All-Jersey Inc. Our association thanks each of you for your continued support and partnership through the
Simply stated, The Jersey is the most
profitable and sought-after cow in the dairy industry. Her owners and breeders are the most wonderful people to work with year-round. Wishing each of you the best in the coming year.
Missouri Junior Wins
with Jerseys
To improve and promote the Jersey breed of cattle, and to increase the value of and demand for Jersey milk and for Jersey cattle.
Company and Department Heads
Executive Secretary: Neal Smith, 614/322-4455
Treasurer: Vickie White, 614/322-4452
Director of Field Services: Kristin A. Paul, 209/402-5679
Director of Communications: Kimberly A. Billman, 614/322-4451
Information Technology: Philip Cleary, 614/322-4474
Jersey Marketing Service: Greg Lavan, 614/216-8838
Herd Services: Lori King, 614/322-4457
Research & Genetic Program Consultant: John Metzger, jmetzger@usjersey.com
AJCA-NAJ Area Representatives
Director of Field Services: Kristin A. Paul, 209/4025679; 614/322-4495 (fax); kpaul@usjersey.com. Illinois and Wisconsin.
Seth Israelsen, 614/216-9727; sisraelsen@usjersey. com. Advance Services Consultant; Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, western Texas and northern California.
Greg Lavan, 614/216-8838; glavan@usjersey.com. Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Benny Rector, 614/313-5818; brector@usjersey.com. Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
Jason Robinson, 614/216-5862; jrobinson@usjersey. com. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, east Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Willow Voegtlen, 614/266-2419; wvoegtlen@usjersey. com. Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
For assistance in Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon eastern Pennsylvania, Rhode Island Vermont and Washington, contact Kristin Paul
Type Traits Appraisal Team
Senior Appraiser: Ron Mosser, 614/264-0142, rmosser@ usjersey.com
Kelly Epperly, 614/530-6918; kepperly@usjersey.com
Mark Fisher, 209/765-7187; mfisher@usjersey.com Lee Harris, 614/284-1478; lharris@usjersey.com Dyon Helmuth, 614/264-0140; dhelmuth@usjersey.com
Joe Vanderfeltz, 898 SR 706, Lawton, PA 18828; Phone 570/934-2406; jvanfel2@gmail.com. Third District. 2027.
National All-Jersey Inc. Board of Directors
Officers
President: John Kokoski, 57 Comins Rd., Hadley, MA 01035. Phone 413/531-2116; jkokoski@maplelinefarm. com.
Vice President: Jason Cast, 4011 A Street Rd., Beaver Crossing, NE 68313-9417. Phone 402/641-2255; jjcjerseys@gmail.com.
Directors
Sam Bok, 11310 Krouse Rd., Defiance, OH 43512. Phone 419/782-0012; jawscows@defnet.com. District 7. 2025
Jason Cast, see officers. District 1. 2027. Alan Chittenden, ex officio, see AJCA officers. Garry Hansen, ex officio, see AJCA. Rogelio “Roger” Herrera, 7114 Youngstown Rd., Hilmar, CA 95324. Phone 209/485-0003; rogeliohs@yahoo.com.
District 2. 2025. Cornell Kasbergen, ex officio, see AJCA. John Kokoski, see officers. District 3. 2025. John Marcoot, 526 Dudleyville Rd. Greenville, IL. 62246. Phone 618/322-7239; johnemarcoot@gmail. com. District 4. 2026.
Tom Seals, 37840 Upper Nestucca River Rd., Beaver, OR 97108. Phone 541/520-0298; jennie.seals@gmail. com. District 6. 2027. Bradley Taylor, 106 County Road 5300, Booneville, MS 38829-9131. Phone 662/720-3598; taylorjerseyfarm@ gmail.com. District 5. 2028.
Official Publication of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc.
6486 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068–2362
614.861.3636 phone 614.861.8040 fax
Email jerseyjournal@usjersey.com
Website: www.USJerseyJournal.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/USJerseyJournal
Editor: Kimberly A. Billman
Managing Editor: Tracie Hoying
Feature Writer: Michele Ackerman
Communications Specialist: Lindsay L’Amoreaux
Digital Media: Jolena Gioiello
Contributing Writer: Kaila Tauchen
Subscriber Services
To subscribe, log on to http://jerseyjournal. usjersey.com/Subscriptions.aspx and click on the “Subscriptions” link and enter your mailing and credit card information on the secure website. When completed, click “Submit” to process your subscription.
If you have questions, please call the Jersey Journal at 614/861-3636, or send email to jerseyjournal@usjersey.com.
Jersey Journal Subscription Rates Effective July 1, 2023 (10 online issues; January and September printed) Domestic International 1 year $45 1 year.............$60 3 years $125 3 years $170 5 years ....... $210 5 years .........$285
All subscribers to the online Jersey Journal (effective February 1, 2022) will receive a downloadable PDF version of the magazine to the email on file. They will also receive a link to the publication published online.
To make changes to your subscription, call the American Jersey Cattle Association at 614/861-3636. Or email jerseyjournal@usjersey. com. Please email or call with an updated email address if your address changes. Subscribers will receive periodical emails throughout the month. Have your customer number ready for a staff member.
If you do not receive an email with the pdf or link to the published magazine, call 614/8613636 or email jerseyjournal@usjersey.com. We will verify your information and correct what is needed.
How You Will Receive Your Jersey Journal?
First week of each month, you will receive an email that includes:
• link to flip version of the Jersey Journal
• downloadable PDF of the magazine
• links to advertising
• links to updated stories on the website
• access to the archive editions of Jersey Journal back to 2009
Make sure we have your email on file and then sit back and let us deliver the news to you!
Email: JerseyJournal@USJersey.com
Web: www.USJerseyJournal.com
This index is provided as an additional service. The Jersey Journal assumes no liability for errors or omissions. The Jersey Journal does not guarantee quality, delivery time, or availability of items ordered from commercial advertisers.
The American Jersey Cattle Association promotes the use of authentic and unaltered photographic images of Jersey animals, and disapproves of the use of any photographic images that alter the body of the Jersey animal. The American Jersey Cattle Association therefore requests that all photographic images of Jersey animals submitted for publication in the Jersey Journal contain no alterations to the body of the animal.
Despite its best efforts to ensure that only unaltered photographs of Jersey animals are used in this publication, the American Jersey Cattle Association cannot guarantee that every photographic image of a Jersey animal is authentic and unaltered.
Every effort is made to keep the calendar listings as accurate as possible. However, dates are sometimes changed or events cancelled without notice. When your association schedules an event, notify the Journal staff at least 60 days in advance by sending email to JerseyJournal@usjersey.com or phoning 614/861-3636.
