We are saddened to learn that Ray Ruby is battling pancreatic cancer. Ray and Ida could surely use some support, friendship and prayers from the Holstein fraternity right now. Please feel free to send cards and positive thoughts along to them and keep them in your prayers. Their address is:
Ray and Ida Ruby
37955 Fir Ridge Rd.
Scio, OR 9737

Andrea Haines sent us these photos and information from the 43rd Annual Carroll County Calf Sale. The sale which took place Saturday, March 6, 2010 in Westminster, MD, averaged $2259 on 32 live lots.

The title of all-time highest seller in the sale series went to lot #1, a June born calf, Windy-Knoll-View Profwyn-ET consigned by Windy-Knoll-View Holsteins, the Burdette Family of Mercersburg, Pa. for $6850. The RC Goldwyn granddaughter of 2E-95, Windy-Knoll-View Pledge-ET was purchased by the Haines, Heath and Sanders Syndicate of Westminster, Md. From left to right are David Lentz, ringman; Brett and Andrea Haines, buyers; David Lease, pedigrees; Chris Hill, auctioneer; Ryan Haines, leadsman; Josh and Leeann Sanders, buyers and Michael Heath, buyer.

A calf, MD-Carrollton Europe, donated by Roger and Loretta Wright of New Windsor, Md. was auctioned off to benefit the Maryland 4-H Dairy Judging Team’s trip to Europe. The October aged heifer sired by Alexander was first sold to the Friends of Henry Muller Syndicate, long-time calf sale supporter for $1600. The calf was resold to MD-Locust Crest Farm, Union Bridge for $2000. From left to right are buyers John Mike Myers with daughter, Jenna; David Lentz, ringman; David Lease, pedigrees; Kiera Finucane, coach; Loretta Wright, coach and donator; Chris Hill, auctioneer; Emily Gill, team member; Roger Wright, donator; Ariel Taxdal, team member and Jim Myers, buyer.

More scenes from the sale:

On Saturday, March 6th, the UW-River Falls Dairy Club held their biannual Falcon Premier Sale at the UW-RF Mann Valley Lab Farm in River Falls, WI. The gorgeous day held the promise of spring and people came out in droves to attend the sale. You couldn’t even call it standing room only because if you weren’t there by noon, you were standing outside the sale building!

UW-River Falls alumni make up the sales force for the sale and this year that included Jim Powers, Mark Rueth, Todd Doornink, Reid Stransky, Kelli Cull, Marci Walker and Katie Bue. Tom Morris, Ltd assisted with the sale management.

Leadswomen extraordinaire!

The sale was co-chaired by Londa Johnson and Abbey Schultz and the sale committe put together a very nice lineup of heifers.

At the end of the day, 50 lots averaged $2, 637.

High seller at $6,000 was Lot 11 – Budjon-JK Laurin Evanna – a 6/09 Laurin daughter out of an Excellent Durham daughter of Budjon-JK Encore Electra (EX-95 2E GMD DOM). Her 3rd dam is, of course, Krull Broker Elegance (EX-96) and Evanna is a potential 8th generation EX. Consigned by Elegance Futures of Lomira, WI, she was purchased by Huppert Bros Inc of River Falls, WI.

Budjon-JK Laurin Evanna

Second-high seller at $4,400 was Lot 57 – Greenlea Rob Caboom-Red-ET – a powerful 10/07 Greenlea Rube Rob-Red daughter out of Greenlea Redman Cara-Red-ET (VG-88). Cara is the show-winning daughter of the All-American R&W Yursden Kite Caramac (EX-92). Greenlea-bred top and bottom, Caboom was consigned by Richard Green of Middletown, DE and purchased by Brittnee Wness of LeRoy, MN.

Greenlea Rob Caboom-Red

Tied at $4,300 for third high were two lots. Budjon Jasper Ashanti-ET, a 6/09 Jasper daughter of Budjon Champion Adorable (EX-91) was consigned by Budjon Farms of Lomira, WI. Her 2nd dam is 3E-96 Budjon Stardust Anisa-ET and John Newman of Star Prairie, WI put up the last bid to claim her.

Also at $4,300 was another Jasper – Elm-Mound Jasper Sami-ET – a 3/09 daughter of Velvet-View-KJ Starlight-ET (VG-88), a Durham daughter that goes back into the popular Saturday family. Purchased by Huppert Bros Inc. of River Falls, WI, she was consigned by Darin Johnson of Fort Collins, CO.

