National Jersey Youth Production Contest

Jacob Tatko, Donahue, Iowa

Jacob Tatko topped Division I of the youth production contest and was named overall winner with JX Clemson Lemonhead 330 604 {6}, who made a record with a dollar value of $6,128.89 on her first lactation at 1-9.

Tatko purchased the Very Good-85% daughter of Steinhauers Samson Lemonhead, GJPI +133, as an eight-month-old heifer calf from Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., at the 2016 Pot O’Gold Production Contest. His first dairy cattle purchase, she freshened in mid-November 2017 and made a 305-day record of 22,080 lbs. milk, 1,702 lbs. fat (7.7%) and 890 lbs. fat (4.0%), with a cheese yield of 3,082 lbs. The m.e. on the record is 28,044–2,146–1,147. The record currently ranks third for fat among yearlings on the National Class Leader list.

“Clemson,” the barn name bestowed on her by Jacob, freshened with her second calf—a heifer by Windhavens Visionary Prince, GJPI +144—in early January 2019. She peaked with 101 lbs. milk for the tester in March and gave 99 lbs. milk the next month. “Clemson” is projected to make another stellar record of 25,290 lbs. milk, 1,388 lbs. fat and 1,029 lbs. protein at 2-11. She ranks among the top 1.5% for genetic merit with a GJPI of +130.

She is managed with the Registered Jersey herd at Cinnamon Ridge Dairy in Donahue, the nation’s leading protein producer. Cinnamon Ridge Dairy is owned and operated by brothers John and Edwin Maxwell and their families. Jacob’s maternal grandmother, Marjorie Klein, is the eldest sister of the brothers. Though he doesn’t live near the farm, he spends summers working there and showing animals at county and state fairs. He purchased another Jersey for his herd as well, from the Woodstock Reduction Sale in May 2018.