It’s Day 2 of the meetings in Bloomington and today is voting day! First order of business are adoption of the Resolutions presented.
Resolution #1 – Presented by the Wisconsin Holstein Association
Holstein Association needs to re-evaluate the TPI formula and raise the type contribution to a level that more accurately reflects what breeders desire for a balance of type and porduction
Henk Van Dyk (WI) – This was a resolution presented at our winter convention unanimously. Health traits are not highly heritable.
Mark Kerndt (IA) – Would prefer less weighting on production in the TPI formula. Health traits are important – don’t ignore them.
Andy Kortman (WA) – Raise type and put production & health traits lower
APPROVED
Resolution #2 – Wisconsin Holstein Breeders advise USDA’s AIPL to create a genetic system that instills long-term confidence in the system. Breeders must be able to give feedback and know ahead of time about changes. New genetic calculations should not be published when using female DNA unless approved by Holstein Association and its board of directors.
APPROVED
Resolution #3 – Propose fundamental princpiles be recognized to ensure the long-term survival of Holstein cattle. Computation of an animal’s genomic information must only be done with owner permission. HAUSA must protect proprietary information. Breeders are entitled to review genetic information that is not influenced by genomic findings. Breeders have the right to test all of their stock, regardsles of sex. We have the right to be a part of the process that decides the ranking. HAUSA must defend our livelihood.
Steve Holte (WI) – Can we allow the creator of this resolution, a non-delegate, to speak for my allotted two minutes? Approved.
Paul Buhr (WI – non-delegate) – I have presented what is like a bill of rights over our property. As we go forward, genes will be used in many ways. Breeders need to own our DNA so that it is not used outside of our breed and industry. We need to put these items in place to protect us in the future. HAUSA was established to protect us and our breed. We must not assume that people or companies will protect it in the way we have in the future.
Don Bennick (FL) – The only way we will be able to improve genomics is to get a variety of animals in the pool. This resolution would hamper that ability. If we adopt this resoltuion, are we also going to say that we don’t want to share production records, show placings, etc.?
Mike Holschbach (WI) – Resolution is to protect our interests. We pay for these records through production and classification programs. We are required to share informaiton and the bull studs are not required to share information with us. This is not an even playing field. It is an embarassment to our association that we have gotten to this place.
Bill Peck (NY) – Resolution has good intent but is too far reaching. At the center of the genomic issue in our coversation is the poor communication from USDA. If things were better communicated we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Verbal vote, undetermined. Hand vote resulted in 69 nay, 45 yay. DENIED
Resolution #4 – Formal recognition of Holstein Association Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary Robert Rumler following his death this past year.
Doug Carles (CT) – Following the passing of this resolution, let us please share with the Rumler family.
APPROVED
Resolution #5 – Holstein Association USA sincerley thanks the organizers and the committees of the Minnesota Holstein Association for their hard work and their hospitality of the 125th Annual Meeting.
APPROVED with standing ovation.
Board Elections
Region 1 Director
Tom Kugler (NY)
Martha Siefert (VT)
Pete Waterman (ME)
First round of voting, no majority. Re-vote of Kugler and Waterman. Pete Waterman is the newly elected director.
Chairman of the Holstein Foundation, John Bierbaum, shared the mission of the foundation is to develop leaders. The foundation received in the past year of $110,000 support dollars, $150,000 total donations, $120,000 expenses, resulting in a net gain of $29,000. The investment gain resulting in $752,000, a 22% return. Total increase of $781,000. Hopefully YDLI is on a self-sustaining basis so that the staff is focused on program development and not on raising funds in support of the program. The seventh class will be taking place in February. Hotel management shared that they have been so impressed with the over 500 youth that have behaved so well, been so disciplined and handled themseleves so professionally. This certainly is a sign that our programs are fulfilling the mission of the foundation.
Dairy Leaders for Tomorrow campaign to inspire, train, invigorate and build confidence. Building support for young people who are striving to make a difference in the dairy industry. All gifts received by December 31, 2010 will be matched. To date, $300,000 in gifts and pledges have been received, with a goal of reaching $500,000 by the end of the year so the final amount is $1 million. Chairman level donors, Judy & Charles Iager of Maple-Lawn Farms, MD and Hilmar Cheese Company Inc., CA.
