The PA Spring Show starts this morning at 9am. Officiating the 237 animals in Harrisburg is Bob Morrell of Cochranton, PA. World staffer Frank Putman is on the scene and will be sending us champion information as the day progresses. Here are some scenes from the barn yesterday.

High Seller in the Kansas State Sale - Lot #14

Greenlea Redman Cara-ET born Sept 2005, fresh Jan 2008. Cara is a Redman x Yurdsen Kite Caramac-Red (EX-92) All-American R&W Jr. 2 - 2004, Reserve All-American Jr. 2 - 2004, All-American R&W 4-Year-Old - 2006, Nom All-American R&W 5-Year-Old - 2007. Cara was consigned by Kevin Winter & Robert Yeoman, KS & OK and purchased by Richard Green, DE for $110,000. Contender was Kingsmill, NC.

2nd High Seller was Lot #7, Whitaker Stormy Rae-ET - 2nd Winter Calf at the 2007 International Holstein Show and HHM All-American Winter Calf. Stormy Rae is a Stormatic x VG-88 Aspen that goes back to the Roxy’s. Stormy Rae was consigned by Starmark Farm, OH and purchased by Kisst Dairy for $30,000.

High Selling Jersey was Lot #103 - First Choice Comerica x Avonlea D Jude Karmel (EX94) from 3 heifer calves born in December 2007. Karmel is known as an outstanding brood cow with daughters scored EX95, EX93, VG88, VG87, and is the dam of a couple show winning heifers as well. The choice was consigned by Ron and Christy Ratliff, KS and purchased by Randy Ebert, WI for $8400.

HOLSTEINS

Junior Champions of the Junior Show

L-R: HM Junior Champ - 1st Spring Yearling, Taylor Leach and Casey George, KS

Reserve Junior Champ - Poor-Riches Tribute Amber, 1st Winter Yearling, Colton Buessing, KS

Junior Champ - Lin-Crest Dundee Beauty-ET, 1st Fall Calf, Taylor Leach, KS

Judge Kelly Barbee, NC

Junior Champions of the Open Show

L-R: Reserve Junior Champ - Will-Wen-Brook Alleg Taffy, 1st Fall Calf, Carol & Kalli Keen, KS

Junior Champ - Tramilda Dundee Radiance, 1st Winter Yearling, Kalli Keen & Peyton Yeoman, KS & OK

Judge Kelly Barbee, NC

JERSEYS

Junior Champion of the Junior Show

L-R - HM Junior Champ - Hillacres Starluck, 1st Winter Calf, Brandon Klassen, KS

Reserve Junior Champ - Ratliff King Snickers, 1st Fall Calf, Amanda Nelson, KS

Junior Champ - Ratliff Devine Miracle, 1st Spring Yearling, Amanda Nelson, KS

Judge Kelly Barbee, NC

Junior Champion of the Open Show

L-R: HM Junior Champ - Ratliff King Snickers, 1st Fall Calf, Amanda Nelson, KS

Reserve Junior Champ - Ratliff Devine Miracle, 2nd Spring Yearling, Amanda Nelson, KS

Junior Champ - Ratliff Renn Kiwi-ET, 1st Spring Yearling, Ron & Christy Ratliff, KS

Judge Kelly Barbee, NC

Check back for more information on the sale as well as photos and results from the cow classes!

The Savage family of Savage-Leigh Farm, MD has once again out-done themselves! The family held a Tag Sale at the farm March 14-15 during the busy sale festivities that took place at the fairgrounds in Frederick. The outstanding line-up had something to offer for everyone! The animals were beautifully presented while the Savage hospitality was at its best! Sale manager, Chip Savage reports that the Tag Sale was a great success! A Complete report will follow on www.holsteinworld.com!

The line-up!

Little helpers! The entire Savage Family was onhand to greet and show off the cattle.

Auctioneer Lynn Lee, Ringman Ron Ratliff and Pedigree Reader Herby Lutz converse before the sale.

A large crowd gathered to view the line-up and watch the sale on Friday, March 14th in Frederick, MD.

The sale featured some of the best Jerseys from both sides of the border! All consignments were hand selected by Mike Heath of Spring Valley Farm, Westminster, MD.

L-R: Terri Packard representing Arethusa, Herby Lutz, Lynn Lee and Mike Heath, sale manager.

Top seller for the day was Lot A, a First Choice of 4 ultrasound females due in March 2008 by Hollylane R Response out of Huronia Centurion Veronica 20J (EX95)! The Choice sold for $24,000 to Johnathan Lamb, NY. Arethusa Farm, CT was the consignor.

