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US Ayrshire Names Top Honors at Annual Convention

Ayrshire Royalty Crowned
Ayrshire royalty were crowned prior to the Grand National Ayrshire Sale in Dubuque, IA, on Friday, June 19, 2009.

Danielle Funk of Winthrop, IA, won the title of National Ayrshire Princess. Danielle is the 20-year-old daughter of Duan Funk and Linda Haas. She is a graduate of Northeast Iowa Community College, earning an associate degree in dairy science. She is currently a senior at Iowa State University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in dairy science. Danielle is also the reigning Iowa Ayrshire Queen. Danielle says, "In this time of economic hardship, it is beneficial for us to point out the lower input costs in raising Ayrshires and still being able to get the same profit by increasing components. If we hook you when they are young and instill it in their blood the same way that it was in mine, the Ayrshire breed will continue to grow well into the future."

Rachel Evans of Georgetown, NY, was named runner-up National Ayrshire Princess. Rachel is the 18-year-old daughter of Doug and Kathe Evans. She plans to graduate from SUNY Cobleskill majoring in Agriculture Business with a concentration in marketing. Her goal is to get a job promoting the dairy industry. Rachel feels the breed can stay competitive in the industry by emphasizing longevity and marketing Ayrshire milk content better. She says the Ayrshire is a rugged cow and is here to stay!
 
Koss Awarded the Ayrshire Service Award
The Ayrshire Breeders' Association presented its annual Distinguished Service Award to Gerald Koss, on June 18, 2009, at the National Ayrshire Convention in Dubuque, IA.

Gerald Koss has owned registered Ayrshire cattle for more than 50 years and has served the breed and dairy industry as leader and promoter. He was born in January 1928 and grew up on a dairy farm that housed some grade Ayrshires.

He bought his first registered Ayrshires from Harry Lorenz of LeClaire, IA, in 1957. He and his wife began raising their family on a farm near Mt Vernon. The farm buildings were situated at the bottom of a hill and just a few feet from a river. A local doctor rented a few acres of his land at the top of the hill and built a ski lodge. Hence a farm name was born that has become national and internationally known. The ski lodge burnt down after a few years, but the Ski-Pal farm name remains.

Koss became a member of the Iowa Ayrshire Breeders’ Association shortly after his first purchase, and in 1959 became a member of the national Ayrshire Breeders’ Association. He served as President of the East Central Iowa Ayrshire Club, President and Vice-President of the Iowa State Ayrshire Breeders Association, and Director and President of the Midwest Ayrshire Breeders Association. He was elected to the Ayrshire Breeders’ Association board of directors in 1981 and served two terms from 1981-1985. He also has been involved in local dairy activities as President of Linn County DHIA and, Linn County Dairy Promotion Committee.

He diligently worked to promote the Ayrshire cow by showing cattle at several fairs along with his family. For many years they showed at the All Iowa Fair, Iowa State Fair, Waterloo Cattle Congress, Central National Ayrshire Show at World Dairy Expo, and the Southern National Show in Louisville. He also promoted the breed by regularly advertising in the Ayrshire Digest.

In the fall of 1975, the herd was moved to a 240-acre farm located south of Epworth, Iowa. They were able to upgrade the farm operation and had more room to expand. At that time, several head of registered Ayrshires were purchased from Canada.

He has given many young people the opportunity to become involved in the Ayrshire breed by showing his cattle as 4-H projects. He taught them and his children the skills to clip cattle, groom and show Ayrshires. In addition, he taught them how to feed and care for cattle, as well as the importance of excellent genetics. At age 81, it is not uncommon to find our recipient lending a hand by feeding calves or checking a bred heifer. He still helps with the show string at the fairs.

A devoted family man, Koss is the proud father of four children and grandfather of 14 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. His encouragement and the sharing of his love of the breed are evident as several have studied dairy science, work in agriculture, and have their own Ayrshire herds. The enthusiasm and dedication for the Ayrshire breed has passed on to the second and third generations as his grandson now houses his herd on the family farm.

Koss met his wife Mary Ann at a dance, and they were married in 1954. After 55 years of marriage, they still attend dances regularly and enjoy getting out on the dance floor.
 
Covey honored with Master Breeder Award
The Ayrshire Breeders’ Association presented its annual Master Breeder Award to Stanley Covey of Rose, OK, on June 18, 2009, at the National Ayrshire Convention in Dubuque, IA.

Covey has developed one of the most influential herds in the Ayrshire breed during the past 50 years. It began when his father purchased five registered Ayrshires in 1954 and brought them to their 40-acre farm. They began using artificial insemination in the ‘60s and Stan started showing Ayrshires through FFA in high school. After college graduation and a stint as a manger for a state-owned farm, he returned to the family farm in 1977 and formed a partnership with his parents. In 1992, he bought out his parents and the farm now consists of 800 acres where 200 head are milked with a rolling herd average of 18,896 Milk, 684 Fat, and 572 Protein.

Our Master Breeder says that he breeds profitable and functional cattle – and every once in a while gets a show cow. This statement seems quite modest when one evaluates the accomplishments of this herd in production, genetic contributions to the breed, and on the tanbark trail. Fifteen bulls from Covey’s herd have gone into AI service with six of them achieving the recognition of being #1 on the TPI list. His bulls have also been sold to Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Three cows from the herd have topped the Elite Cow list. He has bred national show champions, as well as All-American, Reserve All-American and Honorable Mention animals. The herd has received a Constructive Breeders Award, numerous French trophies and was feature in the Hoard’s Dairyman judging contest.

Much of the success for the herd can be traced back to the “R” family and Covey-Farms G. B. Rufus, a Selwood Greta’s Boy 2nd son. His daughter, Covey–Farm G. B. R. Reba, EX-93, born in 1981, was listed at the top of CPI list in 1986 and was a national production leader as a yearling. He states that she had more will-power to milk than any cow, past or present. Two of her sons, Covey-Farms Regal-ET and Covey-Farms Vitality Reliable, were sold to AI. Her Evangalist granddaughter, Covey-Farms A E Reality, VG-86, produced 171,440M, 6410F, 5616P in 2,373 days and is the dam of Covey-Farms Reno, Covey-Farms Recruiter, Covey-Farms Ramses Runaway-ET, Covey-Farms Romeo-ET, and Covey-Farms Restless Heart-ET. Reba’s great-granddaughter, Covey-Farms Retrace Rae, EX-95, was named Grand Champion at the 2003 Central National Ayrshire Show and returned to be named as Reserve Grand Champion in 2004. Just check through the catalog for the Grand National Sale tomorrow night and count the number of times genetics from this family appears in the pedigrees.

Covey has served two different terms on the ABA Board of Directors, as well as serving on several committees for the Ayrshire Breeders’ Association. He has served on numerous local board of directors, including DHIA – President, Feed Co-op – President, and FSA – Board member.

In his home state, he has received several gold and silver awards for high producing herd. He and his father, L.R., were awarded Oklahoma Master Breeders Award at OSU in 1993. He received the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association Herdsman of the Year 1998.

Our Master Breeder’s success is also the result of the work and support of his family. He and his wife, Barbara, have two children. Brandon and his wife, Tanya, who live in Lubbock, TX where Brandon is the Regional Manager for Progressive Dairyman magazine. They have three children: Bladen, 7; Maysa, 2; and Hylan, 5 months. Daughter Amy is a school counselor at Locust Grove. She and her husband, Drew, have two sons, Rhett, 8 and Brock, 6.
 
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Ayrshire Royalty
 
 
Ayrshire Service Award
 
 
Master Breeder