Sherry Siemers Peterman was recently in New York for farm visits to many prominent Holstein breeders and in a selection mode for the Siemers Spring Showcase Sale that will be held at the Great Northern Sale complex (noted for creature comfort) on March 26, 2010. All entries from guest consignors will be personally selected by Siemers for this event and the animals will represent the passion for breeding great individuals by guest consignors and the top individuals that will represent Siemers Holsteins. Frank Putman joined Sherry for the trip and they have some exciting scenes to share:

COYNE FARMS

Sherry is joined by Greg Coyne. In the background is Greg’s “backup disc” for his computer program. Hot coffee, and a view of a member of the Milkworth Manfred Yadda family before she headed into the parlor were welcomed. She is another Shottle daughter that we will hear and see more of in the future.

OLD ACRES FARM
The Smithgall family balance the operation of a large free stall herd, the field work that entails and showing and promoting a select group of animals on the local, state, national and international level.

One of these well grown and correct heifers with great pedigrees could be Newton bound in March!

“Living the Good Live.” Fresh off their All-American & All-Canadian nominations are from left: Lylehaven Fortune Latte-ET and Old-Acres Durham Sherry-ET. Both heifers have dams or maternal sisters that have All-American nominations or titles. Todd and Cooper Galton (Roll-N-View) trust the care and preparation of show heifers to the Smithgalls. A call to Todd took Sherry to one of his farms to view ET youngsters.

Sherry with the personable and polite Chris Smithgall in front of the show heifer facility.

The theme in Western New York is one of a generation of dairymen that were very involved with the registered cow in their youth. They then turned their attention to moving the farm operation into “today” and now their sons and daughters are refocusing part of the attention to showing, developing and merchandising elite genetics. Most of all this is a great opportunity for parents to have quality time with the next generation. Another prime example is:

RANSOM RAIL FARM

Mike Dueppenguisser and Sherry at the well maintained and neat farm shop. In the background is the charts to monitor and plan the machinery maintenance.

One of the heifers that will likely “be out” in 2010. In a adjacent pen is Welcome Mac Peyton-ET out of Welcome Goldwyn Penya (VG-89, 2y EX-MS). She represents the diversification of show animals and those sought out by AI units.

Sherry and Peter Dueppenguisser, who was tour guide in the absence of sons Jacob and Jared on a school day.

OAKFIELD CORNERS DAIRY

“The distaff side” Alicia Lamb Of Oakfield Corners Dairy shows Sherry Sanchez daughters out of Valleyville Lheros Jenn. Alicia and Jonathan have stayed ahead of the curve with embryos from Leader Melanie, James Rose and Storm Kendra as well as Jenn.

LISMORE DAIRY

Lismore Farm’s Andy Merry with Sherry. Some animals viewed here were Cranberry Mdws Adrenalin-ET, her Roy daughter (showing much promise like the well known Roy Autumn that is bred much the same way) and Markwell SS Ruby-Red-ET. Ruby is a granddaughter of the the well known B-Star Raven cow. Both Adrenalin and Ruby need to see the classifier and photographer.

MURANDA HOLSTEINS
Muranda Holsteins in Waterloo, NY gave a tour of the dairy and the cheese facility. The dominant family here traces to Beachlawn Blwood L Lily (2E-93) that breeds on with the high number bulls with no sacrifice of high scores.

One of 2 Talent daughters that occupy the pens as you enter the barn next to “Mama” Larel. Great young, stylish cows and more proof of the reproducing power of Larel.

The reigning queen at Muranda is Muranda BWM Larel-ET (EX-95). From left: Long time “right hand man” Paul Thorn, Blaine Murray, Sherry, Larel and Tom

The latest project at Muranda is cheese. Blaine, Sherry and Tom are surrounded by Colby, British raw milk cheddar and garlic cheddar

MCGARR FARMS

Pedigrees in hand, Dan McGarr shares that information and a view of some fine young stock at McGarr Farms before viewing the key cows that Dan is working with.

In this pen was REW Bewitched with a GPTAT +5.25, who is owned with Greg Coyne and is a Shottle out of a VG-87 Goldwyn daughter of the EX-92 Barbie. Also sharing the pen were two granddaughters of Muranda BWM Larel (EX-95). Their dam is Muranda Shottle Lila-ET (VG-87, 2y), a young cow with many contracts.

