Address of AJCA President

Looking to the Future with the Jersey

Address of Jonathan Merriam, President to the 153rd Annual Meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association, June 25, 2021, Bettendorf, Iowa

continuing to improve the genetics of the Jersey cow. The Board has started a series of strategic planning sessions to establish goals for the board, the association and the Jersey cow. We are discussing plans to improve Good morning! I would like to welcome everyone to Iowa. Last year at this the programs and services offered to our membership. We are working to set policies time, only a few of us were able to meet in and procedures to retain the quality staff Ohio because of things going on and we and leaders we currently have in place, as ended up broadcasting via Zoom and it’s well as recruit the next generation of staff wonderful to be able to meet together and and leaders to keep moving forward. be able to see everyone’s faces. I would like Although the Jersey cow has a much to thank the Iowa Jersey breeders for all they have done to welcome us here and for their generous hospitality.

I would also like to thank the staff for continuing to serve the membership through these challenging times. During this past year, even though their office hours and working locations changed week-to-week or day-to-day, quite often the membership could not tell because the work was still done, and their needs were met. We greatly appreciate all the staff has done. The Jersey cow continues to surpass our expecThe 2020-2021 Board of Directors of the American Jersey Cattle Association. Seated from left: Jonathan Merriam, President and Joel Albright, Vice President and chair of the Breed Improvement Committee; Second row from left: Neal Smith, Executive Secretary; Karen Bohnert, chair of the Information Technology tations by increasing in and Identification Committee; Donna Phillips; Bradley Taylor, chair of the Finance production, improving her Committee; and Rebecca Ferry. Back row from left: Tyler Boyd; Cornell Kasbergen; health traits, and maintain- Garry Hansen, chair of the Development Committee; John Maxell; Joe Vanderfeltz ing her efficiency. She is and Ralph Frerichs. Not pictured: Jason Johnson. why we are here today, and she is why we need to continue to work hard smaller population base than the Holstein, to meet the needs of our membership while she has recently made more progress in most production traits. She has demonstrated time and time again that she can make genetic progress even with a smaller genetic base because of the value of her genetic advantages. We need to continue to increase production–both volume and components–while improving health, fertility and efficiency traits to make sure she continues her growth in popularity so more breeders can know what we already know—the Jersey cow is the best cow. The Board now has a JPI Advisory Committee consisting of breeders, directors, A.I. personnel and geneticists. This committee will utilize research as well as practical experience to help further develop criteria and indices to keep the genetics of the Jersey cow moving forward so that she will always be the more efficient, environmentally friendly cow. These are just a few of the steps we are taking to continue to meet the needs of our membership and improve the cow we all love. Please make sure if you have ideas or areas of concerns that you contact a Board member or staff member and share those with them so that we can discuss them during these planning sessions. Thank you again for your participation in the convention this week, your attendance in today’s meeting, and your dedication to the Jersey cow.

Leadership Elected

(continued from page 26) his wife of 20 years, Teresa, have three daughters, Shea, Camille and Ella, who help in the operation of the dairies as well. He and his family moved to the family farm, Ahlem Farms Jerseys, in Hilmar in 2009. He joined the partnership of Ahlem Farms Vista and Ahlem Farms Jerseys, which are expansions of the foundation farm, with herd owners Bill and Carolyn Ahlem and his brother, Sabino, a year later. Herrera was mentored in cattle breeding by the late Ed Fisher, who received the AJCA Master Breeder Award with Ahlem Farms Partnership in 2009.

Appointed to the NAJ Board of Directors as an at-large director by AJCA President Jonathan Merriam, was Sam Bok, Defiance, Ohio. Bok will succeed retiring director Cal Graber, Parker, S.D. He and wife Julie and children Wendy and Andy, own and operate Boks Jersey Farm, a 450-cow herd enrolled in AJCA’s REAP program. He is a delegate to the Board of COBA/Select Sires and represents his county for the Farm Service Agency. He served on the board for Defiance Landmark Inc. for nine years. Bok served on the AJCA Board of Directors from 2013-2019.

James Huffard, Crockett, Va., was reelected as NAJ vice president and will serve as Finance Chair for the board.