Tomorrow evening, a historic event will kick off on the tanbark at Columbus, Ohio as the 50th National Holstein Futurity is held during Ohio State Fair. According to the official website of Ohio Holstein www.holsteinworld.com/ohioholstein a sensational turnout is expected for the Golden Anniversary event as 115 entries have made their final payment for the right to parade around the ring Saturday night. Among the prizes to be awarded to the participants of the 50th National Holstein Futurity are: 20 ft Eby Trailer – Clipping Chute – Semen Tank – 10 Bags of Mycogen Seed – 10 units of sexed Roy semen and 10 units of Dundee semen, ½ page full color ad in the Holstein World, 5 free entries to the 2008 Spring Dairy Expo, A full page color ad in the Ohio Holstein News, Semex Jackets, and many more surprises to be announced! Holstein World staffer Jenny Thomas will be the correspondent for this exciting event, and she will post the results of the National Holstein Futurity as well as the results of the State Fair Holstein Show this weekend! Watch for them right here!

A couple weeks ago we posted the results from the MN State Show that was held June 20 & 21 in Hutchinson, MN. I was lucky enough to be at the show and even had the fun task of serving as emcee. If any of you were there, I think you will agree, it was a wonderful display of MN Holsteins with 274 head competing! For your viewing pleasure, I have assembled some of the photos I took at the show, along with a little background info on each of the winners. For a larger view of the pictures, just click on them. Enjoy!

Junior Champions

From left to right: Junior Champion, Stillmore Dundee Sydney, 1st Fall Yearling; Res. Junior Champion, Xcaret Dundee Koral, 1st Fall Calf

There were 136 animals that competed in the heifer show, the largest classes were Summer Yearling (28) and Spring Yearling (28). Sydney was exhibited by Steve & Vicki Searles of Stillmore Cattle Company. She is a Dundee daughter of Dusty-Hollow Raider Shari EX-90. Koral, also sired by Dundee, was exhibited by Tim Hoese & Kate Dahlinger of Xcaret Holsteins. She was also the 1st Fall Calf at the 2007 Midwest Spring National. Her dam is a EX-92 Raider that placed 3rd in the Aged Cow class.

Intermediate Champions

From left to right: Intermediate Champion, Lida-Acres Cousteau April, 1st Sr. 3-Year-Old; Res. Intermediate Champion, C-Hill Paris, 2nd Sr. 3-Year-Old

Representing a very strong class of 15 Sr. 3-Year-Olds, Judge Phend named April & Paris as his Intermediate Champions. April was exhibited by Dana Johnson and is an EX-90 Cousteau daughter from an EX-91 Juror. Earlier this year she placed 2nd & 1st B&O at the Midwest Spring National. Paris is a VG-87 Mr Montana (Durham x Mark Maui) daughter from an EX-90 Prelude. She was exhibited by C-Hill Farms, Jason & Katy Lang Family.

Senior & Grand Champions

From left to right in the first picture: Senior & Grand Champion, Xcaret Milo Audyssie, 1st 4-Year-Old; Res. Senior & Res. Grand Champion, Ms Do-N-Joy Encor Onasis-ET, 1st 125,000 Lb Cow

In total, 130 cows competed in this year’’s show. Winning the Grand Champion honors for the day, Audyssie looked every bit the part of a champion. She was exhibited by Xcaret Holsteins. Fresh just a few weeks, Audyssie is an EX-91 Milo (Integrity x Skychief Mila) daughter of a VG-88 Lee who has always been a herd favorite at Xcaret. Reserve honors went to Onasis, the EX-91 Encore daughter of Viking-Prairie Orion EX-91. She was exhibited by Jeff Kohls & Jill Miller.

Premier Breeder & Exhibitor

Having the Grand Champion & Res. Junior Champion be homebred and come from your string certainly does help when it comes to Premier Breeder & Exhibitor points. Congrats to the crew at Xcaret for a wonderful state show! Pictured left to right: Tim Hoese; Erin Wacker; Marilee, Mark & Molly Vacek; Pat Heeren; Kate Dahlinger on the halter of Koral; Matt Templeton on the halter of Audyssie; Sue Hoese; Zach Heeren; Melissa Vacek; and Perry Phend, Judge.

Again this year, the PA All-American Show will be holding a White Show Pants Exchange for Junior (Youth) Exhibitors on Friday, September 14th from 10am - 6pm in the Northwest Barn (Barn B). Donate those white show pants that are no longer needed and pick up a pair that fits for the 2007 season! This service is provided to help youth exhibitors maintain proper dress in the show ring at minimal cost. For more informationn, call Patty McMurray at 724.239.2759.