Holstein World: Share with our readers a little bit about your personal backgrounds. What led to both of you being Registered Holstein breeders? What keeps you active in the business today? What does the breed need to do to maintain its success and ensure the livelihood of fellow Holstein breeders?

Willow’s Edge: Henk’’s family immigrated from Holland when he was 10 so that they would be able to farm. Henk and his brother John bought the current farm in 1976 as a “hobby farm” which consisted of Registered Milking Shorthorns. The Shorthorns were gradually replaced by Registered Holsteins. Bonnie came from a grade Holstein farm in Marathon County, WI. A Doboy FFA calf project got her started with registered Holsteins when she was 16 years old.

Currently, Henk is still practicing law in New Richmond and Bonnie is a Sr Business loan officer at a local credit union. We have both served on the WI Holstein Board and are past Presidents. We currently serve on committees and are on the Executive Committee for the 2008 National Holstein Convention to be held in Wisconsin.

You asked what the Holstein Breed needs to do to maintain success and ensure the livelihood of the breed. Our response is to maintain its relationship with the grade breeder. The investor clientele come and go but the farmer who wants to own their first Excellent cow has aspirations and dreams. If you develop relationships and earn their respect, this is your growth market.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 at 9:31 am by sschmidt and is filed under Guest Blogger Series. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.