2011 Outstanding Holstein Girl & Boy Outstanding Holstein Girl - Laura Elliott
Outstanding Holstein Boy - Kyle Natzke
2011 Outstanding Holstein Girl, that honor is something that I have always aspired to achieve but am still so humbled to have been named this exceptional achievement. I grew up on my families dairy farm in Marshall, Wis., where my parents, Ken & Kathy Elliott, along with my older sister, Amber, and I milked Holsteins and Jerseys. My passion for the dairy cow started in Ceres, Calif., where I helped my mom with some of her daily chores on the farm, such as feeding calves. I was given my first Holstein calf on my 1st birthday, unfortunately when my family decided to make the move to Wisconsin in 1995 my first Holstein had to stay behind. When my parents established Partee Holsteins they gave me the first heifer born on our farm that was Partee Diamond. She was the start of my animals that I owned. My family decided to disperse our herd this past July, it was a very tough decision for all of us to end a very large chapter in our lives. In our dispersal sale everything sold including all of our young stock. One thing we learned this summer is no matter where we are within the Holstein industry, whether it may be milking cows or serving farmers we all have the same passion for the Holstein cow and will carry that passion with us in every job we have. The Wisconsin Holstein Association has been a large part of my invaluable experiences within the dairy industry. Starting with participation in dairy bowl at a very young age where I was given the opportunity to learn about the Holstein cow and the history of the Association. I was lucky enough to win the state’s dairy bowl contest in 2006 and earned the opportunity to travel to the National Holstein Convention in Sioux Falls, S.D. Showmanship was another passion of mine when I was a younger member. I worked very hard with my animals to be able to succeed while in the ring. I am proud to say that I have been given the opportunity to give back to these two events within the Holstein Association by helping to organize these two contests in my past two years of being on the Junior Activities Committee. Serving on the Junior Activities Committee was always a goal of mine from a young age, I was honored when I was voted as the Southeast JAC representative and then this past year when my peers voted me as the JAC Chair. Serving the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association over the past two years was one of my best junior Holstein experiences. Another experience that I will never forget was being named a 2010 National Distinguished Junior Member Semi-Finalist. Representing the state of Wisconsin at National Holstein convention was an honor. Being with some of the best junior in the nation, and the top Holstein breeders was an amazing experience that I will always remember. In 2009 I was given the chance to combine my love of the Holstein cow with my passion for dairy promotion. I was named the 2009 Wisconsin Holstein Princess, and as princess I traveled the state attending various dairy events along with promoted agriculture and the dairy cow in the classroom. In my year as princess I was able to educate hundreds of elementary students about the importance of the dairy industry and agriculture in Wisconsin. Given opportunity to share a dairy farmers story to educate future generations about Wisconsin’s 26.5 billion dollar dairy industry was an unforgettable experience. Currently I am in my final semester at the University of WisconsinMadison, where I am double majoring in dairy science and life sciences communication while also pursing a business certificate. On campus I am actively involved in the Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club, National Agri-Marketing Association, and the collegiate dairy judging team. Upon graduation I have accepted a position with Dow AgroSciences.
It was a great honor for me to be named the 2012 Wisconsin Holstein Boy. I was extremely shocked and humbled to have received this award and to join the amazing group of people who have received this award in the past and have the same passion for the dairy industry that I do. Crestbrooke Holsteins, of Fond du Lac, is where I grew up and call home. My family consists of my parents, Tim and Barb as well as my sister Kristin and her husband Trent. Crestbrooke is a small but select herd of Registered Black and White as well as Red and White Holsteins and a few Jerseys. I received a Red and White calf when I was four years old from my Dad and a partner of his Dana Erway, and that is where my love of the Holstein cow begins. Although my family does not milk cows or farm any land, we raise all of our show heifers, and milk a few cows in the summer that we want to show. The rest of our cows are housed at farms throughout the state. There are a few cows that have impacted my herd and showing career throughout the years. First of all, a homebred favorite, Crestbrooke Encore Clasy-ET who is a second generation homebred EX-94 point cow was nominated Junior All-American 4 times in milking form. She is also turning out to be a great brood cow for us with her first scored milking daughter going EX as a 3 year old. Also, Raggi Durham Tobi-EX-92, has had a big impact on my herd. She is a granddaughter of Ernest-Anthony SD Tobi-EX-96 and has been Nominated Junior All American 3 of the last 4 years and All American once. She has two daughters by Palermo that are developing nicely, one which was second at the International Junior Holstein Show. Nova-TMJ Golden Erin in partnership with my Dad and Chad Ryan is a cow which has also helped with developing my herd. She has a very high gTPI and has helped teach me a lot about Genomics. I currently have 4 daughters out of her and 4 bulls in A.I. As a member of the Dodge County, Fond du Lac County, state, and national Junior Holstein Associations, I’ve been greatly involved in Junior Holstein activities. Since I was very young, I’ve shown at local, district, state, and national shows, including World Dairy Expo in Madison, the Eastern National in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the Southern National in Stillwater Oklahoma, and NAILE in Louisville, KY. Besides showing, I’ve been very active with the Junior Holstein Association and its activities. I have won the junior trip award, participated in the Youth Mentorship program as well as many contests at Junior Convention –including dairy bowl, speaking contests, dairy jeopardy, advertising contest etc., as well as helped with both the Fond du Lac and Dodge County Fitting and Showing workshops. In addition I have attended and participated in 5 National Holstein Conventions including winning the intermediate jeopardy contest and senior fitting contest. All of these have been very rewarding experiences and have helped me develop friendships, leadership experience, and knowledge to last a lifetime. Last March I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Farm and Industry Short Course with an emphasis in dairy herd management. Since I have been fitting cattle and helping at shows and sales throughout the United States and Canada. Currently, I am working on a three month internship with Arethusa Farm in Connecticut. I plan to return home for the summer. After this I would like to become a herdsman at a show herd, and eventually one day own a herd of my own Registered Holsteins. There are many people who have helped get me where I am today in the dairy industry and I would like to thank them for their guidance and support. First of all, I would like to thank my parents, Dad for teaching me almost everything I know about dairy cattle and clipping, as well as teaching me a great work ethic. Also, thank you to my mom for always
14–wisconsin HOLSTEIN news/March 2012