CO-VALE HOLSTEINS

Yes, she is that massive. Aaron Eaton, the man in charge of the Co-Vale show program shows Co-Vale Roy Jackie to Sherry. After a fine show career, Jackie has produced All-American daughters. In two other barns Aaron presented ring ready stock that is the norm of the day at Co-Vale to create that national competitive edge.

JOLEANNA HOLSTEINS
Missed were photos at Joleanna, where the cows and heifers were in fine form. Though a sale is planed at Joleanna for March 2010, a good one will head to Wisconsin for Sherry’s Sale. Dave and Cathy Johnson were busy adding Christmas touches to the outdoors with the help of their grandson Braeden at the time of our visit.

OVALTOP HOLSTEINS
On to Ovaltop where we found many big framed cows and well grown, stylish heifers. The cattle are only matched by the well kept facilities and the genuine hospitality. A full pedigreed Fall Calf by Durham will represent this breeding establishment in the sale.

CLEAR-ECHO & KINGS RANSOM
In the Saratoga area, stops at Clear-Echo revealed just how well Clear-Echo 822 Ramo1200 wears her EX-92 score to add to her GTPI of +2109 and how the young cows just keep getting better to the eye. Kings Ransom has their flushing program on track by keeping the cows that are working in their flush program in an area with a number of unpopulated stalls.

LIDDLEHOLM HOLSTEINS

Adam Liddle and Sherry in front of a fine Talent daughter. One end of Adam’s milking barn is filled with the young cows and this is a fine example of that saying. A sight to see when you head into the barn for morning milking.

WELCOME STOCK FARM

Bill Peck of Welcome Stock Farm slowed down for a photo with Sherry. Bill Jr. took the time to point out cows like Welcome Goldwyn Penya (VG-89,2y) as he directed hoof trimmers, herd health with Pandora King, as well as other activities on the farm and made it all look easy.

Holstein World’s Frank Putman visited Suntor Holsteins in Ormstown, QC recently and the following are a couple pictures of one of the featured animals on their brand new website! Check out these shots of Suntor Lightning Jelica (VG-88) and visit their new website to see even more that Suntor has to offer!

Suntor Lightning Jelica (VG-88)

Hosted by Paul & Carol Knier, the Dynamic Attractions III Sale was held on Friday, December 11, 2009 at the Cow Palace in Kaukauna, WI. The bulk of the animals selling were from the Dynamic Holsteins herd owned by the Kniers with additional guest consignments. A sizeable number of the individuals sold were red or red-factored animals. 77 live lots averaged $2,141 as the sale grossed $201,405.

A first choice female by either Mac, Goldwyn or Alexander due next spring out of Jenny-Lou Shottle 1893 (VG-87) was the high seller of the sale at $8,500. Shottle 1893 carries a +2009 CTPI and is out of a VG-88 full sister to Toystory and Lou, and she herself is the full sister to the high-testing genomic bull, Jenny-Lou Shottle Trump-ET.

Second high at $6,900 was a first choice Aftershock female due in May, 2010 out of Gen-I-Beq Goldwyn Sofia-ET (VG-87-2YR-CAN). From the prolific Glen Drummond Shower family, Sofia already has five sons in AI with more being tested. Consigned by Select Genetics, WI, the choice was purchased by Wendy Zabel, WI.

Castleholm Holsteins of Mondovi, WI consigned the third high seller – a 3/09 red Advent out of Astrahoe RM Rosa Rae-Lyn-ET (EX-90). Rae-Lyn has a top record of 59,244M 2500F & 1772P and is a 14th generation EX from the historic Audrey Posch family. David Rose and Joe Hughes of Oshkosh, WI paid $6,500 to take home this potential 15th generation Excellent.

One percent of the gross sale proceeds were donated to Operation Smile, a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides facial surgical interventions to children worldwide.

Paul & Carol Knier were assisted with the sale by David & Lana Hitner. Mike Synder read pedigrees while Dave Rama wielded the gavel at the sale.

Lineup of some of the young cows that sold in the Dynamic Attractions III Sale.

