The Ohio Holstein Convention starts today. Holstein World’s Karen Knutsen is in the Buckeye State for the event and will bring you the latest news and results later today!

One of the highlights will be the Convention Sale that takes place today. Cindy Howman sent us this photo from the sale line-up. She is Lot #5 – a December ‘09 Lightning that is a potential 9th generation Excellent!

We are saddened to learn that Ray Ruby is battling pancreatic cancer. Ray and Ida could surely use some support, friendship and prayers from the Holstein fraternity right now. Please feel free to send cards and positive thoughts along to them and keep them in your prayers. Their address is:
Ray and Ida Ruby
37955 Fir Ridge Rd.
Scio, OR 9737

The 2010 PA Convention Sale committee “thought outside the box” and changed the concept of the sale to a video preview (both online and at the sale site) of the animals offered. That proved to be a wise move strategically due to the winter storms. The sale averaged $3,938 on 43 full lots.

Lot 5 stole the show at a final bid of $22,600 from Gene Iager, Fulton, MD and Justin & Claire Burdette, Mercesburg, PA. The contender to claim this Sr. 2-Yr-Old show prospect was Mossy’s Holsteins of Rockwood, PA. Here auctioneer Matt Lawrence takes the phone bids after pedigree expert Horace Backus shares the pedigree of Elk-Lick Gold Ariel Lexy-ET. Lexy is out of Elk-Lick Gib Ardel Ariel-ET (EX-90), then Charles Ardel (3E-94 DOM). She was the consignment of Willard Maust, Meyersdale, PA

“The man on the move!” Sale Chairman Jason Ruffaner worked the crowd and the phone to insure the success of this event.

Taking in the pre-sale breakfast from left: Kevin Holtzinger (partially hidden): Steve Cornman; Deb Cornman, Pennsylvania Profiles editor; a former PHA President Reid Hoover & Diane Hoover; and newly elected PHA President Dean Jackson.

Checking your wallet Credie? Contributing to Pennsylvania’s budget at the nearby casino the day before the sale were Credie Cornman and Fred Strouse.

Randy Blodgett reports a great crowd is on hand for the CTPI Sale today in Lebanon, PA. Here are some high prices so far – keep refreshing, new ones will be added.

Lot 1 $28,000
Lot 2 $10,500
lot 3 $15,500
lot 4 $10,500
lot 5 $7,500
lot 6 $6,500
lot 7 $5200
lot 8  $8,500
lot 9  $4,950
lot 10 $5,700
lot  11 $6,100
lot 12  $19,000
lot 13  $5,300
lot 14 $5,100
lot 17 $6,900
lot 18 $4,000
lot 19 $3,000
lot 20 $3,000
lot 21  $3,700
lot 23  $3,550
lot 24  $2,050
lot 25 $4,000
lot 28 $4,100
lot 29 $5,000
lot 31  $5,100
lot 33  $5,000

November ’09 Million calf from the Lou and Toystory cow family headlines March 16 Benefit Auction

Fond du Lac, Wis.—January 2010—The story of this year’s Professional Dairy Producers Foundation Benefit Auction is one of family and legacy.

A November ‘09 Million calf from the heart of the Lou and Toystory cow family will headline the March 16 auction, and proceeds will help build a legacy of learning for the dairy industry.

The Breunig Family of Mystic Valley Dairy LLC has donated Jenny-Lou Million 2719 out of its herd of outstanding Holsteins. Her Marsh dam, GP-83 @ 2Y and due to be rescored in February, is among the elite in the breed with a CTPI of 1734. The Brett grandam, VG-86 GMD DOM, has over 47,150M @ 2-11. The third dam is the well-known Patron Toyane, VG-89 GMD DOM, the dam of Toystory and Lou.

“As I thought about which calf to donate, I knew it had to be one from our Toyane family. It’s the cow family that our family is most known for,” says Mitch Breunig.

The Breunig family’s dairy business is built around a passion for excellent cows, and that passion has helped Mystic Valley earn a BAA rating of 105.2. That ranks 7^th in the U.S. for herds over 300 cows.

Mystic Valley Dairy expanded from a traditional 100-cow Wisconsin farm setup in 1998 to 400 cows and stands at 430 cows today. Their rolling herd average is just shy of 30,000. But their real niche has been developing quality genetics. The farm has been able to sell an average of 60 animals a year to fellow dairy producers.

“It’s a constant goal to develop the depth and quality of our herd and provide quality animals to others,” Mitch says.

Mitch is quick to attribute business success to those around him–his wife Jacquie and seven “very valuable” employees, including his brother Marty. The calf donation pays tribute to Mitch’s late father, Louis, who started the family farm in 1961 and nurtured Mitch’s passion for excellent cattle. Mitch and his mother, Jeannette, own the farm in partnership today.

From a young age, involvement in 4-H, FFA, the Wisconsin Holstein Association and, in more recent years, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW), has helped fuel Mitch’s passion for quality cattle and build their dairy business.

