Wisconsin Brown Swiss Nelson McCammon Youth Heifer Program now accepting applications - Cowsmo

Wisconsin Brown Swiss Nelson McCammon Youth Heifer Program now accepting applications

Youth looking for support to purchase their first Brown Swiss should consider applying for the Nelson McCammon Youth Heifer Program offered by the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Association. The organization is accepting applications between now and February 10, 2021.

“The Nelson McCammon Youth Heifer Program helps youth interested in working with dairy cattle gain hands-on experience with high-quality Registered Brown Swiss, explains Wisconsin Brown Swiss President Josh Hushon. “By working with Brown Swiss through this program, our hope is that they will learn to appreciate the many outstanding qualities the Brown Swiss breed offers as the well as the camaraderie of those who own them.”

Award recipients will receive a grant for 50% (up to a $1,000 total) towards the purchase price of a Registered Brown Swiss female of any age. The program is intended to run for two years with the applicants being between the ages of 9 and 18 for cows and 9 to19 for heifers as of January 1, 2021. Applicants must be residents of Wisconsin and become members of the Wisconsin Junior and the National Junior Brown Swiss Associations.

Since the project started in 2013, 23 youth have purchased Registered Brown Swiss heifers thanks to the generosity of long-time Brown Swiss breeder and youth supporter Nelson McCammon, who generously donated the funding for the program via his estate when he passed. Mr. McCammon was a mentor to many, and a past winner of the Klussendorf Trophy.

Winners will be presented at the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Annual Meeting, March 6, 2021, at the Cranberry Country Lodge, Tomah, Wi.

Applications and more information about this and other programs can be found at the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Association website or by contacting Josh Hushon at [email protected] or 920-342-0611.

About  Nelson McCammon
Nelson McCammon was born September 29, 1919 and passed May 21, 2012.  He was raised on a diversified dairy farm in southwest Indiana. He graduated from Carlisle High School and attended Purdue University. He earned a Bronze Star during his four years of service in the 38th Infantry Div. of the U.S. Army while stationed in the Pacific, New Guinea, and the Philippine Islands. Nelson worked for the Curtiss Candy Company Dairy in Chicago for seven years. He mainly worked with their show cattle and became Herdsman for their Brown Swiss and Holstein Herds. He later managed Rolling Acres Guernsey’s in Illinois, CB Farms Brown Swiss of Connecticut and Indiana. Nelson was in charge of the show herds for Norvic Farm Brown Swiss in Lake Mills WI, as well as Cold Springs Brown Swiss, Monroe, WI, and Red Brae Brown Swiss, Eagle, WI. He and his wife Lois bought her parents farm in Clarno Township, Monroe, WI which he named Nelsland. There he bred and developed several All American winning Brown Swiss. In 1959, Nelson won the prestigious Klussendorf award which honors ability, character and sportsmanship in the dairy show ring. A mentor to many, Nelson was always willing to help youth interested in Brown Swiss. He spearheaded the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Breeders Share-A-Heifer program which gave WI youth practical experience with cattle. He also annually supported national youth involvement through the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association. 

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