$13,850 Raised for Jersey-Specific Research at Benefit Auction

The AJCC Research Foundation’s endowment increased by $13,850 from the proceeds of a benefit auction held on June 20 at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Additionally, $1,500 was raised for Jersey Youth Academy, the Charlene Nardone National Queen Fund, and the New England Jersey Breeders Association.

An audience of 200-plus participated in the fun, action-packed event, including a silent auction. Chris Hill, Thurmont, Md., was the auctioneer for the auction and it was broadcast live on CowBuyer.com.

The auction followed a lovely social hour and time to visit the Hall of Fame and take in the many faces that have shaped the game and inspiring quotes from the greats of the game. The enthusiasm, friendships, and competitive spirit could be felt in the air as items began to tick off the sale order. It was Lot 3 that brought the largest contribution of the evening. Helene Dreisbach, Greenville, Pa., graciously donated an 80” x 80” handmade quilt featuring a hand-stitched Jersey in the center of it. The quilt was originally made as a fundraiser for the 1985 AJCC-NAJ Annual Meetings in Lancaster, Pa.

The beautiful piece caught the attention of two Jersey ladies—Julie Bok, Defiance, Ohio, and Janice Rector, Rogersville, Mo. Their lively bidding against each other raised $2,000 for Jersey research, with Sam Bok placing the final bid for his wife. The next lot was a pair of pillow shams, also donated by Dreisbach, featuring the Jersey cow and A-Nine Top Brass. The Rectors purchased the shams for $225 and gifted them to the Boks to accent their new quilt.

Bringing the second high price of the evening was a 1950s Ideal Jersey Cow. The model was donated by Larry and Barbara Benson, New Lebanon, N.Y. The cow resided at her parent’s farm—Fair Weather Farms—for many years and was originally purchased by her father Stanley Chittenden, former AJCC President.

In the end, Barb’s brother, Paul Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y., purchased the model for $1,050 to add to his large collection at Dutch Hollow Farm.

Jersey youth Luke Albright and his parents Joel and Mary Beth, Willard, Ohio, was the lucky bidder on the third high-selling item—a large framed portrait of America’s Creamline Cow. It was purchased for $1,000.

The painting of Wonderful Snowdrop and her calf, dates back to 1938 and painted by Edwin Megarge.

She typifies great dairy ability combined with beauty in the true Jersey tradition—described Edwin Megarge when he painted this piece. “Snowdrop” was named Reserve Grand Champion at the 1937 National Dairy Show and made a 365-day Herd Improvement Registery record of 14,234 lbs. milk, and 833 lbs. fat. That is a 5.86% fat test in the 1930s—truly America’s Creamline Cow.

The painting was donated by John and Elaine Kokoski, Hadley, Mass.

Duane Norman, Fulton, Md., donated a beautiful painting by Thais Cassel of three Jersey yearlings. The paintings by Cassel are popular each year they are offered. Janice Rector added to her collection with a $650 bid for the piece of art.

Also selling for $650 was a set of vintage All-Jersey/Queen of Quality drinking glasses. The set was donated by former AJCA Area Representative David Parkinson, Sahuarita, Ariz. Benny and Janice Rector placed the final bid on the glasses.

Jersey Milk for Economy, Flavour, Quality, and Highest Food Value, both above and below the cream line is printed on the glasses along with the original Queen of Quality logo supporting All-Jersey milk.

Parkinson also donated a pristine Ertl collectible 1950 Divco Borden’s Dairy Truck die-cast metal bank featuring Elsie and a Borden milk bottle. Donna Phillips, Newton, Wis., purchased the items. Phillips also purchased a Crown Devon plate for $575. Linda Peterson, Greenwich, Ohio, donated it.

The other items were purchased by Henry Cast, Beaver Crossing, Neb., (Jersey rug and New England Maple Goody Basket); Becky Ferry, Johnstown, N.Y., (Jersey Jug Futurity sign; two Edwin Douglass Milk Maid painting’s); Bradley Taylor, Booneville, Miss., (1970 Marlu Dispersal Sale catalog; Heron Run Farm Complete Dispersal Sale catalog); Paul Feucht, Cary, N.C, (7th Marlu Choice Sale catalog, 1968); Alan and Donna Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y., (Ahh, The Simple Life plate limited edition #20; framed photo by Charlotte Sternberg); Todd Stroup, Hilmar, Calif., (Edwin Douglass Milk Maid painting); Fred Albright, Willard, Ohio, (“Kiss the Cook” spatula; Jersey Breeders Centennial Banquet program); Blake Granzow, Lancaster, Ohio, (1902 Canvas of Votes for candidates for membership);

Jack Zina, Hadley, Mass., (Abstract Cow painting); Ralph and Faith Frerichs, LaGrange, Texas, (framed photo of Sybil’s Gamboge; DeLaval cow/calf advertisement; Billings Dairy and Polymeadows Farm milk bottle; The Jersey Cow by R.M. Gow); Jonathan Merriam, Riverdale, Calif., (vintage AJCA merchandise basket for Jersey Youth Academy); Craig Rhein, Pine Grove, Pa., (Edwin Douglas painting, Alderney); Julie Jacque, Sunderland, Mass., (Kahlua Brownie Coffee Cheesecake); Donna Phillips (painting by Darlene Pyle; butter cookie tin); Roger Owens, Frederic, Wis., (set of coffee mugs featuring Jerseys in an outdoor scene); Vickie White, Canal Winchester, Ohio, (All-Jersey Queen of Quality milk bottle and Tenney Farms Milk bottle);

Lee Taylor Booneville, Miss., (“The Jersey” breed advertisement); Randale Lowe, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, (All-Jersey plate); Oakley Frerichs, LaGrange, Texas, (Wooden Jersey ornament featuring a Jersey head); Patrick Bosley, Malone, N.Y., (Jersey promotional buttons); Chuck and Sue Luchsinger, Syracuse, N.Y., (Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow plate by Norman Rockwell); Mandy Sell, Watertown, Wis., (Jersey canvas bag); Meganne Chapman, Cattaraugus, N.Y., (Framed pasture scene of young girl and her Jersey cow); and Ryan Ellsworth, Gillett, Pa., (set of Jersey Performance Registers).

Established in 1967, the AJCC Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) permanent trust operated exclusively to promote and sponsor scientific Jersey-specific research in the dairy industry. For more information contact the USJersey office at 614.861.3636.