The Holstein Foundation announces efforts this fall to benefit the newly established Horace Backus Fund, to support young dairy producers in attending the Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI). A Holstein heifer will be sold at the World Classic Holstein Sale Friday, October 3, at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. A number of vintage catalogs will be sold at various sales as well.
The Holstein heifer selling at the World Classic to benefit the fund is HEZ ASHOCK MS HORACE-ET 3013295072 100%RHA. She is a June Aftershock daughter out of the All-American and All-Canadian Dubeau Dundee Hezbollah, donated by St Jacobs ABC, Clark and Lois Woodmansee, and Peter and Lynn Vail. A syndicate will be formed to purchase the heifer and donate it back to the fund. The sky is the limit on donations; a minimum of $100 will be accepted.
For Holstein history buffs, sale catalogs from Dunloggin, Mount Victoria, and Rosafe are some of the early donations from Duane Green, Michigan and Ken Melvold, California. The Dunloggin catalogs will be auctioned at the Eastern Elite Sale, September 16 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and the Nittany Lion Fall Classic, November 8 in State College, Pennsylvania. The Mount Victoria and Rosafe catalogs are slated to sell at the New York Fall Harvest Holstein Sale, November 1 in Ithaca, New York.
The Horace Backus Fund was the vision of industry leaders themselves; Tim Abbott, Frank Conyngham, Joel Hastings and Dave Rama. To honor Horace’s legacy so that he can be a part of it, they developed the idea of supporting dairy producers to attend YDLI. Often dubbed “the Dean of Pedigrees,” Horace is widely known and respected around the country for his remarkable knowledge of Holstein genetics, and lifetime of experience in dairy sales.
The annual yields from the fund will be used to give full support to one hard-working and deserving young dairyman or woman to attend the Young Dairy Leaders Institute each year. More than $33,000 has been raised so far toward the $50,000 fundraising goal. Donations are also accepted online at www.holsteinfoundation.org . All donations are tax deductible—help support your dairy leaders of the future!
