental sustainability.

What’s in the future for HHP$?

As mentioned, we have found HHP$ to be extremely useful in the sire selection side of the mating process. The other key angle of this is the female side. It makes sense to use the same index to sort your cows as you do in selecting your bulls so that everything is moving in the same direction. With this being a newer index that is not yet utilized industry-wide, it is a current challenge to make it readily available on the female side of the population and we have work to do in that area. We’re making progress—we do have custom index tools in our Select Mating Service® (SMS®) program and on our website to help do that, and we’re gaining traction with genomic testing providers to include HHP$ in the genomic tests for our customers’ herds.

To learn more about HHP$, or to search and sort for sires using HHP$ with the advanced dairy sire search, scan this QR code!

PLANNING TODAY FOR TOMORROW’S BEEF x DAIRY CALVES

To say that the beef x dairy feeder calf market is “hot” is an understatement. Prices for day-old calves in the northeast have been anywhere from $700 to $990…for day old calves! Many producers, rightfully so, have tried to capitalize on this current hot market, and move all the blackhided calves that they can.

But will this trend last? Many university and extension specialists that we’ve talked with are scratching their heads trying to figure out how these prices can even work, let alone last. So what’s the future look like for beef x dairy calves? Should you breed your whole herd to beef bulls and capitalize on these prices? Does it really matter what you use as long as you get a black hide?

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

We know a few constants about the beef cattle business and one of the biggest ones to understand is the continuous cycle of the national herd from highs in 1996 to lows in 2023. Right now, we’re seeing the lowest numbers in the beef cattle herd that we’ve seen in 63 years.

What we want to look at specifically in the last 10 years, at least, is that we had a very strong contraction of cattle numbers in 2014, (See chart) which was the first major opportunity for dairy producers to sell calves that would end up on the rail (on the meat processing line). Through some trial-and-error years, we quickly learned that packers and customers wanted a consistent product (in marbling and ribeye size/shape). Straight Holstein animals weren’t getting it done, nor were crossbred calves from just “any old black hided bull.” To be competitive, dairy producers

were forced to specifically choose beef bulls that were highly fertile, and produced calves that were fast growing, feed efficient, predominantly black-hided and excellent in ribeye and marbling traits. These calves needed to hit the ground running, so a detailed calf-care protocol had to be followed, along with proper identification of each calf through red ProfitSOURCE ear tags (or supply chain ear tags, if applicable).

EARLY RESULTS

What have our calf buyers, packer-partners, and research shown? ProfitSOURCE genetics are preferred! When research data was assessed on multiple packer grids, ProfitSOURCE carcasses brought, on average, $190-$210 more per head than the competitor

program cattle fed and harvested together in the trial. These extra dollars were due to the hot carcass weight and improved marbling quality.

We’re also hearing from our industry partners that ProfitSOURCE calves are standing out in the calf ranch pens and feedlots alike.

We’re still awaiting more research and field data to continue painting the big picture, but early indicators are getting us excited for the fact that ProfitSOURCE calves are leading the way!

WHERE WE’RE GOING

As with most lessons we’ve learned in life, we need to prepare today for tomorrow. And the beef x dairy market is no exception. Will today’s prices hold? Can we

leave it to chance and use any random bull to produce our beef x dairy crossbred calves?

At Premier Select Sires, we are continuing to work with supply chain partners to contract calves for a long-term, consistent pricing plan. And who’s not going to look for that when live auction prices “get back to normal?”

Currently we have producers in the southeast who work with our TD Beef Supply Chain, and producers in the north working with our Power Genetics Supply Chain. While TD Beef calves are Angus-based, and go directly to west Texas/New Mexico, the Power Genetics calves are Sim and SimAngus- based calves who start their journey at calf ranches in Ohio. Both programs have worked well for many of our Premier customers, and we’ll continue to look for and develop additional

The ProfitSOURCE program is your source of elite beef-on-dairy genetics selected to meet your fertility and calving ease expectations, while also offering the various profiles of growth and carcass traits desired by beef supply chain partners.

