Maryland Meeting 2019
The Maryland Jersey Cattle Club (MJCC) gathered in Thurmont at the Mountain Gate Family Restaurant for their 98th annual meeting on March 9. The meeting also marked 100 years of existence for the club. An awards ceremony which recognized the many achievements of members was the highlight of the gathering.
Abby Riggleman, left, receives the Herbert Hoopes Award for service from MJCC President Richard Kepler, center, and Ryan Haines.
Junior record book winners are, from left, Noah Utterback, Lane Riggleman, Tristan Kiser, Torrance Bassler and Makenna Osbaugh. Utterback, Riggleman and Bassler also earned Junior All-Maryland Jersey awards.
Outgoing Maryland Jersey Queen Sydnie Grossnickle, left, and President Richard Kepler congratulate new Maryland queen Olivia Dinkel.
Dr. Duane Norman presents the J. Hoffman Award to Catherine Savage for high-producing cow owned by a junior member. All photos courtesy Laurie Savage.
MJCC President Richard Keppler gives the John Stiles Award for service to the junior club to Catherine Savage.
Awards
The Herbert Hoopes Award for service to the club was awarded to Abby Riggleman, Jefferson. The club’s award for service to the junior members, the John Stiles Award, went to Catherine Savage, Dickerson. Both awards were presented by club president, Richard Kepler of Woodsboro.
Olivia Dinkel, Frederick, was crowned the new Maryland Jersey Queen by Sydnie Grossnickle, Union Bridge, the club’s outgoing queen. Morgan Osborn-Wotthlie, Union Bridge, was chosen to serve on the royal court as Maryland Jersey Princess.
Educational scholarships were also presented to the junior members Daisy Gardner, Jefferson, Sydnie Grossnickle, Union Bridge, Autumn Lippy, Union Bridge and Catherine Savage.
Daisy Gardner took the overall prize in the record books competition after besting the senior girls age division. Austin Welty, Keymar, was the winner of the senior boys division.
In the intermediate division for girls, Claire Minde, Bel Air, was first followed by Haley Welty, Keymar. Tristen Crum, Frederick was the first place winner for the intermediate boys division.
In the junior boys division, Noah Utterback, Jefferson placed first with Lane Riggleman, Jefferson, in second. Makenna Osbaugh, Myersville, was the first place of the junior girls division. Tristan Kiser, New Windsor, was second followed by Torrance Bassler, Boonsboro. There was a three-way tie for honorable mention made by Lily Crum, Frederick, Dakota Flook, Myersville and Carly Nowell, Thurmont.
Junior All-Maryland certificates were awarded to three juniors. Lane Riggleman received four certificates for his entries: intermediate heifer calf, Crossbrook-MDPride VIP Daysha-ET; senior heifer calf, Stoney Point Colton Finley; and junior three year-old Hillacres Grayson Essence, Very Good-87%. Torrance Bassler earned certificates for his reserve senior heifer calf, Heaths JJ Ribbon and his reserve senior yearling, Heaths Blackstone Song, Very Good-85%. Noah Utterback also earned certificates for his senior yearling, Stoney Point Premier Maddie and his four-year old, Te-Faw Belvedere Lucky Rose, Very Good-87%.
Production Awards
Jersey breeders were recognized for herd averages and individual cow production based on dollar value of milk, fat and protein (MFP$).
For the third consecutive year, Walnut Ridge Jerseys, Middletown, captured the J. Hansen Hoffman Trophy for the highest herd average for herds with 10 or more cows after winning the 10- to 39-cow category. The farm had an MFP$ value of 4,633. The farm also took home four certificates for their high-producing individual animals. Their junior two-year old, Walnut Ridge Magnum Charm, Very Good-84%, had an MFP$ value of $5,509 topping her age division. Te-Faw Hire Gun Kandy Kane, Excellent-90%, the winning senior two-year old, had a value of $5,816. The farm’s first place junior three-year old was Te-Faw Preacher Man Starbright, Very Good-88% with an MFP$ value of $6,762. Te-Faw Preacher Man Louise, Very Good-86%, was the first place four-year old who produced a value of $6,075.
For the second year in a row, Shenandoah Jerseys, Boonsboro, had the highest herd average for herds of 40 or more cows with an MFP$ value of 3,992. They also had two first-place animals for individual records. The homebred winning senior three-year old was JX Shenandoah Awesome Amelia {5}, who produced a value of $5,718. Peeler Jacinto Laura, Excellent-90%, won the aged cow division with an MFP$ of $4,881. “Laura” also won the lifetime production award having produced a total value of $38,077.
Savage-Leigh Farm, Knoxville, had the first place yearling in milk. Savage-Leigh Maverick Mimi produced an actual 1-10 record of 18,750 lbs. milk, 926 lbs. fat and 692 lbs. protein with an MFP$ value of $5,509. Stoney Point Tequila Bongo, Excellent-92% was the first place of the five to seven-year old division owned by John and Julie Mayer, Taneytown. “Bongo” produced a 5-2 actual record of 23,850 lbs. milk, 1,289 lbs. fat and 858 lbs. protein for an MFP$ value of $5,606.
Business Meeting
Members re-elected the current slate of officers to serve in 2019 as follows: Richard Kepler, president; Katie Albaugh Stevens, Walkersville, secretary; and Marcia Molesworth, Middletown, treasurer. Incoming directors are Duane Norman, Fulton; Kevin Ehrhardt, Baldwin; Julie Mayer, Taneytown; and Katie Albaugh Stevens.
Jersey enthusiasts in attendance heard about the success of local Maryland breeders in state and national shows. AJCA area representative Scott Holcomb, Greene, N.Y. gave updates from the national association.