BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – The National Holstein Association convention and annual meeting was June 24-26 in Knoxville, Tenn., with a total of 117 official delegates representing the association’s 43 election districts.
In addition, there were over 500 junior members and more than 200 other adults.
Elections. Highlighting the event was the election of Doug Maddox, Riverdale, Calif., as the association’s president; Larry Tande, Medford, Minn., as vice president; and Leroy Eggink, Sibley, Iowa, as a new member of the board of directors.
Re-elected to their second three-year terms on the board were Gordie Cook, Hadley, Mass.; John Kalmey, Shelbyville, Ky.; and William Peck, Schuylerville, N.Y.
William McKarns , Hanoverton, Ohio, was announced as the first recipient of the association’s new Distinguished Leadership award; Marvin Nunes, Ocean View Farms, Windsor, Calif., was named the first recipient of the new Elite Breeder Award; and Bruce and Brenda Long, New London, Wis., were presented as this year’s Distinguished Young Breeders.
Nik Sutter, Madison, Wis., was announced as this year’s recipient of the Robert H. Rumler Scholarship.
Bright future. In his address, CEO John Meyer said survey data signal that producers should be optimistic about the future of the Registered Holstein business.
“Statistics that might be surprising to some include: 31 percent of the respondents expect to be dairying for at least the next 21 years. ]
“The future of the Registered Holstein business looks bright as 84 percent expect to register as many or more animals in five years as they do today.
He said 2006 brought positive forward movement – registrations increased by 3,291, totaling 305,143, and transfers were up 776 and totaled 57,835.
“Enthusiasm for Holstein Association USA is running high as evidenced by increases in new adult and junior memberships. We welcomed 809 new adult members, up 101 from 2005, and 700 new junior members, an increase of 127.”
Amendments. Several bylaw amendments were approved by the delegates, including one authorizing the executive secretary to approve applications for membership and another redefining an active member to include those members who have had cattle transferred into their ownership.
The delegates defeated a proposal that would have provided for all 12 directors to be elected at large.
Chief Financial Officer Barbara Casna reported that the association had operating revenues in 2006 of $15,590,000, an increase of 10 percent over the previous year.
Dr. Nate Zwald of Alta Genetics was the guest speaker, discussing the future of the dairy industry from an artificial insemination perspective.
Resolutions. Several resolutions were adopted by the delegate body:
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