December 2025 Jersey Journal

DECEMBER 2025

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JERSEY JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2025

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JERSEY JOURNAL

In this issue: Official Publication of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. 6486 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068–2362. Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Eastern) weekdays. Phone: 614/861-3636. Fax: 614/861-8040.

Email jerseyjournal@usjersey.com. Website: www.USJerseyJournal.com.

Volume 72 • No. 12 • December 2025 • ISSN: 0021-5953

Editor: Kimberly A. Billman Managing Editor: Tracie Hoying Back to Basics of Jersey Young Sire Usage

Feature Writer: Michele Ackerman

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Communications Specialist: Katelyn Poitras Contributing Writer: Kaila Tauchen

www.USJerseyJournal.com

FEATURES Jersey Youth Academy Builds the Future

19 Back to Basics of Jersey Young Sire Usage 22 Getting Frank: Panel Discusses Ancestry Recording Programs,

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Future, Technology

27 31 38 35

Learning by Doing: the Fred Stout Experience

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Jersey Youth Academy Builds the Future Learning by Doing: the Fred Stout Experience President and Director Elections For 2026 Summary of November AJCA, NAJ Board Meetings

SHORTS

REGULAR

30

6

AJCA, NAJ Board Members

8

Advertising Index

33

Advertising Rates

14

Along the Jersey Road

29

AJCA Membership a Gift that Lasts a Lifetime Gifts Made to Support Research and Youth Funds

COVER

14

Jersey Producers Earn Reproduction Awards

10

Calendar

Gracing the December cover are the 35 members of Class IX of the Jersey Youth Academy. This group spent a week in Columbus, Ohio, engaging with dairy professionals and touring local dairies and businesses.

Turn to page 27 to learn more about the Jersey Youth Academy and the next generation shaping the future of the Jersey breed.

The staff of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May you savor the spirit of the season, enjoy time with family and friends, and give thanks for the many blessings we’ve been given.

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March 1 Deadline for Production Contests

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Editorial

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Field Service Staff

14

New Excellent-96% Cows

45

In Memoriam

37

Nominations Open for 2026 National Jersey Awards

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Jersey Journal Subscription Rates

47

Journal Shopping Center

14

New Members

10

Registration Fees

10

Type Appraisal Schedule

DECEMBER 2025

14

Rasmussen Named Friend of Expo

Published monthly at 205 West Fourth St., Minster, Ohio 45865-0101, by the American Jersey Cattle Association, 6486 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-2362. Periodicals postage paid at Reynoldsburg, Ohio and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jersey Journal, 6486 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-2362. Copyright by the American Jersey Cattle Association. Subscription Prices: $30.00 per year in the United States; $45.00 per year outside the United States. The receipt of the Jersey Journal is notification that money on subscription has been received. Your mailing label on back cover will show date to which subscription is paid. Changing your address: Please send old as well as new address to Jersey Journal, 6486 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-2362; send label from your last copy and allow five weeks for first copy to reach you.

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To improve and promote the Jersey breed of cattle, and to increase the value of and demand for Jersey milk and for Jersey cattle.

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

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: Neal Smith, 209/988-0601 Herd Services: Lori King, 614/322-4457 Research & Genetic Program Consultant: John Metzger, jmetzger@usjersey.com National All-Jersey Inc.: Grady Auer, 209/613-2286 AJCA-NAJ Area Representatives

Director of Field Services: Kristin A. Paul, 209/4025679; 614/322-4495 (fax); kpaul@usjersey.com. Illinois and Wisconsin.

District 1 Manager: Scott Holcomb, 614/563-3227; sholcomb@usjersey.com. Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

District 3 Manager: Seth Israelsen, 614/216-9727; sisraelsen@usjersey.com. Arizona, California, Hawaii,

Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, and Washington.

Greg Lavan, 614/216-8838; glavan@usjersey.com.

Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.

Benny Rector, 614/313-5818; brector@usjersey.com.

Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and west Texas.

Jason Robinson, 614/216-5862; jrobinson@usjersey. com. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and east Texas.

Willow Voegtlen, 614/266-2419; wvoegtlen@usjersey. com. Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Type Traits Appraisal Team Kelly Epperly, 614/530-6918; kepperly@usjersey.com.

Lee Harris, 614/284-1478; lharris@usjersey.com.

Dyon Helmuth, 614/264-0140; dhelmuth@usjersey.com.

Seth Israelsen, above Greg Lavan, above Willow Voegtlen, above

American Jersey Cattle Association Board of Directors

Officers President: Alan Chittenden, 84 Running Creek Rd., Schodack Landing, NY 12156-9603. Phone 518/3202893; alan.dutchhollow@gmail.com.

Vice President: Cornell Kasbergen, 21744 Road 152, Tulare, CA 93274. Phone 559/804-7393; ckasbergen@ aol.com.

Directors Tyler Boyd, 19784 Patricia Lane, Hilmar, CA 95324.

Phone 209/585-7118; tyler.l.boyd@gmail.com. Third District. 2026.

Ted DeMent, 5252 Hallsville Rd., Kenney, IL 61749.

Phone 217/725-2432; dementsjerseys@gmail.com.

Second District. 2026.

Rebecca Ferry, 193 Lagrange Rd., Johnstown, NY 12095. Phone 518/248-9294; dreamroadjersey@yahoo. com. First District. 2026.

Ralph Frerichs, 3117 St. Hwy. 159., La Grange, TX 78945-4226. Phone 979/249-3012; frerichs@cvctx. com. Second District. 2027.

Garry Hansen, 13025 S. Mulino Rd., Mulino, OR 97042.

Phone 503/805-4411; garryajca@gmail.com. Third District. 2026.

Ethan Haywood, 1045 Solomon Rd., Hastings, MI 49058. Phone 269/945-0239; ethanhaywood@gmail. com. Second District. 2029.

Jason Johnson, 154 Olde Canterbury Rd., Northwood, NH 03624. Phone 802/356-0908. jasamjohnson@gmail. com. First District. 2027.

Cornell Kasbergen, see officers. Third District. 2026.

Kevin Lutz, 3514 Highway 182, Lincolnton, NC 28092.

Phone 704/472-7448; klutz728@gmail.com. First District. 2027.

John Maxwell, 10600 275th St., Donahue, IA 527469705. Phone 563/505-1652; maxwell@tourmyfarm.com.

Second District. 2026.

Elaine Noble, 6430 Coryland Rd., Gillett, PA 16925.

Phone 570/537-2066; emnoble13@gmail.com. First District. 2029.

Joe Rocha, 510 3rd Street, Tillamook, OR 97141. Phone 503/812-6193; joeandsarahrocha@hotmail.com. Third District. 2029.

Joe Vanderfeltz, 898 SR 706, Lawton, PA 18828; Phone 570/934-2406; jvanfel2@gmail.com. First District. 2027.

National All-Jersey Inc. Board of Directors Officers President: Corey Lutz, 4399 Ritchie Rd., Lincolnton, NC 28092. Phone 704/735-1222; piedmontjerseys@ charter.net.

Vice President: Bradley Taylor, 106 County Road 5300, Booneville, MS 38829-9131. Phone 662/720-3598; taylorjerseyfarm@gmail.com.

Directors Joel Albright, Joel Albright, 1855 Olive Rd., Willard, OH 44890. Phone 419/512-1756; albrightjerseys@gmail. com. District 3. 2029 Sam Bok, 11310 Krouse Rd., Defiance, OH 43512.

Phone 419/782-0012; jawscows@defnet.com. District 7. 2029

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Alan Chittenden, ex officio, see AJCA officers.

Ralph Frerichs, ex officio, see AJCA. Jonathan Merriam,12136 Riverview Rd., Hickman, CA 95323. Phone 209/324-4983; jbmerriam.964@gmail. com. District 2. 2029.

Cornell Kasbergen, ex officio, see AJCA. John Marcoot, 526 Dudleyville Rd. Greenville, IL. 62246. Phone 618/322-7239; johnemarcoot@gmail. com. District 4. 2026.

Corey Lutz, see officers. District 8. 2026.

Tom Seals, 37840 Upper Nestucca River Rd., Beaver, OR 97108. Phone 541/520-0298; jennie.seals@gmail. com. District 1. 2027.

Bradley Taylor, see officers. District 5. 2028.

Editor: Kimberly A. Billman Managing Editor: Tracie Hoying Feature Writer: Michele Ackerman Communications Specialist: Kate Poitras Digital Media: Jolena Gioiello Contributing Writer: Kaila Tauchen

Subscriber Services

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Jersey Journal Subscription Rates Effective July 1, 2023

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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.

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Email: JerseyJournal@USJersey.com Web: www.USJerseyJournal.com

JERSEY JOURNAL

The 2026 Annual Meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. will be held in Springfield, MO, June 17-20.

Meeting Headquarters:

Doubletree Hotel

2431 N Glenstone Ave, Springfield, MO 65803 Phone: (417) 831-3131

Schedule WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17

SATURDAY, JUNE 28

Welcome Reception-Wine & Cheese Social

Breakfast Recognition of sponsors American Jersey Cattle Association Annual Meeting Fantastic Cavern Tour Business Diversification Strategy Roundtable Youth Event at StarStruck Jerseys Lunch at StarStruck Jerseys, Dean and Stacy Dohle and family Cheese Social Breeders’ Banquet

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 Breakfast National All-Jersey Inc. Annual Meeting Youth Event (at hotel) On-Farm Processing Roundtable Young Jersey Breeders Reception Young Jersey Breeder luncheon Tour of Bass Pro/Wonders of Wildlife Tour Social and Dinner at Bass Pro AJCC Research Benefit Auction

FRIDAY, JUNE 19 Breakfast College of the Ozarks Tour Give Your Best 60 Seconds Public Speaking Contest & lunch Celebration of Equity—50 Years Dinner National Heifer Sale

DECEMBER 2025

Join us this summer!

AJCA NAJ

American Jersey Cattle Association

National All-Jersey Inc.