Back Row: Herby Lutz, Lynn Lee, Mike Heath

Front Row: Kevin Ehrhardt, buyer, Ashley Mayer, leadsperson, consignors Pete & Michelle Stern.

High Selling live animal was Lot #78, Maple Ridge Remake Presence. a 12/05 Remake that was fresh in December backed with 7 generations VG or EX! Ehrhardt Farms, MD were the buyers while Pete and Michelle Stern, Ontario consigned the individual who struck off for $14,000.

For more Spring Valley 7th Edition Sale results check out www.allbreedaccess.com!

The combined sales totals for the Greenlea Dream V and the March Madness VII Sales, held last night and today reached a level of $1.25 million, with March Madness averaging $10,150. Topping the sale was Lot 1, the *RC Advent born in September from Windy-Knoll-View Pledge. The fancy young calf sold for $55,000 to Richard Green and was consigned by the Burdette family. Second high seller at $28,500 was J&K-Vue Sept Storm Raine, the All-American Fall Yearling in 2007. Due in May to Final Cut, Raine sold to Duane Conant & Mark Butz and was consigned by Gerald & Kathy Boop. Look for more details on photos from the whole weekend’s activities on Monday morning’s daily news.

Day Four of YDLI – Wrapping Up
By Lindsey Worden, Holstein Association USA

The dust has settled and the smoke has cleared…Phase I of Class 6 of Young Dairy Leaders Institute is now complete! Saturday provided a busy day of workshops preparing attendees for their Phase II projects and wrapping up with a final banquet.

Jolene Brown being the morning with her session, titled “Pilot Your Leadership Journey”, where she talked about taking charge of their actions and guiding their own path. Also discussed were questions that all leaders should be able to answer, generation differences and strengths that can affect team situations, and making sure that your actions and behaviors reflect your dedication.

Next was the highly anticipated Key Industry Issues Panel discussion. Sitting on the panel was Richard Cotta, CEO of California Dairies (a milk cooperative), Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff, and Liz Doornink, a Wisconsin dairy producer and co-chair of American Farmers for the Advancement and Conservation of Technology (AFACT). Panelists gave brief presentations concerning their businesses, interests, and motivations, then gave class members the opportunity to ask questions, which covered a wide variety of topics. Popular subjects related to milk labeling and rBST usage, relating to consumers, milk marketing tactics, and how dairy producers can adapt to the ever-changing demands of consumers while still running a profitable operation.

After lunch, people were challenged to step outside of their comfort zone and explore differing opinions. Everyone matched up with their learning partners and ventured out around Albuquerque to the airport and University of New Mexico campus to do some “man on the street” style consumer interviews. They were given a set of questions to ask, relating to factors that affect consumers purchasing decisions and their feelings on hormones, antibiotics, and animal welfare. Although some were a little nervous at first, the exercise turned out to be fun, and a great learning experience for all. Some even got to test out their “key messages” answering interviewees’ questions and providing a positive image of the dairy industry.

Michele Payn-Knoper lead the final session of the day, preparing everyone for their Phase II work, which will take place over the next year. YDLIers are given a set of “assignments” to accomplish during this phase, reinforcing the ideas learned during Phase I. The tasks include an outreach project of their choice, as well as encouraging interaction with their community, local media, and consumers. Class members brainstormed ideas and discussed them with YDLI Advisory Committee members. It will be exciting to see what this very talented group is able to accomplish!
After four intense days of training, everyone was ready to relax and enjoy a final evening with their classmates at the Fiesta Finale banquet. During dinner, everyone was entertained by a six-person, authentic mariachi band. Some class members even joined in the fun, singing and dancing with the group! Jolene Brown gave a memorable keynote on “letting go of the rope”, and soaring to new heights in the dairy industry. Everyone enjoyed their last evening in Albuquerque before getting up early and heading home.

The class will come together again in Albuquerque February 25-28, 2009 for Phase III, which focuses more on group leadership skills and advanced media training. All-in-all, Phase I was a resounding success. Thanks for reading this week! For more information on YDLI, visit www.holsteinfoundation.org or contact Jodi Hoynoski – jhoynoski@holstein.com or 800.952.5200, ext. 4261.

Panelist Liz Doornink answers a question

Groups work together to build bridges in a closing activity

Annie McCullough and Allison Specht enjoy the final evening

Class member Elias Torres Barrera sings along with the mariachi band!

Holstein Foundation Trustee and banquet sponsor WestfaliaSurge representative Rob Kolb poses for a quick picture with the band.