Lot 4 – $5,000 – Dynamic Rub Renita-Red-ET – a 5/09 Rubens daughter of Carrousel RM Rolanda-ET *RC (2E-94). With a top record of 61,510M, Rolanda is a Red Marker daughter of Stelbro Renita Ranger-Red (3E-94), the renowned Red & White show cow.

Lot 12 – $4,600 – Chartroise Disco 4-Red-ET – a 1/09 Sure-View American-Red daughter out of Scientific Disco Rae-Red-ET (VG-85 VG-MS). Consigned by Select Genetics of Manitowoc, WI, Disco Rae is an Advent daughter from Scientific Debutante Rae-ET (EX-92), the All-American 4-Year-Old in 2005.

Lot 29 – $4,800 – Stoneden Revolver Sammi-Red – a 3/09 Revolver daughter out of an EX-91 Granduc Tribute, then three more VG-CAN dams. Sammi was one of the eye-catching heifers in the lineup and was consigned by Kyle Natzke of Fond du Lac, WI.

The Holiday Fashions at the Northern Sale was held on Thursday, December 10th at the Great Northern Sales Arena in Fond du Lac, WI. A winter storm moved through the state the day before, but that didn’t keep 101 lots from averaging $3,006. Cattle sold to nine states across the nation.

High seller at $13,000 was Lot #1 – a first choice Goldwyn from six females due 12/09 out of Long-Haven Durham Randi (EX-93 2E). The choice is a full sister to to Long-Haven Gold Rochelle-ET (VG-89 2yr), the All-American Spring Yearling in 2008 and the Junior 2-Year-Old class winner at both the International Holstein Show and the Royal Winter Fair this year. Consigned by Long Haven Farms of Clayton, MI, the choice was purchased by Mitch Hockett of Durham, NC.

Second high seller at $8,000 was Kingsmill Ashlyns BigMac-ET, a stylish 10/08 Mac daughter of Tri-Day Ashlyn-ET (EX-96 2E) consigned by Kingsmill Farm II of Durham, NC. Ashlyn is the dam of 26 Excellent and 19 Very Good offspring to date and was the Supreme Champion at World Dairy Expo in 2001. Long Haven Farms of Clayton, MI placed the winning bid.

Pyramid Aspen Whistle-ET, a 9/08 Aspen daughter of Windsor-Manor Roys Wish (EX-90), brought $6,800 from Daniel Vandepol of Escalon, CA – good for third high. Whistle was the winning fall calf at the Vermont State Show this year and her Roy dam was Grand Champion at the Vermont State Junior Show in 2007. She was consigned by Chelsea Abbott of Fairfield, VT.

At one point, three Ashlyn daughters circled the ring:
Kingsmill Ashlyns BigMac-ET – 10/08 Mac – $8,000
Kingsmill Ashlyns Asmita-ET – 6/09 Lightning – $6,200
Kingsmill Ashlyns Amity-ET *RC – 12/08 Advent – $5,500

The sale was co-managed by Rick & Paula Bovre of the Great Northern and Chris & Jen Hill of MD-Hillbrook. Norman Nabholz read pedigrees and Chris Hill handled the auctioneering duties.

A snowy West Union, IA was the setting for the 22nd Annual Top Ten Holiday Event Sale on Saturday, December 12, 2009. The sale closed a chapter in Holstein history as it was the final production of Burton-Fellers, the duo of Dallas Burton & Ed Fellers. They concluded their partnership in style as at the end of the day, 107 lots averaged $8,319.

Ed Fellers and Dallas Burton welcoming the crowd to the sale.

Dallas & Ed were recognized for their 27 years in the sales business together.

High sellers:

Lot 1 – Courtlane-UR Chassity – $50,000

A Pontiac daughter of Regancrest S Chassity-ET (VG-88 EX-MS), this heifer is a true franchise individual. She has a GTPI of +2196 PTA +638NM$ +5.2PL +4.28T. Due 3/1/10 to Maple-Downs-I GW Atwood.

S Chassity is the #12 PTAT & #13 CTPI Cow of the Breed. She sold for $1,500,000 as a package with several sons & daughters in the ‘09 International Intrigue Sale. Her dam is Cinderella (EX-92 DOM) and then Barbie (EX-92 GMD DOM).

