On the National Front

Spring is here, flowers are blooming, and the grass is greening. Our “Spring” Board Meeting for HAUSA was held the end of February in conjunction with the Western Dairy Management Conference. Most of the board members were able to sit in on several of the sessions geared towards large dairies. Traveling was a problem for some, but we had a very good meeting.

Probably the most exciting news for delegates to the National Convention is an increase in the amount paid to cover at least some of the expense of travel and hotel. We voted to double the amount to $1,000 on the stipulation that a W-9 is filled out within one week of the convention. There was a lot of discussion on trying to increase delegate attendance especially from the smaller States and decrease the last minute changes. I am looking forward to a great convention in Kentucky June 23-27 with the Annual Meeting the 26th and 27th. Ohio has five delegates and as of now they are Ken Janes, Randall Kiko, Chris Lahmers, Joe Miley and Julie Renner. There will be three new Directors to be elected this year. Steve Keene Region 1, Ben Newberry Region 4 and Pete Dueppengiesser at Large have served 2 terms plus a Covid year and are not eligible to be re-elected. Spencer Hackett Region 6 will be running unopposed for his second term. The Region 1 seat has two candidates running Betsy Bullard, ME, and Justine Kelsey, NY. The southern Region 4 also has two candidates, Randy Inman, VA, and Scott Yocum, KY. The At-Large seat will have at least four running for it, Greg Anderson, ID, Trent Henkes, IA, Andy Lenkaitis, IL, and Brian Olbrich, IL.

This will be my last year on the Board and the Region 3 seat will be up for election in Salt Lake City 2024, please consider running for the Board next year. If you have any questions, give me a call.

National Shows will be encouraged to have associate judges chosen from the qualified list to increase their experience. It is also optional to add a premier breeder and exhibitor of the heifer classes and the 150,000-pound cow class is now a required class. Another change to the junior shows is the way bred and owned will be defined. The change makes it the same as the open shows. It now states that at least one of the junior owners must be listed as a breeder to be eligible for junior bred and owned recognition. Example if Betsy Jones and Bob Smith are the original breeders and Betsy ages out as a Junior and sells her half to Bob, Bob is still considered as bred and owned for the show. This should increase the number of animals shown in the junior show that are bred and owned.

The National Holstein Judges Conference is being held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Dairy Showcase, Madison, WI, this year on April 27th from 9-4. Some of the topics will be Current Showring Trends, Managing a Showring and How to Navigate Common Challenges.

We now have three Holstein employees working out of the Fort Atkinson, WI, office; Tim Ziemba, Marketplace Sires, Kayla Wright, Graphic Design, and Anne Runde, Marketing Development. Carl Kent announced at the Ohio Convention he will be leaving Ohio and Lauren Almasy will be in training to work in Ohio.

The Board did vote to be in favor of the idea of a controlled dairy growth program without endorsing any specific program. The 2024 Convention in Salt Lake City was reviewed and looks like it will be one you will want to attend.

Enjoy your Spring and I am looking forward to a wonderful Summer.

Steve Moff, HAUSA Director smouric@aol.com or 614-205-7179

in BillyBob Genetics

Winning the Ohio Holstein Senior Buckeye Breed Builder Award is an honor saved for those who have worked hard, bred great cattle and have the tenacity to stick with it.

Also… Congrats to Damon Bertke as the winner of the Ohio Holstein Junior Buckeye Breed Builder Award! Well Deserved!