The 2022 A.C. “Whitie” Thomson Memorial Award was presented to Timothy Coon of Amenia, New York, during World Dairy Expo 2022. Whitie Thomson was known for his exemplary leadership and sportsmanship in the Showring. This honor is awarded to a herdsman or showman that exhibits the same attributes the A.C. “Whitie” Thomson Memorial Award was founded on.
Coon’s roots take him back to his family’s Guernsey farm in eastern New York. His career has spanned time as a hoof trimmer and cattle fitter and working with Hanover Hill Sales and Service, The Cattle Exchange, and the Guernsey Marketing Service. In 1981, his passion for showing dairy cattle was further ignited during his first World Dairy Expo, and he has not missed a show since. Coon worked the World Premiere Sale in 1982 and traveled with Dreamstreet Holsteins under the direction of Buddy Fleming the year after where they won Grand, Reserve, and Supreme Champion titles.
The New York native then began heading up the show crew of Lylehaven Holsteins from Montpelier, Vermont. Lylehaven quickly became a household name with numerous World Dairy Expo class winners and All-Americans for cows, heifers, and bulls. In 1995, Coon embarked on a journey with Piedmont Jersey Inc. in Coaticook, Quebec, Canada, who also exhibited a plethora of class winners, All-Americans, and All-Canadians. Specifically, Coon helped prepare Waymar Patrick Nadine EX-97 for two of her Grand Champion Jersey titles at World Dairy Expo.
Upon the turn of the century, Coon initiated his own show string which was made up of descendants of exceptional herds such as Woodmansee, Gage, Millbourne, Coondell, Long Pine, Oblong Valley, and many more. Most recently, the string has consisted of many from Elite Dairy in Copake, New York. In 2018 and 2019, Coon played a vital role in the success of Cutting Edge T Delilah’s titles of Grand and Supreme Champion. For the past two years, Coon has helped develop the Grand Champion Brown Swiss, Cutting Edge Thunder Faye.
Coon is no stranger to receiving accolades such as Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor. In 2015, he was named the Klussendorf-MacKenzie award winner. Despite his numerous accomplishments, Coon remains humble and radiates the spirit of the dairy industry to those around him.