Professional Dairy Producers Foundation board expands The Professional Dairy Producers Foundation board of directors has grown with the addition of four dairy industry leaders: Linda Behling, who runs a 240-cow dairy with her husband and is a nutritionist with Vita Plus. Keith Engel, milk quality and dairy hygiene/supply specialist with GEA Farm Technologies. Ellen Schaefer, who owns and works her family's 40-cow dairy, Running Creek Farm. Ed Strauss, who runs Majestic Crossing Dairy with his two sons. These new board members join three other directors: dairy producers Deb Reinhart of Chilton, Wisconsin, and Logan Bower of Blain, Pennsylvania; and Erica Pagel, production superintendent for Foremost Farms USA, Chilton, Wisconsin. —From Professional Dairy Producers Foundation news release National Jersey leadership named for 2012-13 Officers and directors of the USJersey organizations were elected during the Annual Meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) held in June.
Chris Sorenson of Pine River, Wisconsin, was elected to a one-year term as president of the American Jersey Cattle Association.
Sorenson is a partner in Hillview Jersey Farm, a family corporation formed in 1982. The 850-acre farm is home to a 100-cow registered Jersey herd enrolled on REAP (registration, equity, type appraisal and performance programs).
A five-year director of the AJCA, Sorenson was co-chair of the 2011 National Heifer Sale that raised more than $300,000 for Jersey Youth Academy.
Elected as vice president for a one-year term was William Grammer of Sebring, Ohio. Grammer is chair of the AJCA development committee and serves as an ex officio director of National All-Jersey Inc.
Corey Lutz of Lincolnton, North Carolina, was elected to a three-year term as AJCA director from the Sixth District, succeeding two-term director and retiring vice president Richard A. Doran.
Corey and his wife Bridgette own and operate Piedmont Jerseys, a 200-cow herd enrolled in AJCA’s REAP program. Lutz is currently president of the North Carolina Jersey Association, associate general chair of All American Jersey shows and sales, and a past chair of the AJCA type advisory committee.
Three sitting directors were re-elected to a second three-year term: Ralph Frerichs, La Grange, Texas (Eighth District); David Norman, Liberty, Pennsylvania (Third District); and Wesley Snow, Brookfield, Vermont (First District).
Walter Owens of Frederic, Wisconsin, was appointed to fill the Tenth District seat vacated by Chris Sorenson. Owens is a two-time president of the Wisconsin Jersey Breeders Association and currently serves on the Select Sires Inc. Jersey sire committee.
Owens served on the Wisconsin Department of Commerce’s Dairy 20/20 Initiative and more than 30 years on the Polk-Burnett DHI Board, including 10 years as president. In 2011, he was a co-chair of the all-donation 54th National Heifer Sale.
Chairs of standing committees on the AJCA Board for 2012-13 are Jerry Spielman, Seneca, Kansas, finance; Charles Steer, Cottage Grove, Tennessee, breed improvement; William Grammer, development; and James Quist, Fresno, Calififorna, registration. PD
—From American Jersey Cattle Association news release
