Ohio Meeting 2020

Members of the Ohio Jersey Breeders Association met for their annual meeting on January 25, 2020, at Der Dutchman restaurant in Plain City. Jersey breeders were brought up to speed on dairy industry happenings from allied industry guests and honored for achievements with their cattle.

Woodruff Dairy of Urbana earned the 2020 Pioneer Service Award. The 600-acre farm owned and operated by Max, Todd and Levi Woodroof and their families is home to herds of Registered Jerseys and Registered Angus cows. The family has been processing milk at the farm since 2018, selling direct to consumers through pick up or home delivery. Woodruff Dairy was a tour stop for Jersey Youth Academy in 2019.

The Woodruffs regularly consign animals to sales organized by Ohio Jersey breeders and have contributed to the Dairy Incentive Program at the Ohio State Fair. Todd, an auctioneer, has manned the gavel at numerous state and national sales.

Von Herron, Salem, won the 2020 Ohio Jersey Youth Achievement Contest. The high school junior operates Nature View Farm with his family. The Herrons milk about 150 cows, focusing on production and, for the past 13 years, polled genetics. The herd now includes 220 polled animals and will be fully polled when the Herrons reach their goal in the not-so-distant future.

Von plans to major in agricultural engineering at The Ohio State University and return to the family farm. Today, his responsibilities include feeding and caring for younger heifers at the home farm and another farm in the area, putting up hay and straw in the summer and milking when available.

Herron is president of his local 4-H club. His Jersey projects include feeder steers, which he has showed at the county fair for seven years and views as opportunity to promote as a viable source of beef. He also enjoys photography, woodworking, welding and electricity projects.

At United High School, he plays tenor and baritone saxophones in the band, belongs to the Spanish Club and was team captain of the junior varsity Academic Challenge team. He earned the Arrow of Life award through Cub Scouts has rung bells for the Salvation Army.

Julie Headings, Plain City, was named as the 2020 Ohio Jersey Ambassador. The 13-year-old attends Fairbanks Middle School and helps to operate Heading Homestead/Alden Farm with her family. Julie was also recently crowned as the Ohio Ayrshire Princess.

She raises sheep and cattle and exhibits at the county fair, Ohio Spring Dairy Expo, Ohio State Fair and North American International Livestock Exposition. She also participates in rifle, archery and sewing projects.
Headings is active in her school’s concert and pep bands, student council and drama club and plays basketball. She also competes in Power of the Pen.

Jersey exhibitors also received All Ohio awards. Among seniors, Morgan Jerseys, Urbana, led the way with seven certificates. Mill Valley, Sidney, earned six awards. Williams Jerseys, McConnelsville, took home three certificates, along with two earned in partnership with Diley Jerseys of Canal Winchester.

Among juniors, Blake Greiwe, Quincy, and Allison Francis, Ansonia, received four certificates each. Lane Randall Greiwe, Quincy, and Gwen Schindel, Springfield, each earned a pair of awards. Other juniors to receive awards were Emma Agner, Urbana; Grace Hageman, Sidney; Madison Hesler, Winchester; Hannah Hurst, Waynesville; Keaton, Kinley and Madelyn Topp, Botkins; Carson Walker, Newark; and Joelle Zeigler, Galloway.

A more detailed list of the All Ohio awards is below.

Business Meeting

Members heard about national Jersey activities from a pair of American Jersey Cattle Association representatives, including Executive Secretary Neal Smith and Director Joel Albright.

Dr. Maurice Eastridge updated the group on changes at The Ohio State University (OSU) and Waterman Dairy. Recently, the university sold its sheep unit and allotted the land for expansion of its airport. The acreage loss means feed will have to be hauled in to feed the Jersey herd. As well, Waterman Dairy plans to install Lely robotic milkers and other new technology.

Other additions include construction of the new Franklin County Extension Building on campus. The building is the first of three new facilities planned for the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory. The venue is designed to be a hub for teaching, research and community engagement around food, health, agricultural production and sustainability.

As well, OSU plans to merge herds at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and the Agricultural Technical Institute campus in Wooster. The union increases opportunities for students and research projects.

Mark Hoewischer reported that the Ohio Purebred Dairy Cattle Association is forming a committee to review showmanship guidelines and recommend uniform rules for showmanship judges at all levels.
Erin Brown, communications manager for the American Dairy Association Mideast, talked about dairy product consumption and how it has increased through cheese and innovative dairy products. She also told Jersey breeders to watch for funding opportunities from the H2Ohio water quality initiative, introduced by Governor Mike DeWine as part of his proposed budget for the 2020-2021 biennium.