From the Executive Director Tom Thorbahn

From the Executive Director

By Tom Thorbahn

As I start my column this month , Thanksgiving is just two weeks away. We all should be thankful for family, friends, a safe productive harvest, and those wonderful Registered Holsteins in our barns.

Thinking about the tremendous breeders in Ohio, it was great to see so many Ohio bred cattle at our National Shows. Ohio breeders certainly sent their finest entries to each show. The Ohio cattle competed with animals from across the United States and Canada and did very well. Congratulations!

A thank you to the Breed Improvement Committee and chair, Paul Haskins, for all their efforts in putting together the Fall Tour at MVP Dairy in Celina. It was a great day to see their modern facilities and visit with breeders from across the state. Thank you to MVP Dairy and Allison Ryan for the great tour and working with our committee to arrange the day for us.

At the last Board of Directors meeting, Steve Moff, Show Chairman, announced that Spring Dairy Expo will be March 30 to April 2, back in Columbus at the State Fairgrounds. The Board also discussed putting together a list of judges for the local county fairs. Curtis Bickel will be putting together a list; if you are interested in judging at the county level or know of someone, please contact Curtis or the office as we pull these names together.

The Ohio Holstein Annual Meeting for next year is scheduled for March 4 and 5 at Deer Creek Lodge and Convention Center, Mt. Sterling. The Annual Meeting Committee and members from District 5 are working out all the arrangements. There will be a State Convention online sale that weekend. Look for the schedule in this issue of the Ohio Holstein News. Remember the Annual Meeting is your opportunity to voice your concerns, elect officers, and learn about your organization.

As 2021 draws to a close I would like to thank the officers, board, and committees for all their commitment to the Ohio Holstein Association. Thank you also to Melissa for the fine job she does in editing the Ohio Holstein News each issue and making it the great magazine it is for our Ohio breeders. Many thanks also to Diana Miley for her dedication to our membership in keeping the office moving smoothly.

As the Christmas season unfolds around us, may you remember our Lord’s birth, filling the holiday season with Peace on Earth and Hope for the year ahead. To you and yours have a blessed Christmas and a very happy New Year.