67 Years of Impact and Counting for Pot O’Gold Program
There is nothing like a youth program to rally the dairy community. And nothing rivals it for generating warm feelings of remembrance among participants. For six and a half decades, the Jersey community has conducted a unique youth program that includes a sale and a production contest—The Pot O’Gold program. One would be hard-pressed to describe the impact of this program on molding young people and the registered Jersey herds they have developed through participation.
But if we tried, we might sum it up like this. Since its launch, 1,424 heifer calves have been struck off in the sale for a gross of $3.7 million. To date, $639,116 has been awarded in 771 placings in the production contest.
The list of breeders who supported the sale with a consignment reads like a “Who’s Who” of cattle breeders, many recipients of the national Jersey organization’s Master Breeder award. Some heifers sold through the sale have gone on to win show and production awards and left their impact on the breed as bull mothers. All have been special to their buyers because grandeur is not what draws most to the program. It is the opportunity to build their herds with solidly bred foundation animals.
Many have returned home to farm with their families, established dairies of their own, or pursued a career in allied industry thanks to their involvement with the Pot O’Gold program. All have memories of their Pot O’Gold purchases. After all, who among us does not remember our first animals?
The Pot O’Gold Program
In a nutshell, the program starts with the Pot O’Gold Sale held in conjunction with All American events in Louisville, Ky., in early November. Heifers born between July of the previous year and March of the current year are consigned, and bidding is restricted to juniors alone. Seventeen percent of the sale gross is set aside in a pot that will be used for prizes in a production contest for these heifers alone. Rankings are based on the value of milk produced by heifers in their first lactation, with cash awards in varying amounts available for the top 22 juniors.
The Pot O’Gold Sale has been associated with the All American since the latter was revitalized in 1958 and headed to a new location in Columbus, Ohio. New at that point, the Pot O’Gold Sale joined a lineup of foundation events that also included the national open and junior Jersey shows, the National Jersey Jug Futurity and the All American Jersey Sale.
In its inaugural year, the Pot O’Gold Sale auctioned 10 heifers for an average of $575—a record-high average for a Jersey heifer sale at the time. Marlu Milestone Glory was the high seller, purchased by Jay Clutter, Sardinia, Ohio, for $1,000 and consigned by Marlu Farm, Lincroft, N.J. The pot set aside for the first production contest was 25% of the sale gross, or $1,437.50.
Dwayne Disney, Portales, N.M., won the ensuing production contest in 1961 and the entire pot—the only time the purse has been awarded to just one individual. His entry, Sir Sparkling Vic, was purchased from Heaven Hill Farm, Lake Placid, N.Y., for $625. Disney is the first of 49 winners to earn more in prizes than the price of the heifer. In fact, three of every four winners have done just that.
The Pot O’Gold program was part of an effort to expand junior programs in the 1950s, a priority for the extension committee of the American Jersey Cattle Club (AJCC), which believed “long-range Jersey progress” hinged in part on the club’s junior program. Also launched in 1958 were the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest and the National Jersey Youth Production Contest. In the years that followed, scholarships were first awarded in 1967, and Jersey Youth Academy was launched in 2009.
In the first several years, juniors were enticed to participate with discount certificates for purchases from the Pot O’Gold Sale. In 1958, three boys used $200 certificates they won by capturing and bringing an Angus calf across a finish line in the Calf Scramble that preceded the sale. Three years later, certificates were awarded to winners of the fitting and showing contest as well, which included girls of all ages and boys under 16, who were ineligible for the calf scramble. By 1962, the program was firmly rooted, and certificates were discontinued. From then on, juniors funded purchases with their own hard-earned cash.
In 1977, the All American—and thus the Pot O’Gold Sale—was relocated to Louisville, Ky., to be held in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition, where it remains today. From 1987 through 2007, a Pot O’Gold sale was also held in conjunction with the Western National Jersey Show.
Over the years, the percentage of the gross has fluctuated as has the number of awards. Today, 17% of the gross is awarded to the top 22 juniors in varying percentages.
