The 144th Annual Meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and the 54th Annual Meeting of National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) are now in the history books! It was one of the most educational annual meetings in recent memory, with seminars by Roger Cady (co-author of the Jersey sustainability study) and AJCA staffers Cari Wolfe and Brad Barham. There was also an engaging talk at the NAJ Annual Meeting by Dana Coale, deputy administrator for AMS Dairy Programs, USDA.

Here are some other highlights:

  • Official average for the 55th National Heifer Sale was $4,684.09 on 44 genotyped and genomically evaluated heifers, which was a new record! The high seller, Buttercrest Impress Satin-ET (Lot 1), also brought a record $27,100. Second high, at $10,100, was Oomsdale Galen Valentino Gleam-ET (Lot 6). Five more consignments brought $7,500 or higher.
  • The benefit auction for the AJCC Research Foundation raised $14,390. The #7 Eustis Jersey cow donated in memory of W. Charles McGinnis by his wife Frances sold for $5,500 to C.A. Russell.
  • The AJCA Scholarship Funds were the beneficiary of $8,000 from the sale of D&E Merchant Virtue 22233-ET to Multi-Rose Jerseys of Iowa.
  • Cow Pie Bingo raised a total of $7,320 for Jersey Youth Academy. Rectors Merchant Paris 22258 left her mark on a square purchased by Elsa Sherman and Janice Rector, who donated the heifer back to be sold. Alex Steer, Texas, is the new owner for $2,100. Nearly $28,000 has been raised for Academy through this fundraiser, which was initiated in 2009.
  • Chris Sorenson of Pine River, Wisconsin, was elected president of the AJCA. Vice president for 2012-13 is William Grammer of Sebring, Ohio, with Jerry Spielman of Seneca, Kansas, as chair of the finance committee.
  • Corey Lutz of Lincolnton, North Carolina, was elected to a three-year term as AJCA director from the sixth district. Three directors were re-elected for their second terms: 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 unexpired term of Chris Sorenson as director from the tenth district.
  • David Endres of Lodi, Wisconsin, was elected to a fourth term as president of National All-Jersey Inc. James S. Huffard III of Crockett, Virginia, was re-elected as director from District 5 and also as NAJ vice president. Finance chair is Kelvin Moss of Litchfield Park, Arizona.
  • The Master Breeder Award was presented to Dutch Hollow Farm LLC, Schodack Landing, New York.
  • The award winners for TalkJersey, a national public speaking contest, were Tyler Bohnert, Payton Youngers and Gerret Boer in first place. Second place awards went to Katarina Emerich and Reagan Emerson. A third place award went to Amy Stranger.
  • The champion team in the Jersey Youth Challenge was "Money Making Acres," consisting of Billy Grammer, Shelby Moss, Tyler Bohnert, Kim Kubosiak, Tristan Phillipsand Meagan Bolen. The reserve champion team was "Big Money Jerseys," made up of Allison Frerichs, Kayla Carson, Ben Grammer, Lydia Chittenden, Austin Zmrzlik and Katarina Emerich. PD

—From American Jersey Cattle Association/National All-Jersey Inc. news release

PHOTOS
TOP RIGHT: Top of the National Heifer Sale was Buttercrest Impress Satin-ET, consigned by Cooperrider & Sons, Croton, Ohio. From left: Ron Mosser, AJCA-NAJ Area Representative, representing River Valley Dairy, Tremont, Illinois, purchaser; National Jersey Queen Cassy Krull (Wisconsin); Neal Smith, AJCA-NAJ Executive Secretary (in box); Jason Robinson, 072012_usjersey3

Manager, Jersey Marketing Service; auctioneer Lynn Lee (Tennessee, in box); Sara Barlass, AJCA-NAJ Area Representative; Dan Carroll, Sexing Technologies, Texas, contending bidder. At the halter: MacKenzie White, New Hampshire.

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MIDDLE RIGHT: Farm tour hosts each received a framed copy of “Wide Load Ahead” by Denise Rich. This picture was taken at Highland with all members of the Pike and Palmer families. At right is John Palmer, who received the AJCA Distinguished Service Award. Farms hosting tours were: Harkdale Farm, Molly Brook Farm, Pearlmont Farm and Highland Farms Inc.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Curtis P. Van Tassell, Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory, received the AJCA-NAJ Award for Meritorious Service. H. Duane Norman (not pictured) of Fulton, Maryland, also received an award for meritorious service. From left: Curt’s wife, Jo Ann Van Kessell; Curt; Cari Wolfe, director of research and genetic programs for AJCA; and Joanne and Curt’s sons (above). Photos courtesy of American Jersey Cattle Association/National All-Jersey Inc.

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