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ABS Global............................................ 2 Ahlem Farms Partnership................... 37 Albright Jerseys LLC........................... 18 American Jersey Cattle Association .................................................. 7, 16, 44 Bachelor Farms..................................... 9 Biltmore Farms.................................... 15 Boks Jersey Farm............................... 18 California Jerseys............................... 37 Cantendo Acres.................................. 18 Cedar Mountain Jerseys..................... 12 Cinnamon Ridge Dairy........................ 30 Circle S Jerseys.................................. 12 Clauss Dairy Farm.............................. 37 Clover Patch Dairy.............................. 18 Cold Run Jerseys LLC........................ 18 Crescent Farm.................................... 12 D&D Jerseys....................................... 43 Den-Kel Jerseys.................................. 40 Dreamroad Jerseys LLC..................... 40 Dutch Hollow Farm............................. 15 Edn-Ru Jerseys.................................. 42 Fire-Lake Jerseys............................... 37 Forest Glen Jerseys............................ 29

High Lawn Farm.................................. 42 Huffard Dairy Farms.............................. 9

Revolution Genetics.............................. 9 Rock Bottom Dairy.............................. 30

Irishtown Acres.................................... 42

Select Sires................................... 47, 48 Silver Spring Farms............................ 40 South-Mont Farm................................ 42 Spahr Jersey Farm, Inc....................... 18 Spatz Cattle Company........................ 13 Spring Valley Farm.............................. 13 Springdale Jerseys Inc........................ 12 Spruce Row Jerseys........................... 42 Steinhauers Jerseys........................... 43 Stoney Hollow Jerseys........................ 42 Summit Farm......................................... 9 Sunbow Jerseys.................................. 13

JNB Farm............................................ 42 Jersey Directory.................................. 24 Jersey Journal....................................... 4 Jersey Marketing Service................... 47 Journal Shopping Center.................... 47 Kevetta Farms..................................... 40 Lady-Lane Farm.................................. 29 Lawtons Jersey Farm.......................... 40 Legendairy Farms............................... 29 Lucky Hill Jersey Farm........................ 12 Mapleline Farm................................... 12 Marcoot Jersey Creamery.................. 21 Martin Dairy LLC................................... 3 Messmer Jersey Farm........................ 13 Mills Jersey Farm LLC........................ 13 National Jersey Jug Futurity............... 11 New England Jerseys......................... 12 New York Jerseys............................... 40 Nobledale Farm.................................. 42

Goff Dairy............................................ 21 Grazeland Jerseys Ltd........................ 18

Oat Hill Dairy......................................... 9 Ohio Jerseys....................................... 18 Oregon Jerseys................................... 29 Owens Farms Inc................................ 43

Heaven Scent Jerseys........................ 40 Highland Farms, Inc............................ 30 Hi-Land Farms.................................... 40

Pennsota Jerseys................................. 9 Pennsylvania Jerseys......................... 42 Pine Hill Jersey Farm LLC.................. 18

Tauchen Harmony Valley Inc.............. 43 Taylor Jersey Farm Inc........................ 13 U-Fashion Jerseys LLC...................... 18 Vanderfeltz Jerseys............................. 42 Viking Genetics................................... 15 Waverly Farm Jerseys........................ 30 White Rock Jerseys............................ 12 Wilsonview Dairy................................. 29 Wisconsin Jersey Cattle Club............. 43 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.

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JERSEY JOURNAL

bachelorfarms@frontier.com

pawsatwater@frontiernet.net

hdfjersey@gmail.com

srhm@alliancecom.net

judymill@hbci.com

https://jerseylearningcenter.usjerseyjournal.com/

DECEMBER 2025

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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.

JAN.—Idaho, Utah, Southern California and Arizona; Kansas, Oklahoma, Western Colorado and Nebraska; Vermont and New Hampshire; Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

FEB.—New York; Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

MAR.—Ohio and Michigan; Washington; and Oregon.

Deadlines

DEC. 31—National Jersey Jug Futurity payments due for 2028 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, 2025, 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.

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

Registration Fees Effective October 1, 2024 InfoJersey.com Applications Member Non-Member

All Other Applications Member Non-Member

Females: Under six (6) months................................ $28.00 $30.00 Applications 1-50.............................. $17.00 $19.00 Applications 51-200............................ 15.00 51 and over 17.00 Applications over 200 on REGAPP.... 12.00 (All figures based on calendar year) 6-12 months........................................... 22.00 33.00 24.00 35.00 12-24 months......................................... 30.00 38.00 32.00 40.00 Over 24 months...................................... 38.00 48.00 40.00 50.00 Males: REAP Non-REAP Under six (6) months.................................................. $0.00 $100.00 6-12 months........................................................... $100.00 $100.00 12-24 months......................................................... $100.00 $100.00 Over 24 months...................................................... $100.00 $100.00 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.

eligibility for fall shows (All American, World Dairy Expo, Western National Jersey Show, and Harrisburg).

Sales

FEB. 28—AMPLIFY SALE, Vierra Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif; Triple-T, sale mgrs.

MAR. 14-16—FINEST AT FOLTS TAG SALE, at the farm, North Collins, N.Y. MAR. 21—MASSACHUSETTS BLUE RIBBON ALL-BREEDS CALF SALE, Mallory Complex, W. Springfield, Mass.

Meetings and Expositions

JAN. 14—DAIRY STRONG CONFERENCE, Green Bay, Wis. JAN. 17—OREGON JERSEY CATTLE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING, Spirit Mountain Casino/Hotel, Grand Ronde, Ore. JAN. 19-21—GEORGIA DAIRY CONFERENCE, Savanah, Ga. JAN. 25-28—DAIRY FORUM BY IDFA, Palm Desert, Calif.

FEB. 4-5—PENNSYLVANIA DAIRY CONFERENCE, Grantville, Pa. FEB. 5-6—GREAT LAKES REGIONAL DAIRY CONFERENCE, Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

MAR. 7—WISCONSIN JERSEY BREEDERS ANNUAL MEETING, The Lodge, Mauston, Wis. 10:00 a.m. (CST).

APR. 7-9—DAIRY CALF AND HEIFER ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, Tucson, Ariz.

JUNE 17-20—AJCA-NAJ ANNUAL MEETINGS, Springfield, Mo. JUNE 21-24—AMERICAN DAIRY SCIENCE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING, Baird Center, Milwaukee, Wis.

Shows

JAN. 17-22—INTERNATIONAL DAIRY WEEK, Tatura, Vic., AUS. JAN. 19—FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW OPEN JERSEY SHOW, Fort Worth, Texas; 12:00 noon (CST); Rick Allyn, Canaan, Conn., judge.

JAN. 20—FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW JUNIOR JERSEY SHOW, Fort Worth, Texas; 8:00 a.m. (CST); Laurie Winkleman, Appleton, Wis., judge.

MAR. 18-21—TEXAS STATE JERSEY SHOW, Taylor County Expo Center, Abilene, Texas. Mark Rueth, Oxford, Wis. MAR. 29—NEW YORK SPRING JERSEY CAROUSEL, Erie County Fairgrounds, Hamburg, N.Y.; 8:00 a.m. (EDT). JP Charest, Que., judge.

APR. 1-3—OHIO SPRING DAIRY EXPO, Ohio State Fairgrounds, Columbus, Ohio.

APR. 7-9—SOUTHERN SPRING NATIONAL, Payne Co. Expo Center, Stillwater, Okla.

APR. 25—NORTHEAST ALL-BREEDS SHOW, Eastern States Exposistion Center, W. Springfield, Mass.

SEPT. 1-5—WESTERN NATIONAL JERSEY SHOW, Salem, Ore.; Mandi Bue, Freedom, Wis., judge.

The Association’s Bylaws require the seller to pay the transfer fee.

Save by becoming a lifetime member of the American Jersey Cattle Association.

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JERSEY JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2025

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fjordworks@yahoo.com

jsamuelson56@yahoo.com

toms18438@yahoo.com

sdfarm@fairpoint.net

luckyhilljerseys@yahoo.com

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jkokoski@maplelinefarm.com

whiterockfarm1192@gmail.com

JERSEY JOURNAL

emmaraemessmer@gmail.com

springvalleyjerz@hotmail.com

sunbow@wk.net

DECEMBER 2025

cmills1324@gmail.com

spatzcattleco@gmail.com

taylorjerseyfarm@gmail.com

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Catherine Savage, Dickerson, Md., recently won Maryland Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers Discussion Meet. She will advance to represent Maryland at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s national competition in Charlottesville, N.C., in January 2027.

Savage was winner of the 2018 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest and attended Jersey Youth Academy in 2017.

Grand Champion and earned honors as Best Bred and Owned and GJPI Senior Champion.

She is in the donor dam program at Pacific Edge Jerseys and has 86 registered progeny to date.

“Sue” was bred by Maplebrough Holsteins & Jerseys of Uxbridge, Ont., and is now owned by Hazil and Jason Luttropp of Berlin, Wis. The daughter of Guimo Joel-ET was raised a point to Excellent-96% at 7-3 in mid-November.

She is backed by nine dams that are Very Good or Excellent and was twice nominated All-Canadian. Purchased by the Luttropps as a five-year-old in February 2022, “Sue” has two daughters in the Lost Elm Jerseys herd in Berlin.

Rasmussen Named Friend of Expo

Over the past several months, a pair of Jersey matriarchs—Pacific Edge Premier Diva-ET and Maplebrough Joel Sue—have been raised to Excellent-96%.

“Diva” is bred and owned by Brent L. Rocha of Tillamook, Ore. The daughter of Hawarden Impuls Premier was raised two points to Excellent-96% at 6-9 in early September. Two weeks later she topped the lifetime cheese production class at the International Jersey Show and was named Best Bred and Owned. At the All American Jersey Show in November, she was Reserve

At World Dairy Expo’s annual celebration to honor volunteers, paid workers and partners, Jon Rasmussen, a friend to the Jersey breed, was one of the recipients of the 2025 Friends of Expo awards.

Rasmussen has been the Jersey superintendent at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis., since 2012. He began his volunteer journey at Expo in 1996 as the grounds chair for the Badger Dairy Club and has served in a variety of leadership roles since. He first volunteered with the International Jersey Show in 2007 and also assisted with check-ins and placings for other breeds. In 2021, he was named overall

Pacific Edge Premier Diva-ET Now Excellent-96%

Maplebrough Joel Sue Now Excellent-96%

New Excellent-96% Cows

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World Dairy Expo named Jon Rasmussen one of its 2025 Friends of Expo at a celebration honoring volunteers, paid workers and partners.

He has been the Jersey superintendent since 2012 and was named overall dairy show superintendent in 2021.

superintendent of the dairy cattle show Exhibitors enjoy interacting with Rasmussen because of his positive attitude and calm demeanor.

Jersey Producers Earn Reproduction Awards

Three dairy producers milking Registered Jerseys earned reproduction awards from the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) this year.

Way-Har Farms, operated by the Lesher family in Berne, Pa., received a gold award. Rock Bottom Jerseys, owned by Bernie Bakker and his family of Alvord, Iowa, received a silver award.

Four J Farms, owned by Ryan Junio of Tipton, Calif., earned a bronze award.

Through the program, the DCRC honors dairy producers who have successfully implemented management protocols that achieve high reproductive efficiency. Dairy producers are nominated by allied industry professionals. This year, 134 dairy farms from 16 states and three Canadian provinces were nominated.

Metrics like breeding intervals, services per conception, conception rates by season and lactation, mean days open, culling and production were evaluated.

JERSEY JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2025

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JERSEY JOURNAL

Using Jerseys’ Best Genetics the Right Way Few tools have shaped dairy cattle improvement more than progeny testing. For decades, it has been—and remains—the gold standard for identifying sires that move a breed forward.

By measuring the real-world performance of daughters across herds, environments and management styles, progeny testing separates genetic promise from genetic proof. It is the reason today’s Jersey cow is more productive, more efficient and more profitable than ever before.

