The record number of Jerseys being shown today has generated a very captive ringside audience!

The much anticipated Top of the World Jersey Sale lived up to its billing! Forty-four lots sold featuring cattle from the US and Canada including 15 head straight from the heart of the Heath and Partners showstring. A record crowd gathered for the evening event that was held on the grounds following the Jersey heifer show.

Topping the sale was Lot #11, Renaissance Key Goldie (EX93), a Five-Year-Old granddaughter of the one-and-only JIF Little Minnie (EX96) 2X Royal Champion. Goldie was Nominated All-American as a Senior Three-Year-Old in 2006. Kingsmill Farm and Ronnie Montgomery, Durham, NC purchased the lot for $21,000. Goldie was the consignment of Mike Heath, Triple-T Holsteins & Jerseys, Jeff Brown & Jeff Stephens, North Lewisburg, OH.

Second high seller was Lot #16, Senn-Sational Iatola Petrina, a flashy Fall Yearling In Milk consigned by Mike Heath, Kelly Barbee & Purple Fever Cattle Co., Westminster, MD. Petrina won the Fall Yearling in Milk class at the 2008 NY State Fair and was purchased by RJ Jerseys, ON Canada for $18,000.

Rounding out the top 3 sellers was Jurisdiction Jenny (VG89) consigned by Triple-T Holsteins & Jerseys, Mike Heath & Richman Farms, North Lewisburg, OH. Jenny, who won the Senior Two-Year-Old class and was named Reserve Intermediate Champion of the 2008 Ohio State Fair struck off for $14,000 to Beechwood Jerseys, WI.

An added lot, Partee At Budjon Luxury-ET earned the forth highest selling price. Luxury was the won the Spring Yearling class and was also named Reserve Junior Champion in the 2008 Central National Jersey Show. She was the consignment of Ken & Kathy Elliott and Budjon Farms, Lomira, WI. Buster Goff of New Mexico purchased the lot for $13,500.

The sale average $5609 on 44 lots including embryos. The sale was managed by Jersey Marketing Service.

Other top sellers

Kimbles Flora (EX91)- Junior Three-Year-Old

$12,000

C: Triple-T Holsteins & Jerseys, North Lewisburg, OH

B: Mordale Jerseys, ON

Lot #11 Renaissance Key Goldie (EX93) – High Seller

Goldie’s Primetime daughter – Lot #12

High Seller – Lot #11 Renaissance Key Goldie

2nd High Seller – Lot #16 Senn-Sational Iatola Petrina

3rd High Seller – Lot #5 Jurisdiction Jenny

4th High Seller – Added Lot – Partee At Budjon Luxury-ET

The Friday, Saturday and Sunday were busy days for World Dairy Expo exhibitors. Dairy enthusiasts from all over the US and Canada began moving into the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Cattle have filled the barns, displays have been constructed and everyone is ready for what looks to be a very large and an extremely competitive show. A new must see display on the grounds is that of Milk Source. The set-up is like no other!!! See you here!

Many of us are pulling out the suitcases and trying to figure out what clothes to pack and how many fans we wil need to throw in the trailer for Expo week. Madison weather is never very predictable and can range from sweltering hot (2007) to ice-on-the-wash rack cold…and it can all happen in the same week!!! Like most I have been watching the weather and trying to figure out what to take with me. I have finally decided my plan of attack…TAKE EVERYTHING!!!

Anyway, here is what www.weather.com has for the forcast. Happy packing!

Friday, Sep 26 SUNNY High 80, Low 56 20% Chance of Precip

Sat, Sep 27 PARTLY CLOUDY High 77, Low 52 20% Chance of Precip

Sun, Sep 28 PARTLY CLOUDY High 65, Low 47 20% Chance of Precip

Mon, Sep 29 FEW SHOWERS High 61, Low 46 30% Chance of Precip

Tue, Sep 30 PARTLY CLOUDY High 63, Low 43 20% Chance of Precip

Wed, Oct 1 SUNNY High 66, Low 46 20% Chance of Precip

Thu, Oct 2 PARTLY CLOUDY High 66, Low 46 20% Chance of Precip

By Lana Olson, Expo Blogger

On the final day of World Dairy Expo 2007, I had the opportunity to visit with Dan Peterson and Tina Suhr of Global Genetic Resources (GGR) about the first year for this new AI company. At this time last year GGR was off the ground and running as a new player in the AI industry. Today, GGR has 23 bulls in their Holstein proven active line up, and 21 young sires. “We had to start off by carrying other proven bulls from other companies, just to get our name out there,” says Tina. “But eventually we would like to just have our own bulls that we have purchased and sampled ourselves,” she adds.

GGR carries bulls with a variety of strengths. Dan says, “We try to have something for everyone; whether it be type, production, net merit, whatever.”

