Posted: December 6, 2011 at 4:37 pm
By News Editor
The annual “Friends of Expo” honored four outstanding World Dairy Expo volunteers. The 2011 honorees were Brenda Lee Turner, Betty Haag, Julie Ehrke and Maureen DeBruin.
Brenda Lee Turner was presented a Friend of Expo Award for her many years of service to the cattle show. A northern Wisconsin native, Brenda was active showing cattle through 4-H at the county and state level. As a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a degree in agriculture journalism agriculture, she was active in the Badger Dairy Club. Her career path following graduation included working for a prominent breed publication and assisting with dairy cattle preparation and programming for some of the biggest Holstein sales in the world. After marrying her husband, Roger, Brenda now works for Semex in Canada. She is one of the organizers that sets up, manages and disassembles the Semex Walk of Fame live cattle display at World Dairy Expo. She continues to coordinate the grand opening of the World Classic sale with Tom Morris. She volunteers as the official announcer of the International Holstein and International Ayrshire Shows. She collaborates with other volunteers and World Dairy Expo staff on potential story ideas for the Daily Edition, Virtual Farm Tours and general promotion of the event to potential attendees from around the world.
Betty Haag was also honored for her passion as a volunteer for Expo. She grew up on a farm in Milton, Wisconsin and was an active 4-H member who loved farm animals and rural living. As a graduate of Whitewater State College she received her degree in education and taught elementary school in West Allis. Her desire to return to rural life lured her to earn a home economics degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison and then on to become a county agent in Green Lake. Later she moved to become the Home Economist in Jefferson County, working with community members, 4-H leaders and youth for over 32 years. During that time, Betty and her husband, Adolf, raised three children. World Dairy Expo has benefited from her volunteer services for many years. First, she assisted with the school tours to help educate future consumers. Later she added the role of volunteer in the Purple Cow Gift Shop. Now retired, this Friend of Expo remains busy as an active volunteer in her community while still helping for one week each year at World Dairy Expo.
Julie Ehrke of Badger Press was bestowed the Friends of Expo title as well. Julie also grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm and was an eager dairy enthusiast at a young age. Having been a dairy cattle exhibitor through 4-H and Junior Holstein Association, she developed a devotion to the industry and those people of the dairy sector. As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Julie was active in Badger Dairy Club, Association of Women in Agriculture and AGR Little Sisters. During those busy college years, she dedicated many hours behind the scenes at World Dairy Expo. After graduation she pursued a career in the print industry and now works for Badger Press of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Julie serves World Dairy Expo as the contact with that print vendor and provides regular project support on most print materials including the annual theme artwork. Julie has helped World Dairy Expo to meet quick turnaround project deadlines on numerous occasions. Julie and her husband, Steve and two children reside in Deerfield, Wisconsin.
Maureen DeBruin of Jefferson, Wisconsin, the fourth recipient of the 2011 Friends of Expo award has served as a volunteer in a variety of roles at World Dairy Expo for many years. Perhaps the biggest commitment is that of the International Post-Secondary Dairy Cattle Judging Contest manager. Maureen recruits and leads contest volunteers as well as promoting the contest to post-secondary institutions, students and industry sponsors. Maureen supervises in coordinating dairy cattle class selection to the scoring and tabulating of results for both the practical and traditional components of the Post-Secondary Contest. She also assists with logistical requirements for the event as well as the awards banquet. In addition, she is a key member of the Agri-Graphics cattle photography team that captures the ringside photos of each class winner. She also assists with the show string barn decorations as needed. Maureen has been a Classifier for Holstein USA for 26 years. She volunteers regularly in mentoring local youth with dairy cattle projects.
Source: World Dairy Expo
Posted: December 5, 2011 at 8:25 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to Dr. Don Niles, for receiving the Dairy Business Association (DBA) Advocate of the Year and Secretary Ben Brancel for receiving the DBA Leadership Award. The awards were sponsored by Vita Plus.
Don Niles, DVM is co-owner and manager of Dairy Dreams, LLC in Kewaunee County. Dairy Dreams is a 2,800 cow dairy with a rolling herd average of 28,000 pounds of milk production per cow. The dairy has a methane digester that provides enough electricity to power over 700 homes.
“Don really deserves recognition as DBA’s Advocate of the Year,” commented Jerry Meissner, President of DBA. “He has consistently engaged his community and elected officials in a dialogue on farm sustainability and modern food production, whether it was one on one interaction as he delivers over a thousand cookies to neighbors or when he hosted over 6,000 guests for the Kewaunee County Dairy Breakfast.”