In 2010, the Pot O’Gold Sale was an archetype for the dairy industry—the first sale in which every female had been genotyped. New records were posted for high gross ($148,700) and high average ($4,796.77). A new record for high seller was also established when Lyon Impuls Eternity, with the highest genomic evaluation of the bunch, sold for $10,750 to Sidney Avila, Dalhart, Texas. She was consigned by Lyon Jerseys of Toledo, Iowa.
The records were short-lived. Two years later, the sale that holds all records today was conducted. Thirty 30 heifers sold for a gross of $159,950 and an average of $5,331.67. From the sale gross, $27,191.50 was reserved for the production contest. Andy Sauder, Tremont, Ill., bought the high seller, Cal-Mart Medalist Brenley 5478-ET, consigned by Martin Dairy LLC, Tillamook, Ore., for $17,600. Kara Maxwell, Donahue, Iowa, purchased the second high seller, Waunakee Plus Jolt 32777-ET, for $11,600. The historical second high seller of the series was consigned by Gerald Laufenberg, Mount Horeb, Wis.
Breed-Impactful Genetics
Among the most recognized heifers to cross the auction block at the Pot O’Gold Sale is Ettas Master Babe. Known around the world by her common name, “Babe” was the winner of the Pot O’Gold Production Contest, Grand Champion of the All American Junior Jersey Show, winner of the National Jersey Jug Futurity, Reserve National Grand Champion and high seller of the All American Jersey Sale—all in a matter of days in 1970. Thirty-five years later, she was voted runner-up in the People’s Choice of the Jersey Jug contest put on by the Jersey Journal for winners.
“Babe’s” story got its start at the 1967 sale when 12-year-old Gordon Barlass of Janesville, Wis., steered by his father, purchased her from Mykrantz Brothers of Wooster, Ohio.
“This was my first venture with the Pot O’Gold and I was looking for a good heifer I could show down the road,” noted Gordy. “We were good friends with the Mykrantzes, so knew the cow family, which included lots of Excellents. I was lucky to get a heifer with both type and production.”
“Babe” won the production contest and top laurels in the All American Junior Show but didn’t last long in the Gil-Bar string. Others took notice of the budding beauty too. “Maury Core, then coordinator of the All American, was good friends with my dad, and I recall him twisting his arm a little to get me to consign ‘Babe’ to the All American,” Gordy recalled. “I was in tears. But it wound up being a great deal for me as she sold to Heaven Hill for $12,500. That was a lot of money at that time. I put it in the bank and used it as seed money for the rest of my herd.”
Barlass purchased two other heifers from the Pot O’Gold Sale as well. Though lesser known, Raintree Sleeping Janice, consigned by Pioneer Farm, Old Lyme, Conn., was another winner of the contest in 1973. “She was not a really big cow, but easily my best milker,” Barlass said. “She gave so much milk that we had a hard time getting her dried off.”
Prize money enabled Barlass to purchase other solid foundation cows too, including Brampton Sleeping Beauty, from a Canadian breeder in 1971. She is the great-grandam of Gil-Bar Unique Bonnie, a winner of the National Jersey Jug (1984) and the Jersey breed’s first World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion (1986).
Other juniors have also capitalized on the tremendous genetics offered through the Pot O’Gold program. Among these is Tommy Allen, who is now farming with his grandfather, David Allen, and their family at All-Lynn Jerseys in Reedsburg, Wis. In all, he purchased four head during his years of eligibility and is now guiding his cousins, Sophia and Ada Larson, with their purchases.
“I was a seventh grader in 2007 when I made my first trip to the All American with my grandpa, grandma, and mom and my first purchase from the Pot O’Gold,” said Tommy. “It was an eight-hour drive to Louisville, so we had plenty of time to discuss the heifers. I was interested in 2-3 of them and wound up buying ‘Whiteny’ from the Rochas for $7,800, which was then the highest price in sale history.”