Consignor – Shema Holsteins, Marlin & Becky Bontrager & Family, IA
Buyer – Ramsey Hill Holsteins, IA

In front: Ed Fellers, sale manager representing buyer Ramsey Hill Holsteins; John Erbsen on the halter of Courtlane-UR Chassity-ET; Marlin Bontrager, consignor, with sons Denver and Taylor. In the box: Horace Backus, pedigree man; Dallas Burton, sale manager; and John Hager, auctioneer.

Lot 21 – 2nd Choice Female from Savage-Leigh Lavisha-ET – $23,000
From 3 flushes due July/August 2010 by Super, Man-O-Man or Jeeves
*Guaranteed at least one female to pick from each flush

Lavisha’s Credits…
VG-89 @ 2-06
8/09 CTPI +2414 PTA +2392M +115F +92P +4.01T +3.59UDC +3.39FLC
#1 Protein Cow of the Breed
#5 CTPI Cow of the Breed – #1 Toystory
#10 NM$ Cow of the Breed
Sold for $340,000 in the ‘09 International Intrigue Sale
Lavisha is a Toystory daughter of Savage-Leigh Licorice-ET (EX-92 GMD DOM), next dam is Bellwood Linda (2E-92 GMD DOM).

Consignor – Ludwig Farms, IL
Buyer – Mapel Wood Farm, Jerseyville, ON

Lot 85 – 1st Choice Freddie Female from Sonnek BLT Double-Dipped-ET – $23,000
5 females due June 26, 2010

Double-Dipped has a GTPI of +2321, making her the #2 GTPI Bolton of the breed and #28 heifer overall. She is due March 2010 to Atwood. Her dam is Sonnek Shottle Arcadia (VG-87 @ 2-07) who has a GTPI of +2209 and sons in AI. She is backed by a EX-91 Morty, EX-90 DOM Rudolph, 3E-90 Supersire and VG-85 Elton.

Consignor – Simon, Butz & Van Haven, IA
Buyer – Select Sires, OH

Lot 42A – Regancrest-BH S Duchess-ET – $23,000

12/1/08 Shottle daughter of Regancrest-BH TS Delite (VG-86 @ 2-05). TS Delite is a Toystory daughter of Windsor-Manor Z-Delight-ET (EX-92), the top selling lot of the Regancrest Command Performance Sale at $94,000. 3rd dam is Windsor-Manor Rud Zip (3E-95 GMD DOM), followed by 8 of 9 generations VG/EX.

Consignor – Regancrest Farm & Butz-Hill Holsteins, IA
Buyer – Regancrest Farm, IA

Lot 61 – 1st Choice Man-O-Man Female from Miss Elegant Delight-ET – $20,500
From 3 Man-O-Man females due February 24, 2010

A maternal sister to this choice sold for $70,000 in the 2009 Legends of the Fall Sale. The dam of the choice, Miss Elegant Delight-ET (VG-88 @ 2-09) has a RIP of 2-02 3x 314 28,900 3.5 1007 3.1 836. Next dam is Windsor-Manor Z-Delight-ET (EX-92).

Consignor – Oakfield Corners Dairy, NY
Buyer – Kevin & Barb Ziemba, NY

Lot 73 – Hendel Goldwyn Billy 2771-ET – $20,000
8/09 GTPI +2117 PTA +1580M +73F +69P +2.93T

Stylish, flush-aged Goldwyn from Glen-D-Haven Oman Biffy-ET (VG-85 DOM @ 2-09). Billy sold with multiple embryo & bull contracts, including a 4 embryo contract with GenElite @ $950/embryo & a $6,000 + incentives bull contract with Select Sires.

Consignor – Hendel Farms, MN
Buyer – Troy Yoder & Sam Nisly, GA

Lot 27 – BVK Durham Almond-ET – $19,000


A 3/08 Durham daughter of Ms Kingstead Chief Adeen (2E-94 DOM), Almond was one of the fanciest heifers at the sale. Out of the prepotent brood cow Chief Adeen and due next June to Aftershock, Almond sold along with a number of Aftershock and Atwood embryos.

Consignor – Jeff Butler & Kingstead Farms, IL
Buyer – Frank & Diane Borba, CA

A nice crowd filled the seats at sale which was located at the Fayette Co. Fairgrounds in West Union, IA.

Study your lesson! Kevin Jorgensen, Willis Gunst and Scott Courtney all pay attention to the particulars in the catalog.

