Jr. National Champion - Hillmont Durham Lyndi, Luke Hillegass
Holstein World: Share with our readers a little background about you and your farm.
Luke Hillegass: We downsized our farm and herd when my dad’s dad retired about 4 years ago. Right now we are milking about 50 cows in a SuperStructure barn. Normally we manage the work with just our family and a part time high school kid to help milk. My mom works off the farm and Juliana, my sister, is at Cornell working on her Phd in Reproductive Physiology. I am very involved in the operation of the farm, as was my brother, Alec, before he became ill due to cancer. We farm about 120 acres, putting out corn, oats and hay. We are fortunate to have some wonderful cow families to work with in our herd, namely the Hillmont Enhancer Peach Family, members of the Tobi Family, among others.
HW: Outline Lyndi”’’s pedigree and other unique attributes of her cow family.
Luke: Lyndi is a 2E-93 95-MS Durham from a VG-88 Aeroline with over 150,000M lifetime. Behind her is an Emory that was exported to Japan as a bred heifer. Her next 5 dams are 2E-92 GMD DOM Leadman, EX-93 GMD DOM Rotate, EX-92 GMD DOM Valiant, Walkup Astronaut Lou Ann 4E-94 GMD DOM & a 3E-91 DOM Elevation.
HW: What are Lyndi”’’s show career achievements?
Luke: Other than one time out to the PA State Fall Championship Show where she placed 1st open as a Jr 3, this was Lyndi”’’s first real show season. Her accomplishments this year include:
1st Aged Cow, Sr & Grand Champion Premier Natl. Jr. Show
1st Aged Cow, Sr. & Grand Champion PA Fall Championship Open & Jr. Show
1st Aged Cow, Res. Sr. & Res. Grand Champion PA Spring Show
1st Aged Cow, Sr. & Grand Champion PA Spring Jr. Show
Rest Bred & Owned PA Fall Championship Open & Jr. Show
2nd Aged Cow Eastern Fall National Show
HW: What is her current status? Milking, flushing, etc.
Luke: Lyndi is milking and due back July 2007.
HW: Do you have any offspring or offspring on the way from her?
Luke: We presently have a yearling daughter by Champion, a 1/07 September Storm daughter and an implant by Stormin Norman.
HW: What was it like to exhibit the Grand Champion at Harrisburg? What are your personal plans for the future?
Luke: My family and I have had outstanding show seasons before, but nothing to compare to this year. Winning as Grand Champion of the Premier National Junior Show with a home-bred cow was a dream come true after years in the show ring. Following that with two more Grand Champion ribbons with the same cow in the same week is awesome!
I plan to farm with my dad after some time off the farm, possibly attending the Short Course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