PROFITSOURCE PACKS

supply chains that can cover the majority of our Premier territory.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Does everyone have to sign up with a supply chain provider to use these ProfitSOURCE bulls? Absolutely not. Your Premier team member either has, or can get, a wide variety of ProfitSOURCE bulls for your use, many of which will qualify for supply chain partnerships if that opportunity arises for you.

We are also excited to introduce the new ProfitSOURCE Pack, a group of semen packs that each contain a blend of three sires selected specifically to meet the needs of the dairy, the packer, and the supply chain partner. These sires qualify for the ProfitSOURCE requirements and offer the most elite EPDs and indexes that impact your bottom line.

Forecasts vary regarding when the beef herd will hit expansion, and when it does, we are commonly hearing that a non-program, untraceable beef x dairy calf will be the first to receive a price dock. That means now is the time to plan by using known genetics, from a verified, traceable supplier, to produce calves that will have fans from the calf ranch to the rail! Your Premier team is working hard to continue strengthening our existing supply chain partnership, and also providing even more avenues for you to market beef x dairy calves.

By 2026, 15% of cattle packers’ harvest is expected to be beef x dairy. Don’t you want to position your herd to be in the best possible arena with ProfitSOURCE calves? Contact your Premier Select Sires team member to learn more, or get started with our ProfitSOURCE lineup! It’s never too early to prepare for tomorrow.

PRODUCT TALK

FERAPPEASE® & STRESS

Jeffrey Hostetter Premier Product Manager

“It is not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.” Hans Selye

(BRD). Studies have shown that when FerAppease was applied at weaning, calves were noticeably calmer. Treated animals gained an extra 36 pounds compared to control calves at 45 days after weaning, according to a FerAppease news release.

Dairy calves treated every 14 days from birth in another study had less diarrhea and recovered from BRD more quickly. They ate more starter feed, resulting in putting on 18 more pounds in the week after weaning compared to the control group.

A study of first lactation dairy cows showed better health as well. Applied at Stage 1 parturition, treated cows had fewer instances of retained placentas, mastitis, and metritis

Hans Selye was a famous endocrinologist who was known as the “father of stress research.” He was one of the first to understand how stress affects the body’s ability to fight illness.

All of us are exposed to some level of stress in our daily lives. No matter how well we deal with that stress, it sometimes wears us down. I know that whenever I get a cold, I can almost always look back and point to some form of stress that likely suppressed my immune system: sleep deprivation, extra travel, challenges at home or at work, etc.

As caretakers of dairy and beef cattle and calves, you understand the negative effects that stress can have on your herd. We have developed ways to house and handle our cattle that minimize stress. However, we cannot totally prevent stress that comes from different transitions that our animals go through such as weaning, dehorning, and calving.

That’s where FerAppease is a great solution to reduce the negative impact of stress.

Physiologically, cattle will experience an increase in cortisol (the stress hormone) and adrenaline when they perceive a threat or become fearful due to a new situation. Cortisol is a necessary hormone that helps to regulate inflammation, but in stressful situations cortisol can spike to extremely high levels, leading to negative effects like suppression of the immune system and decreased feed intake.

FerAppease, a maternal bovine appeasing substance, mirrors the pheromone secreted by a cow’s mammary gland when a calf nurses. Calves and cows absorb this pheromone through the vomeronasal gland in the nose. This causes the vomeronasal gland to signal the brain to stay calm and minimize increases in cortisol and adrenalin.

“It basically puts them at peace,” said Rodrigo Bicalho, DVM, CEO and founder of FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals.

It can be used at times in production that are particularly stressful to the animals. For dairy calves, that begins when they’re taken from their mothers at birth. It can also be when calves are dehorned or moved from their individual hutches to larger groups. A treatment, given on the animal’s nose just above the muzzle and on the back of the head, can help reduce stress as they get accustomed to being around other cattle and learn a new feeding system.

Cows can be treated too. For dairy cows, that might be the first time heifers are milked and are experiencing the milking parlor, as they transition from their dryoff period to being milked again, or when they’re separated from their calf.