The nice weather brought tons of people out to the sale – including the Chris VanDyk family of New Richmond! The West Croix crew includes Chris, Landon, Lane and Rikki.

The UW-River Falls Dairy Club is the largest collegiate dairy club in the country. They hosted a free lunch before the sale and also held a worker auction consisting of members of their judging teams. 2009 was a good one for those teams, including a 1st place finish at the All-American and a 2nd place finish at World Dairy Expo!

We received the following report and photos from Dakota Grayling, the current Illinois Junior Holstein Association Reporter, regarding their recent Spring Thing. Thanks for sharing, Dakota! And attention all other state junior associations – we’d love to include reports and photos from your activities, too! Send them to me – Sarah Schmidt – at sschmidt@dairybusiness.com. We always love hearing from juniors across the country having fun!

On Saturday and Sunday, Febuary 27th and 28th, the Illinios Junior Holstein Association held their annual “Spring Thing”. At the “Spring Thing”, members competed in the dairy quiz bowl, dairy jeopardy, public speaking / speech, and poster / display contests. The “Spring Thing” was held at the Hawthorne Suites in Champaign, Illinois and approximately 80 people attended.

Kyle Mitchell Outstanding Junior Memorial Award Recipient, Emily Lyons

Photo L-R: Aaron Mitchell, Emily Lyons, and IJHA Advisor Melissa Irwin

Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest: 5 senior teams & 11 junior teams

The winning senior team was from Boone-Winnebago counties.

Dairy Bowl Top Ten Individuals – Senior

Back Row L-R: Josh Huelsman, Chris Kollmann, Justin Crull, Aaron Mitchell, Phillip Shanks, and Matt Drendel
Front Row L-R: Angie Boesche , Elizabeth Myelle, Colleen Ziller, and Sarah Sheehan

Top 6 Senior Dairy Quiz Bowl Contestants to compete at the 2010 National Holstein Convention,
June 26-29, in Bloomington, MN

Back Row L-R: Josh Huelsman, Chris Kollmann, and Aaron Mitchell
Front Row L-R: Elizabeth Myelle, Colleen Ziller, and Sarah Sheehan

The winning junior team was a combined effort from Boone, Winnebago, Tri-County, McHenry, and Lake counties.

Dairy Bowl Top Ten Individuals – Junior

Back Row L-R: Crystal Rote, Todd Irwin, Ryan Sheehan, Daniel Obert, Anna Folgate, and Morgan Bollech
Front Row L-R: Emily Irwin, Kaitlyn Carlson, Kaylen Miller, and Jordan Oellerich

Illinois Junior Dairy Quiz Bowl Contestants to compete at the 2010 National Holstein Convention,
June 26-29, in Bloomington, MN

Back Row L-R: Ryan Sheehan, Morgan Bollech, and Daniel Obert
Front Row L-R: Emily Irwin, Kaitlyn Carlson, and Jordan Oellerich

Kyle Mitchell Top Junior Dairy Quiz Bowl Award Recipient, Morgan Bollech

Photo L-R: Gail Pollard, Morgan Bollech, and IJHA Advisor Melissa Irwin

Kyle Mitchell Top Senior Dairy Quiz Bowl Award Recipient, Emily Lyons

Photo L-R: Gail Pollard, Emily Lyons, and IJHA Advisor Melissa Irwin

Dairy Jeopardy Contest: 8 seniors, 11 intermediates & 28 juniors

Top 3 Senior Jeopardy Contestants
L-R: Second Place Josh Huelsman, Third Place Angie Boesche, and First Place Aaron Mitchell

Top 3 Intermediate Jeopardy Contestants
L-R: Third Place Tim Kindberg, Second Place Ryan Sheehan, and First Place Sarah Sheehan

Top 3 Junior Jeopardy Contestants
L-R: Second Place Emily Irwin, First Place Daniel Obert, and Third Place Jordan Oellerich

Public Speaking / Speech Contest: 2 intermediate & 2 juniors

Intermediate Speech Division
L-R: Second Place Morgan Bollech and First Place Sarah Sheehan

Junior Speech Division
L-R: Second Place Morgan Exner and First Place Kaitlyn Carlson

Morgan Bollech, Kaitlyn Carlson and Sarah Sheehan will represent Illinois at the National Public Speaking / Speech Contest at the National Holstein Convention this coming summer.

