MN PDCA announces 2021 Distinguished Breeder Awards - Cowsmo

MN PDCA announces 2021 Distinguished Breeder Awards

The MN Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (MNPDCA) is pleased to announce the 2021 recipients of the MN PDCA Distinguished Breed Award.  They are Clover Glen Farms, Claremont, MN; Kimm’s Dairy, Pelican Rapids, MN; Wayne & Kris Houdek, Caledonia, MN; and Shir-Man Registered Holsteins, Fountain, MN.  Because the 2021 MN PDCA/All-Breeds Convention being canceled this year, these honorees will be recognized at the 2022 MN All-Breeds Convention.

Clover Glen Farms is owned by Glen Johnson and Deb MecDermott-Johnson.  Clover Glen Farms began as an all-Guernsey herd then transitioned to adding Holsteins and lastly adding the Brown Swiss in 2011.  Together Glen and Deb manage the milking herd of 70 head, raise their own replacements, and farm 220 aces.  Off the farm Deb is employed as Director of Community Education for the Owatonna Public School District.

A project unique to Clover Glen is the Cow Camp they have hosted since 2007 on their farm.  Cow Camp is a hands-on experience for young people to learn about life on a dairy farm.  Many of these campers go on to participate in 4-H, exhibited at the Steele County Fair, some winning State Fair 4-H Dairy Trips, along with other achievements.  Clover Glen has opened their farm to community events such as Breakfast on the Farm along with serving as a site for education field trips for the local High School and 2- & 4-year colleges.  Deb has served as the MN Brown Swiss Secretary with Glen volunteering at the MN Brown Swiss State Junior Show.  Clover Glen has also consigned to numerous State Brown Swiss Sales.  In 2019 Glen & Deb Johnson were honored as Steele County, U of MN Farm Family of the year.

Kimm’s Dairy is a 3rd generation farm operated by Brian and Barbara Kimm.  They run 540 acres and have a milking herd of 85 Brown Swiss and crossbred cows.  Their herd has been on the Brown Swiss Assn. (BSA) Protein Genetic Honor Herd list along with being a BSA Genetic Honor Herd for 10+ years.  Kimm’s have also had the BSA #1 PPR Cow.  Within the dairy industry they have actively shown animals at county and state fairs and participated in the MN Brown Swiss State Junior Show along with consigning to the MN Brown Swiss State Sale. Brian and Barbara Kimm have also volunteered with the Clay County 4-H and the Clay County Fair Dairy Show.  They have also been named Clay County Farm Family of the Year and Clay County 4-H Volunteer of the year.  The Kimms have also served as President of the Clay County American Dairy Association board.

Wayne and Kris Houdek own Wake-Up Holsteins where they milk 400 Holsteins, farm 1200 acres and have 70 Registered Red Angus.  Wayne and Kris have assistance from sons Andy and Aaron in handling day to day management.  Sons Eric and Jacob, who are employed full-time off the farm, help on weekends and during harvest.  The Houdeks mainly focus on breeding high-index profitable cattle that fit their operation.  Embryo Transfer and IVF is utilized to increase both the genomic lines and the show type families.

Wayne and Kris started farming after they were married in 1992 with the purchase of a herd of 50 grade Holsteins. For their genomic program the top-end NM$ and TPI parent average heifers are genomic tested with the best entering their embryo transfer (ET) and IVF program.  They emphasis NM$, GTPI, plus components, health and fitness traits.  From this program the Houdeks have sold embryos world wide and put multiple bulls into AI programs.  This focus on genetics has given the Houdeks the Holstein USA Progressive Genetics Award for the past 5 years along with a RHA of 29,297 4.0% 1,159   3.2%   907 and a 60,000 SCC.   Since registering the entire herd in 2005, they have bred 9 Excellents and 181 Very Good cows.

Shir-Man Registered Holsteins is owned and operated by Todd and Stacey Leiding and Shirley Fingerson.  The herd consists of 65 Registered Holsteins and 350 acres.  The herd begin when Stacy’s father. Tillman Fingerson, purchased the cows from his father.  Stacy and Todd joined the operation in 1995 and purchased the herd in 2008.  Shir-Man Holsteins pride themselves on producing high quality milk and this is reflected by having received the Fillmore County DHIA award for the lowest Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and since 2008 the Milk Quality Award from their co-op, AMPI.  Shir-man has also seen success in the showring from winning the 1989 Senior 2 yr. old class at World Dairy Expo and several awards at MN State Fair and State Holstein Shows to breeding Shir-man Astre Heart Ex-94 who went on to be nominated All-American in 1997, 1998, and 1999 with a 2000 All-American win all for her owner Jeff Stookey.

Todd and Stacy Leiding have been involved in the industry off the farm through Filmore County DHIA, Fillmore County ADA and the Rochester Area Holstein Club Board.  Stacy has volunteered as the Fillmore County 4-H Dairy Judging Coach for the past 20+ years.  Many of her teams of won the state contest and competed at National contests.  Stacy also works with the Southeast Minnesota Youth Dairy Show and the Fillmore County Open Class Dairy Show.  Todd has served as an elected official for AMPI for 16 years serving the past 5 years in the position of Division Director.

Congratulations to our 4 recipients of the 2021 MN PDCA Distinguished Breeder Award.

The MN PDCA is an association of the Registered Dairy Cattle Breed Association in the state of Minnesota with the mission to foster Purebred Dairy Cattle and the Dairy Industry.  The MN PDCA Distinguished Breeder Award is select by the MN PDCA Board of Directors from nominations submitted by the respective breed association members.

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