The 2013 A.C. “Whitie” Thomson Memorial Award was presented to Jason Danhof, Waukon, Iowa, by the Whitie Thomson family during the 47th World Dairy Expo, marking Danhof’s 25th consecutive year involved with World Dairy Expo. The award honors the herdsman/showman who exhibits exemplary leadership and sportsmanship throughout the show. Danhof was selected because he treats his fellow Expo exhibitors with integrity and friendliness, resembling those characteristics of A.C. “Whitie” Thomson.
Danhof grew up on his family’s Guernsey Farm in Marshfield, Wis. He is the oldest of three children, his parents, Tom and Renee Danhof, ran a small Guernsey operation and exhibited animals at the Minnesota State Fair, World Dairy Expo, North American International Livestock Exposition, as well as local and state shows. Danhof graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1998 with a degree in Dairy Science. While exhibiting at the World Dairy Expo, Danhof has exhibited class winners in three breeds, including the 1996 Grand Champion Guernsey of the Junior Show at World Dairy Expo, Dannys Frank Peaches.
For over 25 years, Danhof has immersed himself into all aspects of the dairy industry becoming internationally recognized as a premier dairy cattle developer. He has worked with many top registered dairy cattle breeders throughout the U.S., as well as breeders in 16 different countries. He also works with several artificial insemination organizations and many other merchandizing professionals throughout the world.
Although Danhof got his start in the industry with Guernseys he purchased his first Holstein heifer while in college. His first homebred Holstein, Dannys Milan Jill, won the Wisconsin State Show as a five-Year-Old and went on to be classified Excellent-94. In 2008, he married Sheri Regan. They have one son, Zachary, born in February 2013 and a stepdaughter, Alexus. Working closely with Sheri’s home farm, Regancrest Holsteins, Inc., they have managed a series of successful consignment sales. Under the Danhof prefix they have bred over 70 animals and own over 300 head in various partnerships.
Danhof can be described as a humble, driven professional always striving to accomplish goals and provide value to clients. He enjoys working with youth and has assisted at judging and fitting clinics nationally. He is always willing to take time to teach youth and others within the industry about fitting and marketing while sharing his passion for the dairy industry.
World Dairy Expo is the largest dairy focused trade show in the world featuring over 2,300 head of North America’s finest dairy cattle, over 850 exhibiting companies, Virtual Farm Tours, Expo Seminars and numerous industry contests. Visit www.worlddairyexpo.com for more details or call 608-224-6455.
