Illinois
Holstein Herald
Winter 2020/2021
2020 Cover Photo Contest Winner Opsal Ammo Caleesi Lucky King Holsteins Centralia Illinois Holstein Herald
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Our Queen...Making Dreams Come True Opsal Ammo Caleesi
Nom All-American Summer Yrlg Nom Jr All-American Summer Yrlg Southern Fall National Show 1st Place Open & Junior Jr Champion Open & Junior North American Dairy Cattle Show 1st Place Junior & 2nd Open Res Jr Champion Junior Show
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our 2020 show season!
Spotlight on Sadie
THORMANALTITUDESADIE-RED
NomJr All-American R&WWinter Calf 1st Jr &5th Open NAILE 2nd Jr North American Dairy Cattle Show 2nd Jr &1st B&OILChampionship Jr Show 5th IL Championship Open Show
JEFF, CORY & JORDAN THORMAN 15280 N 1600, Macomb, IL • 309-221-6366 • thormanjeff@gmail.com Page 2
Winter 2020/2021
ILLINOIS HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Officers
President.................................................................................................................. Steve Irwin 9400 Meridian Rd., Beason, IL 62512; 217/871-7738; samirwin@itsintheair.net Vice-President................................................................................ Herb Schmiedeskamp 2328 N. 1700th St., Camp Point, IL 62320; 217/242-3920; sunhi7777@yahoo.com Treasurer................................................................................................................. Carol Jones 116 W 10th St., Gridley, IL 61744; 815/848-1500; skipcarolj@gmail.com Secretary..........................................................................................................Sarah Lenkaitis 6N707 Corron Rd., St. Charles, IL 60175; 920/517-1942; ilholsteinsecretary@gmail.com
Executive Members
John Erbsen ............................................................................................................. Northwest 10974 Benson Rd., Lanark, IL 61046; 815/275-4990; johnerbsen@aeroinc.net Aaron Heinzmann..........................................................................................................Clinton 17645 Coles Creek Rd., Carlyle, IL 62231; 618/781-7994; aaronheinzmann@gmail.com Jerry Smith ................................................................................................................ Northwest 9808 Farm School Rd., Davis, IL 61019; 815/865-5683; clearfield53@hotmail.com Kevin Wendling.........................................................................................................Effingham 13500 N. 400th St., Altamont, IL 62411; 217/240-6196; kjholsteins@altamont.net Past President - Ed Smith............................................................................ McHenry-Lake 43386 N. Scott St., Antioch, IL 60002; 847/372-0602; ed.pat@att.net
Public Relations Coordinator
Directors - Term Expires 2021
Clinton .................................................................. Aaron Heinzmann, Carlyle Clinton .............................................................................Dylan Reed, Vandalia Effingham ............................................................ Kevin Wendling, Altamont Heart of Illinois .....................................................Sarah Butler, Arrowsmith McHenry-Lake ........................................... Ethan Heinzmann, Wauconda McHenry-Lake ............................................. David Shanks, Garden Prairie Mississippi Valley ....................................................... Jim Schluter, Red Bud Southern ...................................................... Norbert Hasheider, Okawville
Directors - Term Expires 2022
Boone-Winnebago ........................................... Aaron Mitchell, Winnebago Gateway .....................................................Lucas Clanton, Mulberry Grove Gateway ................................................................... Leon Dorsey, Greenville Mississippi Valley .............................Herb Schmiedeskamp, Camp Point Northwest ....................................................................... John Erbsen, Lanark Northwest ............................................................................Jerry Smith, Davis Tri-County .............................................................................. Ray Hess, Genoa
815/585-2785 618/322-3523 618/292-9105 217/242-3920 815/275-4990 815/865-5683 815/751-3301
Directors - Term Expires 2023