Type Appraisal Schedule
POLICY: Areas will be appraised in the order listed. If you wish to appraise and do not receive an application 30 days prior to the appraisal, please request one from Appraisal Office Coordinator Lori King by telephone, 614/322-4457, or email lking@usjersey. com. Apply online at http://www.usjersey.com/forms/ appraisalapp.com. Applications can also be printed from the USJersey website at http://www.usjersey. com/forms/ttaapplication.pdf.
DECEMBER—Michigan and Ohio; New York.
JANUARY— A labama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Georgia; Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Delaware; North Carolina and South Carolina; Kentucky and Tennessee; and Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
FEBRUARY—Wisconsin.
MARCH—Arkansas and Missouri; Indiana and Illinois; Minnesota; and Washington and Oregon.
APRIL—California and Nevada.
MAY— Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska; Southern California, Arizona, Idaho and Utah; Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Western Colorado; and New Mexico and Texas.
Deadlines
DEC. 31—National Jersey Jug Futurity payments due for 2027 entries.
JAN. 1—Genomic samples must be to lab prior to this date for the February evaluation release.
JAN. 15—Nominations are due in the AJCA-NAJ office for Young Jersey Breeders, Master Breeder, Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service awards.
MAR. 1— National Jersey Youth Achievement contest applications are due.
MAR. 1—National Jersey Youth Production Contest entries due. Forms available from the USJersey website.
MAR. 1— Living Lifetime Production contest applications are due. Cows alive as of December 31, 2024, are eligible. Minimum DHIR production levels for nominating are 225,000 lbs. milk, 10,000 lbs fat, and 8,000 lbs. protein.
APR. 1—Ownership and transfer date for junior eligibility in spring national shows (California Spring Show and Northeast All-Breeds Jersey Show)
APR. 1—Genomic samples must be to lab prior to this date for the May evaluation release.
Registration Fees Effective October 1, 2024
Generation Count Entries: Generation Count 1 - $12.00 Generation Count 2, 3 - $20 Identified, UR - $5 Dead Animals May Be Registered For A Fee of $10.00 Duplicate or Corrected Certificates Will Be Issued For A Fee of $10.00 Rush Service Fee (per piece) $20 — Email or Fax delivery (per piece) $10
Transfer
Fees Effective July 1, 2014
Standard processing fee is $14.00 when transfer is received within 60 days of the date of sale of the animal to the new owner, and $17.00 when received after 60 days.
$2.00 discounts from the standard fee will be applied to individual animal transfers processed via infoJersey.com and to group transfers submitted in batch electronic files: Excel spreadsheet, report downloaded from herd management software, or a field-delimited text file. Additional discounts may apply for herds enrolled in REAP, and for intraherd and intra-farm transfers. Refer to “Fees for Programs and Services” (www.usjersey.com/fees.pdf) and call Herd Services for more information.
The Association’s Bylaws require the seller to pay the transfer fee. Save by becoming a lifetime member of the American Jersey Cattle Association.
APR. 24—Deadline for AJCA director petitions to be in the AJCA office.
APR. 28—Deadline for NAJ director petitions to be in the AJCA office.
MAY 1—Genomic samples must be to lab prior to this date for the June evaluation release.
JUNE 1—Genomic samples must be to lab prior to this date for the July evaluation release.
JULY 1—Applications for National Jersey Youth Scholarships due.
JULY 1—Genomic samples must be to lab prior to this date for the August evaluation release.
AUG. 1—Ownership and transfer date for junior eligibility for fall shows (All American, World Dairy Expo, Western National Jersey Show, and Harrisburg)
Sales
MAR. 15—KILGUS ELITE SALE, Kilgus Dairy, Fairbury, Ill.; Kilgus Dairy and HammerTime Auctioneering, sale mgrs.
MAR. 16—MASSACHUSETTS BLUE RIBBON ALL-BREEDS CALF SALE , Eastern States Exposition, W. Springfield, Mass.; 11:00 a.m. (EDT).
MAR. 22 KCCK GENETICS SPRINGTIME SHOWCASE II, Hosted by KCCK Genetics, Dyersville, Iowa.
MAY 3 BEST OF TRIPLE-T & FRIENDS SALE, Circleville, Ohio; Triple-T Holsteins and Jerseys, sale mgr.
MAY 10—POST TIME AT RATLIFF’S SALE, at the farm, Garnett, Kan.; 11:00 a.m. (CDT); Ron and Christy Ratliff, sale mgrs.; Chris Hill, Thurmont, Md., auctioneer.
JUNE 12-14—FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND TAG SALE , Hosted by Interstate Heifer Care, Clear Spring, Md.; South Mountain Jerseys & Interstate Heifer Care, sale mgr. packardterri@gmail.com.
JUNE 28 TRIPLE CROWNS AT KEIGHTLEY & CORE SALE, at the farm, Salvisa, Ky.
Meetings and Expositions
JAN. 11—OREGON JERSEY ANNUAL MEETING, Spirit Mountain Lodge, Grand Ronde, Ore.; 12:00 noon (PST).
FEB. 15—NORTH CAROLINA JERSEY BREEDERS MEETING, Agriculture Center, Statesville, N.C.; 10:00 a.m. (EST).
FEB. 11-13—WORLD AG EXPO, Tulare, Calif.
MAR. 1—WISCONSIN JERSEY BREEDERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING, Deer Valley Resort, Barneveld, Wis.
MAR. 8—MINNESOTA JERSEY BREEDERS MEETING, Best Western Plus, Wilmar, Minn.; 1:00 p.m. (CDT).
MAR. 25-27—CENTRAL PLAINS DAIRY EXPO, Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, S.D. (continued to
fjordworks@yahoo.com
jsamuelson56@yahoo.com
whollycowbella@hotmail.com
dreamroadjersey@yahoo.com
bgc33@cornell.edu
timlawton581@gmail.com
denkeljerseys@aol.com
heavenscentjerseys@gmail.com
kevetta.farms@gmail.com silverspf@aol.com
Alan Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y., has officially been nominated for President of the American Jersey Cattle Association.
Austin and Araya Woods, Tillamook, Ore., gave birth to twin boys, Stetson Knox and Spencer Layne, on December 1, 2024. Making their appearance a little early, Stetson weighed 3 lbs. 8 oz. and was 16.1 inches long. Spencer weighed 4 lbs. 1 oz and was 16.9 inches long. Paternal grandparents are Wayne and Lori Woods, Woodstock Dairy, Sudan, Texas. Maternal grandparents are Chris and Jamie Wilks, Tillamook, Ore.
Austin attended Jersey Youth Academy in 2015 and received the Fred Stout Experience award in 2016, working as an intern with Jersey Marketing Service. He is a licensed contractor working for the construction company owned by his father-in-law, which specializes in pole barns.