A dose of FerAppease begins working immediately and fades away slowly over 14 days.

The product has more benefits than calming cattle. A stressed calf will lose weight and be more prone to diseases, especially pneumonia and bovine respiratory disease

The workers were also happy with the decreased incidence of milkers being kicked off. The real payback came with an average increase of 4 pounds of milk production compared to non-treated.

Being a natural hormone, FerAppease doesn’t require a veterinary prescription or feed directive plan. It is an alternative to treating using antibiotics and has the same effects, preventing diseases and promoting growth.

The cost of treatment is $3 per head for adult cattle and $1.50 for calves under 200 pounds.

At end of the day, we’re decreasing fear and stress, and our cattle are paying us back with better health and performance.

Here’s where our customers are seeing results:

Beef Applications:

At birth (improve colostrum antibody absorption in the calf, improve calf acceptance and health of the cow), castration, weaning, branding, vaccination (improve antibody titers), comingling bulls, arrival/shipping, at treatment, feedlot preharvest, halter breaking, showing.

Dairy Applications:

Birth, dehorning, transition to group housing, calving, first milking, dry off.

Select Sires is the exclusive distributor for FerAppease in the A.I. industry. Our sales representatives are well-equipped to answer questions and provide this revolutionary technology to your operation. Contact us today!

2024 FUTURE AG LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Premier Select Sires awarded over $20,000 to students through the 2024 Premier Future Ag Leaders Scholarship Program. Two students received $2,500 scholarships through the Johnny Daniel Memorial Scholarship and the Wayne Dudley Scholarship. Nineteen other students received scholarships of $500 to $1,000 in value. Six students received an Honorable Mention with a $100 cash award and semen gift certificate.

Alex Empet of Kingsley, PA is the son of Richard and Dana Empet. Alex received the Johnny Daniel Memorial Scholarship. Alex is from Empet Farms, a dairy farm with 150 milking cows and a total of 350 head. He is a student at SUNY Cobleskill studying Dairy Production and Management. After college, Alex plans to return to Susquehanna County to continue working on the family farm. He hopes to update the facility and serve as an advocate for animal agriculture in his community.

Paige Peiffer of Lebanon, PA is the daughter of Ammon and Brenda Peiffer. Paige received the Wayne Dudley Scholarship. Paige is

from Boxed-In Acres, a dairy farm that milks 80 Holsteins and raises all of their own replacement heifers and calves. She is a student at Penn State University studying Animal Science (Science Option). After college, Paige plans to work in the artificial insemination industry. She also wishes to stay active on her family’s dairy farm.

Lemuel Coltrane of Pleasant Garden, NC is the son of Amy and David Coltrane. Lemuel is from Coltrane Dairy LLC, a dairy farm with 550 milking cows and a total of 1,300 head from heifers to dry cows. He is a student at NC State University studying Agriculture Science. After college, Lemuel plans to return to the family farm. He is excited to bring the skills and knowledge he has gained through his education back to the farm.

Sarah Diehl of McVeytown, PA is the daughter of Joe and Kristin Diehl. Sarah is from Musser Run Jerseys, a 240-cow registered Jersey farm. She is a student at Virginia Tech University studying Dairy Science – Pre-Vet Track. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, Sarah hopes to attend veterinary school to become a licensed food animal veterinarian. She wishes to treat animals and help farmers discover new ways to improve their overall herd health and profitability.

Julia Heijkoop of Mayo, FL is the daughter of Johan and Trisha Heijkoop. Julia is from Milk A Way and K&H Dairy, where they have 2,000 dairy cows. She is a student at the University of Florida studying Agriculture Operations Management with minors in Management and Sales in Agribusiness, and Agriculture and National Resource Ethics and Policy. After college, Julia aspires to serve as an agricultural lobbyist and to work in agricultural marketing.