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Ben Brancel was given the DBA Leadership Award for his role in protecting and promoting the dairy industry. Most recently, Secretary Brancel took the lead in defending Wisconsin’s dairy industry by requesting federal lawmakers consider an economic study on a proposed policy change.
“As a former dairy farmer, Secretary Brancel knows the struggles involved in farming,” said Laurie Fischer. “We are very fortunate to have a DATCP Secretary that is willing to take the lead to continue to move our state’s largest industry forward.”
Source: The Dairy Business Association
Posted: December 5, 2011 at 8:21 pm
By News Editor
The Holstein Association USA has made their 2012 National and Qualified Judges Lists available.
The lists contain individuals who have significant amount of judging experience and attended a Holstein Association USA Judges Conference, making them eligible to judge nationally-sanctioned Holstein shows. State and regional-level shows are also encouraged to utilize the National and Qualified Judges list when selecting judges for their shows.
All individuals on the National and Qualified Judges lists are approved by the Holstein Association USA board of directors. In 2012, all National Holstein Shows are required to choose their judge from the National Judges List. Nationally-sanctioned Junior Holstein Show Judges and National Holstein Show associate judges must be selected from either the National or Qualified Lists.
All individuals currently on the lists, or planning to apply for the lists in the future must have attended a Holstein Association USA Judges Conference within a three year period to be eligible. One conference will be held in 2012, on April 15, in Syracuse, N.Y., in conjunction with the New York Spring Dairy Carousel. The conference will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is open to anyone 22 years of age or older. Registration is available on the Holstein Association USA web site.
Source: Holstein Association USA
Posted: December 5, 2011 at 8:19 pm
By News Editor
Attention Pa. dairy farmers! Your help is needed 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg on Jan. 7 – 14. Volunteers will assist in providing consumers with a look at a modern dairy farm.
Individuals, families, or company groups are welcome to volunteer. Contact Emily Yeiser, dairy initiatives managers with the Center for Dairy Excellence, at 717-346-0849 or eyeiser@centerfordairyexcellence.org for more details and to volunteer.
The dairy portion of the “Today’s Agriculture” display is being developed by PennAg Industries, the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania and the Center for Dairy Excellence to show how dairy cows are housed and cared for in modern dairy facilities. Volunteers are needed to staff the exhibit, visit with spectators and answer questions about dairy farm practices.
Volunteers are also needed to help serve and prepare dairy foods at the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association booth within the Food Court, which is adjacent to the “Today’s Agriculture” display.
Shifts for “Today’s Agriculture” volunteers are broken into 3.5 hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day of the show. Shifts for the Dairymen’s Association food stand are five hours, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m., each day of the show.
Source: The Center for Dairy Excellence
Posted: December 5, 2011 at 8:10 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to Enchanted Dairy, LLP for being named Minnesota’s 2011 Producer of the Year! The award is given annually by the Minnesota Milk Producers Association in recognition of a farm that has a proven commitment to the dairy industry, manages its farm for future generations, and is active in their local community. Watch this video to learn all about the farm!
Enchanted Dairy, LLP, is operated by brothers Ron and Marvin Miller, who began by milking 75 cows on the traditional tie-stall dairy where they grew up. They significantly expanded their business in 2000, when they began construction on a state-of-the-art 40-stall internal rotary parlor, featuring free-stall barns with mattress bedding. Today, they own 1,700 dairy cows and 1,500 dairy heifers, and raise 2,200 acres of alfalfa and corn. The family’s mission is to produce safe, high-quality, wholesome milk using environmentally friendly methods and by focusing on the comfort and well-being of their cows.
“Animal care and comfort is a top priority, so much so that we refer to our cows as our business partners,” says Ron Miller, Enchanted Dairy’s general manager. “All of us strongly believe we’re stewards of our animals and the land we farm.” Enchanted Dairy’s mission statement is “Growing for the Future,” and its leadership team — which includes Ron’s wife Jeannie and daughter Brooke — is working to build an efficient, profitable and modern farm through good management and professional dairy practices.
Growth and the future are considered in just about every decision the dairy makes. An aggressive management program has added 600 cows to the farm in the past seven years, all from internal growth. Dr. Matt Boyle, a veterinarian who does pregnancy checks and tends to the health and comfort of the herd, has high praise for the Millers. “I can honestly say I have not worked on a dairy that tries harder to do the right thing every time — for the cow, and in terms of the decisions that they make that eventually affect the food that they’re making,” he says.
