National Jersey Youth Production Contest Winners Announced
Autumn Courtney of Chouteau, Okla., has been named winner of the 2019 National Jersey Youth Production Contest. Her entry, Courtney Farms Tuxedo Rosamund, produced a record with a value of $6,716.72 to win Division II of the contest and the overall prize as well.
“Rosamund” made a 3-0 record with a mature equivalent (m.e.) of 27,927―1,506―1,074 and an actual 305-day yield of 27,640 lbs. milk, 2,145 lbs. fat (7.8%) and 1,062 lbs. protein (3.8%). The record was one of the top 10 fat records produced by Registered Jerseys in 2019 and currently ranks fourth among junior three-year-olds on the National Class Leader list.
An Excellent-91% four-year-old, she is sired by Kane-Lane Bow-Tie Tuxedo, a herd bull used at Courtney Farms. She freshened with her third calf in late January 2020. She gave 98 lbs. milk, with a fat test of 9.9%, for the tester in July and is projected to 22,189 lbs. milk, 1,065 lbs. fat and 858 lbs. protein actual at 4-3.
“Rosamund” is just one of the production superstars at Courtney Farms, which uses a Lely robot to milk the 65-cow herd. Four other members of the herd produced top 10 records for 2019, including the reigning world fat champion, Lyon Renegade Barb, Excellent-90%. Courtney Farms currently ranks 10th in the nation for actual fat production with a 2019 herd average of 19,542 lbs. milk, 1,093 lbs. fat and 754 lbs. protein.
This is the second consecutive year Autumn has topped Division II of the National Jersey Youth Production Contest. Last year, she earned kudos with Lyon Legal Lacosta.
To read the complete story on the 2019 National Jersey Youth Production Contest, read the September issue of the Jersey Journal, now available for free viewing during the pandemic.
Awards Presentation
Autumn and the 19 other juniors who placed in the 2019 National Jersey Youth Production Contest will be recognized for their achievements on November 7, 2020, at the Junior Banquet, which wraps up Junior Day at All American festivities in Louisville, Ky. Each division winner receives $100. The second-place honoree receives $75; third takes home $50; and fourth receives $25. The overall winner gets an additional $50, bringing their award total to $150.
Contest Details
The National Jersey Youth Production Contest is divided into two divisions. Division I is for first-lactation cows that calve before they reach 30 months-of-age. Division II is for all other cows.
This year, 81 qualified entries from 43 juniors were received. The top 20 animals ranked in this year’s contest have an m.e. average of 25,190—1,276—926 and a dollar value average of $5,743.65. All entries have an m.e. average of 22,017—1,080—799 and a dollar value average of $4,911.61.
Records for the production contest are ranked by the dollar value of the record. For the second time, record values were determined by calculating the 305-day m.e., then applying Federal Order component values for the previous year along with a weighted average Producer Price Differential (PPD). The move was approved by the AJCA Board to more accurately reflect the actual value of milk. Those values were $2.51 per pound fat, $2.38 per pound protein, $0.18 per pound other solids and -$0.07 per pound PPD.
Other Division II Top Rankings
Iowa junior Mary Holtz of Maquoketa made her debut among the top rankings of the contest with Freeman-Holtz Hired Gun Jaiden. The Very Good-85% daughter of SV Jade Hired Gun-ET placed second in Division II with a 4-11 record with a value of $6,358.93 and an m.e. of 31,717―1,300―1,119. Actual production is 29,120 lbs. milk, 1,215 lbs. milk and 1,025 lbs. fat.
“Jaiden” is managed with the Registered Jersey herd at Kunde Jersey Farm in Manchester, Iowa.
Austin Dizek, Hadley, Mass., placed third in the division for older cows with Hillview Chilli Lindy-ET. Sired by Rowleys 11 Visionary Chili-ET, the Very Good-87% five-year-old produced a 3-3 record with a value of $6,148.90 and an m.e. of 25,830―1,404―955. Actual production for the 297-day record is 22,260 lbs. milk, 1,369 lbs. fat (6.2%) and 840 lbs. protein (3.8%).
Austin purchased “Lindy” from Chris and Cheryl Sorenson, Pine River, Wis., in the 2016 Pot O’Gold Sale.
Andrew McReynolds, Danville, Vt., a familiar face to the production contest rankings, took fourth in Division II with Lucky Hill Plus Pringle {6}. The Excellent-90% daughter of Sweetie Plus Iatolas Bold {5} produced a 4-0 record with a value of $5,670.15 and an m.e. of 24,679―1,226―948. Actual production for the 293-day record is 22,420 lbs. milk, 1,151 lbs. fat and 885 lbs. protein.
This is the second appearance on the list of the top rankings in the National Jersey Youth Production Contest for “Pringle {6}” as she placed fourth in Division I in 2017 with a first lactation in excess of 19,000 lbs. milk.
Andrew won the 2017 Pot O’Gold Production Contest.
Rounding out the top five rankings in Division II of the 2019 National Jersey Youth Production Contest is Molly Kokoski, Hadley, Mass. Her entry, Aspen Grove Irwin Hannah, produced a 2-9 record with an m.e. of 25,679―1,247―903 and a value of $5,629.21. Actual production is 22,690 lbs. milk, 1,106 lbs. fat and 803 lbs. protein.
