From the Holstein President’s Pen

From the President’s Pen Michigan Holstein Association

Hello All, I would like to start by saying thank you to all of those that were able to attend the annual meeting in Frankenmuth this year. I look forward to what the rest of 2020 will look like for Michigan Holstein. Starting out the year here we are again, trying a new format to our spring sale. We will have two sale venues. Venue one will be a commercial/production type of sale held at Ravenna Auction. With this, your consignment only has to arrive the evening before and does not need to halter broke. For this sale, they are looking for young fresh cows or springing heifers. The commission will be eight percent, so if you have any extra animals to sell, please contact Randy Lettinga @ 616-437-2005. The second venue is our traditional Michigan Spring Foundation Sale held at the pavilion during our annual spring show, which now includes all breeds! The tie up sale is focusing on high type, show quality individuals along with a few high genomic animals. This sale will feature all show age calves and a few nice young cows. The rumor is the tie up sale has a few special Jersey calves consigned as well! If anyone has something special they would like to consign to the sale please contact Randy Lettinga.

Our annual spring show is coming up soon. Once again it is an All Breeds show, changed for the first time in 2019. We will welcome Brandon Ferry from Wisconsin to be the official judge.

Our All-Michigan show will follow in July. Once again, as an organization, we will be featuring our All-Michigan winners in our magazine in a special section. This hasn’t been done in quite a few years and we want to bring this back as a tribute to the quality genetics exhibited by Michigan members. For this to happen each first and second place animal will need to have a professional photograph for the magazine presentation. Our editor will give specific details in the next issue.

I would like to see our organization grow in how we can serve our membership. I feel our organization needs to further develop education and leadership opportunities that better serve our membership. So, in this respect, I feel we need to look at a strategic planning committee to further advance these areas. Also, on a one-year trial basis, we are going to work with Michigan Jersey Cattle Club, to try and streamline both organizations.

In closing, I am hoping that as easy of a winter Mother Nature has given us here in Michigan that she holds out for a few more weeks. I also hope to see many of you at our spring sales or the show. I would also like to encourage any of you who have ideas or concerns to please reach out to myself or anyone of the board members. We are here to serve you and this association.

Until next time…

Brent Brent Moyer President Michigan Holstein Association