CARROLLTON, Ohio — Neither the 6 inches of snow nor high water road closings could keep Holstein breeders from traveling to sunny southwest Ohio to attend the Ohio Holstein Association annual meeting and convention held March 11-12 in Wilmington, Ohio.
Sale results. Prior to the start of the convention, the hosting District 15 Holstein Club held the Mideast Impact Sale, featuring approximately 90 registered Holstein consignments.
Topping the sale at $20,000 was Ka-Geo Knckt Rose-Red-ET, consigned by Gabby Gabriel and Natalie Woodcock, Stanford, Ky. She was the Reserve All American Red and White Fall Yearling in 2010 and was due July 11, 2011 to Scientific SS Deuce with an ultrasound heifer.
The sale averaged $3,118, with cattle selling to eight states.
New queen
The 2011 Ohio Holstein Queen, Mikayla Conrad, of New Holland, was crowned at Friday night’s Queen’s Banquet by the 2010 Queen, Kara Jordan, from East Rochester, Ohio.
Mikayla is the daughter of Greg and Judy Conrad and a junior at Westfall High School.
Other contestants were: Amber Baumer, Wapakoneta, District 12; Katie Cole, Jenera, District 9; Renee Hershberger, Sugarcreek, District 7; Rachel Klier, Wellington, District 8; Kalley Martin, Fayette, District 10; Katelynn McDaniel, Springfield, District 13; and Beth Zimmer, Marietta, District 3.
The guest speaker for the evening was Melissa Hart from North Adams, Mich., a farm wife and editor of the online dairy magazine, Dairy Agenda Today, where she writes a daily blog, in addition to her farm blog, Knolltop Farm Wife.
Meetings
Saturday’s activities began with the Ohio Holstein Women’s meeting. Newly elected officers are Kathy Johnson, president; Betty Whiteleather, vice president; Sara Twining, secretary; and Lisa Mangun, treasurer.
The Ohio Junior Holstein Association met and elected Allison Mangun, president; Anna Miley, vice president; Allison Janes, secretary; Louis Liming, treasurer; and Corey Oechsle, news reporter.
The officers elected at the Ohio Holstein Association business meeting were: president, Joe Miley, Wooster; vice president, Dallas Rynd, Ashville; secretary, Michelle Burkey, New Philadelphia; and treasurer, Steve Gilbert, Wooster.
Awards
Following the noon awards banquet, the All Ohio and Progressive Breeder Registry awards were presented. The Buckeye Breed Builder Junior Award was presented to Jeremy Adams, who with partners Cindy Howman, and Tony and Kim Broshes, who own and breed registered Holsteins at Stan-Mar-Dale/Express, Urbana, Ohio.
The Buckeye Breed Builder Senior Award went to James Sheffield. He and his wife, Laura, and family own and operate Jaloda Holsteins, Wellington, Ohio.
Distinguished Service. The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Tom Thorbahn, Vickery, Ohio. Tom has been a member of the Ohio Holstein Association and the National Holstein Association for 40 years.
He has served as president, vice president, treasurer, and on numerous committees for the Ohio Holstein Association, and served as a director on the National Holstein Board, and on committees there. He is in a partnership with his father, Lewis, and his brother, Lewis II, at Crimson Lane Holsteins. He and his wife, Linda have a daughter, Ashley.
Sara Twining received the Ohio Holstein Woman of the Year Award. She and husband, Ray, and family raise registered Holsteins on their farm near Wellington, where Sara is active in the community, church, and does many crafts.
Heidi Moff, daughter of Steve and Jane Moff, Columbiana, Ohio, received the Ohio Holstein Women’s Scholarship Award.
The Ohio Holstein Women’s Fun Auction was held following the presentation of awards. Items for the auction are donated by each district or by individuals and the proceeds from the auction are used for the scholarship fund and various activities.
Items auctioned off included a Bonnie Mohr picture, baskets filled with cheese, crackers, trail bologna, wine, and numerous other items, toys, autographed Ohio State sports items, and more. A total of $1,930 was raised.