Allen’s goal with Rocha Impuls Whitney and his other Pot O’Gold heifers was to buy genetics he could develop and market. Of “Whitney’s” 10 daughters, four were marketed through consignment sales and one privately. All-Lynn Vibrant Wholesome-ET was the second-high seller of the 2011 Pot O’Gold Sale, purchased by Jonas Tate of Hilmar, Calif., for $9,200. She sold with an A.I. contract and interest from the Semex Alliance. Another daughter sold in the 2010 All American Jersey Sale. In the 2021 Pot O’Gold Production Contest, Hobbs Lutz, Chester, S.C., placed seventh with All Lynns Slugger Wrinkle-ET, a great-granddaughter consigned by Allen.
It was another heifer, however, that proved to be Allen’s best return on investment—Jars of Clay Iatola 16710 2751—purchased from Jim Quist, Fresno, Calif., for $4,100 as the co-second high seller of the 2009 sale. Among her 22 registered progeny is All Lynns Valentino Irwin-ET, the breed’s former #4 Active A.I. bull with a proof that includes nearly 4,500 daughters to date.
“The sale of ‘Irwin’ to Select Sires paid for me to go to college,” remarked Tommy.
Another bull mother that sold through the Pot O’Gold Sale was Generators Faustine of Ogston, one of four Pot O’Gold Production Contest winners for Heather Dawn Acomb of Stafford, N.Y. “Faustine” hails from the Ogston herd owned by John Bishop VI in Columbus, N.J. She also topped the 1977 National Jersey Youth Production Contest and is the dam of A-Nine Top Brass, one of just seven bulls highlighted with a special issue of the Jersey Journal.
Most recently, Robert Graves of Dundas, Ill., has found success merchandising sons of JX Jer-Z-Boyz Got Maid 61357 {6}. Selling with A.I. interest in the 2018 sale, Bobby purchased her as the second high seller for $6,200 from Jer-Z-Boyz, Pixley, Calif. Among her sons are aptly named Clover Farms Jacks PotOGold and Clover Farms Gislev Jumpstart-ET, both marketed through Select Sires Inc.
Two Pot O’Gold Production Contest winners are former breed leaders for genetic merit as well—LJF2 SB Berretta Haley, owned by Samantha Jo Barmore of Smithfield, Ky., and Berrettas Linette, by Wendy Marie Bok of Defiance, Ohio. Wendy also has the distinction of winning more Pot O’Gold Production Contests than any other junior at seven and the largest award at $4,946.55 in 2003. Her daughters, Renee and Sara, are now making purchases through the program too.
Heart of the Matter
At the heart of the Pot O’Gold program is the production contest. “The contest was included to keep attention on production and encourage youth involvement beyond the show ring,” said Paul Chittenden, whose father, Stanley, helped guide the development of youth programs as an AJCC director in the mid-1950s and then as a two-term president. Paul now operates Dutch Hollow Farms LLC with his family in Schodack Landing, N.Y. “In the early days, many of the commercial, production herds in the Northeast consigned to the sale but did not bring a string to the All American. Heifers that have come through the sale can go home and milk.”
An example of this is JX Sun Valley Got Maid Lucinda {6}, winner of this year’s Pot O’Gold Production Contest for Ella Herrera of Hilmar, Calif. Managed with the herd at Ahlem Farms Partnership in Hilmar, she calved in July 2022 with a heifer—Sun Valley AltaAllister 25652—and produced a first lactation with an m.e. of 31,989—1,326—1,161 at 1-8.
“Lucinda {6}” is one of three production contest winners consigned by Bearl and Joanne Seals, owners of Sun Valley Jerseys, Cloverdale, Ore., who wrote, “We consign because we saw how important the Pot O’Gold heifers and contest were to our sons, Tom, Dave and Jeff. It encouraged them to study DHIA information each month and keep tabs on the herd ration, health and pasture quality.”
David won Pot O’Gold contests in 1986 and 1991, and Tom topped his peers in 1990. “The boys still have many descendants of their heifers in their herds today,” noted Bearl and Joanne.
Another contest winner, Andrew McReynolds, developed his herd at Lucky Hill Farms LLC in Danville, Vt., from a pair of Pot O’Gold heifers. His first, Avi-Lanche Dazz Buttermilk 12564, consigned by Richard and Jennifer M. Avila, Dalhart, Texas, won the contest in 2017. She is still in the herd today, appraised Excellent-93% and working on her eighth lactation. She has four records over 20,000 lbs. milk and five daughters.