Effingham ...................................................................... Toby Probst, Wheeler 217/925-5459 Heart of Illinois .............................................................. Carol Jones, Gridley 815/848-1500 Tri-County ..................................................................Richard Meier, Beecher 708/946-6417
Stephanie Hammerly
PO Box 813, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 · 608/732-2757 · briardesigns@gmail.com
618/781-7994 217/254-5397 217/240-6196 309/824-8621 847/224-7861 815/790-8406 217/898-5707 618/243-6312
Junior Officers
Holstein Association USA Director
Clinton ................................................................... Briley Lenkaitis, Eldorado 630/561-9514 Heart of Illinois ..............................................................Jacob Raber, Gridley 815/867-0694
Dale Drendel 15N057 Walker Road, Hampshire, IL 60140 · 815/766-0326 · ddrendel@fvi.net
Tim Ewing 417/818-6455 (MILK) · tewing@holstein.com
Holstein Association USA Field Representative
CALENDAR
Visit Us Online! illinoisholsteins.com
2/10 Spring Herald & Midwest Holsteins Advertising Deadline January meetings and Senior Convention have been canceled STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES ON SPRING THING! *additional event information available at: www.illinoisholsteins.com
facebook.com/IllinoisHolsteins facebook.com/IllinoisJuniorHolsteinAssociation
ADVERTISERS B-J-Grove BLM Fall Dairy Bluff-Ridge Bri-Mel Acres Char-La-Don Carter’s Corner Clearfield Farm Cross-Wake Dairy Dair-E-Land Holsteins DoDel Holsteins Edler Farm Flat-Net Dairy Glendell H. Farms, Ltd.
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Golden Oaks Farm Heinz-Hope Farm Holbric Holsteins Hunter Haven Farms, Inc. Irwindale Holsteins K-J Holsteins Kaco-Vu Kochnook Farm Koester Dairy Laeschway Dairy Lenkaitis Holsteins Luck-E Holsteins Lucky-King Holsteins
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FEATURES Awards & Recognitions.............................................................................................6 Breeder Spotlight........................................................................................................7 Calendar..........................................................................................................................3 Dutchess Domain........................................................................................................6 From the President.....................................................................................................6
2021 STATE MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS All current members were mailed a membership renewal form in December. Make sure to complete and return by April 1. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Lenkaitis at ilholsteinsecretary@gmail.com or text/call 920-517-1942. Illinois Holstein Herald
Lyonden Farm Mackinson Dairy Farm Macomber Farm Meier Meadows Mil-R-Mor Mitchell’s Holsteins O-Bee Holsteins Oertel Farms, Inc. Pleasantland Farm Probstland Dairy R-Homestead Farm Ravendale Farm Red Carpet Holsteins
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Rolling Lawns Farms Page 5 Schaufine Farms Page 5 Schluter Holsteins Page 5 Select Sires Page 8 Smith, Ed Page 5 Sunshine Genetics Page 5 Thorman Dairy Farm Page 2, 5 Von-View Dairy Farm Page 5 Wild Genetics/Triple-Hil Sires Page 5 Will-Can-Do Holsteins Page 5 Winter Dairy Farm Page 5 Zehrview Holsteins Page 5
ON THE COVER Featured on the cover of this issue is the 2020 Illinois Holstein Herald Cover Photo Contest winner. Opsal Ammo Caleesi, a summer yearling, was named Junior Champion of the 2020 Southern National Holstein Show in this photo. Minutes before this, she was also named Junior Champion of the junior show. Caleesi is owned by Shana and Drew Lueking of Lucky-King Holsteins in Centralia. Photo submitted by Shana Lueking; Photo taken by Julie Ashton, Cowsmo
Volume 82, Number 4
Winter 2020/2021
Illinois Holstein Herald is published four times a year (Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter) by the Illinois Holstein Association. Subscriptions for members are included as part of the annual membership dues; $20 per year for non-members. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Illinois Holstein Herald, Stephanie Hammerly, PO Box 813, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965. This issue of the Illinois Holstein Herald was sent to the printer December 16, 2020
