Wisconsin Meeting 2020
This year’s annual meeting of the Wisconsin Jersey Breeders Association (WJBA) was hosted by Jersey enthusiasts from Parish 6 at the St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake on March 7. Members tended to organization business, heard from industry guests and honored peers for achievements with Registered Jerseys.
Darryl Young, Hillsdale, was named Wisconsin Senior Breeder. The family also hosted an open barn tour after the meetings.
The Wisconsin Distinguished Service Award was given to Joyce Owens of Frederic. She served the organization from 2013-2019, first as secretary and then taking on the dual role of secretary/treasurer.
Karla Peterson, Viroqua, was named Wisconsin Jersey Woman of the Year. Junior Jersey Breeder of the Year was presented to Sophia Larson, Reedsburg.
NAJ Director Walter Owens presents Darryl Young (center holding plaque) with the Wisconsin Senior Breeder Award. Also pictured in the back left to right are Young’s wife, Barb Young, granddaughter Riah Young, and son, Brent. Front is granddaughter, Zanna, grandson, Stellan, and daughter-in-law Tara.
Photos courtesy of Sydney Endres, WJBA Secretary/Treasurer.
Alana Peterson presents her aunt, Karla Peterson, with the award for 2019 Wisconsin Jersey Woman of the Year.
Brandon Owens, left, presents the Wisconsin Distinguished Service Award to his mother, Joyce Owens.
Junior Awards
Earning awards in the Junior All-Wisconsin and Production contests were, from left, Garrison Klinkner, Ava Hebgen, Emma Anderson, Alleah Anderson, Ela Hebgen and Jarrett Foster.
In an awards ceremony for juniors, Jayden Alderson, Boscobel, was named winner of the senior division of the Wisconsin Youth Achievement Award. He was then nominated to enter the 2019 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest through the American Jersey Cattle Association. Jarrett Foster, Portage, was the winner of the intermediate division of the contest while Alleah Anderson, Cumberland, placed second.
In the junior division, Ava Hebgen, De Forest, placed first and received a Registered Jersey calf donated by Meadowridge Jerseys, Meadowridge Joey Chloe. Garrison Klinkner, Viroqua, earned second and received the Lois Haeuser Memorial Award, a show halter in memory of Lois. (pictured right)
Scholarships were presented to Wyatt Artac, Greenwood; David Foerster, Oostburg; and Colin Wussow, Cecil.
The Rainbow Dairy LLC High Protein Award for the state’s high-producing protein cow owned by a junior was given to Erica Neal-Stock, Newton, with her entry, Phillips Jill Credi Julienne, Excellent-90%, with a 3-4 record of 23,923 lbs. milk, 1,197 lbs. fat and 916 lbs. protein.
Youth who participated in the cost sharing program to attend The All American Junior Jersey Show were Ava Hebgen; Ela Hebgen, De Forest; Alleah Anderson and Emma Anderson, Cumberland.
Ava Hebgen receives her awards for winning the Junior Youth Achievement Contest. Garrison Klinkner placed second and received the Lois Haeuser Memorial Award of a show halter.
All American Junior Jersey Show participants Ela and Ava Hebgen and Emma and Alleah Anderson.
Production Awards
A plethora of production awards were given to 17 different Jersey breeders for their high producing herd or outstanding individuals in the herd.
Taking home high milk and protein production awards was D&D Jerseys. The herd owned by Donna Phillips (pictured left) and Dan Stock and their daughters of Newton had a herd average of 21,678 lbs. milk, 1,107 lbs. fat and 811 lbs. protein on 88 cows. The herd also ranks nationally.
The dairy also earned the certificate for the high producing protein and cheese yield cow, Dodan Axis Lily Lillian, Desirable-74%. She made a 3-4 record of 29,850 lbs. milk, 1,221 lbs. fat and 1,107 lbs. protein.
Woodmohr Jerseys, owned by Jon and Wendy Schmidt, Bloomer, was top for fat production with a herd average of 20,560 lbs. milk, 1,230 lbs. fat and 774 lbs. protein on 41 cows. This herd ranks nationally as well and took home the award for the high producing cow for fat, Stars Sequel-ET, Excellent-94%. At 11-9 she made 23,768 lbs. milk, 1,613 lbs. fat and 856 lbs. protein.
The most improved herd for all measures was GM Sandhill Jerseys. The herd owned by Michelle and Gary Popp of Unity bettered their production in 2019 versus 2018 by 1,371 lbs. milk, 44 lbs. fat and 153 lbs. protein to earn the recognition.
Barlass Vernon Johanna, Very Good-87%, was named the state’s high cow for milk production. “Johanna” is owned by Barlass Jerseys LLC, Janesville, represented by Brian Barlass and son in the picture to the left. She made 30,490 lbs. milk, 1,264 lbs. fat and 1,005 lbs. protein at 4-10.
Lost Elm Jerseys, Berlin, took home both awards for lifetime production for cows alive as of December 31, 2019. Lost-Elm Action Millie-ET, Excellent-92%, was the top milk and fat producer with lifetime credits of 164,201 lbs. milk, 8,671 lbs. fat and 6,200 lbs. protein in 2,339 days. Lost-Elm Action Erotica, Excellent-92%, topped the protein division with 156,136 lbs. milk, 8,596 lbs. protein and 6,395 lbs. protein in 2,518 days.
Accepting the 2019 Parish Production Awards were Ava, Ela and Nicole (Kessenich) Hebgen, Donna Phillips, Linda Owens and Tommy Allen.
Business Meeting
AJCA-NAJ Area Representative Sydney Endres and Kristin Paul, director of field services for the AJCA, brought the group up to date on national Jersey activities with the help of NAJ Director Walter Owens.
Kristin updated the group on the success of the 2019 Wisconsin State Sale. The online sale hosted on JerseyBid averaged $1,213 on 77 lots.
Jersey breeders were encouraged to attend upcoming shows. Though several have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wisconsin Jersey Futurity and Wisconsin State Jersey Show in Madison is still scheduled to occur on July 10. Details can be found at: www.wisholsteins.com.
Alana Peterson, Viroqua, was elected to serve a second term as a director at large and later chosen by the board to act as the next year’s president. Chosen by her peers to serve her first term as a director at large was Natalie Kessenich, De Forest. Junior officers are Alleah Anderson, president, Garrison Klinkner, vice president and Jarrett Foster, secretary.
A silent dessert auction fundraiser was put on by the junior members. Rodney Hodgson, Shawano, served as the auctioneer during final bidding.
Next year’s meeting will be hosted by Parish 7 on March 6, 2021.