Dan and Tina co-own and run the business together and that””””””””s what drives them to work as hard as possible. Tina shared, “When you know you are doing this for yourself it gives you that much more motivation.”

One change in the company since last year is how they have diversified. GGR has branched out into the farm products market and are currently featuring Optimizer Calf Gel, something their customers are very happy with. “It protects against more strains of viruses, is cheaper than the competitor and is produced locally in Kasson, MN,” Tina said.

Looking to the future, GGR is excited about some promising young sires. One such exciting prospect is Astrahoe Duplex Ro Rufus-ET. Rufus comes from the world””””””””s first 14th generation Excellent, Astrahoe Storm R Roberta, and is an early Duplex son.

To learn more about their lineup and their products, visit Global Genetic Resources online at www.ggresources.com.

By Lana Olson, Expo Blogger

As I was watching bits and pieces of shows on Wednesday my attention was grabbed by something I saw in the Milking Shorthorn ring- something bright pink and sparkly. True to my prediction it was Jessica Achen, National Milking Shorthorn Queen, a 19 year-old from Sauk Centre, Minn. Achen, who is a good friend of mine and fellow member of the Minnesota Junior Holstein Board of Directors spent Wednesday afternoon handing out awards and showing her cattle- all in a pink formal gown and sparkly crown. Earlier in the week however, you could easily spot Achen with four shiny medallions around her neck as I found out after visiting with her in the barns after a long day of showing.

Achen, along with her dairy judging teammates from Stearns County, Minnesota swept the entire 4-H dairy judging contest Monday. Achen was named high individual overall, high individual in reasons and also was a key member to the high team overall and high team in reasons. Achen’s teammates Emily Lahr (5^th overall, 5^th reasons), Abby Udderman (24^th overall) and Emily Achen were extremely surprised after the win. Jessica says, “We just didn’t know if we had the potential or not, it was a big surprise.” Judging as team since 2001 has made the team very close and that is just one of the reasons why this title has meant so much to those four girls.

When Achen isn’t fulfilling her duties as Queen or Dairy Judging Champion at Expo this week you can find her in Barn 9, heading up a string of animals from her farm and a few from other exhibitors. As for the rest of the week, Achen says she plans to lay low and just enjoy the good cattle and good friends. “I really like catching up with old friends and people I have met along the way, I really enjoy my time here at Expo.”

Be sure to stay tuned here for more from some of the people at Bright Lights, Big Show: World Dairy Expo 2007. Also be sure to watch HolsteinWorld.com for daily news at Expo and up-to-the-class show results of the International Red and White and Holsteins shows Thursday thru Saturday.

By Lana Olson, Expo Blogger

Well, it officially has begun, Bright Lights, Big Show: World Dairy Expo 2007. Never a dull moment, Monday started off with the judging contests for 4H, Post Secondary and Collegiate teams. For results on these contests visit HolsteinWorld.com and watch our daily news. Tuesday began the shows with the Central National Ayrshire Show, the International Junior Holstein Show and the Central National Jersey Show heifer classes.

After a glimpse of an impressive Junior Holstein Show on Tuesday I visited with Bonnie Van Dyk of Willow’s Edge Holsteins, an Expo perennial exhibitor, to talk about what Expo is all about for them, a successful day in the ring for her daughter Claire and their string this year.

Willow’s Edge Holsteins of New Richmond, Wis. is the farm of Henk and Bonnie Van Dyk with daughters Jordan and Claire. They have been coming to World Dairy Expo with their own string for about the last 10 years. But for this farm making the annual trek to Madison is not just about how they do in the show ring. Even though they have more than proved themselves in that respect, earning Premier Exhibitor in 2003. “We felt it was just so important for us to have a farm display instead of sending our animals along with another string. It’s about the promotion and name recognition for us,” says Bonnie. Van Dyks also take the time out of a busy Expo week to donate animals to judging contests. This year, the top Holstein Winter Yearling in the Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest was Willows Edge Durham Delight.

Starting off the week on the right foot, Claire Van Dyk showed the 2nd place Fall Calf, 7th place Winter Yearling and 3rd place Junior 2 Yr. Old at the International Junior Holstein Show. Bonnie says; “It was an impressive show this year, it just keeps getting better and better.” Later in the week Bonnie is excited to see not only how the animals in their string stack up in the International Holstein Show but also how animals they have sold in the past will compete. Willow’s Edge cows in other strings include 3x Junior All-American, Willows Edge Gib Fancy-ET, and Nominated All-American Junior 3-Year-Old, Willows Edge Durham Brianna. For more information on some of the Willow””s Edge headliners, click here to visit their website.

It’s going to be an exciting week in Madison, Wis. Stay tuned to hear more from who is here this year; exhibitors, industry professionals and more!