Andy was in the crowd at the Kentucky Exposition Center to make both purchases, actively involved in the entire experience. “I was shaking with excitement when I realized I had won the bid on ‘Buttermilk,’” he recalled. The chance to recoup some of his investment impacted both purchases. “If there were no competition, I probably would have bought locally instead.”
His second heifer, Lawtons Genominator Viola, was purchased when he traveled to Louisville to be on hand for “Buttermilk’s” award.
“Viola” is a product of the Pennsylvania Pot of Gold program, fashioned after the national program. She was consigned by Ryan Lawton of Newark Valley, N.Y., who purchased her great-grandam, Normandell Geronimo Violet, in 2008 from Normandell Farms of Liberty, Pa. Ryan won the 2017 National Jersey Youth Production Contest with “Viola’s” dam, Lawtons Plus Vanna {6}.
Ryan and his family have participated in the Pot O’Gold program across two generations. His father, Tim, bought Freddy Liz Quiz from Roland Vanbenschoten, New Kingston, N.Y., in 1977 to start the “F” family at Lawton Jersey Farm. Seven generations later, Lawtons Rescue Finess, a fifth-generation Excellent, won the 2019 Ogston Trophy for lifetime milk production. In all, she produced more than 311,000 lbs. milk, 12,350 lbs. fat and 10,000 lbs. protein in nine lactations. Ryan’s stepsister, Chelsie Fuller, won the 2021 Pot O’Gold Production Contest and the 2022 National Jersey Youth Production Contest with Rog-Al Casino Pippa, consigned to the sale in 2018 by Sara Mae Alexander, Liberty, Pa.
Several high producers at Cinnamon Ridge Jerseys, Donahue, Iowa, trace to Pot O’Gold purchases made by Kara Maxwell and her sister, Amy, during their junior careers. Pine-Tree Chrome Norway of CR and her dam, Cinnamon Ridge Method Bulgaria, have both won the President’s Trophy. Kara purchased “Bulgaria’s” dam from Charles Ahlem, Hilmar, Calif., in 2014. Cinnamon Ridge Nitro Noble-ET, winner of the 2022 Hilmar Cheese Yield Trophy, and her grandam, Cinnamon Ridge Artis Praise, winner of both the President’s Trophy and the Hilmar Cheese Yield Trophy, trace to a purchase Amy made from Woodstock Dairy in 2002. Another member of this family, Cinnamon Ridge Visionry Chastity-ET, is rising in the ranks of the Leading Living Lifetime Production Contest, placing among the top 10 for components in the 2023 contest.
Yet another example of a Pot O’Gold winner doing well is Mar Kut Sooner 920, who won the 1994 contest for George Hanford, Marcellus, N.Y., and was exported to Brazil, where she topped the country’s milking competition in 1996.
Solid Cows Through and Through
Awards aside, it is the opportunity to add foundation-quality genetics to the herd that draws most juniors to the Pot O’Gold Sale.
“Honestly, the prize money had no impact on my decision to buy a heifer,” said Cassie Bohnert, East Moline, Ill. “The ability to own my own animals was enough for me to buy from the sale. The deal my parents had with my brothers and me was that we had to save $250 of our own money and they would pay the rest to help us buy our first Pot O’Gold heifer. We felt this was a good deal, and prize money either went into our college savings or helped us buy more Jerseys.
Cassie and her brothers, Tyler and Jacob, have each made purchases to grow their herds managed with the family’s herd at Bohnert Jerseys LLC. She purchased Ahlem Fastrack Princess 43508-ET from William Ahlem Jr., Hilmar, Calif., in 2014 and Cedar Mtn Farm Axis Rhea from Kerry Gawalt, Harland, Vt., in 2016. Descendants from “Princess” number 20 and counting. “Rhea” proved to be a worthy milk producer, with five lactations—all over 20,000 lbs. milk—and a top record over 30,000 lbs. milk.