The introduction of genomic evaluations in 2009 added an important new layer to that process. Genomics allowed breeders to look inside the DNA of young bulls and make more informed decisions earlier than ever before. Instead of relying solely on Parent Averages, genomic Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) offered a refined estimate of genetic potential, accelerating genetic gain and increasing the value of young sires in breeding programs.

But acceleration does not eliminate the need for validation.

After more than a decade of experience with genomic PTAs, one conclusion is clear: genomics is an excellent screening tool—but it is not a 100% substitute for progeny testing (see the article beginning on page 19). Genomic PTAs of highly selected young sires can be overestimated, particularly when compared directly to proven bulls. While genomics work well for ranking a broad, unselected population of animals, it cannot reliably distinguish small but important genetic differences among young sires. Only daughters can do that.

Recognizing this reality, the American Jersey Cattle Association Board of Directors updated its breeding recommendations in November 2025. The revised guidance—50% of matings to proven bulls and 50% to young sires, with no more than 2% of total matings to any individual young sire—reflects a balanced, science-based approach. Proven bulls that consistently sire productive daughters should be used heavily. Young sires should be used thoughtfully, widely, and lightly, ensuring the breed continues to identify its next generation of elite genetics.

That balance is exactly where the future of Jersey breed improvement lies.

Raising the Bar for Young Sires At the same time these recommendations were updated, AJCA took another important step to strengthen the Jersey genetic pipeline: the launch of the GenProgress Jersey Sire Program.

GenProgress was created to guide breed improvement with intention and integrity. The program establishes a higher, more uniform standard for young sire selection, ensuring that bulls entering progeny test programs are backed by proven Jersey lineage, strong maternal performance, and meaningful genomic merit.

By requiring 99% Jersey ancestry, proven Jersey sires, documented production and type records on dams and grandams, and Genomic Jersey Performance Index (GJPI) rankings in the top half of active A.I. sires (currently +122 or higher), GenProgress ensures that young bulls start their careers with depth, not just hype. This matters—not only for individual herds, but for the long-term credibility and competitiveness of the Jersey breed.

“By identifying and promoting young sires from proven maternal lines—supported by real production and type data—we are building a pipeline of genetics that preserves breed purity, enhances performance, and ensures that Jerseys remain competitive and profitable,” said John Metzger, AJCA consultant for genetic and research development.

In an era when dairy producers are scrutinizing every investment, confidence in genetics matters. GenProgress gives breeders that confidence—while preserving the essential role of progeny testing as the final measure of success.

A Call to Thoughtful Participation Young sires are not the problem. Used correctly, they are the solution.

They are the engine that powers genetic discovery, the pathway to identifying the next breed-changing bull. But discovery requires discipline. It requires spreading risk, using many young sires lightly, and committing to the long game of daughter performance—not just short-term numbers.

GenProgress invites breeders to be active partners in that process. By nominating and sampling bulls, breeders retain ownership, share in the outcome, and play a direct role in shaping the future of pure Jersey genetics.

Progress has always come from breeders willing to invest, evaluate and believe in the power of the Jersey cow. With a renewed commitment to progeny testing, a refined approach to young sire use, and programs like GenProgress raising the standard, the Jersey breed is positioned not just to advance—but to lead.

Progress, after all, is best achieved when it is purposeful.

THE JERSEY by Bonnie L. Mohr, commissioned by the American Jersey Cattle Association.

Copyright © American Jersey Cattle Association 2018 All Rights Reserved

DECEMBER 2025

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albrightjerseys@gmail.com

jaws@defnet.com

cgrazeland@sssnet.com

grass4jerseys@yahoo.com

coldrunjerseys@frontier.com

laspahr@bright.net

phjfarm@dslextreme.com

toddunkefer@yahoo.com

JERSEY JOURNAL

BREED IMPROVEMENT

Back to Basics of Jersey Young Sire Usage

P

rogeny testing has been and will continue to be the primary driver of dairy cow genetic improvement.

Progeny testing is an animal breeding method where a bull’s genetic value is evaluated based on the average performance of his daughters. This process involves mating the bull to a reasonable number of females, raising the female progeny, and then measuring how the daughters perform for specific traits, such as milk yield, somatic cell score, calving interval, longevity, and confirmation through the calculation of Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTA). By analyzing the collective results, breeders can identify which bulls have daughters that are superior performers, allowing them to select the best sires for future breeding.

Genomic evaluations for unproven bulls were first introduced in 2009. This technology adjusted a young Chart 1 bull’s Parent Average (PA), the average of its parent’s PTAs, based on the regions of DNA that the bull had inherited from his parents.

Prior to this time, only PAs were available for young bulls. In 2012, the board of directors of the American Jersey Cattle Association recommended that breeders make at least 80% of all matings to genotyped young bulls enrolled in progeny test programs to maximize the genetic potential of their herds. It has been long enough that we can now look back and determine the effectiveness of genomic PTAs in identifying those bulls that sire the best performing daughters.

The genomic PTAs (GPTA) and PAs of 616 Jersey bulls, at the time they were 12 to 18 months old, were converted to the 2025 genetic base and then compared to the actual daughter differences of those bulls on their April 2025 genetic evaluations.

The bulls included were

DECEMBER 2025

born from 2010 to 2019 and had a minimum Reliability of 90% on their April 2025 genetic evaluations. The traits evaluated were Milk, Fat, Protein, Productive Life (PL), Somatic Cell Score (SCC), and Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR). Jersey Performance Index (JPI) and Cheese Merit Dollar (CM$) values for each bull were approximated using the current weightings of these six traits in those indexes. Chart 1, below, compares the relationship (correlation) between the Parent

Protein, Fat, PL, SCS, and DPR, and the current daughter proven JPI of six high profile Jersey bulls to show genomic PTAs are not an effective method to accurately rank individual young sires. The height of the blue bar is each bull’s young sire genomic PTA (at 12 to 18 months of age) for JPI, and the height of the red bar is each bull’s daughter proven JPI in April 2025.

All six bulls were similar as young sires for genomic JPI but ended up being quite different based on their daughters’ performance.

Most concerning from a genetic improvement perspective is that the three higher current JPI bulls (Primus Craze Starlord-ET, Primus Comanche Kestrel-P-ET, and JX CDF JLS Pilgrim Thrasher {6}-ET) have half as many total milking daughters (12,175) as the three lower JPI bulls (Oaklane Dazzler Disco 2127ET, Victory S-S-I Miami Holeinone-ET, and Rowleys 1996 Daniel Tucker {6}-ET) Average or Genomic PTA of the bulls at who have 24,759 total milking daughters. the time they were 12 to 18 months old to Another historical review was done ustheir Daughter Differences in April 2025. ing PTAs from August 2011 through DeThe relationship to daughter performance cember 2020 to compare the past and curfor genomic PTAs is higher than for Parrent PTAs of the top 10 genomic young ent Averages but likely not enough higher sires to the top 10 proven bulls at the time to justify the heavy use of any individual of selection. JPI and CM$ were estimated young sire. using only the current weightings for PTA Chart 2 compares the young sire geMilk, Protein, Fat, PL, SCS, and DPR. nomic JPI, calculated only from PTA The charts on the next page show two different comparisons. Chart Chart 2 3 compares the average JPI of the top 10 JPI young sires and the top 10 proven bulls at the time of selection. At the time of selection, the top 10 young sires averaged 30 points higher for JPI than the top 10 proven bulls.

The chart below it compares the current average JPI of those same 10 young sires and 10 proven bulls now that both groups have milking daughters. The same young (continued to page 20)

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Breed Improvement (continued from page 19)

sires, now proven, average only one point higher for JPI than the same proven bulls.

Because the genomic PTAs of young sires are overestimated, the genomic PTAs of young sires should not be compared to the PTAs of proven bulls when deciding which bulls to use in your herd.

The changes in the PTAs of the top 10 young sires relative to the top 10 proven bulls for each PTA are listed in the table below.

Although genomic testing is a useful tool for ranking an unselected group of Jersey heifers, it doesn’t accurately determine the genetic differences among a group of highly selected Jersey young sires.

Only progeny testing, measuring the differences between the daughter performance of those bulls, can do that.

Based on the information shared in this article, in November 2025, the American Jersey Cattle Association board of directors made a change in recommendation that Jersey breeders should make 50% of the dairy matings in their herd to proven bulls and 50% to young sires. Individual young sires should be used lightly with no more than 2% of the dairy matings in a herd to an individual young sire. Those proven bulls found to sire the most productive daughters should be used heavily.

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JERSEY JOURNAL

beth@marcootjerseycreamery.com

DECEMBER 2025

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JERSEY GENETICS

I

Getting Frank: Panel Discusses Ancestry Recording Programs, Future, Technology

n the final round of a three-part series on the panel discussion “Maximizing Jersey Genetics,” four Jersey breeders talk about ancestry recording programs, breed progress and technology. The four spoke at a session held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) at the Embassy Suites-UK Coldstream in Lexington, Ky., on June 26.

The panelists included Joel Albright, Albright Jerseys LLC, Willard, Ohio; Alan Chittenden, Dutch Hollow Farms LLC, Schodack Landing, N.Y.; Cornell Kasbergen, Kash-In Jerseys, Tulare, Calif.; and Brent Wickstrom, Wickstrom Jersey Farm, Hilmar, Calif. The panel was moderated by Brad Barham, Anderson, S.C., with Red-Land Ag LLC, a dairy consulting company that specializes in IVF and embryo transfer programs.

Chittenden is currently serving his fourth term as president of the AJCA. Albright is a former AJCA director and is now serving as a director for National All-Jersey Inc. Kasbergen is in his second term as an AJCA director and is also vice president of the organization.

The first part of this series was published in the October 2025 issue of the Jersey Journal. The second part was carried in the November issue.

Barham: We have discussed sire selection, breed programs, beef on dairy, and IVF. Now let’s talk a little about JX, BBR and PJA. How have these systems impacted the breed, and what are you doing at home?

Chittenden: There are probably some semen guys out there who could give us more accurate numbers (on JX and PJA), but in our herd, we still have some that are pure Jerseys, with no JX ever.

I don’t think that is that important, though. I am fine with having the sixes and some cattle that have some of that in their background. I never went too deep on it, so I don’t think it influences our program a lot. It is just my guess, but I think the breeders who are really focused on it are probably buying a pretty small percentage of the semen out there.

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Regarding pure animals, there are some good ones, but number-wise, they don’t rank high enough for me to chase their genetics in an IVF program. I won’t use them unless I see some money coming somewhere from somebody who wants to pay for them.

this has all changed. Looking at the list of pure animals gives us a base. That is great information for animals that we should probably be working to bring up higher, number-wise. It is a great list to have, but I think there is a lot of work to be done.

Albright: As a breed association, we have started down a path of getting to a higher percentage of Jersey ancestry.

Percent Jersey Ancestry will give us more transparency. Regardless of your opinion on this issue, I think one of the big roles of the association is to be as transparent as possible. The recent decisions made at some board meetings will definitely help with that. You can make your own decisions on your own farms and be confident about it.

