YOUNG JERSEY BREEDER AWARDS
Five Young Jersey Breeders Honored in 2020
T
he AJCA Board of Directors has named five recipients of the Young Jersey Breeder Award for 2020. They are Jason Chamberlain, Vale, Ore.; Julian and Nicole Cowan, Nehalem, Ore.; Walter Graves, Dundas, Ill.; Derrick and Kaycee Josi, Tillamook, Ore.; and Kevin Krejci and Lisa Demmer, Ellsworth, Wis. The first Young Breeder Awards were presented in 1976. Since then, more than 280 producers have received this award, including this year’s recipients. The Young Breeder Award is presented to individuals or couples younger than the age of 40 on January 1 of the year nominated who merit recognition for their expertise in dairy farming, breeding Jersey cattle, participation in American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National AllJersey Inc. (NAJ) programs, and leadership in Jersey and other dairy and agriculture organizations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, the honorees will receive their awards later this year. The AJCA and NAJ boards of directors voted to cancel the originally planned AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings in Portland, Ore. Details will be announced at a later date.
Jason Chamberlain Jason Chamberlain, Dairylain Farms, LLC, Vale, Ore., is a third-generation dairy farmer who has always had a love for cows. Today, his 550-cow Registered Jersey farm, plus youngstock, is a part of the legacy he hopes to pass to future generations. The family dairy, started by Jason’s grandparents in 1971 and continued by his parents, Warren and Lori Chamberlain, has always been a huge part of his life. However, the dairy participated in one of the dairy buyouts in 1987. In 1992, the family began milking cows again. “Even though I was young, I can remember building the herd from the original 50 head of Jersey springers we purchased at that time,” wrote Jason in his application. Those 50 heifers were the base for what is now a 550-cow dairy farm milked by eight Lely automated milking systems. The family also farms 500 acres which allows them to raise most of their forages. This includes corn silage, alfalfa hay, haylage, triticale silage and most of their corn grain needs. In 2006, Jason graduated from Oregon State University (OSU) with a master’s
Jason Chamberlain
Julian and Nicole Cowan Kywin and Kingston
Julian and Nicole Cowan
degree in dairy nutrition. During his collegiate career, he was active with many organizations, but most notably the OSU dairy judging team, Dairy Club and the Agriculture Executive Council. He cochaired the OSU Beaver Classic in 2003 and 2005, along with many other leadership roles during his tenure there. On his summers off from OSU, Jason would return home to help on the family’s dairy. He came to enjoy mating and breeding cows and was proud to take ownership of his decisions. In 2004 and 2005, he led himself and Dairylain Farms to Premier Breeder and Exhibitor awards at the Western Idaho State Fair. After completing his degrees, Jason knew he planned to return to the family’s dairy farm, however, he wanted to utilize his knowledge and degree elsewhere first. Therefore, he began working as an independent nutrition consultant in the Northwest. While doing this, Jason would return to the home farm when possible, as well as occasionally judge dairy shows. Jason and his wife, Mary, were married in 2007. In 2008, the desire to be more involved with Dairylain Farms, LLC brought them back to Vale. The couple has welcomed three boys to their family: Jackson, Isaac and Henry. Jason made the decision to return to the dairy full-time and start his own business, Chamberlain Nutrition Consulting, in 2015. “As with every aspect of life and the dairy industry, times change and so must you,” penned Jason. The family knew it was
Julian Cowan, Nehalem, Ore., grew up on his family’s 80-cow Holstein dairy farm in Puget Island, Wash., with his parents, Brad and Melody, and siblings Aleia, Nathaniel and Marika. The children were given chores on the family dairy as soon as they could be helpful, and Julian received two registered Holsteins to start his herd. When Julian was 13-years-old, the family moved to Astoria, Ore., for the increased farming opportunities and to ship milk to Tillamook County Creamy Association (TCCA). They brought 80 cows on their move with immediate plans for expansion, something not possible at their previous location. Since producing milk with higher components was more profitable, the family started breeding for and buying Jerseys. In 2004, they installed a 60-bale rotary parlor built by a New Zealand (NZ) company. The Cowans had previously been milking 400 cows, immediately expanded to 650 and soon were milking 1,000 cows with more land and the ability to milk 500 cows an hour. With an interest in management and grazing, Julian took the opportunity to move to NZ to learn more. “Altogether, I worked on three different farms around the North Island; it was an unforgettable experience,” wrote Cowan. “I still go back every year or two to visit and look at the farms that are supplying bulls to the NZ A.I. companies.” Cowan’s wife, Nicole, also did a work experience in NZ. In 2014, the Cowan family purchased
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