Baraboo, Wis. – February 6, 2015 – Wisconsin Holstein is celebrating 125 years in business and would like to invite Holstein breeders across the state to attend the annual Wisconsin Holstein Convention for adult members, scheduled for February 20-21, 2015, in Hudson, Wis. This year’s convention will be hosted by the Pierce/Pepin County Holstein breeders at the Hudson House Grand Hotel.
The weekend will get started at 12:00 noon on Friday, February 20, with an update from Holstein Association USA. Following will be Wisconsin Holstein committee meetings, and then a new feature – a Young Adult Committee-sponsored Young Breeder Roundtable. This roundtable will feature three individuals from Wisconsin that have been heavily involved in the family farm, or have branched off to start their own business. Participants include Danae Bauer, Scandinavia (Sandy-Valley Holsteins), Matt Johnson, Baldwin (Johnson Dairy/Mattcrest Holsteins), and Trent Hendrickson, New Glarus (Trent-Way Genetics).
The Friday evening meal will include the presentation of production awards and will conclude with the WHA Futures Sale, hosted by the Young Adult Committee (YAC). At 7:30 p.m., 30 choices from the state’s best cow families will start selling. The sale will also include a lot to benefit the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association, and one lot will be sold to benefit the Holstein Foundation and the Horace Backus fund.
On Saturday morning, Steve Berland (Co-owner, GenElite) and Hendrik Albada (Project Coordinator, Holstein Plaza) will be featured on an embryo marketing panel, with Corey Geiger (Managing Editor, Hoard’s Dairyman) serving as moderator. This session will begin at 8:00 a.m., with the past president’s gathering and annual business meeting with elections also scheduled to take place the morning of the 21st. There are two board members eligible for re-election and two positions opening on the WHA Board of Directors. Following the business meeting, recognition will be given to Wisconsin’s newest Gold Medal Dams, Dams of Merit, 40 & 50 Year members, as well as announcing the Wall of Fame inductees.
Three local farms will be featured on Saturday afternoon tours, including Honeycrest Farms, Inc. (Traynor Family) of Spring Valley, Hinz Registered Holsteins (Kip Hinz) of Spring Valley, and Huppert Bros. Inc. (Huppert Family) of River Falls.
The WHA Service Award recipient, Distinguished Younger Dairy Breeder and Distinguished Breeder will be recognized Saturday evening at the annual banquet, set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Advertising contest winners will be announced, and a dessert auction will be held to benefit the scholarship fund.
Wisconsin Holstein is excited to continue its 125th celebration through new features at this year’s convention and invites all interested members to attend. If you would like to know more information about the Holstein Convention, please visit www.wisholsteins.com or contact the WHA office at 1-800-223-4269. The Futures Sale catalog will be viewable on our site, or to receive a copy, please contact the WHA office.