As far as at home, as Alan said, fives and sixes are probably pretty prevalent in our pedigrees at this point. I did a search recently and found we had just 50-60 head that were JX-free. There is an opportunity in HerdView to click on a button that will help you identify JX-free animals. You can do the same thing with BullsEye. So, if you want to make sure you preserve those pedigrees, you can do it. Ultimately, what will get made is what we buy as an industry. If you guys are complaining about what is being made available, remember you vote with your dollars every day with what you buy for semen.

Wickstrom: I am not on the board, but from our perspective, we are using bulls that are fives and sixes now. A year ago, we were probably using some fours. We have just followed the bulls out. When it (Generation Count) came out, we had plenty of twos and threes out here, sired by whatever bulls we were using. I can’t go out and look at a cow and tell you she’s a two, three, four or five. She looks like a Jersey. We do have a couple of accidental F1s out here. Those are different stories.

I think it (BBR/PJA) was a good place to start and get things back on track, so everybody knows what they are using. As Joel said, you vote with your dollars. You pick what you like. I think the association has done a good job of stepping up those bull requirements every couple of years. It seems like it is a good way to give everybody time to keep the value in their cows and work in that direction together.

Kasbergen: When the JX thing came out, we initially tried to resist, and I think we are going to look back on that period of Jersey history as a lost decade.

I call it that. I think we have really hurt genetic progress. When you have proven bulls that are just as high as genomic bulls, that indicates we lost something somewhere. Something happened because you don’t see it in some of the other breeds. I think we are finally getting out of that.

We use a lot of fives and sixes. We got to that point: if you are going to be in the game, you almost have to use them.

Then we got there, and now we are trying to get out. It is kind of interesting how

Barham: As the Holstein breed has made progress to moderate size and increase fat to meet market demand, how do you see Jersey positioned today? Where do you think she needs to be, and what are some of your visions for getting there?

Wickstrom: It is interesting. We are pushing more milk out of our cows than we ever have. F1 has definitely been on our mind. Where we are right now, production-wise, I don’t know if it makes a big difference for me. I don’t like the idea of just making a whole F1 herd. I don’t think F1 semen is going to work like people think it will, or as it is being sold. If I ever did it, I would keep a base population of Jerseys and make all my replacements out of them, whether they are Jersey or F1 crosses. And then F1 crosses turn into recipients or get bred to beef semen. Let’s say you make 30% of JERSEY JOURNAL

the heifers F1. With the extra feed intake that causes, does it really offset or swing the needle in our herd? I don’t think so yet. As I said, we are pushing a lot of milk. If we were 10 pounds of energy correct milk less than we are right now, it would probably be a different story.

Every herd is different. There are a lot of people doing it, and we are kind of pushing the numbers, just seeing where it goes. But we have not made that decision to go that way yet.

Kasbergen: We actually have some F1s and are thinking about making more of them. If we do make F1s, I think we will make them out of our better Jerseys.

The Jersey cow needs more milk, and we definitely have talked about it here this week at the board meeting. We need to get more milk into that cow, more components. As breeders, I think all of us need to be pushing to get more milk, more components. I think eventually we are going to get there, where the Jersey cow will compete with the Holstein. But the beef on dairy has added another wrinkle. Those economics are making it challenging for a Jersey to overcome.

Chittenden: That has been a big discussion here this week in our meetings, and we are going to touch on that a little bit.

Beef-on-dairy is making us all some money, and it is making Holstein people more money right now. Their advantage is a little more. For me, the scary thing is that the Holstein breed has been successful in making their cow more like a Jersey, with a smaller frame and more components. They have made some great strides; it is a concern.

On our end, we just have to continue to push for more production out of our own cows and believe that efficiencies, less feed, less manure and some of the other factors are making us money. I am not ready to do any switching because our facilities are sized for Jerseys and Jerseys are in my blood. So that is not going to change.

Albright: This year is like every year. You come to the meetings and hopefully go home motivated to try to get better. We probably just need to keep being more aggressive with the genetic progress we try to make. Depending on what your resources are, there may be different DECEMBER 2025

Ancestry Recording Programs: Where We Have Been, Where We Are A primer on the breed’s ancestry recording programs may prove useful in grasping the panelists’ responses to questions about Jersey genetics.

The first program to provide a pathway to registration of grade Jerseys was Genetic Recovery, adopted in 1975. Seasoned Jersey breeders may recall this program allowed animals with known Jersey characteristics (purebreds) to be recorded by the AJCA using the prefix OA for the original animal and the prefixes PR (provisional register), then GR (genetic recovery) for subsequent generations. The fourth generation was given Herd Register (HR) status and required no prefix.

Jersey Expansion was implemented in 1999 as the first “crossbred” program, designed to capitalize on the growing use of Jersey semen on other-breed females. Animals with both Jersey and other-breed genetics could be recorded by the AJCA using J1 for the first generation and J2J6 for subsequent generations. Seventh-generation animals earned HR status.

In May 2016, the Generation Count (GC) system replaced Genetic Recovery and Jersey Expansion. A GC suffix was added to an animal’s registration name when its pedigree included at least one unknown animal or an animal of another breed. GC counts of 1-6 were used in brackets as a suffix and JX as a prefix. The name of the first unknown or other-breed animal in the pedigree included a suffix of {1}. The numerical designation for progeny increased by one with each subsequent generation. After six generations, the GC and JX were dropped, and the animal was deemed to have Herd Register status. Animals with GC status were commonly called “JX” and “bracket” animals. For example, an animal with a {5} suffix was often called a “five.”

At that point, another tool, Breed Base Representation (BBR), was adopted to complement GC. BBR values, calculated by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding, assess the relationship of a genotyped animal to the purebred reference group for Jersey and all other breeds with genomic evaluations (Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey and Holstein). The more an animal’s genetic make-up resembles the purebred reference group, the higher the BBR. Most recently, the AJCA board adopted Percent Jersey Ancestry (PJA) as a replacement for the GC system. PJA is a pedigree-based estimate of breed composition, calculated by averaging the PJA of an animal’s parents, tracing back to the earliest ancestors. To move the breed back to purebred status, the board approved an incremental increase in GC and PJA for all bulls registered by the AJCA. Registration names of all animals will continue to carry the GC suffix and the JX prefix. As well, both PJA and BBR are included on official performance pedigrees and performance progeny reports.

strategies. Obviously, beef-on-dairy has really made our herds a lot better just by doing that. If we are really honest, we have gotten a lot better just because of the way we have selected for our cows in the last 10 years. It is an opportunity

to get better. We definitely have to concentrate on combined fat and protein, how many pounds of fat and protein we are rolling out the door every day. We are getting close to 6.2-6.3% fat pretty much (continued to page 25)

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JERSEY JOURNAL

Producer Panel (continued from page 23)

year-round. We probably need to try to get to 6.5%. There are lots of ways you can get more pounds. You can get there with more pounds of milk or more percent solids. We probably need all of that.

Barham: Now, let’s switch to technology. What have you implemented that has changed cow management, good or bad?

Wickstrom: The last two years, we have put in palpation rails and sort gates and collars on all the cows. We do not lock up cows at all anymore. When a cow needs to be bred or given health treatment, shots and vaccines, she is sorted after the rotary onto a palpation rail. We usually have two guys working on the rail, either making pen moves, giving shots or doing whatever is going on that day. The big benefit of that was a milk increase.

Especially in the summer here, just not locking cows up anymore was a huge benefit. The rails and sort gaits allowed us to not overcrowd our pens or see lameness or health issues creep up. We are not running crazy with overcrowding; we are probably just 10% over. We still have headlocks. We have not gone to the feed bunks or anything like that. Getting rid of lock-up times and having cows on the palpation rail cut our labor for those jobs in half. Cows come to them, they open the gate, and they let them go back out.

That has been our biggest technology change in the last couple of years.

Albright: We have Lely robots and SCR collars on our cows. We have health and activity on the collars. We do a lot of the breeding off the collars and find our heats that way. When we implant embryos for other people, this technology is really handy because we can put eggs in with a pretty high degree of confidence that we have a good heat on the recipient.

Very rarely do we present a recipient to Dr. Steiner and have him tell us that she doesn’t have a good corpus luteum. We have a lot of confidence in that technology. We also have the SCR collars on heifers in the breeding pen at the heifer farm. We just rotate those on and off in the breeding pen heifers.

Chittenden: In our facilities, we use an outdated Afi system at this point, which helps with heat detection. Other than that, we don’t have a lot of technology currently being used. It’s getting to be time to do some updating, spend a little money and look at that.

DECEMBER 2025

Kasbergen: We don’t have a lot of technology either. We are in the process of building a new rotary that is going to have palpation rails, sort gates and a whole ID system. So that is where we are going. Just looking at those, the labor efficiency and labor cost savings are huge. Our nutritionist works with a handful of dairies that have gone from a regular parlor to a rotary and they are seeing anywhere from 4-6 pounds more milk just based on cows spending a lot less time in a holding pen. Rotaries are amazingly fast, and cows are comfortable and relaxed. Based on that alone, labor savings and milk production are huge economic benefits of that system.

Attendee Question: Do you have advice for young producers and breeders going back to the farm? How can we be proactive in helping the breed improve?

Wickstrom: When I came home, I just wanted to find deficiencies, things that might have been overlooked over the years and such. I wanted to try to hone down on efficiencies and push the cows to what we know they can do. That’s kind of the benefit of the Jersey breed, being a more efficient animal that has gotten better over time. Being back on the farm is where I was to push the breed. I am not sure that helped a whole lot breed-wise, but on our farm is where I have found my place, finding efficiencies.

Chittenden: Hit the reproductive benchmarks. Make sure your calving intervals are where they need to be and match up your days to first service. If you need to get aggressive, a sync program or something like that may be a good place to start on your operation. To drive profitability, start by picking bulls in the top 10% of our index as a place to get going.

one thing, as a breed, we need more of.

Kasbergen: I would say focus on genetics, nutrition and daily protocols. I look back over the 50-some years I have been a dairy farmer and would say I am a better dairy producer than my dad, and my son is better than me. Every generation gets better. But you have to get better.

With every generation, there is new technology, and there is going to be a lot more of it. You have a lot of things out there that will help you. Look at the people who are successful in your area and see what they are doing. The dairy industry is a great fraternity, and everybody is pretty willing to share information. I think that is what drove California’s production and cow numbers for a long time; everybody was willing to share their information. We are very competitive, but very willing to share information. Don’t be afraid to ask for or look for help. People are willing to help. For this next generation, the technology that is coming out is just amazing. It is going to make dairy farming easier. When we went from a 300-cow dairy to a 500-cow dairy, it got a little easier. When we went from a 500-cow dairy to a 2,000-cow dairy, it got easier. When we went from 2,000 cows to 4,000 cows, it got easier to manage. These dairies are getting bigger and bigger. The technology is allowing that to happen at an unbelievably efficient rate. Now farms have rotaries and sort gates, and it is amazing how efficient these dairies are.

