Ohio Holstein DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD 2023

Our second recipient of the Ohio Holstein Association Distinguished Service Award is no stranger to the dairy industry in Ohio. Growing up on his father's registered Holstein farm, he was active in 4-H, showing at his local county fair and the Ohio State Fair. In high school he was active in FFA, receiving both the State Farmer and American Farmer awards. He received his Associates Degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Returning home from college, he became a partner with his father and brother developing their herd of Registered Holsteins. Holstein USA recognized the herd for developing many Gold Medal Dams, Dams of Merit, and numerous DHIR Honor List records.

Exhibiting their herd has always been important to our recipient. Cattle were shown at district, state, and national levels, garnering numerous All-Ohio and All-American awards and nominations. He has been a state fair exhibitor since 1962, his family continues that tradition. He has judged numerous county fairs and district shows.

By Tom Thorbahn

Each year the Ohio Holstein Association presents the Distinguished Service Award to an Ohio Holstein member or other individual who has dedicated many hours of service to the Ohio Holstein Association and the dairy industry in Ohio. This year OHA recognized two Ohio Holstein members.

Our first recipient was raised on a Registered Holstein farm in central Ohio. Growing up he participated in 4-H with dairy projects, and was also active in high school sports. Following college he became a partner with his father and brother to farm, and continued developing their herd of Registered Holsteins. Over the years their herd was recognized by Holstein USA for numerous DHIR Honor List records, Gold Medal Dams, and Dams of Merit. Their cattle were shown on the national level as well as at the Ohio State Fair, the Ohio Spring Expo, Ohio Holstein Black and White Show and their district show, receiving numerous All-Ohio and All-American awards and nominations.

This recipient was very involved in the Ohio Holstein Association, serving on numerous committees, the Board of Directors, and as Vice-President and President. He served the Holstein industry as a National Director for two terms, and was a member of the national board that conceived the idea and development of the Holstein Foundation, which is so instrumental in youth and leadership development today. Later our recipient served as trustee for the Holstein Foundation. In the early 1990’s our recipient took on the role of General Chairman for

National Holstein Convention 2000 to be held in Ohio. In considering how Ohio could fund a National Convention, our recipient and the Board of Directors came up with a plan to have each Ohio Holstein member donate the value of one bull calf, approximately $150 at that time, to the Convention fund. From these donations and under his leadership the Ohio Holstein Dairy and Education Fund was established.

Our recipient was a member and President of the NOBA Board of Directors. As President he traveled to numerous European and eastern European countries. Their farm graciously hosted numerous foreign farm tours as well as NOBA daughter tours.

Finance has always been an important part of our recipients resume. He served on the Board of Directors of the farmers Citizens Bank, which was started by his grandfather. Today his financial management firm manages all of Ohio Holstein accounts. He has been on the Development Board of his hometown, a member of the local Rotary International, receiving the Paul Harris Award. He is a member of Grace Methodist Church.

Our recipient has judged numerous shows across Ohio, in fact he met his wife in Judging Class at Cornell, and they have been married 47 years. A keen interest in sports all his life, he is the Official “Unofficial" High School Basketball Historian for Crawford County.

This award is long overdue. Our recipient of the Ohio Holstein Association Distinguished Service Award is Jim Spreng.

Our recipient served on many Ohio Holstein committees, the Board of Directors and as Vice-President and President. He was a 4-H advisor for 20 years and on his counties Extension Advisory Committee.

His passion for showing his Registered Holsteins and enjoyment of fairs led him to involvement in his County Fairboard. He served 33 years on his county fairboard, 23 years as President. He served on the Ohio Fair Managers Association State Board, the Ohio Expositions Commission 6 years and was Vice- President, and he was the Ohio State Fair Dairy Cattle Superintendant 9 years. He served on Ohio Agriculture Director, Fred Dailey's Ohio Advisory Committee on Livestock Exhibitions. In 2016 he was inducted into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame. He has received the Ohio Purebred Dairy Cattle's Outstanding Service Award.

Youth involvement in sports was very important to our recipient, he coached local varsity high school girls basketball for 26 years. He served his country in the National Guard, 19671972, honorably discharged the rank of E6. He was a member of Rotary International and the United Methodist Church.

He met his wife while exhibiting at county fairs, they have one daughter and a grandson. Our second recipient today of the Ohio Holstein Distinguished Service Award is John Spreng, Jr. We recognize Suzanne and family, thanking them for allowing John to be such an important leader for the dairy men and women of Ohio.