4 minute read
Brinks-Rivera named 2021 Outstanding Young Breeder
By Bev Berens
Kenda Brinks-Rivera is the latest in the list of young women to earn the Outstanding Young Breeder Award from Michigan’s Holstein Association. With a thirst for knowledge and a passion for Holsteins, she said the award checks off the third of her big dreams in the dairy industry in a short time.
In 2018, the first was realized when buses rolled onto the McBain farm during the Holstein Association’s National Convention in Traverse City. That same week, the second dream became reality when she purchased her own heifer during the convention’s annual sale.
Brinks-Rivera and her husband, Ruben, farm with two generations at Ber-Sher Dairy, where the family milks approximately 200 cows. She is responsible for cow and heifer care, along with the farm’s genetics program, earning respect from dairy professionals at a young age for the genetic progress made at the farm.
“I can’t really explain my reaction because I was shocked that I got it,” she said. “It means more than I can really describe; I’ve learned so much from my grandpa and dad about genetics, and I just kind of took it under my own wing. I’ve always been in love with this herd and one cow family, and I think that family really helped achieve this award.”
She has successfully marketed high-genomic bloodlines nationally and to Japan. “The Brinks family is working to breed an elite and balanced herd for type and production, while targeting a few specific bloodlines for high-rank on the genomic indexes,” said Jess Jakubic, of Central Star who assists the Brinks family on sire selection. “They also had the opportunity to sell an early and high-ranking Thonmaker daughter in the National Convention sale.
“Kenda takes every opportunity to ask questions and learn from the experience of others to better herself and the family’s operation, especially in the areas of sire selection, best management practices and marketing.”
Herd highlights include eight Progressive Genetics Herd Awards, nine Gold Medal Dams and 15 Dams of Merit all carrying the Ber-Sher prefix. Two hundred forty-six Ber-Sher cows attained higher than 100,000-pound milk records and 16 exceeded 200,000-pound records: Ber-Sher Marty Con Connor (VG-86) produced 344,330 lifetime and Ber-Sher Whiz Connor Cookie (GP-82) hit 320,910.
And Ber-Sher Pagewa Toni Thelma holds a National Elite Performer title for the farm.
In 2018, Ber-Sher Dairy expanded to include a creamery, selling cheese through local and specialty markets throughout Michigan, beginning with cheese curds as its specialty. In 2020, it began bottling milk. An all-hands-on-deck approach puts every family member to work in the barn, in the creamery and in the marketing department. Brinks-Rivera now splits her time between the farm and creamery.
She and Ruben are raising their three children - Hadley, Finley and Lakyn - to be the next farming generation. Brinks-Rivera’s parents, Ron and Barb Brinks, her sister Amberly Mejia and brothers Nick and Riley Brinks are also involved in all aspects of the operation.
continued from page 7 Producers Association, company boards and local youth shows. Among its outreach endeavors, the farm hosted Breakfast on the Farm in 2011 and recently hosted a farm tour for MMPA young farmers. sQuality, efficiency, and good management have been operational goals for Benthem Brothers Dairy, and it has been recognized for the effort. In 2019 and 2020 it was awarded National Mastitis Council National Dairy Quality Awards (Silver). In 2017, not only did the dairy receive a Gold MMPA Quality Award, but it also was a finalist for Consumers Energy Project of the Year. The farm is featured as a case study by Consumers Energy for upgrades resulting in 687,598 kWh electric savings each year. The farm also is Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program verified in farmstead, cropping and livestock. In the words of the nominator, “their congeniality and open-farm policy to any of their fellow producers make the Benthems an outstanding neighbor, dairy producer and nominee for this award.” “The Benthems are leading the way in using new technologies which benefit farm economics, employee satisfaction and animal welfare,” said Dr. Dale Rozeboom, interim co-chair of the Department of Animal Science. “It is with great pleasure that the MSU Department of Animal Science recognizes the Benthem Brothers Dairy as the 2021 MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year.”
Kenda Brinks-Rivera received the award at the Michigan Holstein Association Annual Meeting in Corunna.
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