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Andy & Tyler Carter 211 IL Route 127 Greenville, IL 62246 618-664-1825 (Andy) • 618-267-1825 (Tyler) Email: tcarter908@yahoo.com
Nelson & Bonnie Heinzmann 618.226.3578 Aaron, Jenn, Lane, Brady & Samantha 618.781.7994
1099 E. Angle Road Dakota, IL 61018 815.821.3789 Dan 815.821.3344 Kyle 815.563.4511 Home Dan & Amber, Lance & Cynthia, Kyle and Brent
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The Lenkaitis Family 6N411 Corron Road, St. Charles, IL 60175 lenkaitis.holsteins@gmail.com - www.lenkaitisholsteins.com
Winter 2020/2021
PROBSTLAND DAIRY
Joe & Inis Probst Toby, Margie, Holly, Katie, Marcus, Macy & Renee Phil, Angie, Megan, Lauren, Austin & Dalton 2817 E 1600th Ave, Wheeler, IL
217-925-5300
RH
R-HOMESTEAD HOLSTEINS
20244 N. 24th Ave. Nokomis, IL (217)563-2846 David & Lenore Ruppert Marc, Lora, Landon, Kaylee & Logan Hilgendorf
Connie Turley 618.664.3240
www.rollinglawnsfarm.com
Michael & Jennifer Turley 314.308.1005
LYONDEN FARM
6447 Fitzgerald Rd. Rockford, IL 61102 lyondenk@comcast.net Kevin & Palma Lyons (815)979-2370 Brian & Lori (815)962-0001 Chris & Shalene (920)563-1082 Dan & Kelly (260)359-1780
The Butler Family
35821 E 900 N Rd., Arrowsmith, IL David: 309-824-2131 Christie: 815-530-0331 Sarah: 309-824-8621
Jim & Marvin Schluter Red Bud, IL Marvin - 217.714.1373 Jim - 217.898.5707 schluter33@me.com
Wild Genetics Ed Smith
Animal Analysis Associate 43386 N Scott Street, Antioch, IL 60002 Phone: 847-395-5976 Cell: 847-372-0602 Email: ed.pat@att.net www.aAaWeeks.com Illinois Holstein Herald
Kris Wild 608-214-3259 Page 5
FROM THE PRESIDENT As I sit here writing this on the day after Thanksgiving, it is easy to feel a bit discouraged. Due to COVID-19, we didn’t actually even celebrate Thanksgiving here. But then I recall a column in our local newspaper that reminded us of the things that we should truly be thankful for. This list included: family and friends, our servicemen and women (past and present), our freedom – of both speech and religion, a roof over our head, a warm bed and food in the house, technology – cell phone, computer, internet access, etc., laughter, law enforcement, health care workers, sports and entertainment, pets (or cows), our support group. The list could go on. Please take time to reflect on your many blessings. Obviously, the whole Coronavirus deal has thrown a huge monkeywrench into all of our lives, and it is certainly no different with the Illinois Holstein Association. The exec board has made the difficult decision to cancel the January committee meetings and board meeting, as well as the state convention and annual meeting in February. As much as we hate to do that, our hands are tied. As of this writing, we can’t legally have over 10 people gathered together, and quite frankly, I seriously doubt that we could even find a location to meet at all! So, I will be in contact with all committee chairmen, and will ask them to communicate with their co-chairs and a few other committee members, and submit their report to the exec board for review. As for the annual meeting, our bylaws state: “A regular annual meeting of the members shall be held at such time and place within the State of Illinois, as the Board of Directors’ Executive Committee shall select for the purpose, transacting business as may properly come before the meeting.” In lieu of the pandemic, we will probably have an exec board meeting in January or February and have the annual meeting at that time, and would ask any members with questions or concerns to contact a board member. And of course, minutes of the meetings will be printed in the next Herald. This isn’t exactly how the writers of the bylaws detailed it, but then again, it has been 102 years since our last global pandemic. I asked Howard Dust how things were handled back then, but he said that he was just a small child and thus his memory was a little fuzzy!! And speaking of Howard – his lovely bride Kay told me awhile back that when she went to the kitchen for breakfast, Howard was sitting at the kitchen table and staring straight ahead in the direction of the orange juice carton. After several minutes of watching Howard just STARING at the carton, Kay said, “HOWARD!!! What in heaven’s name are you doing??” Howard replied “Well, it says right here on the carton: CONCENTRATE!!” Hang in there folks. We will get through this. As the saying goes: “All’s well that ends well.” The only problem is – you don’t know that til the end.