Though he’s a young producer himself, Mitch is in the habit of giving back to the industry that has taught him so much. He has coached 4-H dairy judging teams for the past ten years. In 2001, a team he coached won the national championship.

He’s proud that his daughter Allison, 11, is now showing cattle in 4-H, and notes that Lauren, 5, eagerly awaits showing her first calf at this summer’s Lodi Agricultural Fair.

Proud of his young protégés, Mitch is simply happy to contribute.

“It’s great to see the kids we coach end up back in the dairy industry,” he says. “I like to think that maybe I helped them a little.”

Jenny-Lou Million 2719 may be little right now, but the successful sale of this calf at the Foundation auction will indeed help others in the dairy industry.

“The educational programs that the Professional Dairy Producers Foundation is able to fund are phenomenal and need to be supported,” Mitch says. “Education has been very rewarding for me and my family. Let’s pass it on.”

The Professional Dairy Producers Foundation was established in 2002 by Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin as a vehicle to raise funds and award grants for educational programs within dairy communities. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) entity. For more information on programs funded and ways to donate, visit www.dairyfoundation.org.

Thanks to Terry Perotti Lam for sending us these pictures from the recent VA Holstein Convention held in Richmond, VA! A full report on the convention is available on the news page today.

Richard and Martha Harris receiving Meritorious Service Award

The All-VA and Jr. All-VA award winners

The group went on the Richmond Tacky Light Tour!

New Jersey Holstein Association Celebrates 100 Years
Nearly 170 Holstein enthusiasts from the Garden State enjoyed a gala banquet on Nov. 14 in celebration of 100 years of the New Jersey Association. Long-time state treasurer and leader Jeannie Lorenzo Roberts was the driving force, as she so often is for successful Holstein activities in that small but active state.
The evening’s activities included a social hour, a delicious banquet feature featuring beef filet and chicken fresco and a lovely and unique cake complete with a black & white cow atop the multi layers.
Joe Valen was master of ceremonies introducing the current officers and several guests. Joe was credited with making arrangements for the facilities at the Neshanic Valley Country Club near Flemington.
Jeannie herself did a remarkable job of recognizing nearly a dozen individuals or couples in attendance who had begun their careers in New Jersey and then gone on as successful breeders and leaders in others states including New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.
Melissa Osgood of the American Dairy Assn. and Dairy Council introduced both the outgoing and newly crowned New Jersey Dairy Princesses. Katie Albert surrendered her crown to Molly Boyle. Another junior member receiving a round of applause was Joseph Martinelli, winner of the Holstein youth speech contest, intermediate division, at the National Convention in Sacramento this year. The future looks to be in good hands.
Peter Cole of the Holstein Association USA complimented the New Jersey group and presented a plaque commemorating the event to New Jersey President Melanie Richman.
The evening concluded with 60-year member Ken Roehrich introducing guest speaker Horace Backus of Mexico, NY. He recalled people and occasions from his work with New Jersey Holsteins and breeders over the years. He invited questions and in response commented on great bulls (Sir Pieterje Ormsby Mercedes 37th and Johanna Rag Apple Pabst, along with Elevation and Ivanhoe), great cows, milk marketing and the value of high quality Registered Holsteins.
As the very difficult year of 2009 winds down, this gathering provided a timely reminder of enduring relationships created by the great black & white cow. -JPH

Grand Champion: Elmbridge FM Loveable-Red, 1st 4-year-old, Tuytel & Lookout Holsteins
Reserve Grand Champion: KHW Regiment Apple-Red, 1st 5-year-old, Apple Partners
HM Grand Champion: Silvermine Adv Tally-Red, 1st Sr. 2-year-old, Milksource Genetics

Mature Cow (3)
1. Sildajak Regiment Sofie (Carrousel Regiment-Red x Loubel Top Gun Sofie), George Sikma, Bradley, Transfer Genetics
2. Roumers Rubens Dania (STBVQ Rubens), Fred Fornwald & Sons, Wedgwood Holsteins
3. Cobequid Rosette Marker (Indianhead Red-Marker), Richard Green

5-Year-Old (7)
1. KHW Regiment Apple-Red (Carrousel Regiment-Red x Kamps-Hollow Altitude), Apple Partners
2. Gen-I-Beq Talent Splach (Ladino Park Talent Imp), Ardross Holsteins
3. Walkerbrae Redman Roberta (Valleyriver Ruben Redman), Larry Bennett, Valleyriver Farms Ltd.
4. Stone-Front Rub Indigo-Red (STBVQ Rubens), Milksource Genetics
5. Dynamic Advent Deidre-Red (KHW Kite Advent-Red), Chris & Louise Birch, Peter Sherwen
6. Stoneden Steve Red Rosette (Briar Success Stieve-Red), Hazelcrest Holsteins
7. Morview Super Special Edda-Red (Pursuit September Storm), Morview Holsteins