USDA to Begin Testing Raw Milk for Bird Flu
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the start of its National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS), which includes testing raw milk for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) beginning the week of December 16, 2024.
The new federal order includes three new requirements. First, raw milk samples must be shared, upon request, from any entity responsible for a dairy farm, bulk tank transporter, bulk milk transfer station or dairy processing facility that sends or holds milk intended for pasteurization. Second, herd owners with cattle that test positive must provide epidemiological information that enables activities such as contact tracing and disease surveillance. Finally, private laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive results from raw milk to USDA that come from tests done on raw milk as part of the program.
A Hearty Welcome To These New AJCA Members
Samantha Bauer, Spencer, Wis.
Emory Bewley, Susquehanna, Pa.
Cyress Chance, Maxwell, N.M.
Kent Dickson, Salem, Mo.
Ryan Ellsworth, Gillett, Pa.
Sheila Everett, Frazeysburg, Ohio
Peyton Fernandes, Tipton, Calif.
Julie Frey, Meeker, Okla.
Brady Giese, Whitehall, Wis.
Kristen Golombeski, Sheridan, Wyo.
Erika Kubas, Belfield, N.D.
Jonathan Lemos, Bellefontaine, Ohio
Dwight Martin, East Earl, Pa.
Travis Melton, Saddlebrooke, Mo.
Justin Nelson, Mountain Grove, Mo.
Paul Opfar, Mapleton, Utah
Zina M. Rambo, Clayton, N.C.
Nigel Riddell, Otorohanga, Waikato, New Zealand
Bobby Rosa, Hilmar, Calif.
Ben Simpson, Salem, Ohio
Alma Walker, Corinne, Utah
Kimberly Webb, Marianna, Ariz.
Katherine Wesler, Christmas Valley, Ore.
Linda Wright, Johnson Creek, Wis.
APHIS will work with each state to execute testing in a way that works for the state and aligns with NMTS standards. The state will be placed in one of five stages based on the prevalence of the virus. Six states will be included in the first round of states brought into the program: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
To keep abreast of HPAI testing visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestockpoultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/ hpai-livestock/testing.
Cheese Imposter Steals 22 Tonnes of Cheddar
According to The London Standard, more than 22 tonnes (about 24 U.S. tons) of Cheddar cheese worth about £300,000 ($382,000) was stolen from a well-known artisanal cheese retailer and wholesaler by a fraudster posing as a French distributor.
The scam began in July when the imposter emailed Neal’s Yard Dairy expressing interest in 950 uncut wheels of Cheddar. Over several months of correspondence by the imposter, who showed a good grasp of the industry,
a contract and payments were drawn up and half the order was picked up from the warehouse by a hauler in late September. When the dairy arranged for the second half of the delivery, and was not paid despite repeated communication, the scam became clear.
Scotland Yard is investigating. Neal’s Yard Dairy, which has been championing British and Irish cheese for more than 45 years, is urging cheesemongers around the world to contact them if they suspect they have been sold stolen cheese, particularly clothbound Cheddar in 10-kilogram or 24-kilogram formats with tags removed.
Gifts Made to Support Research and Youth Funds
Gifts in support of Jerseyspecific research and Jersey youth development funds have been received through December 9, 2024.
A donation made to the AJCC Research Foundation in memory of Larry Kempton was received from Daniel Dapra, Columbus, Ohio. Contributions were made to the AJCA Educational, Youth Activities and Special Awards fund from Aaron Horst, Chambersburg, Pa., and John Shelson Jr., Nassau, N.Y.
Donations made to Jersey Youth Academy in memory of Ed Cooper were received from Candace Baggett, Georgetown, Ind., Helen Jalone, Rockwell, N.C., and Peter and Moira Poitras, Brimfield, Mass. Also contributing to the fund was Kevin Knapp, Larchwood, Iowa.
Dr. Joe and Beverly Lineweaver, Blacksburg, Va., contributed to the Lineweaver Scholarship fund. Contributions to educational and research funds managed by the American Jersey Cattle Association are exempt from Federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information on contributing to these or other permanent funds, contact the Communications Department at 614/322-4451.
Identification Leads to Breed Improvement
In June at the 2024 American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) annual meeting, President Alan Chittenden stated, “Many of our current discussions revolve around data collection use. This evolving industry is very data-driven, and that’s going to lead to more changes. To that, I say if you don’t make change, you don’t make progress. We still have the cow, the product, and the people to address the challenges that will come our way in the next year.”
Why is this important to your Jersey herd? Animal identification is essential if the breed is to continue making progress. Continued breed improvement is dependent upon accurate knowledge of each animal’s ancestry. This knowledge is the basis for making intelligent matings that will improve the profit potential of your herd. Registration provides this information in an accurate and permanent form.
Why register, one might ask. The answer is different for every herd owner. Some might be aiming for success and financial return from breeding one of the breed leaders in genomics, type, or production. Others might choose to register to preserve their family’s legacy of Registered Jerseys. How can you breed an 18-generation Excellent cow if you don’t have the ancestry behind her to document that special achievement?
But the number one reason most of our customers register their herds is because they take pride in the ownership. Breeders who take advantage of registering typically present themselves as strong managers, and their herd shows where attention was paid to the details. Their interest in building pedigrees creates excitement for what they are doing. All of that helps ensure a promising future for the next generation and increased profit-potential for the dairy. These breeders enjoy making cows that are better than the previous generation. When a herd owner loses interest, everyone around them will too.
The AJCA is in the animal identification business. It provides services that compliment official identification. The AJCA provides services to make the process of registering your herd convenient, economical and efficient. The organization provides the following methods to help register your animals:
1. Online at https://infojersey.usjersey.com/main.aspx and using the online registration services; 2. Time-saver applications. These are available quarterly
from the association with information provided by your Dairy Records Processing Center (DRPC). It can be mailed to you or located online through infoJersey.
3. Automatic registrations. The application provides enough information from your DRPC for the USJersey office staff to process your registrations for you.
4. The conventional single or multiple registration application is still available to be filled out and sent to the office. It can be downloaded here: https://www.usjersey. com/Portals/0/AJCA/2_Docs/Animal-Applications/ Registration-application.pdf and then faxed or emailed as an attachment or picture to herdservices@usjersey.com for processing.
Are you behind on your registrations and don’t want the extra expense of registration catch-up? Consider REAP. During the first year of enrollment, all animals over six months of age are registered at reduced rates if submitted electronically.
Or if you are a large herd interested in beginning to identify your herd and share type and production data with the association to help with breed improvement, take a look at FLAIR, the latest program in USJersey management tools. With FLAIR’s innovative structure, you can register and appraise your first lactation Jerseys and earn registration credits for their offspring to begin officially identifying your herd.