Steve Irwin
NOMINATIONS WANTED
Do you have a cow or heifer that should be nominated for Illinois Holstein of the Year? Send us a professional photo and her 2020 credentials by JANUARY 20th. Votes will be tallied on the Illinois Holstein Facebook page. Email to: Stephanie Hammerly briardesigns@gmail.com Page 6
DUTCHESS DOMAIN Hello Illinois Holstein Association! I hope you all had a safe and bountiful harvest season and are prepared for the chilly winter weather to come! This past September, I had the opportunity to attend the Illinois Jr Livestock Exposition in place of the usual state fair show. Although it was much different than the state fair we know and love, I am proud of the quality of cattle exhibited by our Jr members and the professionalism they brought to the showring! I would also like to extend congratulations to the scholarship winners in the Superior Young Dairy Producers contest Delana Erbsen, Payton Erbsen, and Wyatt Zehr! Thank you to those who organized the contest! It was nice to see so many knowledgeable young dairy producers participate in such an odd year! I hope you all have safe, happy, and healthy herds and families coming into the winter months and have a very happy holiday season!
Sincerely,
Allyson Aves
FALL SHOW RESULTS The Southern National Holstein Show was held September 25 and 26 in Stillwater, Oklahoma and was judged by Phil Topp, OH with Rudy Kiko, OH serving as assistant judge. Congratulations to Shana and Drew Lueking on receiving Junior Champion honors in both the open and junior shows with Opsal Ammo Caleesi, their winning Summer Yearling! Other Illinois highlights included: HM Junior Champion of the Junior Show, B-J-Grove Unix Cherokee, Kasey Clanton; HM Grand & Res. Senior Champion of the Junior Show and 1st Aged Cow (open & junior), Sunnyhome McCutchen Mildred, Connor Erbsen; 1st Spring Yearling (open & junior), Zehrview Vixen Hi-Beam, Rosalee Zehr and B-J-Grove won Junior Best Three Females. Raber Farms was also named Premier Breeder of the Heifer Show. Congrats! The North American Red & White Show was held on October 5 in Circleville, Ohio and was judged by Pat Lundy, NY with Reid Lundy, NY as associate judge. The North American Holstein Show was held October 7 and was judged by Mike Berry, WA with Allan Berry, WA as associate judge. BHHD Claim to Fame-Red, owned by Price & McIsaac, was named HM Junior Champion and was the 1st place Spring Yearling. Class winners in the Junior Show included: Summer Yearling Opsal Ammo Caleesi, Shana & Drew Lueking (also named Res. Jr. Champion) and R&W Milking Yearling Holbric Diamndbck A-Gig-Red, Peyton, Elena & Bria Olbrich. Uber-Haven Dfiant Chrome-Red, owned by Brett Richter & Tyler Carter, won the R&W 4-Year-Old open class. The Grand National Junior Holstein Show and the Mid-East Red & White Junior Show were held on November 5 and 6 in Louisville, Kentucky and were judged by Matt Mitchell, TN. The Mid-East Fall National Holstein Show and Mid-East Red & White Show were held November 9 and 10 and Tyler Reynolds, NY was the judge. Congratulations to the IL Holstein breeders that did well! Class winners and champions included Junior 2-Year-Old (Jr Show) B-JGrove Doorman Havanna, Kasey Clanton; R&W Junior Champion (Jr Show) Schluter Unstp Aspen-Red (1st Winter Yearling Open & Jr), Olivia Schluter; R&W HM Junior Champion (Jr Show) OCD AV LionesseRed-ET (1st Fall Yearling Open & Jr), Olivia Schluter; R&W Summer Calf (Jr) Gueldener Red Riding Hood-Red, Kasey Clanton; R&W Winter Calf (Jr) Thorman Altitude Sadie-Red, Jordan Thorman; R&W Fall Calf (Jr) Golden-Oaks AV Apple-Red-ET, Addison & Jacob Raber; R&W Junior Champion BHHD Claim to Fame-Red (Spring Yearling), Price & McIsaac; R&W Summer Yearling Ziems-Drsn JD Adelyn-Red-ET, Robby Koebele; R&W Jr 2 Schluter DB Sasha-Red, Zach Paul; R&W Produce of Dam Price & McIsaac; Jr 2 Indies-View-GW Lorelei Ammo, Garrett Schmidt and Aged Cow Ms Queens-Manor Snchz Beau, Sarah Butler. Congratulations to all on an outstanding Fall show season! Winter 2020/2021
