Maryland Meeting 2020
Earning awards in the Junior All-Maryland contest were,
from left, Lilah Utterback, Carly Nowell, Lane Riggleman and Noah Utterback.
Among the last state clubs to hold their annual meeting before the COVID-19 quarantine went into effect was the Maryland Jersey Cattle Club (MJCC). Held on March 7, 2020, at the Mountain Gate Restaurant in Thurmont, the gathering was among the largest in recent years, marking 99 years of meetings for the 101-year-old state Jersey club.
“You deserve a hand for keeping people involved with the Jersey cow and Jersey industry,” said American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) Director Bradley Taylor in his opening remarks. Taylor also talked about activities of the AJCA and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) along with AJCA-NAJ Area Representative Scott Holcomb.
Richard and Patti Kepler of Woodsboro were honored with the Herbert Hoopes Senior Award for their service to the club. Richard currently serves as president of the MJCC. The couple will host the club’s summer picnic at their home on July 25, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Junior member Catherine Savage, Dickerson, spoke about her experience winning the 2018 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest and being honored at the Junior Banquet at All American festivities in Louisville, Ky., this past fall. She said she is proud to be one of three Maryland juniors to win over the history of the contest and looks forward to emceeing the Junior Banquet this fall. Catherine will be a dairy science senior at Virginia Tech this fall.
The business meeting was kicked off with elections. Serving the MJCC for 2020 will be Richard Kepler, Woodsboro, president; Robbie Shaw, Fairplay, vice president; Katie Albaugh Stevens, Walkersville, secretary; and Ryan Haines, Taneytown, treasurer, with assistance from Kathy Albaugh, Walkersville. New and returning directors are Mike Forsythe, Hagerstown, Ryan Haines, Laurie Savage, Dickerson, and Robbie Shaw.
The business meeting concluded with an auction to raise funds for the club and the newly established Marcia Molesworth Scholarship Fund, in memory of the club’s long-time treasurer. Gene Iager of Walkersville purchased the top selling item, a Mayfield Dairy milk can, for $1,300.
Juniors on hand to receive awards for the record book contest were, from left, Morgan Osborn-Wotthlie,
accepting for Haley Welty, Katelyn Bell, Torrance Bassler, Lilah Utterback, Carly Nowell, Kourtney Bell,
Lane Riggleman, Noah Utterback and James Bassler.
Junior Awards
In an awards ceremony, juniors were recognized for their achievements with Registered Jersey projects. Caroline Dinkel, Frederick, was crowned as the Maryland Jersey Queen. Morgan Osborn-Wotthlie, Union Bridge, will continue to serve as the Maryland Junior Princess. Morgan also earned the John Stiles Award for service to the junior club.
Scholarships were awarded to Daisy Gardner, Jefferson, a student at Mount St. Mary’s University, Sydnie Grossnickle, Union Bridge, a student at Frederick Community College; and Catherine Savage.
In the junior division of the record book contest, Lane Riggleman, Jefferson, took the top prize among boys, while James Bassler, Boonsboro, placed second. Torrance Bassler, Boonsboro, was first among girls. Carly Nowell, Woodsboro, was second and Lilah Utterback, Jefferson, placed third. Kourtney N. Bell, Frederick, and Lily Crum, Frederick, earned honorable mention laurels.
Noah Utterback, Jefferson, repeated his winning ways with the top prize in the intermediate division for boys this year after earning the top spot among juniors last year. In the intermediate division for girls, Claire Minde, Bel Air, placed first for the second consecutive time and Katelyn L. Bell, Frederick, was second.
In the senior contest for boys, Tristan Crum, Frederick, took top honors after winning first in the intermediate division last year. Haley Lea Welty, Keymar, earned first prize among girls.
Junior All-Maryland certificates were presented to young members as well. Lane Riggleman took home five certificates while Lilah and Noah Utterback each earned three awards. James Bassler and Carly Nowell also received Junior All-Maryland certificates.
Production Awards
Maryland Jersey breeders were recognized for herd averages and individual cow production based on dollar value of milk, fat and protein (MFP).
For the fourth consecutive year, Walnut Ridge Jerseys, Middletown, captured the J. Hanson Hoffman Senior Trophy for high herd average. The dairy owned by Pam and Danny Moser was also the top herd among herds with 10-39 cows, with an MFP value of $4,392.
The Mosers took home two certificates for individual cow production as well. The high-producing junior two-year-old, Walnut Ridge Chrome Mindy, Very Good-87%, made a 2-1 record with an MFP value of $5,810. Actual production was 17,240 lbs. milk, 1,120 lbs. fat (6.2%) and 610 lbs. protein. Windrift Voltage Bridget, Very Good-86%, was the high producer among cows 5-7 years-of-age, with a 6-3 record of 21,050 lbs. milk, 1,784 lbs. fat (8.5%) and 749 lbs. protein. The MFP value of the record is $5,830.
Cow Comfort Inn Dairy, Union Bridge, was the leader for herd average among larger herds with 40 or more cows, with an MFP value of $3,668. The dairy owned by David and Katherine Pyle received three certificates for individual cow production. JX Ridgeview Gus Cheesecake {4} was the high milking yearling, with an MFP value of $5,681 on her first lactation. Their senior three-year-old, JX Biltmore Volcano Burn 1132 {5}, produced the top record among her peers, with an MFP value of $5,309. Ridgeview Dude Hope 10159 {4} led the eldest matriarchs, aged eight years and over, with a record with an MFP value of $4,700.
Ehrhardt Farm Inc., Baldwin, earned three certificates for individual cow production as well. Chilli Tequila Capri-ET, Very Good-87%, made the high senior two-year-old record with an MFP value of $5,215. Sapphire Applejack Secret-ET, Very Good-87%, was the top producer among four-year-olds, with an MFP value of $5,499. Her dam, Jewels Sapphire, Excellent-93%, was the lifetime production champion, with an MFP value of $34,855.
South Mountain Voltage Radiant-ET, Excellent-91%, owned by Ernest W. Kueffner and Terri L. Packard of Boonsboro, was the high producer among junior three-year-olds. She made a 3-1 record of 23,370 lbs. milk, 1,455 lbs. fat (6.2%) and 869 lbs. protein, with an MFP value of $6,143 to lead her peers. In 2018, “Radiant” won the National Jersey Jug Futurity and was tapped Reserve Intermediate Champion of the All American Jersey Show.