Since 1868 the Jersey organization has been compiling a powerful database of pedigree information. Pedigrees today are very similar to those from 1868, each being a simple record of a Jersey animal marked with unique ID, stating its sex and when it was born, connected to its ancestors and ready for the future addition of its progeny.
The rest of the association’s mission “to improve and promote the Jersey breed of cattle in the United States” involves capturing data about milk yield, components, type, and fitness traits upon the framework of pedigree. The information-rich pedigree has made it possible to track and control recessives and better identify predictions of genetic merit.
USJersey office staff and area representatives are available to assist you with any questions you have.
Please contact any member of our team for us to show you the many ways to add profit to your herd.
emmaraemessmer@gmail.com
springvalleyjerz@hotmail.com
sunbow@wk.net
cmills1324@gmail.com
spatzcattleco@gmail.com
taylorjerseyfarm@gmail.com
JERSEY YOUTH
Missouri Junior Wins FFA Award with Jerseys
Missouri junior Cade Claycomb has shown that with a clear destination, a road map, and a little help from friends, it is possible to achieve goals and earn some accolades along the way. The college junior from Spickard developed a herd of Registered Jerseys for his supervised agricultural experiences (SAE) project in FFA and was recently named the national winner of the organization’s dairy production entrepreneurship proficiency award.
For his SAE, Cade focused on growing the purebred genes in the family’s herd of crossbred dairy cattle. He accomplished this by purchasing nine Registered Jerseys from one of the Post Time sales hosted by Ron and Christy Ratliff, in vitro fertilizing five of them, and implanting embryos in the crossbreds.
Today, his Registered Jersey herd of 32 cows and 10 heifers is managed on the family farm with the crossbred dairy cows and a small herd of black Angus beef cattle. Cattle are rotational and strip-grazed on sorghum-sudangrass and mixed grass pastures and fed baled alfalfa hay. Milk is sold to Dairy Farmers of America and processed at Hiland Dairy Foods in Kansas City, Mo.
Cade Claycomb, center, and his team celebrate his national FFA dairy production entrepreneurship proficiency award at the national convention in Indianapolis, Ind., in October. With him are his advisors, Kabel Oaks, left, and Sadie Stimpson, right, and his parents, Clint and Shari Claycomb, flanking him.
The FFA Project
Farming is a tradition in Cade’s family, one that dates to 1864, seven generations before Cade. Milking cows is a far newer enterprise and milking Registered Jerseys is even newer. Cade’s parents, Clint and Shari, established the dairy farm in north-central Missouri in 2008 with the purchase of several crossbred springing heifers. By 2020, the Claycombs were seasonal milkers, freshening most of the
cows in the fall and drying them off in early summer.
“I wanted something a little different for my FFA project, something I could show,” noted Cade. “I was looking for a smaller-framed animal that was less aggressive and easier to work with and one that was profitable from a production standpoint but could be shown as well.”
Cade chose Jerseys. So, in June 2020, the summer before his freshman year at Trenton High School, he traveled to Garnett, Kan., for the Ratliff sale to make the investment that would kick off his SAE project. He was the successful bidder on nine heifers, all backed by show-winning cow families that included the likes of National Grand Champions Huronia Centurion Veronica 20J, Ratliff Price Alicia, and W.F. Justin Lanita.
T he donor heifers were flushed at the Trans Ova Genetics facility in Chillicothe, Mo., about 45 miles south of the farm. From the efforts, Cade has registered eight females. Among the standouts that have multiple daughters in the herd are two sets of paternal sisters: Do-N-Joy Casino Gracie, Very Good-84%, and Wildweed Casino Chianti, Very Good-88%; and Ratliff Boo
(continued to page 20)
and a better fit for the family’s pasture-based system in Missouri.
Claycomb FFA Award
(continued from page 19)
Alacazam, Very Good-86%, and Ratliff Boo Pepper, Very Good-85%.
Cade has achieved his other goal –showing – as an exhibitor and several county fairs and the Missouri State Fair.
Overcoming Challenges
Starting a new venture always comes with challenges, particularly in raising livestock. For Cade, this was exacerbated by a lack of resources.
“ We are dairy farming in beef cattle and row crop country,” remarked Cade. “There are just two other dairy farms in our county and few others in the counties that surround us. Finding supplies, support, and someone who can repair dairy equipment is a struggle. It is rough when the equipment breaks during milking and the person who fixes it is two hours away.”
Cade also needed to learn how to manage Jerseys as opposed to crossbreds. Early on, he lost one of his best cows to complications from calving and milk fever.
“ That was emotionally difficult, but I dealt with it, got back up, and moved forward,” Cade remarked.
“We have learned to be more proactive and pay close attention to animals that are about to calve. We give them their distance to reduce stress but are ready to
jump in because things can head south quickly.”
Engaging with others in the industry has opened the doors to valuable r esources. In a snowball effect, one connection leads to another and this connection leads to yet another. The Claycombs have established a relationship with a supplier from Memphis, Mo., that has a route in their area, so they are now covered for supplies and repairs and feel much more confident in their ability to operate the dairy farm. Another resource Cade found especially impactful was the American Jersey Cattle Association and its innovative program, Jersey Youth Academy.
“I attended youth academy last summer and got a better view of what the association offers,” Cade noted. “I learned about genomics and got a deeper understanding of pedigrees.”
G enotyping was the first practice Cade implemented when he came home. Today, every Jersey female is genotyped as a baby calf. Cade also used what he learned about pedigrees and genetic evaluations to better evaluate bulls and choose sires for their mating program.
“ We focus primarily on milk and fat yield along with Jersey Udder Index,” remarked Cade. “Dad also likes to look at Daughter Pregnancy Rate and I like to look at Jersey Performance Index.”
The Claycombs have embraced every chance to expand their understanding of the registered cattle business and get the most from their investment. This included having conversations with their area representative and AJCA staff members, who introduced Cade to Jersey Youth Academy and junior membership.
“ The Jersey association has lots of resources,” said Cade. “We are still learning how to use everything because this is all new to us.”
The Road to Indianapolis
When he set out on his SAE journey as a member of the Trenton FFA Chapter, Cade did not aim for prizes and awards. His goal was to use contemporary technology to grow a profitable purebred herd for a pasture-based setup as quickly as possible. But as he neared the finish line, his advisors, Sadie Stimpson and Kabel Oaks, showed him the possibili-
ties of going far beyond Trenton.
“ When I saw everything coming together my junior year, it became very exciting,” Cade remarked.
But the young entrepreneur is quick to admit that none of it would have happened without his advisors, who pointed him in the right direction and helped him with the application process, and his parents, who made sure the work at home got done while he was in school.
Mrs. Stimpson and Mr. Oaks did the digging, found the opportunities, and said, “Let’s try this,” noted Cade.