The Very Good-84% daughter of All Lynns Valentino Irwin-ET writes a pedigree rich with Pot O’Gold purchases and production contest placings. Molly purchased “Hannah” at the sale in 2016 from Alison Graves of Talbott, Tenn. “Molly’s” dam, Lost Hill Dimension Holly, crossed the auction block at the Pot O’Gold Sale in 2013, purchased by Dylan Ellenburg of Aspen Grove Jerseys, Morristown, Tenn. She won the 2016 Pot O’Gold Production Contest. Dylan sold “Hannah” to Alison, who then consigned her to the sale in Louisville, Ky., six months later.
Division I Top Rankings
Hobbs Lutz, Chester, S.C., won Division I of the youth production contest with Sun Valley Jive Tart. She made a first lactation with an m.e. of 28,985―1,529―1,043 and a value of $6,715.15 to top her peers. Actual production for the 1-9 record is 19,890 lbs. milk, 1,100 lbs. fat and 726 lbs. protein (3x milking).
Hobbs purchased “Tart” from David and Kimberly Seals, Tillamook, Ore., at the Pot O’Gold Sale in 2017. She placed second in this year’s Pot O’Gold Production Contest with a value of $9,727.72 on her first lactation. She was a sound investment as Hobbs purchased her for $2,200 and earns a good portion of her price―$1,851.39―in prize winnings from this year’s production contest.
The Very Good-86% three-year-old is sired by Sun Valley Jive and hails from the same cow family as the popular Jersey sire, Steinhauers Samson Lemonhead. Her dam, Steinhauers Galvanize Cherrytort, Excellent-91%, is a maternal sister to the dam of “Lemonhead.” The Seals’ purchased “Cherrytort” from Steinhauers Jerseys, Mattoon, Wis., in The All American Jersey Sale in 2014.
“Tart” freshened with her second calf in mid-November 2019 and has a projected m.e. of 16,866―941―643 at 2-11.
Jack Zina, Hadley, Mass., placed second in Division I of the production contest with River Valley Mlton Tiramisu 4915-ET, another purchase from the 2017 Pot O’Gold Sale. Sired by IGL Magnum Milton-ET, the Very Good-84% three-year-old made a first lactation with an m.e. of 23,831―1,417―822 and a value of $5,980.41. Actual production for the 1-10 record is 17,610 lbs. milk, 1,070 lbs. fat (6.1%) and 650 lbs. protein (3.7%).
Jack purchased “Tiramisu 4915” from River Valley Farm of Tremont, Ill.
Renee Lydia Bok, Defiance, Ohio, ranks third in the division for younger cows with another purchase from the 2017 Pot O’Gold Sale. Her entry, JX Moonshadow Hills Bossy {5} made a first lactation with an m.e. of 27,453―1,267―997 and a value of $5,927.39 for the production contest. Actual production for the 1-9 record is 20,060 lbs. milk, 972 lbs. fat and 727 lbs. protein. “Bossy {5}” is sired by DP Nxlevel-ET.
“Bossy {5}” was consigned to the sale by Maple Hill Farm, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, who had purchased her from Richard E. Smith, Medina, N.Y., in New York’s Next Generation Sale in 2017.
Nicholas J. McReynolds, Danville, Vt., earned the fourth-high prize in Division I. His entry, Lucky Hill Laramie Cheesecake, produced a 2-5 record with an m.e. of 25,178―1,283―947 and a value of $5,817.37. Actual production is 19,300 lbs. milk, 1,019 lbs. fat and 751 lbs. protein. The Very Good-82% daughter of Ahlem Decoy Laramie 21987-ET produced a subsequent record over 20,000 lbs. milk at 3-5. She has an m.e. average of 23,705―1,177―864 on three lactations.
Rounding out the top five placings in the 2019 National Jersey Youth Production Contest is Maxwell S. Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y., with his purchase from the 2017 Pot O’Gold Sale, Ohio Spartan Sensation 540. For the production contest, her first lactation had a value of $5,816.76. She produced an actual record of 1-11 305 3x 22,640 4.7% 1,065 3.5% 793 101DCR, with an m.e. of 26,528―1,264―959.
She is a Very Good-81% daughter of Kash-In Spartan {6}-P-ET whom Maxwell purchased from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Other Juniors Ranked Among the Top 10
Other juniors to be honored for accomplishments in Division II of the contest are Tyler Bohnert, East Moline, Ill.; Jacob Bohnert, East Moline, Ill.; Elizabeth Hyman, Adams, N.Y.; Luke W. McReynolds, Danville, Vt.; and Cassie Bohnert, East Moline, Ill.
Other juniors to earn prizes in Division I of the contest are Zachary S. Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y.; Kylie Margaret Lehr, Canastota, N.Y.; Chelsie Fuller, Newark Valley, N.Y.; Lydia Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y.; and Alison and Lauren Graves, Talbott, Tenn.
Plaques and cash awards are made possible, in part, by Jersey breeders who consign their animals to the National Heifer Sale. Each year, 10% of the proceeds from this sale are designated for youth program support, including the National Jersey Youth Production Contest.
