Dairy Leaders for Tomorrow Campaign Launched
By Jodi Hoynoski

Recently, I was putting together a PowerPoint presentation and I pulled up a picture from the 1994 World Dairy Expo, when they first named a Supreme Champion of the Junior Show.

My co-worker asked, “Who is that boy holding the Brown Swiss?” Once the boisterous laughter subsided, I admitted it was me. It is “Cruella Rose” and me in the moment that changed my life. I was a high school kid from Berlin, Wisconsin that just decided I wanted to spend the rest of my life dedicated the dairy industry, with the cows and people I so dearly love.

I know so many of you have amazing, similar stories (maybe even with embarrassing photos) to share. Be sure to check out the September Holstein World guest editorial for the inspirational story from Judy and Charles Iager from Fulton, Maryland, and a bull they bought into at the 1964 National Holstein Convention. Since then, they have been giving back to the dairy industry so generously, you can’t help but get excited being around them, no matter how tough things get.

The Iagers are Chairs of the Holstein Foundation’s Dairy Leaders for Tomorrow capital campaign, and top-level donors. They announced the campaign at the recent National Holstein Convention in Minnesota. The campaign support will help provide professional leadership training for dairy producers, and those involved in the dairy industry, namely the Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI). Hundreds of young adults have graduated from the YDLI program, and are now using their leadership skills and network to help them succeed in the dairy business.

At this time, LEADERSHIP is so urgently needed in the dairy industry. If you have been looking for a way to get more involved and give back the industry that we love, now is the time. Holstein Association USA has offered a dollar for dollar match on donations up to $1 million received by December 31, 2010. Holstein Foundation Trustees and friends have already raised close to $350,000. We are now asking for broader support from the dairy community. Every donation will make a difference.

Visit www.holsteinfoundation.org for more information and to give online today. Or, contact Jodi Hoynoski 800.952.5200 ext. 4261.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 11:41 am by kknutsen and is filed under Youth. 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.