At the chapter level, Cade was star greenhand his freshman year, star farmer his senior year, and served as secretary and vice president. He was a member of teams that competed at the state level in career development events for dairy cattle evaluation and management, agricultural sales, and forestry, among others.
In April, Cade was recognized as the Missouri State Star Farmer, an award given to the FFA member with the best production agriculture SAE in the state. He is on track to earn his American FFA Degree in 2025.
Cade’s route to the national agricultural proficiency award started with wins for his SAE dairy entrepreneurship project at the area and state levels. He was then eligible to compete in the national contest against winners from 30 different states. Cade and three others were announced as national finalists in August and interviewed virtually in September. They traveled to the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Ind., in late October, where Cade was announced on stage as the winner.
“I was so honored to have been selected as a national finalist that I could have left it there,” remarked Cade. “But winning the national award was a nice way to end that chapter of my life and sum up my work.”
Cade is now a junior at Oklahoma State University majoring in agricultural communications. He plans to earn a master’s degree in the same field, but his school of choice is undecided. In the long term, he would like to return to the home farm to diversify the operation. As the winner of the entrepreneurship award, he is well-equipped to do so.
Being able to show was among the reasons Cade Claycomb developed and expanded the purebred portion of his dairy herd. He chose Jerseys because they were easier to handle
albrightjerseys@gmail.com
cgrazeland@sssnet.com
coldrunjerseys@frontier.com
phjfarm@dslextreme.com
jaws@defnet.com
grass4jerseys@yahoo.com
laspahr@bright.net
wounkefer@yahoo.com
Summary of November AJCA, NAJ Board Meetings
The fall meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ). Boards of Directors were held November 6 and 7, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn-Airport, Louisville, Ky. Actions are summarized below.
F inances. Financial statements for the AJCA and National AllJersey Inc. and Subsidiary, All-Jersey Sales Corporation (Jersey Marketing Service) were reviewed. Through nine months, the AJCA reported revenues of $2,397,868 and expenditures of $2,373,981 before the All American. NAJ reported revenues of $430,566 versus expenditures of $442,292. JMS revenues were $62,763; expenditures were $78,102. A net loss through September 30, 2024, for all organizations was reported of $3,178 before the All American.
Budgets for 2025 were approved. Total AJCA revenues were budgeted at $3,126,265 against expenditures of $3,124,257. The AJCA budget was based on 97,500 registrations, 15,000 transfers, 145,000 cows enrolled on all performance programs (138,000 on REAP), 200,000 JerseyTags units, 6,475 genomic and ID qualification tests, and 227 pages of paid advertising in Jersey Journal.
The budget for NAJ was based on 940 Equity investors and All-Jersey Sales Corp. revenues of $133,000. The budgeted revenues for NAJAJSC combined were $696,750, and budgeted expenditures of $695,708 were approved.
M arket values of investments at September 30 were: Building Fund, $1,705,427; Investment Trust, $1,172,888; Scholarship and other awards funds, $1,082,633; Jersey Youth Academy, $656,899; and AJCC Research Foundation, $3,235,445.
The board of directors approved the budget for Class IX of Jersey Youth Academy to be held in July 2025.
The Investment Advisory Committee met with investment managers on November 10 to review current portfolios and set investment strategies for 2025.
Value-Added Component to FLAIR Program. The board amended
the enrollment rules of the FLAIR program to require all first-lactation Jerseys, registered or unregistered, to be enrolled in the program and include registrations for the unregistered cows.
Jersey Performance Index (JPI) Updates. The AJCA board of directors reviewed the upcoming standard base change in April 2025. The board voted to reconvene the JPI committee to review JPI, Jersey Udder Index, and type base change considerations and the presentation of PTA-type traits.
New Stand-Alone Package. Jersey owners who are not enrolled in the REAP program, can purchase the services of HerdView, JerseyLink, and JerseyMate by providing Whole Herd Reporting data. The cost is $2,000 annual base fee for the first 500 cows and then $0.50 per additional cow.
T he board approved Whole Herd Reporting in June 2024. It is a system to maintain an accurate record of USJersey customers’ heifers and cows that have left the herd as well as those that are currently in the herd. This will make USJersey reports more useful because females no longer in the herd will not be included in reports. When enough records of heifers and cows leaving the herd have been collected, USJersey will provide Predicted Transmitting Abilities for longevity (survival) starting from birth rather than starting from first calving.
R egional and National Shows. Effective with the 2025 regional shows, funding levels will be based on a sliding scale for numbers exhibited in the previous year’s junior show (2024). Funding will be allocated as follows to these regional and national shows:
• California Spring Show and Northeast All-Breeds Spring Show will receive $500 for direct expenses in the youth shows;
• $1,000 will be alloca ted to supplement the premiums paid to junior exhibitors at both the Central National Junior Show (Madison) and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Junior Show (Harrisburg);
• The Western National will receive $1,000 for direct expenses incurred for the youth show; and
• Western National Junior Show
will have $500 allocated and paid directly by the AJCA to qualifying junior exhibitors who meet the age, ownership and junior membership requirements.
Designa tions are also contingent upon enforcement of the PDCA Show Ring Code of Ethics, with all cows subject to ultrasound and milk sample testing.
For the 2025 All American shows, $5,000 was allocated to be divided equally among junior exhibitors.
August 1 will continue to be the date for fall show transfers for junior show eligibility. For a spring national show, April 1, will be the deadline for transfers and registrations to meet the ownership requirement.
N ational Jersey Youth Achievement Contest. The board of directors voted to open the National Youth Achievement contest to all youth meeting the required eligibility rules: Applicant must (1.) own one or more Registered Jerseys™, (2.) be at least sixteen (16) and be no older than twenty (20) years of age on January 1, of the contest year and (3.) be a member (junior or lifetime) of the American Jersey Cattle Association not later than December 31 of the contest year.
State associations are encouraged to continue providing their nominees for the contest. Youth who placed second through ninth in the previous year are also encouraged to reapply if they meet the requirements. The deadline is March 1, 2025.
Appointments. Named as associate chairs for the 2025 All American planning committees were Jerry Emerich, Mooers, N.Y., sale; Corey Lutz, Lincolnton, N.C., open show; Josh Gordon, Syracuse, Ind., junior activities and Julie Ziegler, Irwin, Ohio, futurity. Jerry Emerich was appointed to the Investment Advisory Committee. Christy Ratliff, Garnett, Kan., was appointed to the Type Advisory Committee.
National All-Jersey Inc.
The board of directors of National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) reviewed the recommended decisions from the Federal Milk Marketing Order (continued to page 24)
AJCA-NAJ Board Meetings
(continued from page 23)
(FMMO) hearing. There are seven specific changes to the price formula in the recommended decision:
1. I ncrease the skim component factors in the Class III and Class IV price formulas to 3.30% true protein, 6.00% other solids and 9.0% solids nonfat.
