USA National Holstein Convention 2015 - Cowsmo

USA National Holstein Convention 2015

All roads led to Illinois for the 2015 edition of the US National Holstein Convention. Convention details and results are posted here, and prices and photos from an exciting National Convention Sale that grossed over $1 million are also on Cowsmo . Other highlights of the week included tours to Golden Oaks Farm, Lindale/Team Holsteins and Luck-E Holsteins. Cowsmo coverage also included a few farm stops on the way to and from the convention.

Friday, June 26th
Friday was the day of the Annual Meeting for both the adults and the Juniors, along with Awards banquets for both age groups.

Elections Held for New Holstein USA Officers and Directors
In the Annual Meeting of the Holstein Assocition USA, state delegates elected a new President and Vice President, as well as four new directors. Gordie Cook, MA was chosen as the new President by acclamation, while Boyd Schaufelberger, IL was elected the new Vice President by a ballot vote. In Region 5, Paul Buhr, WI, was uncontested for re-election to his seat, and John Anderson, ID, was chosen in Region 8 and Patrick Maddox, CA, was seated from Region 9. John Marshman, NY, was elected as a Director-At-Large.

Juniors Wrap Up Convention Experience with Junior Banquet
Juniors from across the US attending the National Convention wrapped up their week by celebrating the efforts and successes of many.

Association Pinnacle DJM Awards Presented
National Distinguished Junior Member Finalists were named: Elizabeth Endres, WI; Jessica Pralle, WI; Megan Rauen, IA; Jacob Shaffer, PA; David Hardesty, Jr., VA; and Kathryn Osborne PA.

Juniors who reached the semi-finalist portion of the contest included: Anna Culbertson, MN; Hannah Douglas, NY; Amber Grabel, PA; Kayla Krueger, WI; Caitlyn Pool, PA; and Andy Sell, WI.

Younger Distinguished Junior Member Awards were presented to: Nicholas Achen, SD; Nathan Arthur, IA; Matthew Boop, PA; Connor Erbsen, IL; Brock Irwin, IL; Isabelle Leonard, VA; Rachel McCullough, WI; and Dawson Nickels, WI.

NHWSO Benefits Juniors with Scholarships
Six Juniors were selected as recipients of $1,500 scholarships from the National Holstein Womens Scholarship Organization, including Megan Rauen, IA; Taylor Leach, KS; Anna Culbertson, MN; Jaylene Lesher, PA; Caitlyn Pool, PA and David Hardesty, Jr., VA.

Dairy Bowl Contest
A tough Dairy Bowl contest took place throughout the convention, as always. Climbing to the top of the heap in both the Junior and the Senior divisions were the teams from host state Illinois. In the Junior Division, they were followed by teams from Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Maryland. In the senior division, second place went to New York, followed by Maryland, Wisconsin and Florida.

California dominated the results of the Dairy Knowledge Exam. Topping the Junior contest was Siana Barrett, followed by Mackenzie Elmer and Haley Fernandes, all of California. Alex Gambonini, also of California, topped the Senior Division, followed by Sarah Duncan, IL and Cody Getschel , WI.

The J. George and Anna Smith Sportsmanship Award was presented to the Junior team from Maryland and the Senior team from Iowa.

Youth Compete in Speaking Contests
In the Prepared Public Speaking Contest Junior Division, Danielle Herrick of NY was chosen as the top participant giving a speech on choosing the best sire for her heifer. She was followed by Matthew Gunst, WI, who spoke on how the Holstein Association is benefiting him in his own life. Third place was a speech on Dairy Sustainability given by Jacob Fernandes, CA.

Lora Wright, MO, topped the Intermediate Division with her speech titled “Farmed and Dangerous.” Illinois Junior Brock Irwin placed second with his speech titled “Protecting the Farmers Most Valuable Asset…the Farmer.” A speech by Cady McGehee, FL titled “First Impressions” rounded out the top three.

In the Senior Division, Ashley Mohn, PA placed first with her speech “All About the Butter, No Margarine,” followed by Caitlyn Pool, PA presenting the speech “Apps…they Make the Dairy World go Round.” Josiah Manning, MD placed third with “Holsteins on the Moove.”

States Participate in State Promotion Contests.
In the traditional scrapbook contest, Florida took top honors, followed by Illinois in second, Washington in third, Wisconsin fourth, and New York rounding out the top five. States may also enter a digital scrapbook, and topping that contest was Virginia, followed by Michigan in second, Iowa placing third, Wisconsin fourth and Illinois rounding out the top five. Top banners were displayed by New England, Washington and Florida. The Penny War contest is held to raise money for the Holstein Foundation, and this year resulted in a collection of $1,000.39, with Missouri winning the contest.

Juniors Display Creativity, Ingenuity and Knowledge with Folding Displays
The folding display contest invites juniors to design informational and education displays, using tri-fold displays. Entries may be submitted in either creative or scientific categories.

Topping the Creative Display Contest in the Junior age division was Allie Gross, PA with a display board based on the theme “The World of Dairy in the Palm of Your Hand.” Jacy Smith, WA had a display titled “Shoo, Fly, Shoo” while Noah Iager, MD rounded out the top three with a display on the theme “Chicago Bulls vs. Holstein Bulls.”

Scientific winners in the Junior age division included “The Yogurt Process,” submitted by Austin Holcomb, FL topping the contest. Brady Bleck, WI followed in second with his display titled “Diseases of the Cows Stomach,” followed by the entry of Cassy Schilter, WA, titled “Milk vs Colostrum – What is the Difference?”

