Iowa Summer Picnic 2019

Youth Awards

The Iowa Jersey Youth Achievement Award—the club’s highest junior honor—was presented to Mary Holtz, Maquoketa. The daughter of Jeff and Lisa Holtz, Holtz View Farms, Maquoketa, will receive a Registered Jersey heifer calf donated by an Iowa Jersey breeder, for winning the award. Mary was the 2018 Iowa Jersey Princess and a member of the recent sixth class of Jersey Youth Academy. She is a high school senior and active in many school activities including bowling, soccer and band. Mary is serving as her 4-H club president and active with her local FFA chapter. She is also on her county council and active showing her cattle on the local, state and national levels. Mary, a high school senior, is taking college classes and will have completed her associate’s degree upon her graduation. She has plans to attend Iowa State University and go onto vet school where she hopes to specialize in embryo transfer and in-vitro fertilization.

Meghan Hettinga of Orange City was crowned as 2019 Iowa Jersey Princess. The daughter of Jason and Mary Hettinga is a sophomore at South Dakota State University majoring in dairy production with a focus on community and leadership. She has participated in the Hawkeye Pot of Gold Contest multiple times earning first place in 2014 and runner-up in 2017. Earlier this year, she was also selected to participate in Jersey Youth Academy. In high school, Meghan was president of her FFA chapter and earned her state degree. She was also a member of National Honor Society, sat on student council and volunteered with the REACH program. She played volleyball and track and field, competing in shot put and discus at the state meet and the well-known Drake Relays and earning a spot on the track team at college. She plans to find a career which allows her to represent the dairy industry and better educate the public about dairy products and production.

The recipient of this year’s IJCC Memorial Scholarship was Grace Howe. She is the daughter of Shelly and the late Matt Howe, Waukon. Grace is a freshman at Iowa State University studying ag business. An active member of the state and national cattle associations, she has served as Alternate Iowa Dairy Princess, Iowa Dairy Princess, Iowa Jersey Princess and Allamakee County Dairy Princess. As well, she placed 10th in the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest and will be recognized at the Junior Banquet during the All American events held in Louisville, Ky.

Business Meeting

In the business meeting, members discussed events for the Iowa State Fair, including the selection of the state Jersey show judge. John Maxwell, Donahue, reported on the plans for the club hosting the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings in 2021. President Jeff Holtz congratulated the Horst family for the recognition of Dr. Ronald Horst by the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. with the Award for Meritorious Service. Horst passed away earlier this year, but he was recognized posthumously at the association’s annual meetings this past June.