Georgia Holstein Field Day
By Malorie Rhoderick

The Georgia Holstein Association hosted a field day on Saturday, November 21, 2009. It had been over five years since members gathered for the field day! The event was hosted by B&S Dairy, Harry and Ailene Schaapman and family located in Abbeville, Georgia. The Schaapmans milk approximately 700 cows and enjoy showing, most recently exhibiting at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, GA.

The Schaapmans welcomed friends to their farm starting at 10am. Many of their favorites were clipped and on display for visitors to see. Heading up the line-up was MS Tiger-Lily Throne 3813-ET (EX-93). Volunteers lead heifers and cows for a judging contest for junior members. A feast was prepared by Stanley Yoder and family for the crowd. Good friends, old and new enjoyed the delicious meal and although stuffed, everyone managed to find room for dessert!

Already preparing for the National Convention in June, junior members participated in dairy quiz bowl. Members already began discussing options for next year’s field day. Obviously a great day to mingle with dairymen, see quality cattle and feast like kings!

Check out Georgia Holstein Association’s Website to stay up to date with happenings down south: http://www.gaholstein.com/.

Upcoming events:
58th Annual Southern Invitational Sale: April 17, 2010
5th Annual Southern Invitational Show: April 15, 2010

The author, hard at work helping the next generation of junior judges. Incidentally, she might be qualified for this job as Malorie was a member of the winning collegiate team from Virginia Tech!

Holstein World’s Frank Putman took a trip to the Rapid Bay Open House on Saturday and has some exciting photos to share. A short program took place at Rapid Bay where there was about 230 people present to look over the high quality show-winning Jersey herd.

Scenes from the day:

A line of stylish Jerseys in the Rapid Bay barn

Huronia Connection Nora (EX-94)
1st 4-year-old RAWF 2009

Rapid Bay Ressurection Fata
1st Jr. 2-year-old RAWF 2009

Some of the sires that Rapid Bay currently has semen available from. These bulls are housed at Rapid bay and transported to EBI to be drawn.

Cranbrook Amedeo Dutches (3E-94)
Nominated All-Canadian in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2008

Rapid Bay Amedeo Florida (VG-89)
Res. Intermediate Champion RAWF 2008

Rapid Bay Whistlers Rumour (5E-95)
HM Grand Champion RAWF
Grand Champion World Conference Show 2005
Nominated All-Canadian 6X

Rapid Bay owner Steve Borland addresses the crowd

The “Supreme One” and her Royal Banners
Vandenberg Amedeo Gorgeous (2E-97)
Grand & Supreme Champion RAWF 2007 & 2009!

Steve infront of his Supreme Champion Gorgeous

One of the most active clubs in the Empire State is the O-H-M group, consisting of breeders in Otsego, Herkimer and Montgomery counties. Located just east of Syracuse, the O-H-M Club not only has a very successful show, but a well-attended and lively banquet, as was evidenced by Friday night’s turnout! Well over 80 people packed into the Veteran’s Club in Richfield Springs to help honor their fellow member, Richard Keene, for 55 years of membership. Also on the program that night were the typical meeting items, such as the show and sale reports, a state director’s report from Doug Wolfe, a junior advisor’s update from Tina Douglas and a state convention update from Holly Pullis as the O-H-M group prepares to host the convention in early January in Utica.

Following is Peter DeBlock’s presentation honoring Dick Keene. We think you’ll enjoy it! Also, see below for pictures from the evening’s events.

Pete DeBlock (at left) congratulates Shirley and Dick Keene, for his 55 years of membership in the O-H-M Club.

It is a great honor for me this evening to be asked to pay a special tribute to a man I have admired for more than 50 years. He has been a good friend for many years, but even before we were to meet in person, he was an outstanding role model for me.

The story begins while I was in high school and a junior Holstein member. This man was assistant secretary of the New York Holstein Association, and among his duties was being in charge of the junior program. Whenever I would open my New York News, he would be there. He was everywhere – judging shows, attending meetings, making farm visits. His knowledge of cattle, combined with the way he conducted his business, and himself, made every junior want to grow up to be just like him.

