Wisconsin Meeting 2019

Awards

In an awards ceremony, Lloyd Heinz, Shawano, was named Wisconsin Senior Breeder of the Year. His 75-cow herd of Registered Jerseys is managed with the 650-cow Holstein herd at Tauchen Valley. The herd is enrolled on REAP and has an actual 2018 herd average of 19,347 lbs. milk, 969 lbs. fat and 712 lbs. protein. The fully-genotyped herd has an average JPI of +81, which ranks #23 in the nation for genetic merit following the April genetic evaluations.

Colin Wussow, Cecil, received the Wisconsin Junior Breeder of the Year award and was named winner of the senior division of the youth achievement. Colin is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where he majors in agricultural business. He and his family operate Milk-N-More Jerseys, a mixed herd of Registered Jerseys, Holsteins and Red and Whites. Wussow was named State FFA Star Farmer in 2018 and won the 2009 National Jersey Youth Production Contest with Michael Centurion Darla, a two-time Reserve Junior All American and Overall Premier Performance Winner of the All American Junior Jersey Show.

Wussow also received a scholarship from the WJBA and won the Rainbow Dairy LLC High Protein Award for the high-protein cow owned by a junior. He won the production award with Milk-N-More-KCW Del Echo, Very Good-87%. She produced a 3-9 record of 24,390 lbs. milk, 1,339 lbs. fat (5.5%) and 895 lbs. protein (3.7%) in 298 days.

The Wisconsin Jersey Woman of the Year award was given to Joyce Owens, Frederic, for her years of service to the WJBA as secretary-treasurer. She and her family operate Owens Farms Inc., a 725-cow herd enrolled on REAP.

For her service to the WJBA, Kristin Paul, Janesville, was also recognized. She received the Wisconsin Distinguished Service Award. Paul is Director of Field Services for the AJCA and works closely with breeders on the Wisconsin State Sale, the first state sale to be conducted entirely online.

Sophie Larson, Reedsburg, won the intermediate division of the youth achievement contest. Jarrett Foster, Portage, placed second in the contest and earned the Patty Endres Memorial Award as well.

Andrew Cornell, Richland Center, was named winner of the Jersey calf award, for youth 11 years-of-age and younger. He will receive a Registered Jersey calf to be donated by Pine Prairie Jerseys of Viroqua, owned by Rob and Gail Klinkner and their family.

Ava Grace Hebgen, De Forest, won the Lois Haeuser Memorial Award and received a show halter in memory of the award’s namesake.
Scholarships were also presented to Brittney Artac, Greenwood, and David Foerster, Oostburg.

Business Meeting

Jersey breeders heard about year-end Jersey breed highlights from American Jersey Cattle Association Director Walter Owens and National All-Jersey Inc. Director Marion Barlass.
Among the highlights were 132,166 animals registered in 2018 and 161,251 cows enrolled on REAP—both second high in breed history. For the sixth consecutive year, AJCA appraisers scored more than 100,000 cows. Jersey breeders genotyped a record 49,067 females and purchased 550,663 JerseyTags during the calendar year.

Wisconsin’s reigning Alice in Dairyland, Kaitlyn Riley, Gays Mills, spoke about Wisconsin agriculture. Riley hails from a Jersey farm and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 2017 with a degree in journalism. She attended Jersey Youth Academy in 2013 and was first alternate in the National Jersey Queen contest in 2012.
Jersey breeders were made aware of several Jersey show dates, including the Wisconsin Spring Spectacular Jersey Show, to be held May 3-4 in Viroqua. The Wisconsin State Jersey Show and Wisconsin Jersey Futurity will be held on July 8 in Madison.

Members elected officers to serve the WJCB in the coming year as follows: Abby Tauchen, Bonduel, president; Gerald Laufenberg, Mount Horeb, vice president; and Sydney Endres, Lodi, secretary-treasurer. Laufenberger was also elected to serve his second term as director-at-large and Tommy Allen, Reedsburg, was elected to serve his first term as director.

Officers elected to serve the junior club were Alleah Anderson, Cumberland, president, Emma Anderson, Cumberland, vice president; and Sophie Larson, secretary.

In the popular dessert auction, funds were raised for the junior club from the sale of a variety of home-baked goods.
Next year’s WJBA annual meeting will be hosted by Parish 6 on March 7.

Other Awards

Jersey breeders were also honored for production, show ring and genetic achievements with their cattle.

D & D Jerseys, owned by Donna Phillips and her husband, Dan Stock, was recognized as the state’s leading her for milk, fat and protein production, with a 2018 herd average of 23,305 lbs. milk, 1,220 lbs. fat and 882 lbs. protein on 85 cows. The dairy also leads the nation for actual milk and cheese yield production and ranks second for components.

D & D Jerseys also took home certificates for the high milk, protein and cheese yield cow, Dodan Des Valentino De-Zy-ET. The Excellent-91% daughter of All Lynns Louie Valentino-ET, GJPI +75, made a 6-0 record of 31,620 lbs. milk, 1,490 lbs. fat and 3,854 lbs. protein, with a cheese yield of 3,854 lbs. to earn the top prize.

Sunsett Dairy, owned by Alan and Stephanie Hughes of Pittsville, received the award for most improved milk and protein production, with respective increases of 3,525 lbs. milk and 124 lbs. protein over last year.

Robin Krueger and Jeff Kessenich of Kessenich Farms LLC, De Forest, won the award for the leading fat producer with Freemans Premier Almeda. The Very Good-88% daughter of Hawarden Impuls Premier, GJPI +78, produced a record of 25,500 lbs. milk, 1,576 lbs. fat (6.2%) and 918 lbs. protein at 4-5.

In the lifetime production contest, Jason Luttropp, Berlin, received the top awards with a pair of matriarchs. K&K Fanatic Love 2596, Excellent-90%, won the milk contest with credits of 231,724 lbs. milk, 9,016 lbs. fat and 7,623 lbs. protein in 3,110 days. K&K Balance 2197 2684, Excellent-91%, earned the component contests with 197,969 lbs. milk, 11,054 lbs. fat and 7,725 lbs. protein in 2,984 days.

Oaklane Chisel Della 2130-ET received the top genetic award. Owned by David Allen, Reedburg, the Very Good-85% daughter of Shan-Mar Hilario Chisel-ET, GJPI +143, has a current GJPI of +190, an index that ranks #8 nationally among genotyped.

Junior All-Wisconsin awards in eight classes were presented to six juniors, including Jayden Alderson, Boscobel; Alleah Anderson, Cumberland; Emma Anderson; Hannah Hensel, Pittsville; Ana Mikkelson, Stoughton; and Colin Wussow.