2 R emove the 500-pound barrel cheddar cheese price from the protein price formula.
4 U pdate the butterfat recovery factor to be 91% from 90% in the cheese yield formula.
5. Base the Class I milk price on the higher of the advanced Class III and Class IV prices.
6. Base the Class I price for extended shelf-life products to be the average of the advanced Class III and Class IV prices, plus a 24-month rolling adjuster.
7. Update Class I differentials to reflect the current costs of serving
Class I plants. Staff reported the recommendations would have increased FMMO prices by $0.32 per hundredweight from 2019 through 2023. The estimated impact by Order ranged from $1.49 and higher in the three southeastern orders to slightly negative in California, the Upper Midwest and Arizona orders.
T he increased make allowances lowered butterfat, other solids and nonfat solids by approximately $0.06 per pound. The average protein price increased by $0.07 per pound due to the elimination of the barrel cheese price and increasing the butterfat recovery factor more than offset the increase in the cheese make allowance.
NAJ staff filed comments outlining concerns with the recommended decisions, including concern on the component levels suggested and the 12-month time delay in implementing them. The gap between actual components and assumed components will be more substantial. USDA will publish a final decision by the end of the year.
Butterfat Production Increases Combining informa tion from
USDA’s Milk Production report and the Agricultural Prices report, NAJ analysis shows that despite declining milk production, butterfat test and pounds are still steadily increasing. Through August 2024, an additional 129.99 million pounds of butterfat was produced.
Garrison Report from Washington
C harlie Garrison of the Garrison Group reported on agriculture news from Washington. Discussion focused on nutrition programs and the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. In addition, he updated the board with an election recap, international trade and the new Farm Bill.
Next Meeting
The next meetings of the AJCA and NAJ boards of directors will be March 11-13, 2025. The All American Planning Meetings are scheduled for March 5-6, via Zoom.
Deadlines for President and Director nomination petitions to be filed with the Executive Secretary are April 24 for AJCA (65 days prior to the Annual Meeting), and April 28 for NAJ (60 days prior).
President and Director Elections For 2025
Our organizations have two tremendous assets. First is the Jersey cow as a profitable producer with the longest productive life in the business today. Second is the reputation our organizations have. As I converse with breeders and industry personnel, I hear over and over, “Jersey has great programs. Jersey has the best customer service. We really enjoy working with the Jersey association.”
Building on these asse ts is the role of your elected leadership, the people who serve as Directors and Presidents of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. Perhaps you, or a person you know, should become a candidate for one of these positions.
The President is elected from the Board by the Directors. The responsibilities of the NAJ Board are similar to the AJCA Board.
Qualifications
Wha t are the qualifications, nomination and election procedures to be President or a Director? The AJCA Constitution states, “Each Director including the President shall be an active member of the Association who is actively engaged in ownership or management of a recognizable Jersey herd.” In addition, each Director must be a resident of the District from which elected. The NAJ Constitution states that Directors shall be “members of the American Jersey Cattle Association and who are producer or honorary members of National All-Jersey Inc. ...” The elected NAJ Directors must reside in the District they represent. The following are other qualities and considerations for potential President and Director candidates.
Leadership. The Presidents and Directors are the elected leaders of the Jersey organizations.
Governace Structure
T he American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National AllJersey Inc. (NAJ) are each governed by a Board of Directors. The AJCA Board consists of a President and 12 Directors. The responsibilities of the Board include establishing Association policies and programs, setting fees, authorizing expenditures, hiring the Executive Secretary and Treasurer, and being responsible for the overall well-being of the Association.
The active members of the Association elect the President and Directors. A member is considered active when he or she has registered or had transferred to his or her ownership a Jersey animal within the past two years.
The NAJ Board is composed of 11 Directors. Five Directors are elected by the voting members in the District they represent, three Directors are appointed by the AJCA Board, and there are three ex-officio Directors. The ex-officio Directors are the AJCA President and chairs of the AJCA Finance and Development committees.
Financial Responsibility. The AJCA Board of Directors manages an annual budget of about $3.6 million. The NAJ Board manages an annual operating budget of approximately $1 million and cattle sales of $3 million. Combined net assets of the USJersey organizations is approximately $4 million. The Boards determine the fees for their respective organizations’ services and how all funds will be used. All programs for the improvement and expansion of the breed depend upon the financial well-being of each organization. The Presidents and Directors should be good business and financial managers.
Time. The Presidents and Directors soon discover their responsibilities take more time than originally anticipated. The Boards have regular sessions in March, June, and November of each year. The Presidents and Directors will attend state and regional meetings and sales, and represent their organizations at other dairy functions. The Presidents and Directors must be willing to spend time reading and studying various
materials and talking with fellow members and others in the dairy industry in order to make informed and intelligent decisions. They spend weeks—not days—on AJCA and NAJ business every year.
Responsiveness. The Presidents and Directors must be willing to listen to the concerns of every breeder of Jersey cattle and producer of Jersey milk, then faithfully pass those concerns on to the Boards and management.
National Perspective. Even though a Director is nominated from a particular area or District of the country, they need to be mindful that actions must be made in the best interests of the entire Jersey membership, not just the interests of their particular District.
Professionalism. The Presidents and Directors must sort through the facts and fallacies in all arguments. Not all suggestions heard are in the best interest of the Jersey organizations. They must reach a decision, then be able to defend it. If they disagree with the majority vote of the Board, they must be able to abide by and support the decisions of the majority.
Loyalty. The Presidents and Directors are ambassadors for the Jersey breed. They need to present a positive image of the Jersey breed, the owners of Jersey cattle, and the organizations.
AJCA Nominations
Beginning in 2025, the A JCA districts and director elections will take on a new look. The transition to the new structure will be a four year process, beginning in June 2025 at the annual meeting of the AJCA.
A person meeting the constitutional qualifications can be nominated for either AJCA President or Director. Nominations for President must be made by petition signed by any 30 active members of the Association. Nominations for Director must be made by petition signed by 20 active members residing in the District for which the person seeks to serve as Director. Petitions can be obtained by writing or calling the Executive Secretary. The petitions must be received by the
Executive Secretary
Map of American Jersey Cattle Association Districts
Executive Secretary no later than 65 days in advance of the Annual Meeting. The 2025 Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 28. Therefore, nominating petitions for this year’s election for President or Director must be received by the Executive Secretary on or before April 24, 2025.
Terms and Voting. The President is elected for a one-year term at each Annual Meeting. There is no limit on the number of terms a President may serve. Three Directors are elected at each Annual Meeting for a term of four years. A Director can serve two consecutive terms. A former Director is then eligible to serve another term one year after completion of two consecutive terms. If appointed or elected to fill an unexpired Director term, the person shall be eligible for election to serve two, four-year terms after the unexpired term is completed.