Fast forwarding now to the fall of 1963. I was a member of the Cornell Judging team and my practice judging scores were not quite up to Coach George Trimberger’s standard. After a day of judging, while in route to the national contest in Waterloo, Iowa, Prof. Trimberger summoned me to his room one evening to give me an encouraging little “pep-talk.” He spent several minutes going over some of the finer points of analyzing a class of cows with greater accuracy, ending with a “gem of wisdom” that is very helpful in solving any of life’s little problems, “If you get all the facts, you cannot possibly make a wrong decision.”

I thanked my coach for his help, and as I turned to leave the room, I heard one more statement that inspired me more than anything else he could have said. “Don’t worry! Eight years ago I had this same conversation with Dick Keene. He went on to win the national contest, and he hasn’t missed a cow since!” Those words did inspire me to work harder, and the end result at the contest was quite satisfactory. In a round-about way, the positive influence of Dick Keene had come through again!

It is probably a safe bet that most of the folks in this room did not know before tonight that Dick Keene had won a national judging contest in 1955. But, there is little doubt that everyone knows of his countless accomplishments since. For 54 years, Dick has built upon his big win at Waterloo to further develop his ability to gather all the facts, and make the right decision. He has accomplished much as a great industry man, a great community man, and a great family man.

Here are just a few of the things you will find on his resume:
* Dick has judged every county show in New York state. He has judged state fairs, state shows, and judging conferences in so many states that we cannot count them all.
* He is the only person to officiate at the Holstein Show at World Dairy Expo five times, and has also done each of the other breeds there at least once.
* He has placed the classes at the Royal Winter Fair, as well judged in nearly every province in Canada.
* Dick’s assignments have taken him to five different continents – he has placed classes in Australia, Brazil, Mexio, England and Japan.
* Dick will be forever known as the classifier who scored Osborndale Ivanhoe Excellent.

Dick has served the National Holstein Association in several ways. He has been a delegate to many conventions. He has been a director, vice president, and president at a critical time when his brand of leadership and vision were needed to help define the future direction of the Association.

Despite all of the nationwide and worldwide acclaim Dick has received, including being honored as a pioneer by the National Dairy Shrine organization, Dick is most comfortable when he can be of service closer to home, in or near is own local community. His greatest satisfaction has come when he has helped young people reach their full capacity to learn and make sound decisions.

Dick’s desire to teach and be of help to young people led him to be a 4-H leader, an extension leader, a school board member, a BOCES board member, and a member of the alumni advisory board of the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

In addition to all of these things, he has been an elder and treasurer of his church, he is an accomplished golfer and even more accomplished water douser.

Dick is a very modest man. He may quietly reflect on all of his life’s achievements, but the one thing that will always bring a smile to his face is any mention of his wife, his five daughters, and his 13 grandchildren. The girls have also asked me to mention that mom will have been a full partner in all of dad’s achievements, by her support and encouragement, for 50 years when their golden anniversary rolls around next June.

Dick, we urge you to keep up the good work – you do make a difference – and the world needs more people just like you!

Long-time O-H-M members from left: Lysle Parker (45 years); Dick Keene (55 years); Larry Ainslie (50 years); Gary Stowell (50 years); Wayne Conard (40 years); and Susan Mower (40 years). Also honored were Willis Conard, F. Henry Jaeger, Kelly Sammons Knowlton and Kirk Schwasnick.

Cy Conard, always a thumbs-up kindof guy and Andy Chlus, organizer of the junior’s chicken riggie dinner held yesterday, were busy canvasing the crowd for support of the upcoming state junior convention.

Holly Pullis and her mother-in-law, Pat Pullis, catch up after the banquet. Holly and her husband, Jason, are busy getting ready for state convention, while Pat helps to finalize details for her son Luke’s upcoming Christmas wedding!

Jenn Larrabee holds Mason, possibly the youngest member of O-H-M in attendance and catches up with junior advisor Tina Douglas.

While attending the Rocklan Dispersal a couple weeks ago, Holstein World staffer Frank Putman made a farm visit to Russ Trombley’s herd in Chateaugay, NY.

Good cows, down the line – The cow in the foreground is a VG-89 Emory

A GP-83, 2y Lartist out of a VG dam. Russ moved to his present location with a small group of cows when he sold his farm and herd through private treaty. He now has grown to nearly 100 head in the past five years.