WOOSTER, Ohio — When the Wayne County Dairy Service Unit reviewed the list of the county’s outstanding producers they found several of them were also in line for the county’s new award as the county’s best managed dairy operation.
These producers were among the individuals recognized during the dairy service unit’s annual banquet March 24. The Outstanding Herd Management award was based on production and reproduction.
The award was broken down in to production groups, based on energy corrected milk with a point system based on the herd’s improved production and reproduction from the previous year, including the herd’s calving interval, days to first service, conception rates, heat detection and age at first calving.
This year, they also recognized Jersey herds in the county and recognized the county’s most improved dairy operations.
Rupp-Vue Farm and Steffen Farms tied as the winners of the 28,000-pound rolling herd average or greater group as well as the overall winner of the Outstanding Herd Management award for Holsteins for 2014. Both farms are no stranger to recognition for these accomplishments as they have been ranked among the top herds in the county for several years.
Most improved
Rupp-Vue also received the award for the county’s most improved Holstein herd. Winners in the other divisions were Lingle Holstein Farms.
In the 26,000 to 27,999 pound division, Brad Carter & Trent Neuenschwander in the 24,000 to 25,999 pound division and Clair Wenger in the less than 24,000 pound division. Cantendo Acres/Grazeland Jerseys received the Outstanding Herd Management award for Colored Breeds for 2014, while Ro-La-Sue Dairy Farm was recognized as the Most Improved herd among the colored breeds.
Elmer Steiner was recognized as the county’s top 2X Holstein herd with 26,144 pounds of energy corrected milk, 999 pounds of fat and 814 pounds of protein.
Steffen Farm was recognized for the county’s top 3X Holstein herd with 29,683 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1085 pounds of fat and 905 pounds of protein. Pine Tree Dairy Farm had the top Holstein cow with 41,701 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,718 pounds of fat, and 1,085 pounds of protein.
Cantendo/Grazeland Acres was recognized as the top 2X Jersey herd and had the top Jersey cow. Their herd produced 20,193 pounds of energy corrected milk, 968 pounds of fat and 715 pounds of protein. They also had the top Jersey cow for the county with a completed record of 30,308 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,297 pounds of fat and 826 pounds of protein.
Spring Run Farms had the top Ayrshire herd with 17,516 pounds of energy corrected milk, 672 pounds of fat and 564 pounds of protein. They also had the top Ayrshire cow with 24,450 pounds of energy corrected milk, 929 pounds of fat and 721 pounds of protein.
Brown Swiss
Gary Dotterer had the top Brown Swiss herd with 20,766 pounds of energy corrected milk, 912 pounds of fat and 699 pounds of protein. Dotterer also had the county’s top mixed herd with 23,616 pounds of energy corrected milk, 968 pounds of fat and 763 pounds of protein.
He also had the top mixed breed cow with 35,573 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1372 pounds of fat and 999 pounds of protein.
Brook Hollow Farm had the top Brown Swiss cow with 44,525 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1748 pounds of fat and 1245 pounds of protein. William Farriss had the top mixed breed cow with 32,916 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,137 pounds of fat and 984 pounds of protein.
Somatic cell counts
The top herds in the county for low Somatic Cell Counts were Pine Tree Dairy Farm, Brad Carter and Trent Neuenschwander, Stan Carmony, Steffen Farm and Raygor Farm.
High lifetime production awards went to Wayne & Mike Hunsberger, Carmony Farms, Jiman Farms, Miley Holsteins, Wenger Farms, RMD Dairy Farm, Lingle Holsteins, J & L Schlabach, Steinhurst Farm, Bauman Farm and Gary Dotterer.
Wayne County board members elected were Tom Stocksdale, Kevin Dotterer, Kraig Gasser and Ryan Lingle.
State updates
Scott Higgins, executive director of the Mid-East ADA and Ohio Dairy Producers Association, gave an update on ADA-Mideast programs. He said ADA-Mideast’s is partnership with the fast food industry is still strong.
Tom Wolf gave an update on Ohio DHI. He told the audience that there were 160,000 cows in 940 herds on test in Ohio. Overall the number of herds on test is declining, but the number of cows per herd is increasing.
Wayne County remains steady with 15,000 cows in 120 herds on test. During the banquet, a custom-made pillow, donated by Addie Schiebe was auctioned off with the proceeds benefiting the Wayne County Dairy Service Unit Scholarship fund.
The Dairy Twilight Tour will be held at Steffen Dairy Farm in Kidron, July 15.
Youth recognized
WOOSTER, Ohio — Julie Gress of Shreve was crowned the 2014 Wayne County dairy princess during the Wayne County Dairy Service Unit’s annual meeting March 24.
Julie, 17, is the daughter of Joe and Lisa Gress and is a student at Triway High School, where she is active in FFA, serving as the reporter.
She is also active in 4-H, president of her 4-H club and a member of the Wayne County Junior Fair Board, serving as superintendent of the dairy department. She also helps with chores on the family dairy farm.
Leah Winchell was named the 2014 junior dairy princess. Leah, 12, is the daughter of Stacy and Jessica, of Creston. She is a student at Norwayne Middle School, where she is involved in student council and the Teen Institute.
She is a member of Country Acres 4-H Club and helps on her family’s dairy farm. She has exhibited dairy and poultry projects at the county fair.
Outstanding dairy youth. Diane Gress was named as the Wayne County Outstanding Dairy Youth.
Gress is the daughter of Joe and Lisa Gress of Shreve. She is a student at Ohio State University, majoring in agriculture communications. She has been involved in the family dairy farm where her chores include feeding the bottle calves, milking, helping with herd checks, vaccinations, classifications, raking and mowing hay and straw.
Diane has been involved in dairy skillathon, dairy judging, dairy quiz bowl and dairy management contests.
She shows cattle at the Wayne County and Ohio State Fairs. Diane is also involved in 4-H and in 2010 received the state 4-H dairy award.
Scholarships
Dairy Service Unit Scholarships were also presented to Chase Thut and Sam Weeman. Thut is the son of Mike and Kathy Thut and is a student at Northwestern High School. He also takes post-secondary classes at the University of Akron.
He has been involved in 4-H and FFA, as well as sports, church and youth group activities. He plans to attend Ohio State University, studying pre-veterinary medicine, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian.
Weeman is the son of Brian and Mary Weeman and is a student at the University of Akron, majoring in engineering, with the goal of using his engineering degree in the field of agriculture. He was very involved in 4-H and dairy activities while he was in high school.