Voting for President and Directors is by ballot only. All active members of the AJCA, 50 days prior to the Annual Meeting, are eligible to vote. They receive a ballot by mail. The candidate for each position receiving the plurality of votes
is elected.
Director Districts. The United States is divided into three (3) Districts. The District boundaries are drawn in geographic regions to provide equal representation based on number of members and participation in AJCA programs. The three Districts are:
First District: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Second District: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Third District : Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
A director from each district will be
elected each year.
2025 AJCA Elections
At the 2025 Annual Meeting, elections will be held for President and three Directors.
Current President Alan Chittenden’s one-year term expires at the next Annual Meeting and he is eligible to seek re-election.
T he Directors and their current districts whose terms expire at the 2025 Annual Meeting are: Joel Albright, Willard, Ohio, Fourth District; Donna Phillips, Newton, Wis., Seventh District; Garry Hansen, Mulino, Ore., Tenth District; and Tyler Boyd, Hilmar, Calif., Twelfth District.
All four directors (Albright, Phillips, Hansen, and Boyd) have served two consecutive terms and are not eligible to succeed themselves. Due to realignment of the districts, a director maybe appointed for an extra year during the transition period.
The following summarizes the 2025 AJCA elections:
• Election for the President;
(continued to page 28)
President and Director Elections
(continued from page 27)
• A director from the First District;
• A director from the Second District; and
• A director from the Third District.
NAJ Director Nominations
A person meeting the constitutional qualifications can be nominated for one of the five elected NAJ Directors. Nominations for Director must be made by petition signed by 10 voting members residing in the District for which the person seeks to serve as Director. Petitions can be obtained by writing or calling the Executive Secretary. The petitions must be received by the Executive Secretary no later than 60 days in advance of the Annual Meeting. The 2025 Annual Meeting will be held on Friday, June 27. Therefore, nominating petitions for next year’s election for Director must be received by the Executive Secretary on or before April 28, 2025.
Terms and Voting. Directors are elected or appointed at the Annual Meeting for a term of four years. There are no term limits. Voting for the
elected Directors is by ballot only. All eligible members of NAJ residing in the District for which a Director election is being held, 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting, are eligible to vote. They receive a ballot by mail. The candidate for each position receiving the plurality of votes is elected. The three Directors appointed by the AJCA Board are appointed for a term of four years. The ex-officio members’ terms on the NAJ Board coincide with their AJCA positions.
Director Districts. For the elected Director positions, the United States is divided into five Districts. The District boundaries are drawn in geographic regions based on revenue. District lines are drawn to keep all Districts with close to the same amount of revenue. The five Districts are:
District 1: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
District 2: California, Hawaii.
District 3: Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont.
District 4: Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin.
District 5: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.
2025 NAJ Elections
At the 2025 NAJ Annual Meeting, two Directors, each with a four-year term, will be elected. The elected Directors whose terms expire are Rogelio “Roger” Herrera, Hilmar, Calif., District 2, and John Kokoski, Hadley, Mass., District 3. Both are eligible to succeed themselves. Another Director, with a four-year term, will be appointed. The appointed Director whose term expires is Sam Bok, Defiance, Ohio, District 7 at large.
If you have questions regarding the election of the AJCA and NAJ Boards, please do not hesitate to contact me. We encourage all AJCA and NAJ active members to consider seeking these positions. The Jersey organizations have been blessed with outstanding leadership. For that tradition to continue, we need willing and qualified candidates to serve.
APR. 14-16—TRI-STATE DAIRY NUTRITION CONFERENCE, Grand Wayne Center, Fort Wayne, Ind. JUNE 22-25—AMERICAN DAIRY SCIENCE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING , Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville, Ky. JUNE 25-28—AJCA-NAJ ANNUAL MEETINGS, Lexington, Ky.
JAN. 10—PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW JERSEY SHOW, Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, Harrisburg, Pa.; 11:00 a.m. (EST).
JAN. 20—FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW OPEN JERSEY SHOW, Fort Worth, Texas; 12:00 noon (CST); Joey Airoso, Tipton, Calif., judge.
JAN. 16—FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW JUNIOR JERSEY SHOW, Fort Worth, Texas; 8:00 a.m. (CST); Tanner Schmaling, Elkhorn, Wis., judge.
MAR. 28-30—DAIRY HEIFER EXTRAVAGANZA, Payne County Expo Center, Stillwater, Okla.
APR. 6-10—SOUTHERN NATIONAL JERSEY SHOW, Payne County Expo Center, Stillwater, Okla. MAY 28-31—SOONER STATE DAIRY SHOW, Payne County Expo Center, Stillwater, Okla.
SEPT. 13—TENNESSEE STATE JUNIOR JERSEY SHOW, Nashville, Tenn.
hounddogkarl@yahoo.com
https://ddjerseys.usjerseyjournal.com/
Junior Awards Available
T hroughout the year, awards for shows and production and judging contests are provided by the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) at events specifically for Jersey juniors. For junior shows at county, district, and state levels, the AJCA will provide ribbons for the first, second, and third place animals, plus a Grand Champion rosette. In addition to the rosette, a special award is provided for the Grand Champion at state fairs and AJCA-designated regional shows. Awards are also provided for showmanship contests exclusively for Jersey juniors.
Awards must be requested annually. Contact the AJCA Director of Communicaitons at 614/322-4451, at least two weeks in advance of the event. Regretfully, requests made within two weeks of the show date cannot be filled.
rockbottomdairy@yahoo.com
waverlyfarm@comcast.net
highlandfarmsdairy@gmail.com
maxwell@tourmyfarm.com
Nominations Open for 2025 National Jersey Awards
Nominations are sought for awards to be presented at the Annual Meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. in Lexington, Ky., June 25-28, 2025.
Any lifetime member of the AJCA can nominate qualified persons for these awards.
Master Breeder Award. The Master Breeder Award is bestowed annually upon a living AJCA member, family, partnership, or corporation, who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, has bred outstanding animals for many years and thereby has made a notable contribution to the advancement of the Jersey breed in the United States.
Dist inguished Service Award. The Distinguished Service Award is bestowed upon as many living AJCA members and/or members’ families, who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, have rendered outstanding and unselfish service for many years and thereby have made a notable contribution to the advancement of the Jersey breed in the United States. Award for Meritorious Service. The AJCA-NAJ Award for Meritorious Service is bestowed annually upon a living individual, who, in the joint opinion of the Boards of Directors of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc., has made a notable contribution to the advancement of the Jersey breed and the livelihood of Jersey owners in the United States through research, education, development, marketing, or other significant activities of the allied dairy industry.