BREEDER SPOTLIGHT Spotlight on Sadie! A fancy red and white winter calf, Thorman Altitude Sadie-Red, has been seen at several shows in 2020, and recently received a Junior All-American Red and White nomination. Thorman Show Cattle in Macomb is owned by Jeff Thorman and his sons, Cory and Jordan. Jeff’s parents, Wayne and Helen, began milking in December of 1963. The cows were milked in a Surge four stall sawtooth parlor with side openers. When each of the kids became 4-H age, their dad would take them to the IL PDCA Calf Sale to purchase a project calf. Jeff’s first calf, Pruss Astro Dolly, proved to be a great investment at $480. When his parents sold the herd in 2003, roughly one third of the herd traced back to her. The most notable member of that family was Thorman Tab Dolly. In 1995, she was Jr. All-Illinois Sr. 3-Year-Old and was Reserve Intermediate Champion at the IL Championship Junior Show. She was also named Supreme Champion at the IL State Fair Junior Show for his youngest sister Jamie. She went on to score EX-91 with records to 30,000 milk. In 1985, Jeff began his teaching career. He was still very active on the farm helping out on weekends, holidays, and during the summers. “I was very fortunate in that my dad always treated me as if I were an equal partner. I had input on management decisions such as mating decisions. In 2003, my dad decided it was time to retire from farming and sell the cows. I would have loved to take over the herd, but felt that I was too far into a teaching career,” shared Jeff. “At that time, my sons, Cory and Jordan, were just getting exposed to showing and were loving it. I promised them that as long as they wanted to show, we’d have animals for them to show.”They kept one cow and one calf when the herd was sold. Both animals were from the Dolly family. They also made some purchases along the way with a focus on great cow families, as well as showring potential. One such purchase was an Advent granddaughter of Laduc Broker Mandy. She scored VG-88 and produced a couple of daughters that they sold. Another notable purchase was Schluter Sanchez Heidi, a Sanchez from Maple-Downs Hailey EX-94. Heidi went EX, which made her a 12th generation VG or EX. She was Grand Champion once at their district show and competed well at IL State Fair. They currently have a granddaughter sired by Awesome-Red that’s due in June to sexed Altitude-Red. They have also dipped into the Brown Swiss breed. As a winter yearling, their first Brown Swiss, Fancy, was Junior Champion at IL State Fair in both the open and junior shows and was nominated All-American. The following year, she was Grand Champion at the IL State Fair Junior Show, Intermediate Champion of the open show and named Reserve Junior All-American. Her only daughter, Fantasy, is currently milking. Last year, Top Acres Braiden Wise, or Wizzy as we call her, a member of Wayne Sliker’s Whizzbang family was purchased. She’s due with her first calf in late Spring. The Whizzbang family is loaded with All-Americans and currently the hottest family in the Brown Swiss breed. Jordan had always wanted to get into red and whites. They have stalled with good friend Jim Schluter at Louisville for several years. In 2015, while at Louisville, they bought half interest in Schluter Advent Sophie-Red from Jim and Marvin Schluter. She was a Winter Calf at the time. Needless to say, Jordan was very excited! Sophie is an Advent daughter of Helmcrest Destry Sarha Lee-Red, which makes her a maternal sister to numerous All-Americans. Since then, they acquired full interest in Sophie. Her first two calves were black and white bulls sired by Diamondback. For her third calf, on the recommendation of Jim Schluter, she was bred to sexed AltitudeRed. The resulting calf was Thorman Altitude Sadie-Red, their very first homebred red and white. Three months after calving with Sadie, Sophie scored EX-90 with an EX mammary. “With all of the cancellations caused by COVID-19, we were very grateful to the Gateway and Clinton County Clubs for not only having a show, but opening their show up to anyone who wanted to come,” shared Jeff. That was Sadie’s first show. She won a very big and very tough winter calf class. She was also named Reserve Junior Champion of the junior show as well as Honorable Mention Junior Champion in the open show. Jordan and Sadie also teamed up to win the Senior Boys Showmanship division. Their next show was the IL Championship Show. Sadie was under the excellent care of Tyler Carter since Jordan and Jeff couldn’t be Illinois Holstein Herald