Albright: In the eyes of breed progress, one of the reasons Holstein has made the strides it has is the great genomic pool it had to pull from. A lot more genetics in Holsteins have helped to propel their success. As Jersey breeders, the more genomic information we can collect, the more accurate it becomes. And it also gives you some information about your own animals. It might not influence what you do, but you know a little more about her and might know how to mate her. Maybe there is one you thought was going to be good, but she is not so good.

And then there’s one you didn’t expect to be great, but she is. It is just more information. I think genomic information is Page 25

Jersey Youth Academy could not make the impact it does without the many supporters and industry friends that are a part of teaching the next generation of Jersey leaders.

Thank you!

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Keynote speaker and Dean representative Jonathan Merriam with Patrick Bosley • Cassie Bohnert and Academy Dean Katharine Knowlton • Chuck and Sally Ellis of Pearl Valley Cheese with Alexis Schultz • Dr. Andrew Niehaus and Dr. Joe Lozier of the OSU Vet Hospital with Marina Cox and Hailey Horton • Kaitlyn Crompton and Herby Lutz • Reese Burdette, Mark Fisher, Ron Mosser, Sofia Zina, Kelly Epperly and Sam Peila • Darryl Snyder • Addison Hubbell and Allen Johnson • Stacey Dvorak and Ava Kolodzienski • Tatum Lancaster and Ava Kolodzienski flank the Albright family, Joel, Luke, Lauren, Fred, Mary Beth and Becky • Miranda Nickerson and Dave McElhaney of Dean sponsor AllFlex/Merck • Craig Zimmerly and Julia Fanning • Kiara Konyn and Addison Hubbell present gifts to the tour guides at The Wilds • Sarah Diehl, Mark Chamberlain, Marc Bolen, Tyler Boyd, Elizabeth Lahmers, Dan Hoying, Rebecca Mast and Robyn Porter • Lauren Bryant and Jeff Ziegler • Kaitlyn Crompton and Bo Harstine • Todd Woodruff and Zach Chittenden • Alexis Schultz and Elizabeth Lahmers • Stuart Young and Isabella Wilbur • A moment with 7JE2102 Dupat Firstcut-ET JERSEY JOURNAL

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

F

Jersey Youth Academy Builds the Future

or more than a decade, Jersey Youth Academy has served as a proving ground for the next generation of leaders in the Jersey dairy business. Designed as an immersive “Jersey boot camp,” the Academy delivers far more than a week of learning—it builds clarity, confidence and connections that continue long after participants leave Columbus, Ohio.

The ninth class of Jersey Youth Academy was held July 13–18, 2025, bringing together 35 rising high school seniors through college juniors from across the country. Selected from a competitive national applicant pool, participants represented 18 states and demonstrated strong motivation, preparation and commitment to the Jersey breed.

With full involvement from the Ohio-based staff of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ), along with the presidents of both organizations and an exceptional lineup of guest speakers, the Academy provided a comprehensive survey of the Jersey business today—and where it is headed tomorrow. From genetics and appraisal to processing, marketing, finance and animal health, participants explored how Jerseys fit into

a rapidly evolving dairy industry.

“For me, Academy was very beneficial for understanding the Jersey world— classification, history, the Jersey Jug tradition and other things that make our breed so special,” said Kelsey Hardy, Dodgeville, Wis. “Seeing the large robotic Jersey farm showed the endless possibilities for Jersey cattle and how to diversify for maximum profitability.”

The Academy’s core mission—to attract, educate and retain talented young people for careers in the Jersey dairy business—was evident in every aspect of the program. Participants engaged in presentations, farm visits, hands-on workshops and candid discussions with industry professionals, gaining insight into both traditional and emerging career paths.

“When coming here, I wanted to be part of the dairy industry,” shared Zach Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y. “This helped me see how many backgrounds and different jobs that I could potentially do.”

That breadth of opportunity resonated throughout the week. Keynote speaker Jonathan Merriam, Jersey program manager for Semex, left the attendees

inspired to seek their dreams.

“Jonathan Merriam’s message to take advantage of opportunities such as internships has stuck with me,” stated Lee Taylor, Booneville, Miss. “I have taken advantage of more opportunities thrown my way because of his words.”

The class was also exposed to sessions with leaders in nutrition, genetics, finance, veterinary medicine and policy.

Students saw firsthand how diverse skill sets can be applied within the Jersey industry.

“The most valuable information that I gained was the vast career opportunities our industry has to offer,” said Alexis Schultz, Marion, N.Y. “Hearing from speakers and going on tours with such diversity helped me gain experiences and valuable insight about different sectors of the dairy industry.”

“It was good to hear from the many professionals in the industry that shared their journeys,” echoed Patrick Bosley, Malone, N.Y. “They showed us how many options there are available to us and it is okay if our career paths change.”

Farm and industry tours brought classroom concepts to life. At Albright (continued to page 28)

The 35 members of Jersey Youth Academy IX are pictured on day one of the program at the Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital. Pictured front row, from left: Kaitlyn Crompton, Marina Cox, Ashlynne Lenker, Hailey Horton, Addison Hubbell, Sophie Leach, Sam Peila, Riley Whisler, PaytonLynn Baldwin, and Kelsey Hardy. Second row, from left: Emma Roeben, Robyn Porter, Reese Burdette, Noelle Vos, Sarah Diehl, Norah Bechtel, Eden Cooper, Tatum Lancaster, Brailey Livingston, Isabella Wilbur, Sarah Hill, Julia Fanning, and Patrick Bosley. Third row, from left: AJ Coppersmith, Zach Chittenden, Lee Taylor, Alexis Schultz, Miranda Nickerson, Lauren Bryant, Ava Kolodzienski, Sofia Zina, Kiara Konyn, Cassie Bohnert, and Delaney Barber.

DECEMBER 2025

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Jersey Youth Academy (continued from page 27)

Jerseys LLC, owners Joel and Fred Albright welcomed students into their 800-cow robotic herd, where hands-on genetic exercises and appraisal demonstrations reinforced practical decisionmaking. Visits to Pearl Valley Cheese, Young’s Jersey Dairy, Woodruff Farms and Select Sires Inc. showcased processing, agri-tourism, direct marketing and A.I. career opportunities.

“I really enjoyed talking with the owners at Pearl Valley Cheese, seeing the facility and sampling their cheeses,” Schultz added.

“My most memorable visit was to Select Sires,” said Tatum Lancaster, Tillamook, Ore. “I loved seeing the operation and all of the pathways that it offers.”

The practical knowledge learned throughout the week was expressed by several of the students.

“Learning more about pedigrees will be invaluable to me,” said Kayleigh Smith, Bowman, Ga. “I am on the team at University of Georgia’s dairy and I have managed the genetics for the past two and a half years. Even though I look at pedigrees a lot, I know have a much better understanding of them. We set three priority traits for our herd every semester and we change them up. Now I know more about the other ones I haven’t been selecting for.”

Sofia Zina, Hadley, Mass., had some of the same observations. “Being able to take home more information and knowledge of pedigrees was very valuable to me.

The genetic session taught me even more about how to make decisions to mate our cows at home.”

Beyond technical knowledge, students repeatedly pointed to adaptability as a defining lesson of the week.

“I learned adaptability is possible,” said Hailey Horton, Mesilla Park, N.M. “Both Young’s Jersey Dairy and Woodruff Farm showed this, and they are successful.”

Just as impactful as the curriculum were the relationships formed. Academy fosters a unique environment where students connect deeply with peers who share their passion for Jerseys, while also building meaningful professional networks.

“The best part of Academy was being given opportunities that I would not have been able to do on my own,” said Delaney Barber, DeWitt, Iowa. “Seeing the wide range of job opportunities that revolve around the dairy industry really stuck with me.”

Riley Whisler, Salinas, Calif., echoed that sentiment: “Coming in, I didn’t know anyone. Five days later, I have a Page 28

Class IX of Jersey Youth Academy had the opportunity to learn cowside and in the classroom from industry leaders. In the first photo, Noelle Vos, Kelsey Hardy, Lee Taylor, Sam Peila, Sofia Zina and Ava Kolodzienski talked about type appraisal with Ron Mosser. AJ Coppersmith and Reese Burdette listened intently to keynote speaker Jonathan Merriam as he addressed the class.

roomful of friends that I’ve built relationships with all around the Jersey cow.

Being able to network with industry professionals opened my eyes to a lot of opportunities within the breed.”

Those connections endure well beyond the week in Columbus. Since the first Academy in 2009, 281 individuals from 38 states have participated. Many have gone on to return to their home dairies, enter allied industry roles or remain actively involved with AJCA and NAJ—continuing relationships that shape the future of the breed.

“It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime program,” said Isabella Wilbur, Orwell, Vt. “The relationships we built will open doors in the future for all of us.”

Looking Ahead Jersey Youth Academy’s impact continues to grow. Class X will be held in July 2027, with applications opening September 1, 2026, and due December 1.

As always, all participant costs—including transportation to Columbus—are covered, making the experience equivalent to a $2,400 scholarship.

The Academy endowment currently stands at $758,923, ensuring this oneof-a-kind program remains accessible

Alex Coppersmith, Patrick Bosley, Lee Taylor and Zachary Chittenden at Select Sires following the bull parade.

Chuck Ellis, president of Pearl Valley Cheese, shared the company’s story and the importance of Jersey milk to their products.

to talented youth nationwide. Contributions can be made at any time by contacting the AJCA office at 614/861-3636. (continued to page 29)

One of the stops each year is at The Wilds in southeast Ohio. It spans nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed coal-mined land, now transformed into one of North America’s largest open-range habitats for rare and endangered species from around the world. Before heading out on the Sunset Safari the group, along with AJCA President Alan Chittenden, gathered for a photo with the scenic backdrop.

JERSEY JOURNAL

Jersey Youth Academy (continued from page 28)

As the dairy industry evolves, Jersey Youth Academy remains steadfast in its mission: equipping young people with the knowledge, vision and relationships needed to lead the Jersey business into the future—one class at a time.

Editor’s note: Reports from previous classes are available at http://bit.do/JYA.

The winning team in the Jersey Youth Academy Mock Auction consisted of Marina Cox, Cassie Bohnert, Addison Hubbell, Miranda Nickerson and Noelle Vos.

DECEMBER 2025

info@ladylanefarm.com

jennie.seals@gmail.com

jbansen@gmail.com

desijosi@wilsonview.com

Gifts Made to Support Research and Youth Funds

Gifts in support of Jerseyspecific research and Jersey youth development funds have been received through December 10, 2025.

Contributions were made to the AJCA Educational, Youth Activities and Special Awards fund from David Brandau, Wilton, Wis., in memory of Ron Mosser and Paul Stiles.