The commitment to quality evident in Enchanted Dairy’s everyday operation is demonstrated to the public in the frequent tours that the family hosts for everyone from agricultural professionals to students to international visitors. Some tours are informal with one tour guide; others are more formal with educational stations manned by industry experts. Over the past 12 years, Enchanted Dairy has given tours to thousands of visitors.
“Enchanted Dairy’s open-door policy and its tradition of showcasing its animal- and environmentally friendly practices are great examples of how Minnesota’s dairy industry is working hard to make sure the public understands what happens on a farm, and gets to know the people behind the product,” says Bob Lefebvre, Minnesota Milk Producers executive director.
Souce: Minnesota Milk Producers Association
Posted: December 2, 2011 at 1:11 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Coming up next week in Lexington, Kentucky is an event that dairy and beef producers should not miss.
Since 2008, more than 800 of world’s most progressive dairy and beef producers have convened for the Alltech Global 500 to network and discuss the most relevant and challenging topics in the industry.
This year, the Global 500 explores the future landscape for the dairy and beef industries and provides a rare opportunity for global colleagues and friends to engage in open discussion on critical topics such as sustainable strategies and practices that can be implemented now and in the future.
I talked with Alltech Beef Division Manager Ty Yeast about the event, which will be held December 6-8. “Originally it started as a dairy event and with the success after the first two years in the dairy event, we expanded to the beef side as well,” Ty said. “Last year was our first ever addition of the beef event and we had over 125 participants from all over the world.” This year, Ty says they already have more than doubled last year’s registration.
Ty says the conference is really about looking at new ways of approaching a business that’s been around for a long time. “It’s innovation, it’s looking at new ways of doing things, and really breaking old paradigms on how to move forward and get to that next level of efficiency.
Interested producers can still register for the event by going to the Global 500 website. You can be sure it will be worth your while.
Listen to or download my interview with Ty here: Ty Yeast - Alltech Global 500
Posted: December 1, 2011 at 6:37 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) for having five their cheese products earned recognition at the 2011 National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Championship Cheese Contest. The competition was held in conjunction with NMPF’s joint annual meeting with National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and United Dairy Industry Association.
NMPF’s contest serves as a platform for cooperatives from across the country to showcase their top products and recognize the individuals who make them. The annual event was the first cheese competition that utilized grading standards to improve cheese quality, and to display such quality in a competitive forum. This year’s competition drew nearly 150 entries, and cheese entered in the contest was served at a reception during the annual meeting.
“It is an honor to have our cheeses recognized among entries from such fine organizations,” said Mark Korsmeyer, president of DFA’s Global Dairy Products Group and executive vice president of DFA. “This recognition demonstrates that all plant employees are working hard to ensure excellence in our products every day.”
Awards were presented for the following products:
Best Italian — DFA Provolone, New Wilmington, Pa.
First Place, Soft Italian — DFA Provolone, New Wilmington, Pa.
Second Place, Processed American Flavored — Borden® Cheese Singles Sensations Hickory Smoked Swiss, Plymouth, Wis.
Second Place, Open Class — La Vaquita Queso Fresco Mexicano, Houston, Texas
Third Place, Open Class — La Vaquita Queso Panela Fresca, Houston, Texas
Source: Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
Posted: December 1, 2011 at 6:34 pm
By News Editor
Select Sires Inc. has completed the new Calf Campus facility located near Plain City, Ohio. During the summer of 2011, construction began to develop two state-of-the-art facilities that will foster bull calf health and growth at Select Sires. The bio-secure campus will be home to nearly 150 calves when it is fully occupied.
The new calf facilities will promote vigor and fitness among the bull calves, enhancing the productivity of the bulls at a younger age for semen collection and enabling Select Sires’ customer-owners to have further success for many generations within their herd. Being mindful to environmental concerns, the facilities were created to self-contain all animal waste and water discharge, including a manure storage facility.
“This continued research, growth, development and investment from Select Sires demonstrates our commitment to creating a high-quality product for our customer-owners,” stated David Thorbahn, president and chief executive officer of Select Sires. “With our latest expansion, Select Sires is anticipating earlier semen release on our most exclusive Program for Genetic Advancement™ (PGA™) bulls. This will grant our customer-owners more timely access to elite genetics.”
Source: Select Sires Inc.
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The annual “Friends of Expo” honored four outstanding World Dairy Expo volunteers. The 2011 honorees were Brenda Lee Turner, Betty Haag, Julie Ehrke and Maureen DeBruin.