Kirsten Boreman, West Salem, Ohio, echoed Cassie’s sentiments about her first purchase, made in 2017 sitting next to her grandpa. “To be honest, I had no idea that there was a contest the first time I bought a heifer. I was a 12-year-old little girl, happy to just raise my hand, place a bid and buy a heifer all on my own.”
Offspring out of this purchase, Kilgus Chrome Charm, consigned by Kilgus Dairy/Carla Kilgus, Fairbury, Ill., and her second heifer, LyleStanley Viceroy Habit 2805-ET, from LyleStanley Trace LLC, Lee, Fla., comprise her entire herd. “Charm” has calved five times with three daughters and “Habit” four times with four heifers. Both have multiple records over 20,000 lbs. milk and their daughters are top producers too. “Charm” and one of her daughters, Kirstens Oliver Callie-P, are both appraised Excellent-91%.
Kirsten is equally excited about her consignment to this year’s Pot O’Gold Sale. I am glad that I can come full circle and give back to the sale where I got a start, she noted. I am hoping this will enable someone else to get a start just like me.
The Seller Why
The notion of planting seeds and paying it forward also prompts Jersey breeders like Tommy Allen to consign. “While it is nice to see a heifer I sold do well in the contest, it is more rewarding to hear she is doing well for them,” he commented. “Whether that relates to an appraisal score, production records, or marketing genetics, I like knowing someone has used my heifer as a foundation for their herd.”
“Our farm has always felt the urge to help support the program that ultimately benefits other Jersey youth in the industry,” said Karen Bohnert, mom to Cassie and her brothers. “We feel it is a win-win for everyone—a win for us as a seller, getting a good price for our consignment, and a win for the buyer, getting the same opportunity that our children had to establish their own herd of Jerseys.”
“One of my favorite sale moments was the year Cassie bought ‘Princess,’” Karen continued. “The auctioneer said, ‘How about that, a princess for a princess.’ Cassie was on cloud nine. The Ahlem family personally thanked her for buying ‘Princess.’ That introduction, between an eight-year-old and a well-known Jersey breeder, made a lasting impression on Cassie and our entire family.”
Over the years, Jersey Marketing Service, which has managed the sale for 46 years, has counted on consignments from regular supporters in good years and bad. Among the longest-running contributors are two that consigned to the very first sale and are still active with Jerseys today—Bachelor Jersey Farms, Angola, Ind., and High Lawn Farm, Lenox, Mass. Steve Bachelor also made a purchase the first year using a $200 certificate he won in the calf scramble. His entry, Beacon Sure Thing, from White Hill Farms of Pittstown, N.J., placed second in the production contest. His children were active with youth programs, and now his grandkids are buying Pot O’Gold heifers.
The Chittendens of Dutch Hollow Farm are another long-time supporter as the families of both the patriarch, Paul, and the matriarch, Melanie (Fish) Chittenden, consigned to the sale before Dutch Hollow was established in 1976. A highlight for Dutch Hollow came last year when their consignments to the 2020 sale took the top two placings in the 2023 production contest. Dutch Hollow Dashiell Honest placed first for Kylie Lehr, Canastota, N.Y., while Dutch Hollow Alto Diana ranked second for Colin Wussow, Cecil, Wis., who won the contest the year before with JX Bar MB Avon Klay Brooklynn 16312 {4}.
This Year’s Sale
Any predictions on who will win the 2027 Pot O’Gold Production Contest?
Contenders will cross the auction block at the 67th Pot O’Gold Sale on November 9, 2024. The sale begins at 1:00 p.m. in West Hall B at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. An estimated 30 heifers are to be consigned. Other junior events that day include the youth banquet at 9:00 a.m. and the “Give Your Best 60 Seconds” public speaking contest at 11:30 a.m.
Feature photo at top of page: The late Steve Bachelor, below left, was among the 10 juniors who purchased a heifer from the first Pot O’Gold Sale in 1958. His kids participated in the program and now the next generation is buying heifers, including three of his grandchildren pictured with him in 2010.