Poster / Display Contest: 1 intermediate & 11 junior entries

Junior Division
L-R: Kaylen Miller “Quality Counts!” and Brianna Sheehan “What Drink Do You Do?”
Not Pictured: Emily Sheehan “Dairy Moo-niversity”

Intermediate Division
Tim Kindberg “From Beginning To End: A Cow’s Digestive Tract”

Overall, the weekened agenda was very busy yet quite fun. As you can see…Saturday was spent mostly competing in all the contests. Saturday evening, there was a dinner banquet where the top ten dairy quiz bowl individuals in the junior and senior divisions were anounced. Those top ten then competed for the top six spots to represent Illinois in the National Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest. After the banquet, an “Ag Olympics” and a dance was held.

On Sunday morning after breakfast, the Illinois Junior Holstein Association held their business meeting. Congratulations to all those who competed and best of luck to those representing Illinois at the National Holstein Convention, June 26th-29th, in Bloomington, Minnesota!

Special thank yous to all who helped with all of our contests and especially our donors: ABS c/o Adam Watkins of Woodstock, IL; Midwest Dairy Association c/o Marla Behrends of Carlock, IL; R-Vision Holstens c/o Mark and Melissa Irwin of Belvidere, IL; and Stateline Vet Clinic of Clinton, WI.

Some scenes from the Wisconsin Holstein Convention that took place over the weekend!

WI Holstein Award Winners: Distinguished Breeder Allen Rippchen & wife Pat Rippchen; Young Distinguished Breeder Todd Borgwardt; and Distinguished Service Recipient, Mike Snyder.

Top seller at the WI Convention Futures Sale (L to R): Sale Committee member Chad Ryan, Ron Sersland representing Lookout
Holsteins & Marita Holsteins of Quebec, Canada, Consignors Ron & Sue Hackmann and Sale Chair Bob Traynor.

As producers of “nature’s most perfect food” we should be aware of issues facing other segments of the food industry and two very interesting stories came across the desk this morning. One is very much an “are you kidding me?” type of story, while the other is a “it’s about time they found out” story. If you agree or not, we still think they are interesting. And even more important to think about…the microscope is on full power in the food industry. Be ready. Be prepared. Be able to think on your feet. And most importantly – do things right. We don’t know what inquisitions are coming next, but we do know they’re coming.
_______________________

Pediatricians call for choking label for hot dogs
The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for the Food & Drug Administration to require warning labels on certain foods, such as hot dogs, that are proven to be a choking risk for children or, in lieu of a label, for manufacturers to redesign the food items to minimize the risk. The academy noted that more than 100 children 14 years old or younger die from choking every year and that 61 of the 141 choking deaths in kids in 2006 were food related.

Besides hot dogs, the Academy also cited apples, grapes, raw carrots, hard candies, peanuts, popcorn and marshmallows as creating a high risk for choking and said parents should cut these foods into small pieces to keep them from getting caught in a child’s throat.

Hot dog manufacturers — representing approximately half of the market — already are labeling their hot dogs as a choking risk, with suggestions that parents remove casings from hot dogs, if present, and cut hot dogs into small pieces before serving them to children, as well as supervise their children’s eating behavior, according to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council President Janet Riley.

Riley, who is senior vice president for public affairs at the American Meat Institute, added that a study on the effectiveness of choking-hazard labels should be conducted before mandating such labels.
Source: Feedstuffs FoodLink, Rod Smith

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Whole Foods Market “Organic” food made in China.
For those of you who watch YouTube, you’ll want to click on the link below for an investigative news report done by a television station in Virginia. They uncovered a truth about leading organic food marketers, Whole Foods. It appears that many of the foods marketed as organic actually come from China where organic-status regulations aren’t monitored the same as they are in the U.S. We’re not saying that the foods aren’t organic, but it’s hard to say if both the U.S. and Chinas have the same regulations for farms being certified organic. In the YouTube segment, it also reveals consumer’s shock and surprise at what they feel is somewhat false labeling on products.

Here’s how to see the video – see what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ31Ljd9T_Y&feature=player_embedded

We’d be interested in your thoughts on either story. Do you think the dairy industry is safe from these kinds of investigations/regulations? Email your comments to kknutsen@dairybusiness.com, and we’ll keep you posted on any feedback we get here on the AllBreeds Blog.

The 2010 PA Convention Sale committee “thought outside the box” and changed the concept of the sale to a video preview (both online and at the sale site) of the animals offered. That proved to be a wise move strategically due to the winter storms. The sale averaged $3,938 on 43 full lots.