Jeff, Cory & Jordan Thorman
Thorman Altitude Sadie-Red 1st Winter Calf Mid-East R&W Junior Show Nom. Jr. All-American R&W there the entire week. Sadie was 2nd junior and 5th open. Jordan was also 2nd in Senior Boys Showmanship. They wanted to get Sadie to a national show. With World Dairy Expo canceled due to COVID-19, and Louisville in limbo, she was entered at the North American Show in Ohio. However, with Jordan doing his internship, he couldn’t be out there the entire week. Fortunately, Justin Powell was willing to take her and care for her for the week. The winter calf class was the largest class of the day and Sadie stood 2nd in the junior show and 12th in the open show. Louisville was the final show of the season. As they’ve done the past several years, they stalled with Jim and Marvin Schluter. Sadie won her class and was pulled out for Junior Champion. This was Jordan’s last Holstein Junior Show and it was a good way for him to end his Holstein Junior Show career. Sadie also stood 5th in the open show. From 2003 to 2010, the heifers were kept at the original home farm. As they freshened, they were sent to other farms to be milked. In 2010, the decision was made to move the heifers to their place instead, which is the same farm where Jeff’s dad grew up. Cory and Jordan are the fifth generation Thorman to live on the farm. It has been in the family for over 100 years. Before the heifers could be moved, some improvements were needed. All of the current buildings were designed and built by Cory, Jordan, and Jeff. The first building was a 24x63 loafing shed. They also designed and built a 28x36 machine shed and a 15x45 open front loafing shed. The original barn had a four stall stanchion barn and milk room that was attached to it. Jeff’s grandfather milked cows there many years ago. They put a new roof on it, made it into a separate building, and made the decision to start milking cows. Since the stanchions were made for smaller cows, two of them were equipped with Surge Eclipse milkers with electric pulsators and then added weigh jars. With only milking a couple of cows, they couldn’t justify selling the milk, so bull calves were purchased to feed the milk to for 10 weeks, then sold, and another group of bulls were bought. Last February, they purchased a group of heifers with the intent to use them as recips. “We plan to focus on continuing to improve quality with an emphasis on show ring appeal,” shares Jeff. “We plan to focus on Sophie and Sadie in the red and whites. Sophie is currently bred back to sexed Altitude-Red. We are planning to flush Sadie to Warrior-Red before we breed her. We also have plans to eventually flush Sophie as well. On the Brown Swiss side, we plan to focus on Fantasy and Wizzy. Both of which have All-American heritage. We’re planning on continuing to show, but we’re also hoping to merchandise offspring from these families. We would like to keep our numbers relatively low and the quality high.” In May of 2019, Jeff retired after 34 years of teaching. Cory and his wife Brooklin live about 20 minutes away. Cory drives a semi for Welsh Farms and Brooklin works at the Health Center at Western IL University. They are expecting their first child in February. Cory still helps out at shows and when needed on the farm. He and Jordan also share the AI duties. Jordan will graduate from Black Hawk East in May with an Associates Degree in Ag Production. He definitely enjoys showing dairy cattle, but also enjoys working with beef cattle. Cory and Jordan were both very active in FFA. Both were State Proficiency winners. Cory in Beef Placement and Jordan in Dairy Entrepreneurship. Both were State Star Finalists and earned their State FFA Degrees. Jordan also earned his American FFA Degree and was chapter Vice President. The passion for agriculture continues! Page 7
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Winter 2020/2021