Darcy Heltzel of Martinsburg, PA is the daughter of Andrew and Jennifer Heltzel. Darcy is from Piney-Mar Farm, a dairy farm with 150 milking/dry cows and 120 heifers. She is a student at Iowa State University studying Food Science with a minor in Animal Science. After college, Darcy hopes to become a food scientist. Through this role, she will advocate for dairy foods, help farmers by creating new avenues for their milk, and have a complete understanding of food processing from cow to consumer.

Bethany Knutsen of Harrington, DE is the daughter of Stephanie and Gregg Knutsen. Bethany is from G&S Dairy, a dairy farm with 60 milking cows and 120 total head. She is a student at the University of Delaware studying Plant Science. After college, Bethany plans to become a certified agronomist and someday

own an independent agronomy business. She wants to help farmers do what is best for their land so they can be profitable and sustainable, achieving higher production with fewer resources.

Katheryn Longenecker of Williamsburg, PA is the daughter of Doug and Yvette Longenecker. Katheryn is from Penn England Farms, LLC, a dairy farm with 2,100 milking cows and 4,000 total head. She is a student at Penn State University studying BioRenewable Systems – ASM Option. After college, Katheryn plans to become an agricultural engineer or acquire a job in product validation or field testing equipment under an agriculture equipment company. With precision agriculture gaining popularity and importance in the industry, she desires to play a part in the impact technology will make in the future.

Victoria Longenecker of Williamsburg, PA is the daughter of Doug and Yvette Longenecker. Victoria is from Penn England Farms, LLC, a dairy farm with 2,100 milking cows and 4,000 total head. She is a student at Penn State University studying Biological Engineering. After college, Victoria plans to work for the Natural Resources Conservation Service as an Agricultural and Environmental Engineer. She looks forward to helping take pressure off of farms in meeting regulations, while helping the agriculture industry have a positive impact on the environment.

Constance Maxwell of Shady Dale, GA is the daughter of Cuyler and Christy Johnson. Constance is from Godfrey Dairy Farm, a Holstein farm milking 1,000 cows. She is a student at Illinois College studying Agriculture Business. After college, Constance hopes to join the workforce in the agriculture industry. She wants to become a bridge between dairy producers, consumers, and agricultural companies, fostering positive communication and understanding.

Lydia Brown of Mill Creek, PA is the daughter of Scott and Emily Brown. Lydia is from Valley Meadow Farm, an Angus operation with 40 head of cattle. She is a student at Penn State University studying Animal Science. After college, Lydia hopes to attend veterinary school and pursue a career in animal medicine. She also plans to continue raising beef cattle on her family’s farm.

Joseph Coltrane of Pleasant Garden, NC is the son of David and Amy Coltrane. Joseph is from Coltrane Dairy LLC, a dairy farm with 550 milking cows and a total of 1,300 head from heifers to dry cows. He is a student at NC State University studying Agricultural Science. After college, Joseph plans to return to the family farm. He hopes to use his education to learn new techniques and technologies, broaden his knowledge of agriculture, and build relationships with people in the agricultural field so he can help the farm produce quality products, ensure animal comfort and care, and run an efficient, healthy dairy farm.

Katelyn Heckman of Kutztown, PA is the daughter of Tracie and Chris Heckman. Katelyn is from TBM Farm, a Holstein operation with 170 milking cows and 300 total head. In college, she plans to study Animal Science / Pre-Vet Medicine. After college, Katelyn plans to attend vet school and become a large animal veterinarian. She also wishes to study embryology and breeding and learn to help others maximize herd potential on dairy farms. She plans to continue helping on her family’s farm as well.

Salem Sifford of Goldvein, VA is the daughter of Stephen and Rosemary Sifford. Salem is from Roseview Cattle Farm and PlessedRose Dairy, where she and her family own 50 head of dairy and beef cattle. She is a student at Virginia Tech University studying Dairy Science. After college, Salem hopes to find a career working in livestock extension so she can work hands-on with producers, be involved in advocating for agriculture, and work with future generations of agriculturists. She also plans to continue to operate her own herd of beef and dairy cattle.