Chairman of the Legislative committe, Gordy Cook (MA), reviewed the timeline of events that have transpired over the past year and a half regarding the Dairy Price Stabilization Program. Our efforts have made a difference. With Holstein’s initiatives, collaborative efforts are happening today that never would have happened. Today, working to pass effective legislation in 2010 in both the House and the Senate.
Loren Olson (MN) – We got to put together a game plan to unite dairymen in smaller groups. This can’t happen by just talking in this big room.
Chuck Worden (NY), Chairman of the Junior Advisory Committee, shared the activities throughout the year and the participation of the juniors at this year’s national convention. There were 82 contestants in Dairy Jeopardy, and a total of 35 teams from 21 states in the Dairy Bowl contest. 125 youth applied for production awards, representing 200 cows. There were 52 speech contestants, 12 scrapbook entries, and 40 folding displays in just the second year of the contest. New this year was the opening of the dairy bowl quiz to all juniors, 97 additional youth took the test. This past year, the association experienced a growth of 1055 new members, 30% increase. This was driven by the 2010 Mission Membership contest, that recognized Connecticut as the state with the largest percent increase in new members, 113%. Wisconsin grew the largest total amount. The Holstein USA website Youth section encourages participation in activities throughout the year with quarterly contests.
Region 4 Director
Gayle Carson (TN)
Walter McClure, Sr. (VA)
In one round of voting, Gayle Carson has been elected a new director.
Bill Peck (NY), Chairman of Genetic Advancement Committee, shared the activities of the committee and the decision to place 42% emphasis on production and 25% on conformation. Increased emphasis on Health & Fertility to 33%. All gemoic tested animals to receive parentage verification. This is an added feature and will allow for parent “discovery”, whereby an unkown parent can be discovered.
Chairman Gordie Cook (MA) of the International Committee shared the committee has focused on a more strategic approach of working with a smaller more focused group of potential markets. Plan to work more with the emerging market of Russia, and continue our work with traditional markets of Mexico and South America.
National FAIR & Animal ID Committee Chairman, John Kalmey (KY), shared that this February USDA announced a new, flexible framework for animal identification. Only apply to animals moves in interstate commerce, be administered by each state to provide more flexibility and encourage the use of lower cost technology. In May, USDA hosted 3 public meetings to discuss the framework. The goal of USDA is basic, to regulate interstate movement and provide a system for quick and efficient traceability. HAUSA questions the effectiveness of each state being able to administer their own program.
Leroy Eggink (IA) elected via affirmation as Region 6 Director.
At-Large Director
Corey Geiger
Mike Jones
Tom Kugler
Martha Seifert
Three candidates were slated for a second round of voting – Geiger, Jones & Kugler. Two candidates slated for a third round of voting – Geiger & Jones. Corey Geiger has been elected the new At-Large Director.
Jim Burdette (PA), Chairman of the Show Committee, shared the report. This year there are 11 national shows and 4 specific national junior shows. New this year was the two Judges Lists, National and Qualified. For the 2011 lists, Monday, August 2nd is the deadline to submit. 2011 list will be all new. Judges must re-apply each year. Applications will be analyzed by the committee and recommended to the board for approval. There will be three Judges Conferences in 2011 located in the Northeast, Mid-West and West. There will be one each year after that, location to be rotated around the 3 regions. Going forward, National and Qualified Judges must have participated in at least one Holstein Judges Conference within a 3-year period to remain eligible for inclusion on the list.
Dr. Les Hansen spoke on behalf of the National Dairy Shrine and shared that NDS will provide $40,000 in scholarships this year. 18,000 members across the U.S. and lifetime membership fee remains at $50. Honorees at the annual banquet this year at World Dairy Expo will be Luke & Derek Johnson, Andy & Lynn Buttles, Bill Ramsey Family, Merle Howard, Mert Sowerby, Dr. Lee Mjeskie, Dr. Rex Powell and Dr. Jack Albrecht.
Recognition of retiring board members Gordie Cook (MA), John Kalmey (KY) and Bill Peck (NY).
No Old Business.
New Business
Linda Hodorff (WI) – Congratulate the candidates and the professional nature by which the election transpired. Thank you for taking the time to run and please consider running again.
Meeting Adjourned