Lot 5 stole the show at a final bid of $22,600 from Gene Iager, Fulton, MD and Justin & Claire Burdette, Mercesburg, PA. The contender to claim this Sr. 2-Yr-Old show prospect was Mossy’s Holsteins of Rockwood, PA. Here auctioneer Matt Lawrence takes the phone bids after pedigree expert Horace Backus shares the pedigree of Elk-Lick Gold Ariel Lexy-ET. Lexy is out of Elk-Lick Gib Ardel Ariel-ET (EX-90), then Charles Ardel (3E-94 DOM). She was the consignment of Willard Maust, Meyersdale, PA

“The man on the move!” Sale Chairman Jason Ruffaner worked the crowd and the phone to insure the success of this event.

Taking in the pre-sale breakfast from left: Kevin Holtzinger (partially hidden): Steve Cornman; Deb Cornman, Pennsylvania Profiles editor; a former PHA President Reid Hoover & Diane Hoover; and newly elected PHA President Dean Jackson.

Checking your wallet Credie? Contributing to Pennsylvania’s budget at the nearby casino the day before the sale were Credie Cornman and Fred Strouse.

At the end of a very successful day in Elkhorn, WI, the Parade of Perfection Sale averaged $35,276 on 145 lots. The sale grossed $5,115,100 in front of a large crowd on Saturday, February 27th.

Lot 32 – $7000
Choice of 3 Aftershocks x Ms Kingstead Chief Adeen

Lot 33 – $7,000
Choice of 4 Aftershocks x Shoremar S Alicia

Lot 25 – $20,000
Comestar Lautamikia Planet

Lot 44 – $7,700
Scientific M Damsel Rae (substitute animal)

Lot 45 – $16,500
KHW Shottle Ashlee

Lot 81 – $10,000
Ms Cresentmead Alana-ET

Lot 38A – $23,000
2nd choice Man-O-Man x Regancrest G Brocade

Lot 38 – $7,200
Sanchez female (reg. pending) x Brocade

Lot 12 – 1st choice Freddie x Regancrest Mac Britelite
$7,500

Lot 12A – 1st choice Million x Britelite
$7,200

Lot 82 – 1st choice Domain x OCD Planet Diamond-ET
$24,000

Lot 59 – Budjon-JK Gibson Enjoy-ET $35,000 Lot 60 – Budjon-JK Mac Exault-ET $8,500 Lot 60A – Budjon-JK Laurin Elana-ET $6,700 Lot 94 – Rokeyroad Goldwyn Elate-ET $8,200 Lot 94A – 1st choice Atwood x Ma-Tom-Ba Durham Envy $4,500 Lot 75 – Budjon-JK Affirmed Eula-ET $5,500 Lot 19 – 1st choice Aftershock x Winterbay Goldwyn Lotto $13,000 Lot 19A – 2nd choice Aftershock x Lotto $13,000 Lot 40 – Mac (reg. pending) x Idee Lustre $6,000 Lot 20 – 1st choice Aftershock x KY-Blue Ruben Marla $12,500 Lot 77 – 1st choice Shottle x KY-Blue GW Debbie-ET $6,500 Lot 65 – BVK Jasper Anaconda-ET $11,000 Lot 65A – BVK Jasper Adelle-ET $7,500 Lot 65B – BVK Jasper Adelida-ET $5,700 Lot 56 – $23,000 Lot 56A – $12,000 Lot 57 – $5200 Lot 30 – $4000 Lot 78 -$5800 Lot 79 – $10,700 Lot 79D – $2900 Lot 79E – $2300 Lot 79F – $4100 Lot 79C – $1800 Lot 79A – $3200 Lot 79B – $2800 Lot 79G – $1800 Lot 51A – $4200 Lot 51 – $2900 Lot 51B – $3000 Lot 51C – $2800 Lot 84 – $4100 Lot 61 – $3700 Lot 62 – $10,400 Lot 47 – $4500 Lot 46 – $12,200 Lot 63 – $3500 Lot 64 – $6200 Lot 66A – $3700 Lot 66 – $6600 Lot 74 – $4400 Lot 27 – $6100 Lot 27A – $4600 Lot 28 – $6300 Lot 28A – $6700 Lot 28B – $4400 Lot 34 – $4700 Lot 34A – $4300 Lot 52 – $3900 Lot 83 – $8800 Lot 88 – $3900 Lot 89 – $5000 Lot 90 – $2800 Lot 93 – $3700 Lot 35A – $5000 Lot 35 – $5500 Lot 58 – $10,500 Lot 31 – $4300 Lot 31A – $3300 Lot 55A – $4700 Lot 55 – $3900 Lot 54 – $5600 Lot 54A – $3000 Lot 92 – $3700 Lot 91A – $4900 Lot 91 – $3000 Lot 96 – $6000