(By Lindsey Worden, Holstein Association USA)

Day three of YDLI has come and gone…only one day left! It’s hard to believe that the conference has gone by this quickly. Class members were in for a real treat on Friday with some of YDLI’s favorite sessions on the agenda.

Do you ever feel like life is just flying past you at an incredible rate, and you don’t have that much time for yourself? Pat Katz’s morning workshop focused on life balance, and the importance of taking time to pause each day and recharge your batteries – for your own good, and the good of people you interact with on a daily basis. She challenged participants to give themselves “permission to pause”, and offered up several great tips on little things people can do to lighten up their day. With the demands of today’s fast paced society, many people were able to relate to the session and the take-home message.

Next came one of YDLI’s most highly anticipated workshops – media training with David Pelzer and Joan Horbiak. It is important for dairy producers to be able to speak up for their livelihood and make their voice heard in the media. Some may feel overwhelmed by having to speak up, but with the proper tools, they can be excellent spokespeople for the industry. If dairymen don’t tell their own story, you can bet that the opposing viewpoint will tell the story for them! These are just a few of the lessons that class members learned today. The session began with a mock riot, demonstrating some common issues that the industry faces – biosecurity, animal welfare, high consumer prices, and environmental issues. Some basic media tactics were reviewed, and then everyone was given hands-on practice at defending the industry that they love. Joan Horbiak challenged people with tough questions that are commonly asked, with volunteers demonstrating their skills on camera and in front of their classmates. Participants learned important key messages,and, by the end of the workshop, realized that every negative question they’re asked is an opportunity to tell a positive story.

Later in the afternoon, Donna Manring provided a unique perspective on how the dairy industry can work together with nutritional professionals to reinforce the fact that milk is a wholesome, nutritious product for consumers. There is a great deal of information (and misinformation!) available when walking in the dairy aisle at the supermarket, but with proper education, producers can help dispel consumer concerns as to the health benefits of consuming milk and other dairy products.

The highlight of the evening was maybe one of the funniest YDLI sessions ever – a hypnosis show by Dr. Al Snyder. Around fifteen YDLIers were hypnotized by Dr. Snyder, and hilarity ensued. Audience members laughed until they cried, and participants in the show “came to” feeling refreshed, and likely with some hilarious memories (and pictures to prove it!). Throughout the evening, we were treated a look into the life of a CIA agent, witnessed an amazing demonstration of the Irish jig, and even got a special performance by “Alan Jackson”! It was an excellent way to end a long, yet exciting, day of learning.

The final day of YDLI will start to prepare class members to apply their new leadership and communication skills in the real world. Jolene Brown will give a workshop on “piloting your leadership journey”. Everyone is in for a real treat mid-morning with the key industry issues panel discussion, which promises a lively debate on milk labeling and other current events affecting the industry. In the afternoon, participants will “take flight” and dig deeper into the minds of consumers to see what affects their purchasing decisions, and gain first hand insight into their perceptions of the dairy industry through interviews with actual consumers.. Plans will be made for Phases II and III, and Phase I will wrap up with the grand “Fiesta Finale”!

Check back soon for a wrap-up of Saturday’s events and Phase I of this class of YDLI!

Recognize any familiar faces? Rioters challenge industry advocates to stand up for what they believe in!

Can’t believe how warm it is! Trent Olson, Charlie Knigge, Ashley Yager, Kelly Sheehan, and Megan Pierce enjoy some New Mexican sunshine during the morning break.

Joan Horbiak challenges Michael Lax to be an ag advocate and defend the dairy industry.

“Secret Agent” Dawn Mausser tries to be sneaky while spying on Dr. Snyder and “Alan Jackson” (Eric Sonnek)

Everyone’s down for the count! Must have been quite a fiesta….and an entertaining show!

There were close to 1,000 people in attendance at the Butlerview Parade of Perfection sale Saturday in Elkhorn, WI…1,000 people who perhaps witnessed the highest grossing Holstein sale in history! Topping the event was the 12/07 Talent calf of KHW Regiment Apple-Red-ET, selling for $190,000 to Triple Crown Genetics, Kingsmill Genetics and Gene Iager. Other high selling prices included the package of 4 Durham x Alicia females selling for $155,000; the Shottle x Debutante Rae-ET selling for $75,000; and the 9/07 x Regancrest Jed Deborah selling for $41,000. Look for more sale details and information on tomorrow morning’s Holstein World news. Congratulations to the Butler family for an event that looks to average over $21,000.