This year’s annual convention was held November 22 and 23 in Staunton, Virginia at the Holiday Inn Golf and Conference Center. The Friday evening banquet included two award presentations and a guest speaker. After a delicious meal, Jeff Meador presented the Meritorious Service award to Jimmy and Donna Kerr of Ameva Farm. Ameva Farm is home to 20 excellent cows and served as host of the 2010 Field Day. Jimmy has served as past president of the Holstein association and Donna as a Junior Advisor. They have also served on industry boards and hosted school tours and judging practices. Thank you to sponsors Riley and Barbara Wagner, Rilara Holsteins for continuing to sponsor this award.
Next, Loren Rhodes of Ole-VA Holsteins spoke about the history of auctions and marketing of cattle in Virginia. He presented a special Appreciation award to Roger Miller and Barbara Clary of Ownby Auctions, Inc. They have sponsored the tent used at annual field days and Dennis Ownby served as the 1983 National Sale host and auctioneer. They received a large personalized glass vase.
Colleen Jones, representing the National Dairy Shrine spoke briefly about the Shrine’s activities, scholarships available and ‘The Chronicle’ newsletter that is available to members. Hayley Potts, president of the Junior Association promoted “Penny Wars” and the semen raffle fundraiser.
The banquet concluded with a Powerpoint presentation by Don Bennick of North Florida Holsteins. He showed graphs and discussed the changing dairy cow.
On Saturday morning, Mr. Bennick led a discussion on “Genetic facts and fallacies in the development of the most profitable Holstein cow.” Forty members and guests were present for the annual membership meeting. Chairpersons gave updates on committee progress. Mike Hendrix, Holstein Representative, mentioned that the regional meeting will be held in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The Secretary-Treasurer position interviews were conducted and a decision will be made in December. Matt Nuckols and Randy Inman will serve as delegates to the National Holstein Convention to be held in Iowa 2014. Dan Myers, representing SUDIA mentioned that there are 650 Grade A dairy farms in Virginia and he encouraged the group to consider having next year’s meeting in conjunction with Virginia ADA to have a more unified dairy voice and more dairymen represented. It was also mentioned to try to work together with the VA State Dairymen’s Association.
David Winston mentioned that the 2014 Southeast Youth retreat will be hosted by Virginia Tech July 13-17. He also thanked Lois Skeen and Matt Nuckols for serving as Judging Team coaches. He introduced Jeremy Daubert as the new Extension Agent serving Rockingham and Augusta counties and mentioned a new specialist from Argentina has been hired along with a new geneticist for a faculty position. The new facilities have broken ground and are still in the planning stages.
Debbie Hardesty is this year’s Field Day chairperson and will be working with Eric Paulson to coordinate a “time slot” for Virginia Holstein to have a short meeting. Barbara Wagner is the 100 year anniversary chairperson which will be held in 2016. She is working on gathering recipes to be included in a cookbook. Please get her your recipes as soon as possible. Carol McComb will be working on a Powerpoint presentation so if you have any memorabilia, pictures or historical pieces, please get in touch with Carol at 540-338-6113 or grandmamccomb@gmail.com.
The juniors reported that the new advisors will be Liz Leonard, Patti Craun and Matt Nuckols.
Progressive Genetics Herd Award recipients: Mar-Bil Farms, James Cook, Eastview Farm, Melvin Ronk, Monta Vista, Inc., Belair Dairy, Byard Rohrer, Allen Layman, Alvis Farm LLC, Seth and Ruth Jamison,Virginia Tech Foundation, Kenneth Smith, Robert Stoots, Leland Keith Moyer, Craig Rodes and Meadow Lake Farm, Inc.
All-Virginia and Junior All-Virginia Awards:
Spring Calf: sponsored by Heiz-Acres, Middlebrook
All-VA: Harvue Guthrie Emilyann-ET, Harvue Farm
Reserve All-VA: Glen-V-DF Annabelle-Red-ET, Thomas Grow and Madison Swope
Jr. All-VA and honorable mention All-VA: Walkup Sanchez May, Anna Myers
Winter Calf: sponsored by Monta Vista Inc., Harrisonburg
All-VA: Ron-Rou Braxton Paula, Sarah Craun
Jr. All VA and Reserve All VA: Walkup Atwood Madge, Kristina Callender
Honorable Mention All VA and Reserve Jr. All VA: Southbound Destry Lollypop, Nathaniel Figgins
Fall Calf: sponsored by Wall Bros. Dairy Inc. Blacksburg
All-VA: Harvue Atwood Ginger, Harvue
Reserve All-VA: Harvue Braxton Flow, Ashley Elgin
Honorable Mention all-VA and Jr. All-VA: Harvue Braxton Fairlee, Davey Hardesty
Reserve Jr. All-VA: St-Jacob Ftsy Velvet-red, Madison Swope
Summer Yearling sponsored by Gloryland Holsteins, Grottoes
All-VA and Jr. All-VA: Ron-Rou Damion Cinderella, Rachel Craun
Fall Yearling sponsored by Ron-Rou Holsteins, Mt. Solon
All-VA and Jr. All VA: Lo-Pine Rubens Mary Beth, Cassidy Lam, Mt. Solon
Jr. Best 3 females sponsored by Belair Holsteins, Culpeper
All VA: Harvue Farm
Dry 3 & 4 yr old cow, sponsored by Cherry Dale Farm, Inc, Doswell
All VA and Jr All VA: Mar-Bil Reality Alexa-Red, Kelly Callender
Dry 5 year and older cow, sponsored by Stoney Run Farm, Inc., McGaheysville
All VA and Jr All-VA: Walkup Blitz Trisha, Kelly Callender
Jr. 2 yr old, sponsored by M & K Hoof Care, Harrisonburg
All-VA and Jr. All-VA: Harvue Atwood Felice, Davey Hardesty
Reserve All VA and Jr. All VA: Walkup Aftershock Flo, Kristina Callender
Sr. 2 yr old sponsored by JR and JG Goodwin, Orange
All-VA: Ehrhardt Sanchez Liz, Cole and Isabelle Leonard
Jr. 3 yr old sponsored by Greenmount Grain Roasting, Harrisonburg
All VA and Jr All VA: Harvue Atwood Fox-ET, Davey Hardesty
Reserve All VA and Reserve Jr. All VA: Burkdale Lowe-Red, Kelly Callender
Sr. 3 yr old sponsored by Jareco Farms, Penhook
All VA and Jr. All VA: Harvue Advent Ruby-Red, Davey Hardesty
Reserve All VA and Reserve Jr. All VA: Pottsdale Talent Shanon, Hayley Potts
Four Yr old, sponsored by Walkup Holsteins, Harrisonburg
All VA: Harvue Roy Fantasie, Harvue Farm
Reserve All-VA: Pottsdale Lou Kaliope-ET, Dogwood Farm
Five yr old sponsored by Eastview Farm Inc, Beaverdam
All VA: Pottsdale Goldwyn Rozina-ET, Dogwood Farm
Best 3 females sponsored by Ameva Farm, Amelia
All-VA: Harvue
Reserve All-VA: Dogwood Farm
Breeders Herd sponsored by Jeff and Phyllis Meador, Mt Sidney
All –VA: Harvue Farm