Donations made to Jersey Youth Academy in memory of Elaine Kokoski were received from Huffard Dairy Farms, Crockett, Va.; John E. Downes, Kensington, Conn.; Amherst Farmer’s Supply Inc., Amherst, Mass.; Michael and Amy Murray, Gordonville, Pa.; David and Lucie Olszewski, Westfield, Mass.; Stanley and Beverly Kokoski, Hadley, Mass.; Edward Kelley Jr., Sunderland, Mass.; John and Lynda Lehr, Canastota, N.Y.; Gary and Deborah Moore, Greenwich, N.Y.; and

Paul and Kathleen Jagodzinski, North Hatfield, Mass. Huffard Dairy Farms LLC also contributed in memory of Dr. Bob James.

The California Jersey Cattle Association contributed funds to the Charlene Nardone Queen Fund in memory of Pat Wickstrom.

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.

Page 29

AJCA Membership a Gift that Lasts a Lifetime

maxwell@tourmyfarm.com

rockbottomdairy@yahoo.com

highlandfarmsdairy@gmail.com

Page 30

waverlyfarm@comcast.net

Still looking for the perfect gift for the special Jersey enthusiast?

Membership in the American Jersey Cattle Association may be just what you are looking for.

Lifetime membership costs just $150, with no annual fee, and includes a package of benefits. Members are eligible for membership rates for registration, which will save $3.00 or more on each registration application.

Active members (those who have either registered a Jersey or had a Jersey transferred into their ownership within a two-year period) have voting privileges at the AJCA Annual Meeting.

And, most importantly, members can participate with one another, sharing ideas and experiences as they work together to improve the Jersey breed.

Who is eligible? Anyone who owns a Registered Jersey and is interested in improving the Jersey breed can apply for membership in the AJCA. Those who do not own Jerseys but still have an interest in the breed are eligible for associate membership, also lifetime, with the $150 fee.

Junior membership in the Association is offered to youth under 21 years-of-age at no cost. They may register the offspring of Jerseys in their names at the membership rate. Juniors must now be a member to be eligible for all youth contests, scholarships and to show at The All American Jersey Show. Membership expires when the junior turns 21 years old, at which time membership of associate membership may be applied for.

Surprise the Jersey person in your life with a gift that will continue to give for years to come. For more information on lifetime membership to the American Jersey Cattle Association and for membership applications, contact the AJCA office at 614/8613636 or lboysel@usjersey.com.

JERSEY JOURNAL

JERSEY YOUTH PROGRAMS

Learning by Doing: the Fred Stout Experience

A

classroom setting has its place in education. But nothing compares to an internship that combines mentorship, hands-on work and full immersion for developing a career.

And while there are plenty of internships out there, imagine being able to craft your own—choosing what you want to learn, deciding where to do it, and getting real-world experience with Jersey cattle. That is exactly what the Fred Stout Experience is all about.

Since 2003, the award has been given to 35 young people, initially as a single opportunity and now available for two recipients each year. Today one award provides experience with Jersey Marketing Service and the other offers an on-farm experience.

Jackie Mudd, this year’s recipient of the on-farm award, completed her internship at Kilgus Farmstead in Fairbury, Ill., where the family bottles milk from their Registered Jersey herd. She appreciates the Fred Stout Experience

for its focus on Jersey cattle and the leeway to pursue her interest in on-farm milk processing.

“Going into a milk processing career without this experience would have been so much harder,” Mudd said. “I was able to learn firsthand from someone actively doing what I hope to do—and doing it extremely well. I have made lifelong friends in the Kilgus family, and I know that if I have questions, creamery-related or not, they will happily offer advice and encouragement. Their guidance and suggestions have been invaluable.”

From Dream to Ice Cream Mudd’s dream of a milk processing business began with a simple love of cows and was shaped by her experiences and the people she encountered.

She grew up on a 40-cow dairy farm, where Holstein was the primary breed.

Given its location in Berne, Ind., exposure to the Jersey cow was inevitable.

“A lot of people had a hand in getting

Jackie Mudd completed her Fred Stout Experience at Kilgus Farmstead in Fairbury, Ill. Among her favorite tasks was making gelato.

me hooked on Jerseys,” Mudd recalled.

“The legend Ronnie Moser has to be mentioned first. We were from the same county, and from an early age, I enjoyed hearing about his travels on the Jersey road. From stories about the famous ‘Veronica’ to scoring cows across the country and judging them internationally, his enthusiasm for the breed was infectious.”

Other Indiana Jersey breeders played a part, too. When she was in fourth grade, Tony Fuentes gifted her a Jersey calf—Bellavista Legal Shannon—from his family’s dispersal. She leased show cattle from Clay Snyder of Bryant, who helped her set up an account with the American Jersey Cattle Association, and enjoyed milking a full herd of Jersey cows in the early morning with John Sipe at his farm in Monroe. Her brother-inlaw, Casey Baker, encouraged her to become involved in Jersey Youth Academy and apply for scholarships.

While she loved cows and everything they had to offer, she did not always love the notoriously small milk check that often came from milking them.

“I knew I wanted to have a smallersized dairy and felt a creamery was a way to make it sustainable,” Mudd explained.

“Some of my first interactions with onfarm processing came through Jersey Youth Academy in 2021, when we toured Pearl Valley Cheese, Woodruff Jersey Farm and Young’s Jersey Dairy.”

After the program, the wheels were turning in Mudd’s head, and she took every opportunity to learn more about Jerseys, milking cows and processing dairy products. When she was crowned National Jersey Queen in 2022, she used the platform to promote the nutritional advantages of Jersey milk and the benefits of A2A2 milk.

At Purdue University, she became active in the dairy club, which she served as president, and the Sigma Alpha sorority.

She competed on the Dairy Challenge team that competed in South Dakota and Florida and was a member of the dairy judging team that competed at the All-American Dairy Show, World Dairy Expo and the North American International Livestock Exposition, where they (continued to page 32)

DECEMBER 2025

Page 31

Jackie Mudd, center, was a member of the Purdue dairy judging team that topped the contest at the North American International Livestock Exposition in 2024. As the team traveled across the country, Mudd enforced the policy of sampling ice cream at a new creamery everywhere they went.

Fred Stout Experience (continued from page 31)

rounded out the year with a team win.

The dairy judging team also competed at the Fort Worth Stock Show and the Western National.

“While I was traveling with the dairy judging team, I made it policy for us to stop at a new creamery every place we went,” Mudd said. “I called it ‘market research,’ and am glad my team members were along for the ride and willing to do it.”

Mudd graduated from Purdue in May 2025 with a degree in animal science and a concentration in animal production and industry and a minor in food and

Among the most impactful mentors for Jackie Mudd was the legend, Ron Mosser, who was from the same county in Indiana and talked often about his Jersey travels.

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agribusiness management.

Over the next six months, Mudd participated in several programs to prepare for her future. She attended the U.S. Dairy Education and Training Consortium in Clovis, N.M., and represented the U.S. at the Young Breeders School in Belgium, where she honed her skills in showmanship, animal presentation, marketing and judging.

Fred Stout Experience at Kilgus Dairy Mudd’s 10-week Fred Stout Experience at Kilgus Farmstead ran from late August through early November. She was initially drawn to the program because of its flexibility.

“This is a one-of-a-kind experience— tailored to the recipient,” Mudd said.

“Not everyone is going to be interested in a creamery like me. They might be interested in going to a high-production dairy, a large dairy, or even a very successful breeding program.”

Over the years, producers participating in the on-farm experience include Arethusa Farm (Connecticut), Cinnamon Ridge Dairy (Iowa), Clover Patch Jerseys (Ohio), deGraaf Farms (California), Grammer Jersey Farm (Ohio), High Lawn Farm (Massachusetts), Marcoot Jersey Creamery (Illinois), Misty Meadow Dairy (Oregon), Pereira Pastures Dairy (Texas), Vermont Farmstead Cheese (Vermont) and Young’s Jersey Dairy (Ohio).

Although Mudd knew “what” she hoped to gain from an internship, the “where” remained wide open. The selection committee for the Fred Stout Experience brought it all together.

“While I had made many connections in the Jersey community, I knew the award committee had far more,” Mudd said. “I was open to hearing where they

thought I could learn the most and gladly took their advice once it was given.”

Tara Bohnert, the first recipient of the Fred Stout Experience and a member of the selection committee, was tasked with notifying Mudd of her selection and shaping the internship to fit her goals.

“Tara asked what I was looking for on a deeper level than my application,” Mudd recalled. “I shared a few places I admired for what they do, and places I would be interested in learning from. She took it from there, meeting with the Kilguses to see if they were even interested.”

“Having Jersey help me through the process and start those conversations was tremendous, and having the Fred Stout Experience pay for housing was huge,” Mudd added.

The Kilguses secured the Airbnb where Mudd stayed and arranged the details.

“I was right there in small-town Fairbury,” Mudd said. “I absolutely loved it—probably my favorite community I ever lived in.”

Among her duties were bottling milk twice a week, making gelato twice a week, helping with farm tours and social media, and working in the farm store. A big responsibility was helping with the “Moo & Improved” grand reopening in October, which celebrated the store expansion.

Mudd appreciated the chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at a successful creamery. “I have been to a lot of creameries, toured them, and talked to the people running them. But a lot of the day-to-day things that aren’t discussed or go unnoticed, I was able to learn from this experience.”

When asked what struck her most, Mudd said, “This may come as a surprise: the sheer amount of storage it takes to have a creamery. From plastic jugs to gelato containers, it is pretty astronomical the amount of storage it takes.”

Mudd was also struck by the depth of planning required to plan and coordinate how to get products to where they need to be.

While she wanted an internship at a Jersey farm with a creamery, the show cows were a plus. But the best surprise was the people.

“The entire Kilgus family, especially Jenna, Matt and Carmen Kilgus, were so open about their operation and didn’t leave a question off the table,” Mudd said.

“I loved being Jenna’s shadow, soaking in all that I could from her vast knowledge.”

“My favorite task was making gelato— something new to me—because there is JERSEY JOURNAL

Jackie Mudd’s dream of operating a creamery started with a love of cows and was developed through experiences, the people she met and her internship with Kilgus Farmstead through the Fred Stout Experience.

so much artistry to it. ‘Team gelato’ was always a good time.”

Laying the Foundation Mudd’s long-term goal is to establish Imporium Creamery, processing milk from the dairy herd she and her fiancé, Andrew Dowty, are building under the name Imperial Genetics. The two have purchased about 15 cows to date, with

DECEMBER 2025

plans to milk 30-50 head, depending on future creamery demand.

Their cattle are housed at Knollbrook Farm in Goshen, Ind., owned by longtime family friends, John and Cynthia Adam. With the Adams’ children choosing not to return to milk cows, the door opened for Mudd and Dowty to potentially step into ownership.

“John wanted the place to remain a dairy farm,” Mudd said. “He told us, ‘If this is something you’re interested in, I’d be willing to work with you,’” Mudd explained.

The opportunity also aligns seamlessly with another one of Mudd’s passions: agritourism.

“The Adam family has built a legacy for their fall festival, which is woven into the entire farm,” she said. “They have a corn maze, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, cow train ride, wagon rides, food, paintball—just so many family activities.”