Young Jersey Breeder Award. These awards are bestowed annually upon as many living AJCA members and/ or members’ families, who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, merit recognition. Nominees must be active members of the AJCA and must be at least 28 years of age but not more than 40 years of age as of January 1 of the recognition year. Selection is based upon expertise in dairy farming and Jersey cattle breeding; participation in AJCA and NAJ programs; and leadership in Jersey and other dairy and agricultural organizations. All nomination materials must be postmarked or received electronically on or before Monday, January 15. Forms are available on the USJersey website. Contact Executive Assistant Blake Granzow at bgranzow@usjersey.com or by phone at 614.322.4472.
pawsatwater@frontiernet.net
srhm@alliancecom.net
https://jerseylearningcenter.usjerseyjournal.com/
bachelorfarms@frontier.com
jvanfel2@gmail.com
judymill@hbci.com
paxtonll.llp@gmail.com
catheo2@nep.net
nobledalefarm@gmail.com
jnbschuc@yahoo.com
mshedden12@gmail.com
jrp280@gmail.com stoneyhollowjerseys@gmail.com
info@ladylanefarm.com
martindairyllc@embarqmail.com
jennie.seals@gmail.com
desijosi@wilsonview.com
March 1 Deadline for Production Contests
Entries are due no later than March 1 for the Living Lifetime Production Contest and the National Jersey Youth Production Contest.
To be eligible for the Living Lifetime Production Contest, cows must be alive as of December 31, 2024, with either minimum production credits on DHIR test of 225,000 lbs. milk, 10,000 lbs. fat, and 8,000 lbs. protein.
To enter the contest, submit a DHI cow page with lifetime production credits for each animal nominated to Erick Metzger, Herd Services Manager at the AJCA office, 6486 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 430682362. Entries may also be faxed to his attention at 614/861-8040.
Entries are also due March 1 for the National Jersey Youth Production Contest. Contestants between the ages of 9 and 19 on January 1, 2024, are eligible if they are the recorded
owner of the cow on or before her freshening date. Registered Jerseys completing DHIR or DHIA records of 305-days or less between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, may be entered.
Call the Communications Department for entry forms at 614/322-4451. The form is also available from the USJersey website.
ahlemfarms@aol.com
claussjerz@yahoo.com
natalie.sanders@hotmail.com
In Memoriam
Edward Vaughn Cooper, Jr.
Edward Vaughn “Ed/Eddie” Cooper, Jr., Owego, N.Y., 62, passed away unexpectedly on November 23, 2024.
He was born in Worcester, Mass., in 1962, the son of the late Edward, Sr., and Mary (Cunningham) Cooper.
Cooper grew up on a dairy farm that initially milked Holsteins and then switched to Jerseys. Cooper operated Cooper Farm, a Registered Jersey farm, with his family in several locations over the years. In 1998, they moved the herd to Marathon, N.Y. They dispersed the herd in October 2009 in the Change of Seasons Sale, which included guest consignments as well.
The Coopers re-established the herd and milked cows in Lexington, Ind., until two years ago, when they moved back East to be closer to family and live out Ed’s dream of farming again in New York. With the latest herd appraisal in March 2024, the herd included nine Excellent and 12 Very Good cows and had an average final score of 88.6%.
Ed loved wa tching his family accomplish great things and work together. He bred cattle that earned both All American and All-Canadian honors. Most recently, Cooper Farm Joyride Joyce was nominated AllAmerican Summer Junior 2-Year-Old in the 2023 contest by Cowsmo for his children, Evan and Eden Cooper. It was his dream to win Grand Champion at the All American Jersey Show, now a goal for his family to accomplish in his honor.
Ed was a member of the American Jersey Cattle Association, chair of the All American Jersey Show, and former president of the New York Jersey Cattle
Club. He and his wife, Taryn, received the Young Jersey Breeder award in 1996.
In addition to his passion for Jerseys and his family, Ed was known for his sense of humor and was a mentor to many.
Ed is survived by his wife of 40 years, Taryn (Fiske) Cooper; three children, Meaghan (Shane) Hulle, Evan Cooper and Eden Cooper; three sisters, Mary Jane Cooper, Shirley Cooper and Fern Pelkey; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Memorials may be made to Jersey Youth Academy, c/o AJCA, 6486 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068.
W. Owen Unkefer
W. Owen Unkefer, Urbana, Ohio, 67, passed away on November 30, 2024, surrounded by his wife, Tresa Hahlen Unkefer, and children.
H e was born February 3, 1957, in Alliance, Ohio, the son of the late William Glen Unkefer and Jane Willis Unkefer. From there, his life was a framework of love, labor and community spirit that found its home on his family dairy farm, Ufashion Jerseys LLC.
M oving to the farm at age six, Owen thrived, absorbing lessons of stewardship. At 16, he took the reins and never looked back. He graduated from Crestview High School and then poured himself into Ufashion Jersey Farm, a steadfast plot of land where innovation met nurturing and profit was measured by Jerseys. His farm motto was “Jerseys—More Profit Per Acre.”
T he 230-cow herd is enrolled on REAP and a contract advertiser with the Jersey Journal. With the latest herd appraisal in May 2024, the herd
includes 47 Excellent and 134 Very Good cows and has an average final score of 85.4%.
Possessing an unwavering fix-it mentality, Owen was renowned for his determination and commitment to everything he touched.
At 18, he joined the Columbiana Agricultural Society, quickly finding his place within the heart of the county fair, a passion that would fuel him throughout his life. He was a fair board director for more than 30 years, dedicating his time to roles that uplifted both the infrastructure and youth programs, including his many years as a 4-H advisor. His leadership of the Columbiana County Fair and Junior Fair board was a beacon of innovation with a new software program leading the way, rebuilding the grandstands, soliciting donations and building a new beef complex. His enthusiasm for the first week of August was infectious, earning him the Lifetime Fair Supporter Award from the Ohio Fair Managers Association in 2020.
An active member of the American Jersey Cattle Association, he enjoyed attending the annual meetings and was a proud recipient of the Young Jersey Breeder award in 1991.
A lifelong sports enthusiast, Owen was known for his unwavering passion for Cleveland sports and his beloved Crestview Rebels.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Ashley (Damion) Wallace of East Rochester, Cinda (Nathan) Lude of Hanoverton, Ann (Grant) Cope of Salem, and Todd (Paige) Unkefer of Columbiana; two stepdaughters, Jenna (Holt) Mallard of Sabina and Amanda (Frank Oliva) Hall of New York, N.Y.; siblings, Kathie (Gerald) Reid of Wooster, Debbie (Aldken) Weichel of Richmond, Va., Dale (Brenda) Unkefer and Lee Unkefer of Columbiana; and 11 grandchildren.
Contributions ma y be made to Columbiana County Fair, P.O. Box 356, Lisbon, OH 44432.
