WALNUT CREEK, Ohio — The Ohio Guernsey Breeders’ Association is hosting the National Guernsey Convention, June 16-20 in Walnut Creek, Ohio.
Convention events will be split between the Wallhouse Hotel and Carlisle Inn, which are within walking distance of each other.
Full slate
Convention activities get underway June 16. Pre-convention highlights include an open house at the American Guernsey Association headquarters and visit to Land of Living Farm, owned by John and Bonnie Ayars for lunch, a tour of the farm and discussion on topics including why Guernseys work in a mixed herd, and finding new markets. The Ayars farm in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, is about 2-1/2 hours west of Walnut Creek.
Wrapping up the day’s activities will be a Welcome to Ohio dinner with David Kline, a Holmes County author and Guernsey breeder, while the juniors will enjoy a pizza party and game night.
June 17 features a full slate of association committee meetings and youth activities, starting with the Quiz Bowl contest, followed by public speaking contests and interviews for the queen contest and outstanding Guernsey youth.
Wrapping up the day’s activities will be a trip to Acres of Fun for the juniors and a trip to the Carlisle Inn in Sugarcreek for the dinner theater musical Half-Stitched.
Educational seminars
Events on June 18 include scholarship interviews and the Guernsey Foundation meeting, educational seminars and the Young Dairy Leader Seminar.
Leading off the educational seminars will be a panel discussion on getting cows bred, presented by Dr. Todd Plocher, Salem, Ohio; Jason Yurs, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin; and Neil Jensen, Comstock, Wisconsin. Chuck Sattler, Plain City, Ohio, will discuss genomics and the future of the breed
Other activities include an open house and lunch at Spring Walk Farm, hosted by Bill Wachtel and family, followed by a visit to Lehman’s Hardware and the Kidron Auction. The day concludes with dinner and the awards program, followed by keynote speaker Kent Knappenberger, a Guernsey enthusiast and recipient of the Grammy’s 2014 Music Educator Award.
Friday activities include a visit to Pine Grove Guernseys, hosted by the Reuben Miller family, and tours of Behalt and Heini’s Cheese before heading to Springhill Farm for lunch and a preview of the consignments for the 2015 National Guernsey Convention Sale.
The day’s activities wrap up with dinner and the Youth Celebration at The Farm at Walnut Creek, before returning to the Carlisle Inn for a dessert bar and an auction to benefit Guernsey youth activities.
National sale
The convention wraps up on June 20 with the annual meetings of the American Guernsey Association and the American Guernsey Youth Association, followed by lunch at Springhill farm and the 2015 National Guernsey Convention Sale.
Due to limited parking at the various tour stops, bus transportation will be provided.
Hotel information
If you are planning to attend the convention and have not yet made hotel reservations, contact Blaine Crosser, 740-666-5491, for information. A stronger-than-normal number of registrations has resulted in the designated convention hotels filling early. The convention planning committee has made arrangements with neighboring hotels to make additional rooms available.
Early registration deadline is May 16; late registration is open until June 1. Payment must accompany registration. Forms and pricing information is available online at usguernsey.com Additional information is also available from Julie Renner 330- 466-0338.