Mudd is also grateful to have a partner who shares her enthusiasm for the work and can lighten the load. Though both were raised in Indiana and showed in 4-H, their paths didn’t cross until the Ohio Spring Show several years ago.

“I always figured I’d meet my forever person at a cow show,” she laughed. “I just didn’t expect it to be in Ohio. But

that’s how this industry works.”

In Dowty, she found not just a partner, but someone eager to build the same dream right alongside her.

“It is nice to have someone to spearhead this with,” Mudd noted. “I love the creamery side, but I also really love being with the cows day to day. I don’t know if I could just do dairy products every day.

I think you need both—the hands-on connection with the animals and the creativity of making a product and connecting with consumers. You shouldn’t enter this business if you don’t love it, because it is a lot of work.

As for what she will eventually produce, Mudd is still exploring her options.

She is now working with a cheesemaker about 40 miles from Goshen to learn that craft firsthand. Tentatively, she is considering hard-dip ice cream, softserve ice cream, gelato, cream-line milk and cheese.

Her Fred Stout Experience and time with the Kilgus family only reinforced that this is the future she wants.

“I am now even more certain that this is the path I want to pursue,” Mudd said. “I see a future filled with pretty cows, yummy cheese and ice cream and amazing people.”

Page 33

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JERSEY JOURNAL

ORGANIZATION NEWS

Summary of November AJCA, NAJ Board Meetings

T

he fall meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ).

Boards of Direc tors were held November 5 and 6, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn-Airport, Louisville, Ky. Actions are summarized below.

Finances. Financial statements for the A JCA and National AllJersey Inc. and Subsidiary, All-Jersey Sales Corporation (Jersey Marketing Service) were reviewed. Through nine months, the AJCA reported revenues of $2,436,115 and expenditures of $2,279,468 before the All American.

NAJ reported revenues of $404,267 versus expenditures of $343,205.

J M S re v e n u e s w e re $ 14 8 , 9 1 0 ; expenditures were $79,978. A net income through September 30, 2025, for all organizations was reported of $263,641 before the All American.

Budgets for 2026 were approved.

Total AJCA revenues were budgeted at $3,135,451 against expenditures of $3,208,175. The AJCA budget was based on 83,000 registrations, 12,000 transfers, 139,000 cows enrolled on all per formance programs (135,000 on REAP), 205,000 JerseyTags units, 5,200 genomic and ID qualification tests, and 227 pages of paid advertising in Jersey Journal.

The budget for NAJ was based on 950 Equity investors and All-Jersey Sales Corp. revenues of $151,000.

The budgeted revenues for NAJAJSC combined were $695,300, and budgeted expenditures of $661,651 were approved.

Market values of investments at September 30 were: Building Fund, $ 1 , 8 14 ,7 1 8 ; In v e s t m e n t Tr u s t , $1,251,726; Scholarship and other awards funds, $1,171,337; Jersey Youth Academy, $758,923; and AJCC Research Foundation, $3,516,875.

The Investment Advisory Committee met with investment managers on November 9 to review current portfolios and set investment strategies for 2026.

Young Sire Usage in Herds. The board voted to recommend to Jersey breeders that 50% of the dairy matings in their herd are to proven bulls and DECEMBER 2025

50% to young sires. Individual young sires should be used lightly with no more than 2% of the dairy matings in a herd to an individual young sire.

Utilization of proven bulls found to sire the most productive daughters should be used most heavily.

Jersey Performance Index (JPI) Updates. The JPI committee will be meeting to discuss future adjustments to the JPI formula as it relates to protein yield, productive life, and calf health.

Type Appraisal Trait Reporting.

Greenbook bull lists will now display linear type traits as “+” or “-“ rather than with leading letters. The list and description of traits affected is shown below.

Ne w Yo u n g S i r e P r o g r a m Developed. The Board has approved the development of a Young Sire Proving Program designed to strengthen breeder involvement in breed improvement and ensure the continued progress of the Jersey cow.

The program will focus on progeny testing young, purebred bulls from pedigrees with proven performance, aiming to identify and return the most promising sires to Active A.I. service.

To be eligible, nominated bulls must meet the following standards: 99% or higher Percent Jersey Ancestry; rank in the top half of Active A.I. bulls for genomic JPI; Must be sired by proven bulls; and both the dam and maternal grandam must carry official production

and appraisal records.

Participation will be a shared responsibility between breeders, AJCA, and program members. The program is structured to reward collaboration.

Breeders receive limited semen for on-farm use, members gain early access to semen at reduced cost once daughters are milking, and if a bull proves successful and re-enters Active A.I. service, profits are shared equally among the breeder, AJCA, and participating members.

Regional and National Shows.

Funding for the 2026 regional shows, was evaluated and discussed. Funding will be allocated as follows to these regional and national shows: • California Spring Show; Northeast All-Breeds Spring Show; and Western National Show will receive $500 for direct expenses in the youth shows; • $1,000 will be allocated to supplement the premiums paid to junior exhibitors at both the Central National Junior Show (Madison) and the MidAtlantic Regional Junior Show (Harrisburg); Designations are also contingent upon enforcement of the PDCA Show Ring Code of Ethics, with all cows subject to ultrasound and milk sample testing.

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 to meet requirements.

Discussion of Jersey Journal. The Board directed staff to investigate transitioning to two printed issues per year—one in the first half and one in the second half, and discontinue the monthly digital “flip” magazine in favor of developing a digital newsletter. The newsletter would be launched once a strong advertising base is established.

The newsletter would be published a minimum of once per month and delivered to all USJersey customers with an email on file.

2026 AJCA-NAJ Annual Meeting Schedule. The dates of the AJCA(continued to page 36

Page 35

AJCA-NAJ Board Meetings (continued from page 35)

NAJ annual meetings will be June 16-20, 2026, in Springfield, Mo., at the DoubleTree Hotel. A schedule was approved by the board of directors including visits to the College of the Ozarks, Bass Pro Shop, and StarStruck Jerseys in addition to the regularly scheduled events.

Appointments. Named as associate chairs for the 2026 All American planning committees were Tyler Boyd, Hilmar, Calif., sale; Trent Kilgus, Fairbury, Ill., open show; Colin Wussow, Cecil, Wis., junior activities and Lynda Lehr, Canastota, N.Y., futurity.

2026 Retirements Announced.

The Board of Directors received official retirement dates from Executive Secretary Neal Smith and Treasurer Vickie White. White will retire on September 30, 2026, after 46 years of service, and Smith will retire on December 31, 2026, following 39 years of service. President Chittenden has appointed a search committee to begin identifying successors for both positions.

National All-Jersey Inc. President Corey Lutz presented his strategic observations on the future direction and growth potential of National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ), emphasizing that All-Jersey processing

Page 36

continues to expand nationwide and creates new opportunities for the organization. His key points included: O n - Fa r m P r o c e s s i n g : W i t h approximately 1,200 dairy processing plants nationwide, Lutz noted significant growth in on-farm bottling and cheese production. He emphasized that NAJ is well-positioned to highlight the Jersey cow’s advantages—higher butterfat, superior protein, and richer flavor—attributes that are essential for premium farm-branded products.

A2/A2 Milk Opportunities: Lutz reported strong potential in the expanding A2/A2 milk market. As Jersey genetics continue to make strides in A2/A2 beta casein, NAJ can play a leading role in consumer education and industry communication. The global A2 market is projected to reach nearly $6 billion by 2035, and Jersey producers are well-suited to capitalize on this growth.

Higher Protein Components: He highlighted increasing consumer demand for higher-percent protein fo o d s, not jus t hig he r prot e in volumes. Jersey milk naturally meets this expectation, offering more protein per unit. NAJ can continue to promote and further advance this natural competitive advantage.

Multiple Component Pricing (MCP): Lutz reiterated NAJ’s long-standing goal for all Federal Milk Marketing Orders to adopt MCP. He emphasized

that component-based pricing is more relevant than ever, especially as Holstein herds have increased their component levels, influencing market trends. Continued advocacy is needed to ensure the Jersey cow’s component strengths remain a central part of pricing reform discussions.

Lutz concluded that NA J has meaningful opportunities for leadership and growth across these areas, and that focused advocacy, communication, and education will position the organization—and the Jersey breed—strongly for the future.

Board Appointment The NA J Board appointed Tom Seals, Beaver, Ore., to fill the District 1 seat vacated by Jason Cast, Beaver Crossing, Neb. With this shift, AJCA President Chittenden will name a member to fill the seat previously held

by Seals.

Next Meeting The next meetings of the AJCA and NAJ boards of directors will be March 11-12, 2026. The All American Planning Meetings are scheduled for March 4-5, via Zoom.

Deadlines for President and Director nomination petitions to be filed with the Executive Secretary are April 16 for AJCA (65 days prior to the Annual Meeting), and April 19 for NAJ (60 days prior).

JERSEY JOURNAL

ahlemfarms@aol.com

natalie.sanders@hotmail.com

claussjerz@yahoo.com

Nominations Open for 2026 National Jersey Awards

Nominations are sought for four awards to be presented at the Annual Meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. in Springfield, Mo., June 16-20, 2026.

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 Ser vice Award.

The Distinguished Service Award is bestowed upon as many living AJCA members and/or members’ families, DECEMBER 2025

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 American Jersey Cattle Association 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 A JCA and NA J programs; and leadership in Jersey and other dairy and agricultural organizations.

All nomination materials must be postmarked or received electronically on or before Tuesday, January 15, 2026.

Forms are available on the USJersey website. Contact Executive Assistant Blake Fox at bfox@usjersey.com or by phone at 614.322.4472.

Page 37

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY COMMENTS

O

President and Director Elections For 2026

ur 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 Neal Smith these assets Executive Secretary 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.

Governace Structure T he American Jerse y 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.

Page 38

The President is elected from the Board by the Directors. The responsibilities of the NAJ Board are similar to the AJCA Board.

Qualifications What are the qualif ications, 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.

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 $3.6 million between milk marketing and cattle sales.

Combined net assets of the USJersey organizations is approximately $5 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 In June 2025, the AJCA districts and director elections took on a new look that will transition over the next three years.

There are now three districts with four directors each. One election will be held per district per year moving forward.

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.

JERSEY JOURNAL

Map of American Jersey Cattle Association Districts The petitions must be received by the Executive Secretary no later than 65 days in advance of the Annual Meeting.

The 2026 Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 20. Therefore, nominating petitions for this year’s election for President or Director must be received by the Executive Secretary on or before April 16, 2026.

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 DECEMBER 2025

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, Flo r id a , G e org ia, K e ntuc ky, 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.

2026 AJCA Elections At the 2026 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.

The Directors and their current districts whose terms expire at the 2026 Annual Meeting are: Rebecca Ferry, Johnstown, N.Y., First District; Ted DeMent, Kenney, Ill., and John Maxwell, Donahue, Iowa, Second District; and Tyler Boyd, Hilmar, Calif., Garry Hansen, Mulino, Ore., and Cornell Kasbergen, Tulare, Calif., Third District.

