North Carolina Field Day 2019
The North Carolina Jersey Field Day was held on July 13, 2019, at Stamey Farms in Statesville. The annual social event organized by the North Carolina Jersey Cattle Association included a catered chicken and ribs lunch, judging contest and the North Carolina Pot O’Gold Sale.
Members were brought up-to-speed on national Jersey activities by Erica Davis, area representative for the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. She reported on the organization’s annual meetings in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Among the highlights was the record-breaking National Heifer Sale, which auctioned the breed’s new high-selling heifer calf at $103,000 and posted a new series high average of $10,308.57 on 35 lots.
Davis also encouraged Jersey breeders to support the Southeast Jersey Invitational Sale, hosted by Her-Man Jerseys at Sunny Day Farm in Chester, S.C., on September 7.
In the judging contest, which included two classes of Jerseys, Lane Chapman, Taylorsville, and Lance Johnson, Statesville, tied for first place in the junior division. Elise Grigg, Lawndale, placed second and Macy Chapman, Taylorsville, and Emily Holland, Olin, tied for third. Corey Lutz, Lincolnton, topped the senior division. Charles Wayne Lutz, Mocksville, earned second prize and Valerie Langley, Staley, placed third.
Host Farm
The day’s festivities were hosted by Bob Stamey and his son, David, and their families at Stamey Farms.
The farm has been in the family since 1951, when Bob’s father, Howard, a livestock agent for Iredell County and well-known dairy judging coach, moved to Statesville and made the purchase. Bob and his brother, Charlie, then assumed ownership and established Stamey Cattle Company in 1975 as an export venture for dairy and beef cattle. Today, Stamey Cattle Company maintains 15 facilities across the U.S., where cattle are tested and quarantined prior to export. Cattle have been exported to 35 countries on five continents.
In 1998, the Stameys established a partnership with the Alarcon family, one of their buyers from Ecuador, to build a yogurt plant on land across the road from Stamey Farms. In 2009, the Stameys and Ecuadorians again partnered in the purchase of Mooresville Ice Cream Company, a well-known ice cream maker founded in 1924. Yogurt is now made at the ice cream facility as well. All milk produced by the dairy herd at Stamey Farms is used in the production of these two products.
Among the farm tour highlights was a video submitted by a Turkish importer that milked both cows and goats. Cow’s milk was shipped to local processors for yogurt and goat’s milk was used to make ice cream on the farm.
Pot O'Gold Sale
Five North Carolina juniors purchased the five heifers consigned to the North Carolina Pot O’Gold Sale for an average of $1,490 and a gross of $7,450. They are eligible to compete in the production contest for these heifers held in 2022, which is based on their first 305-day lactations.
Emily Holland purchased the high seller, Deerview Wildcat Cersei, for $2,800. The September 2018 heifer calf sired by Ahlem Texas Wildcat 22702-ET, GJPI +75, is out of a cow family that has been heavily merchandised in recent years.
Her dam is a Very Good-86% daughter of All Lynns Valentino Irwin-ET, GJPI +63, with a two lactation m.e. average of 22,548–1,125–803. Her grandam, Deerview Vermeer Coed II-ET, Excellent-93%, has six lactations and a best record of 7-0 305 3x 24,790 5.1% 1,261 3.5% 868 94DCR. She has 60 registered progeny and is a maternal brother of BW Academy-ET, GJPI +66, who was syndicated to help establish Jersey Youth Academy. The next dam, BW Avery KatieET121-ET, Excellent-93%, has five lactations—four over 30,000 lbs. milk—and a best record of 6-6 365 3x 36,530 4.8% 1,747 3.2% 1,172 DHIR. In addition to “Coed II” and “Academy,” she has 122 additional registered progeny to date. Their dam, BW Berretta Prize G525, Excellent-92%, has four lactations and made her best record of 25,570 lbs. milk, 1,014 lbs. fat and 936 lbs. protein at 3-1. She has 20 registered daughters and sons, including BW Country-ET, GJPI +7. The next dam has 21,140 lbs. milk, 857 lbs. fat and 824 lbs. protein at 4-1.
“Cersei” was consigned by Charles Wayne Lutz.
Isabela Haithcox, Taylorsville, took home the second-high seller with a final bid of $1,450. Her purchase, JX Lucky L Striker Ruthman {4}, is a September 2018 daughter of River Valley Sal Striker-ET, GJPI +139. She was consigned by Price Brothers Jerseys of Statesville.
“Ruthman {4}” is out of a Very Good-80% daughter of JX Faria Brothers Marlo {2}-ET, GJPI +149, with an m.e. average of 23,956–1,222–889 on two lactations. Her Very Good-82% grandam, sired by All Lynns Louie Valentino-ET, GJPI +75, has a three lactation m.e. average of 21,720–987–791. Her Very Good-86% third dam has seven lactations and a best record of 4-10 305 21,170 5.0% 1,059 3.8% 798 102DCR. The next dam has 22,530 lbs. milk, 998 lbs. fat and 729 lbs. protein at 6-4.
Other juniors who made purchases were Lance Johnson, Elise Griggs and the partnership of Charlotte Jean Sparks and Yancey Wade of Marshville.