Jordan Anderson of Centre Hall, PA is the daughter of Donald and Angela Anderson. Jordan is from Locust Rock Farm / Cabaret Cattle Company where she and her family raise Holsteins and Jerseys. She is a student at University of Wyoming studying Agriculture Communications. After college, Jordan hopes to pursue a career in agriculture communications and work in a capacity that allows her to be an advocate for the dairy industry. Whether this is in the marketing department of a company or working in education for a nonprofit, her hope is to bridge the gap between producers and consumers.

Rachel Craun of Mt. Crawford, VA is the daughter of Kevin and Patti Craun. Rachel is from Van Ike Farm, where she owns about 20 head of Holsteins of her own. She is a student at Purdue University studying Agricultural and Biological Engineering. After college, Rachel plans to pursue a career in agricultural engineering. She hopes to work for a private engineering firm focusing on agrelated projects, or for the Natural Resource Conservation Service. She has interest in new technologies and how they can be used to be proactive in staying ahead of environmental regulations that impact agriculture.

J. Isaac Folts of North Collins, NY is the son of Josh and Virginia Folts. Isaac is from Folts Farms LLC, where they milk 120 cows with two Lely robots. They also have a show barn housing 45 show animals. He will attend Cornell University to study Animal Science. After college, Isaac plans to take over the family business. He hopes to use the lessons learned from his education to adapt the farm and maximize potential.

Karl Graulich of Cobleskill, NY is the son of David and Suzanne Graulich. Karl is from Argus Acres LLC, where they milk 500

registered Holsteins. He is a student at Iowa State University studying Agronomy. After college, Karl plans to return to his family’s farm and help expand it alongside his older brother and father. His role will be that of crop manager.

Ainsley Sellers of Lebanon, PA is the daughter of Kraig and Meranda Sellers. Ainsley is from Gem-Rock Holsteins, where they milk 60 cows. She will attend Penn State University to study Animal Science. After college, Ainsley aspires to be a dairy robotics technician that installs and maintains robots on dairy farms. She enjoys working with both farmers and animals, and she feels this career will help her enhance the lives of both.

Timothy VanLieshout of Verona, NY is the son of Stephen and Cynthia VanLieshout. Timothy’s family operates a dairy farm milking 1,100 Holsteins, with 2,200 total head. He is a student at SUNY Morrisville studying Animal Science – Dairy. After college, Timothy plans to return to the family farm. He hopes to then earn a management/owner’s position.

Natalie Yoder of Belleville, PA is the daughter of Michael and Maria Yoder. Natalie is from Dryhouse Farm, a Registered Holstein farm with 200 milking cows and 450 total head. She is a student at Penn State University studying Agribusiness Management with a minor in International Agriculture. After college, Natalie plans to enter the agriculture field in the area of sales, marketing, or management. She is interested in jobs that promote agriculture to the consumer as well as positions that provide support to the agriculture community.

Honorable Mentions for the scholarship program include:

• Nicole Arrowsmith, Peach Bottom, PA

• Macy Chapman, Taylorsville, NC

• Alleigh Johnson, Statesville, NC

• Zachary Johnson, Tunbridge, VT

• Luke Larson, Okeechobee, FL

• Amber MacNeil, Hoosick Falls, NY

The Premier Future Ag Leaders Scholarship Program provides financial support to eligible students pursuing agricultural education, and it also provides additional return to the cooperative’s member-owners by supporting the next generation of young people desiring to study and work in the agriculture industry. The Premier Select Sires board of directors has made a commitment to providing money to support this scholarship program on an ongoing annual basis.

IT’S BACK! Select Sires has rolled out the 2024 Select Series, and this year’s topics will not disappoint. Hear from Select Sires experts on all things BEEF, right in the comfort of your own home.

To view the videos in this series, simply visit selectsiresbeef.com/the-select-series, or scan the QR code. Happy watching!

THIS YEAR’S TOPICS INCLUDE:

• Angus Superstars

• Angus Carcass Kings

• New Simmental Sires

• New Red Angus Sires

• The Kings of Calving Ease (part 1)

• What’s New to the Angus Lineup

• The Kings of Calving Ease (part 2)

• Hereford Lineup WATCH NOW!

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