Directors (Ferry, Maxwell, Boyd, Hansen, and Kasbergen) have served two consecutive terms and are not eligible to succeed themselves. Director DeMent is eligible to seek reelection.

Due to realignment of districts, three directors will be appointed for an extra year during the transition period (one from District 2 and two from District 3). (continued to page 41)

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dreamroadjersey@yahoo.com

denkeljerseys@aol.com

bgc33@cornell.edu

heavenscentjerseys@gmail.com

timlawton581@gmail.com

kevetta.farms@gmail.com

silverspf@aol.com

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JERSEY JOURNAL

President and Director Elections (continued from page 39)

One election will be held in Districts 1, 2 and 3.

The following summarizes the 2026 AJCA elections: • Election for the President; • 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 2026 Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 18. Therefore, nominating petitions for next year’s election for Director must be received by the Executive Secretary on or before April 19, 2026.

DECEMBER 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.

2026 NAJ Elections At the 2026 NAJ Annual Meeting, one Director with a four-year term, will be elected. The elected Director whose term expires is John Marcoot, Greeneville, Ill., District 4. He is eligible to succeed himself.

Another Director, with a four-year term, will be appointed. The appointed Director whose term expires is Corey Lutz, Lincolnton, N.C., District 8 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.

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nobledalefarm@gmail.com

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paxtonll.llp@gmail.com

jnbschuc@yahoo.com

mshedden12@gmail.com

jrp280@gmail.com

stoneyhollowjerseys@gmail.com

jvanfel2@gmail.com

JERSEY JOURNAL

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, 2025, with either minimum production credits on DHIR test of 225,000 lbs. milk, DECEMBER 2025

owenswlsd@yahoo.com

hounddogkarl@yahoo.com

abby.tauchen@gmail.com

https://ddjerseys.usjerseyjournal.com/

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 Lori King, Herd Services Manager at the AJCA office, 6486 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-2362.

Entries or emailed to lking@usjersey. com.

Entries are also due March 1 for the National Jersey Youth Production Contest. Contestants between the

ages of 9 and 19 on January 1, 2026, 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, 2025, and December 31, 2025, may be entered.

Call the Communications Department for entry forms at 614/322-4451. The form is also available from the USJersey website.

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JERSEY JOURNAL

In Memoriam Orland Arthur Nelson

Orland “Ole” Arthur Nelson, Dassel, Minn., 93, passed away on November 3, 2025, at Cokato Manor.

He was born on May 28, 1932, in Litchfield, Minn., to the late Arthur B. and Olga Nelson. He was raised on the family farm with a younger brother and graduated from Litchfield High School in 1950. He served in the Air Force from 1950-1951 and was stationed in England during the Korean War. On June 14, 1952, Nelson married his lifelong mate, Mary Ellen, whom he continued to refer to as “his bride” until his death. The couple gave birth to 11 children in just under 15 years.

All graduated from the Dassel-Cokato school district, and when the youngest graduated, the family hosted a reception for all the living teachers the children had ever had.

Second to his passion for his family was his passion for tending and showing cattle. Registered Jersey cattle took the family to multiple locations in the early years, including Wisconsin and New Jersey. Since 1963, though, Ole spent most of his time at the farm on the outskirts of Dassel and then at their home in Dassel, where they moved in 1996.

The farm was known as Marynole Farm and Nelson Farm. The family hosted numerous “premier” cattle shows and exhibited Registered Jerseys for decades at both county fairs and the Minnesota State Fair, a tradition continued by the grandkids in 4-H and now by the couple’s son, Greg, and multiple grandchildren. For many years, Greg and Ole hosted the Midwest Spring Special Sale.

Ole and Mary Ellen were actively involved in the community, their church and the local school throughout their married life. They were known as “bleacher” parents and grandparents, rarely missing an event in which a local family member was involved.

He was a member of the American Jersey Cattle Association and sat on the board of the Minnesota Jersey Cattle Association. He was a 16-year member of the Minnesota Dairy Association, serving four years on the executive committee. He chaired the Meeker County American Dairy Association and was board president of the Meeker County Holstein Club.

Nelson sat on the board of the Dassel Fire Department for 21 years and was DECEMBER 2025

fire chief for seven years. He was a board member for Dassel-Cokato schools and Dassel Lakeside nursing home.

He was a member of the Litchfield American Legion. At his church, St. John’s Catholic Church, he chaired the educational center building committee and was an active lector and usher.

In addition to his wife of 73 years, Mary Ellen (Fitterer) Nelson, and his son, Greg, and his wife, Sara of Dassel, he is survived by nine other children, Terry (Tony) Saber of Edina, Steve (Becky) Nelson of Dassel, Tom (Kerry) Nelson of Howard Lake, Mary Pat (Richard) Kusler of Dasesel, Susan (John) Alrick of Hutchinson, Michelle (Andy) Schoolmeesters of Litchfield, Barbara (Kurt) Bollman of Fargo, N.D., Chuck (Cindy) Nelson of Dassel, and Julie (Mark) Krause of Delano; 25 grandchildren; 55-plus greatgrandchildren; and a brother, Wes (Kathy) Nelson of Stewart.

He was preceded in death by two stillborn siblings, an infant son, Michael, and two grandsons.

Donations may be given to the Meeker County Dairy Club or the Dassel Volunteer Fire Department.

Tracy L. Sheesley

Tracy L. Sheesley, Canton, N.Y., 79, passed away on November 7, 2025, at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, N.Y., after a brief stay.

He was born on July 9, 1946, to Walter and Mary (Powell) Sheesley in Punxsutawney, Pa. He graduated from Jamestown High School in 1964 and enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 25, 1965. He served in Vietnam until he was honorably discharged on October 10, 1968.

Sheesley married Carol Hurlbut in the town of Potsdam, N.Y., on September 19, 1969. The couple purchased a 23-acre farm in 1970 and established Cowbell Acres, where they focused on breeding and developing show cattle.

After a barn fire in 1996, the Sheesleys and their family moved the herd to a farm in Canton previously owned by Carol’s aunt and uncle.

Today, Cowbell Acres is operated by Carol and their daughter, Christine Sheesley-Rozler, and her family.

Over the years, the Sheesleys found success on the tanbark trail at local, state and national shows across the country. Among the highlights are the Reserve Winner of the 2022 National Jersey Jug Futurity, Cowbell Shoes Cleopatra, and several All Americans or Reserve All Americans. A cow they

bred, Cowbell Acres Guapo Ricochet, was Junior National Champion in 2015.

Tracy also had a 28-year career as a New York state trooper. After he retired in 1991, he did most of the outside tractor work on the farm. He also worked briefly at the post office and as a court security officer for the St. Lawrence County courthouse. Tracy was a mentor for his daughter, too, as she followed in his footsteps as a state trooper, retiring from the occupation in 2016 with 20 years of service.

Sheesley was a member of the American Jersey Cattle Association and served as a director of the New York Jersey Cattle Club in the 1980s.

For several years, he helped coordinate the state youth show string that traveled to the All American Junior Jersey Show in Louisville, Ky. Tracy was most proud of his family, especially his grandchildren, and the work put forth caring for the farm and its cows. He also had a love of antique vehicles and was the proud owner of both an Excalibur and a Triumph automobile.

In addition to his wife of 56 years, Carol, and daughter, Christine, and her husband, Matt, of Potsdam, he is survived by a son, Timothy (fiancé Jennifer Vanallen) Sheesle y of Gloucester, Va.; four grandchildren; a brother, William Sheesley of Lakewood, N.Y.; and a sister, Dorothy Enlow of Ashville, N.Y. Memorial contributions are suggested to Canton Fire and Rescue, 77 Riverside Drive, Canton, NY 13617.

Warren Gaby

Warren Gaby, Greeneville, Tenn., 82, passed away on November 13, 2025, surrounded by his best girl and family.

He was born on September 4, 1943, to the late Ralph and Mary Ann Gaby and grew up on a dairy farm that had been in his family since 1918 and had raised Registered Jerseys since the 1930s.

When he first saw his best girl, Alice Scott Gaby, in that yellow suit, and she said, “Hello,” he knew that she would be his forever girl. They married in January 1965 and gave birth to two girls—Donna (Gary) Rose and Angie (Jason) Daniels—whom Warren said were worth more than 10 boys.

Warren worked on the family farm with his best friend and little brother, Johnny (Stephanie), and nephew, Henry (Chrissy), his whole life. Established as Twin Poplars Farm and then renamed Henry Gaby and Sons in the (continued to page 46)

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In Memoriam (continued from page 45)

1940s, Warren and Johnny bought out other extended family members with the passing of their father and renamed it Gaby Jersey Farm.

The herd was known for production, longevity, and deep cow families. Gaby Jersey Farm ranked among the best in the country for production and genetic merit and consigned regularly to leading sales, including the All American Jersey Sale, National Heifer Sale and Pot O’Gold Sale. The Gabys sent more than 20 bulls to A.I. and marketed genetics across the globe. The herd was dispersed in December 2016, with buyers from 14 states and Canada making purchases.

While Warren was proud of the cows, his hardest work and pride came in the fields. He was able to help with this year’s corn crop and worried about getting “the best corn in the county” harvested, but his nephew made sure that happened.

Warren and Johnny loved working

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with their kids and grandkids, taking the Gaby Jerseys show string to fairs.

Today, Warren’s niece, Rachel (Josh), and their kids work hard to continue that legacy.

His sister, Marie (Jim) Everhart, was his biggest fan and cheerleader.

She kept him fed with his favorite soup and full of love. To his Mountain Valley Church family, Warren was known as Lucky the three-legged dog.

His world changed for Warren and Alice when their grandkids came along.

If ever you had a conversation with him, even briefly, you would have heard about them. Granddaddy had a love that had no limits. From lacrosse fields to cheer competitions, football fields, golf courses, show rings, tractor rides, multiple song requests at church, go kart rides, gater trips across the creek, handyman and woodworking training, waking up to “Blood on the Saddle,” phone wallpaper changes, and too many more memories to even attempt to list, Granddaddy already had a piece of heaven on earth.

Gaby was preceded in death by his grandparents and several aunts and uncles.

Jimmy “Jersey” White

Jimmy “Jersey” White, McKenzie, Tenn., 78, passed away on November 15, 2025, at his home.

He was born on January 22, 1947, to the late Leonard Ray White and Dorothy May Rumley White.

White operated a Registered Jersey farm with his family and was a member of the American Jersey Cattle Association.

He is survived by a daughter, Jennifer Sellers of Milan, Tenn.; two sons, Josh (Melanie) White of Huntingdon, Tenn., and Hayden White of Baltimore, Md.; a sister, Sandra (Rickey) Wilson of Huntingdon, Tenn.; a brother, Jerry (Brenda) White of Huntingdon, Tenn.; five grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Sandra Joan White Hones.

JERSEY JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2025

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