Lot 96A – $6000

Lot 69 – $2600

Lot 70 – $2700

Lot 70A – $2700

Lot 53 – $3200

Lot 67 – $2400

Lot 49 – $4900

Lot 49A – $5600

Lot 95 – $4100

Lot 97 – $3200

Lot 68 – $3600

Lot 68A – $3100

Lot 68B – $2500

Lot 76 – $3600

Lot 73A – $3600

Lot 73C – $3000

Lot 73 – $3600

Lot 48 – $2500

Lot 31B – $8000

Lot 31C – $16,000

Lot 72 – $7500

Lot 14 – Beldavid Jasper Jordan
$ 46,000

Lot 15 – Karran Jasper Dena
$20,000

Lot 18 – Pierstein Goldwyn Dalinda
$24,200

Lot 16 – Rotaly Jasper Divine
$17,800

Lot 17 – Dubeau Goldwyn Arethuza – now *RC
$21,700 – Richard Jordan, UT

Lot 3 – 1st choice Atwood x Harvue Roy Frosty
$62,000 Siemers Holsteins, WI

Lot 7B – 1st choice Freddie male x Farnear-TBR Aset Abslute-ET
$60,000 – Affiliated Sires (Foundation Sires, Taurus Service & Browndale)

Lot 7A – 1st choice Freddie female x Abslute
$9,000

Lot 7 – Farnear-TBR Aset Abslute-ET
$80,000

Lot 8 – Morningview Shtl Asset-ET
sells in absentia $25,000

Lot 9 – Sonnek BLT Double Dipped-ET $80,000

Lot 9A – 1st choice Million x Double Dipped $7,200

Lot 11 – 1st choice Freddie x Regancrest S Chassity-ET $79,000

Lot 11A – 1st choice Alexander x Chassity $40,000 – MilkSource Genetics

Lot 10 – 1st choice Aftershock x Eastside Lewisdale Gold Missy $70,000

Lot 37C – 1st choice Super x Larcrest Crimson-ET $63,000 – Morsan

Lot 37 – 1st choice Freddie x Larcrest Cosmopolitan $39,000

Lot 37A – 1st choice Alexander x Cosmopolitan $28,000

Lot 37B – 1st choice Big Time x Cheyenne $9,000 – Fly Higher Holsteins, NY

Lot 21 – Comco Roy Spears $22,000

Lot 22 – Luck-E Dundee Jenna $20,500

Lot 43 – 1st choice TBA x UFM-Dubs Sheray-ET $18,000

Lot 39A – 1st choice Super male x Ralma Goldwyn Carmel-ET $60,000 – Affiliated Sires

Lot 39 – 1st choice Super x Carmel $15,200

Lot 24A – 1st choice Freddie male x Savage-Leigh Lavisha $60,000

Lot 24 – 1st choice Freddie x Lavisha $22,500

Lot 42 – Ammon-Peachey Mill Staci-ET $32,000

Lot – Whittier-Farms Autumn-ET $9,000

Lot 99 – BKB Goldwyn August-ET $63,500

Lot 85A – BKB Shottle Ashlynn-ET $8,000

Lot 85 – BKB Shottle Aka-ET $4,100

Lot 26A – 1st choice Atwood or Super x Misty-Springs Shottle Sizzline-ET $6,200

Lot 4C – 1st choice Alexander male x Long-Haven Gold Rochelle $60,000 – International Protein Sires

Lot 4A – 1st choice Sanchez x Rochelle $37,000

Lot 4B – 1st choice Mac x Rochelle $9,000

Lot 4D – 1st choice Goldwyn x Long-Haven Durham Randi-ET $12,000

Lot 36 – BVK Shottle Annalee-ET $7,000

Lot 41 – Lizas Shottle Lexie $10,500

Lot 29 – Choice of 9 Atwoods x Ms Kingstead Chief Adeen-ET $10,200

Lot 29A – Choice of 8 Atwoods x Adeen $8,000