In the Creative Intermediate division, Ross Laskey, FL topped the contest with “The Many Lives of Milk” followed by Courtney Moser, WI, who placed second with EMERGENCY! New Born Calf Resuscitation. Sarah Thomas, NC placed third with “Something in the Way She Mooves!”

Scientific entries in the Intermediate Division placed as follows: Garrett Greaves, FL, first with “Colostrum Management,” Nicole Guise, PA second with “Byproducts of Dairy Cows” while Katelyn Sowers, PA wrapped up the top three with “Embryo Transfer.”

Senior participants in the Creative display contest included the top entry from Ashley Mohn, PA titled “All About the Butter” while Halee Wasson, PA placed second with a display called Dairyland.” Connor Shendow, VA placed third with his display entitled “Tilling Up the Truch on Compost Pack Barns.”

Scientific winners in the Senior Division included “Break it Down” by Marcy Bartelheimer, WA in first, “Break It Down.” Second place was awarded to Alex Pluskot, FL for “When It’s Time to Say Goodbye,” while Heather Wasson, PA placed third with her entry titled “Carbon Foot Print.”

New Junior Advisory Committee Members Elected
The Junior caucuses in the morning included the election of three new members to the National Junior Advisory Committee. From Area 1, the new representative will be David Hardesty, Jr., VA. Megan Rauen, IA, will represent Area 3, while Charlie Hamilton, WI will serve as an at-large director.

Honorees Named at Adult Banquet to Complete the Convention
In the final event of the week, Conant Acres, ME, was honored as the Elite Breeder, and Joel and Sara Mills, PA, were selected as the Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder recipients. Duane Green, MI, was presented with the Distinguished Leadership Award.


Thursday, June 25th
Thursday featured the beginning of the meetings for delegates, along with dairy bowl competition for the Juniors. More photos and information coming soon!


Wednesday, June 24th
Wednesday was a busy and fun-filled day of adventures, with host tour day followed by the National Convention Sale.

Cowsmo made stops at the three farms featured on the various tours:
Golden Oaks
Lindale/Team Holsteins
Luck-E Holsteins

The US National Convention sale grossed over $1 Million and had an impressive average of nearly $9,730.
National Convention Sale Photos and Results

Tuesday, June 23rd
Tuesday has found people arriving at the beautiful Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, and the Junior Members have dove right in to the convention, with their contests beginning early this morning. Meanwhile, an outstanding sale crew headed up by Jason Danhof has been working diligently several miles away at the Kane County Fairgrounds, preparing some of the best Holsteins in the US for the National Convention Sale, which takes place Wednesday night, June 24th at 7:00PM. The sale is managed by Burton Consulting.

Dairy Jeopardy Winners
Junior Divison winners included Caroline Arrowsmith, PA; Siana Barrett, CA and Blake Wright, MO. In the Intermediate Division, Nathan Arthur, IA came out on top, followed by Logan Potts, VA and Alex Gambonini, CA. Travis Holtzinger, PA, took top honors in the Senior Divison, followed by Lizi Endres, WI and Amber Gabel, PA.

 

2015-National-Convention_logoRegistration is now open through here

You can register online and pay with a credit card, or fill out the registration form and mail it in with a check. Register by June 1 to avoid paying late fees! Some tours are also limited in numbers, so make sure to register early to ensure your spot!

The Illinois Holstein Association is excited about the upcoming event and hopes to see a great turnout at this year’s event.  To visit their website click here

A great group of volunteers have devoted their time to help make this a great convention!

Schedule

Monday, June 22
3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Convention Registration
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Dairy Jeopardy Orientation
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Dairy Bar
7:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Junior Welcome Baked potato & chili bar
Tuesday, June 23
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Convention Registration
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Dairy Bar
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. NHWSO Interviews
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. DJM Interviews
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Dairy Jeopardy Contest
11:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Golf Tournament
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. DJM Luncheon (Invitation only)
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Luncheon for Juniors & Adults Italian beef & grilled chicken sandwiches
1:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Prepared Public Speaking Contest
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Dairy Knowledge Exam
6:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. Dairy Bowl Coaches’ Meeting
7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Junior Mardi Gras Mixer Pizza
Wednesday, June 24
6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Convention Registration
6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Dairy Bar
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tour #1: GEA Farm Technologies, Lindale Holsteins, Team Holsteins &
Luck-E Holsteins
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tour #2: Golden Oaks Farm, Midwest Organics & Volo Auto Museum
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tour #3: Chicago Lakefront Museum Campus – Shedd Aquarium & Field Museum
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tour #4: Magic Waters Waterpark 100 max.
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Trade Show Set-up
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Pre-Sale Meal Pork chops & chicken
7:00 p.m. National Convention Sale
7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Junior Ag Olympics & Dance
Thursday, June 25
6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Dairy Bar
7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Chicago Architectural Tour &
Lunch/Shopping on Navy Pier
100 max.
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Trade Show
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Convention Registration
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Dairy Bowl Contest
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. NHWSO Silent Auction
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Annual Meeting & Caucuses
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Luncheon for Juniors & Adults Pasta buffet
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. State Leaders Luncheon Invitation only
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Family Night @ Medieval Times Four-course meal
Friday, June 26
6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Dairy Bar
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Delegate Info. Breakfast Invitation only
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Convention Registration
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Trade Show
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Dairy Bowl Finals & National Junior Forum
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. NHWSO Silent Auction
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Annual Meeting
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. NHWSO Meeting
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Past Directors’ Luncheon Invitation only
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Junior Awards Luncheon Turkey & ham buffet
1:00 p.m. Futures Sale Hors d’oeuvre starting at 12:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. President’s Reception
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Adult Banquet with special guest Orion Samuelson Steak & chicken

 

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