MARIETTA, Ohio – The Washington County Black & White Holstein Club held their annual meeting and dinner banquet Feb. 21st at the Tunnel Community Building near Marietta, Ohio.
More than 100 area dairy farmers, family members and community leaders gathered to celebrate another year of successful events for the club and to give the annual awards.
Production herds. The DHI Awards were presented to the high production herds and most improved herd in the county.
Bielh’s Dairy Farm won highest production for a herd over 100 cows and the most improved production herd for the county.
The farm in Stanleyville, Ohio, is operated by Dave and Debbie Biehl and their two sons, Josh and Adam, and their daughter, Jenny.
Belhi Farm, located just north of Belpre, Ohio, and owned and operated by Mike and Janice Congleton, won the award for highest production of a herd under 100 cows.
Memorial award. Also presented at the banquet was the Carl Broughton Memorial Award.
Broughton was the founder of Broughton Foods Company, which is a staple in Marietta and a champion for dairy farmers in southeastern Ohio.
Company representative Sam Lipscomb, a personal friend of Carl Broughton, presented the award to Ben Bohlen.
Bohlen was president of the Frontier FFA chapter last year and also received his State FFA degree.
He is the son of Ronald and Barbara Bohlen, who own and operate a grazing dairy farm in Sitka, Ohio.
Bohlen is a freshman at Rio Grand University working on a degree in math education with hopes to pursue a high school teaching career.
Special presentations. Guest speakers were volunteers Jim Woodruff and Steve Spraque, who are working with the county fair board on the new livestock arena.
The gentlemen unveiled the first copy of the design of the new building and artist’s rendition of the outside.
Volunteers are developing this new project as a grassroots effort for the youth of Washington County.
The new livestock arena will house cattle with outdoor areas for sheep and goats. There will also be an official milking parlor with a viewing window for the public.
The dairy club presented the volunteers with the first official donation towards the new facility.
Officers. Newly installed officers were Kurt Bohlen, president; Gerald Barth, vice president; and Nancy Coffman, secretary/treasurer.
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