June 15, 2002--Kristin A. Barlass, Janesville, Wis., has been named western region Program Assistant for National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ), Jersey Marketing Service (JMS), and the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA).

“This is a new position, created to provide a broad range of services to Jersey business owners in the rapidly expanding western markets,” said Neal Smith, AJCA-NAJ Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer.

Barlass will work directly with NAJ members in marketing their milk, Smith noted, plus monitor developments in regulatory and policy arenas. In addition, she will serve as a marketing agent for JMS, and assist Jersey owners using AJCA herd services in the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Barlass is a May graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in Dairy Science with a business concentration. Internship experiences include working at RuAnn Dairy, Riverdale, Calif., with two dairies of 1,500 and 3,500 cows; Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, coordinating its student mentor program; in dairy management services for Cargill Animal Nutrition; and at Midwest Dairy Business. She has also been involved in day-to-day management at Barlass Farms, a 300-cow Registered Jersey herd.

Among honors received for Jersey youth and collegiate work are the National FFA Foundation-Cargill Scholarship, National Dairy Shrine Milk Marketing/DMI Scholarship, and ABS Global/Morris B. Ewing Essay Scholarship. She was the winner of the 1999 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest. Barlass was also a member of the UW dairy judging team that placed second at the national intercollegiate contest, placing fifth in oral reasons.

Barlass will be located in the Modesto, Calif., area.

“We are pleased to have engaged the services of a man dedicated to Jersey breed progress, with strong knowledge of breed history, and a credible reputation for breeding and marketing his own outstanding herd of cattle.” Lutz holds a B.S. in Animal Industries (dairy science–business production option) from Clemson University, earned while continuing hands-on management of the 70-cow Jersey and Guernsey herd he started at his family’s Sunny Day Farm. In 1991, the Jerseys averaged more than 20,000 lbs. milk per cow, the first in breed history to do so, and Sunny Day remained the top herd for milk yield in the U.S. for the next seven years.

The American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) reported a 2000 lactation average for Sunny Day Farm of 26,410 lbs. milk, 1,169 lbs. fat and 948 lbs. protein, tied for second in the nation for protein and ranked third for both milk and fat. Ten cows in the herd completed records over 30,000 lbs. milk during the year. Lutz also produced a new junior 2-year-old National Class Leader for fat production, a granddaughter of Sunny Day Yankee Becky, his first homebred Excellent and still the only Jersey cow in the world to produce in excess of 30,000 lbs. milk on four consecutive lactations.

By utilizing AJCA performance records plus a contract advertising in Jersey Journal and through JerseySites, Lutz developed a worldwide market for Sunny Day genetics through an extensive embryo transfer program with “Becky” and several other top maternal lines. In addition to the numerous females sold in auction sales and at private treaty, Lutz has sold 86 bulls to A.I. organizations.

Sunny Day Farm also hosted two Summer Sizzler sales, the most recent occurring this past July with an average of $3,249.33 on 75 lots. The first sale, in 1994, ranked as one of the top 10 Jersey auction sales of the year. Both were managed by Jersey Marketing Service.

Lutz was the national outstanding Guernsey youth in 1986 and winner of the 1987 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest. He was the second high individual in Guernseys at the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest and has judged between five and eight shows annually. Lutz was the judge for the 2000 National Jersey Jug Futurity in Louisville, Ky.

In assuming management of Jersey Marketing Service, Lutz will be responsible for a company that posted sales of over $9.8 million last year on 7,198 lots.

“I look forward to working with Jersey breeders in a different role,” Lutz said. “We have the staff and resources to grow the market and expand the market share for Jerseys in the United States.

“We will continue to make Jersey Marketing Service the premier sales company and all transactions conducted with honesty and integrity.”

Jersey Marketing Service is part of the NAJ subsidiary, All-Jersey Sales Corporation, and was created in 1970 to provide marketing assistance to buyers and sellers of Jersey cattle and embryos. For more information on its services and a calendar of upcoming auction sales, call JMS at (614) 861-3636, ext. 325; send email to JMS@USJersey.com; or visit its website at http://JMS.USJersey.com

August 28, 2001, Reynoldsburg, Ohio—Jersey Marketing Service (JMS) today announced that it is increasing its staffing to better meet the rapidly expanding demand for Jersey cattle and embryos from U.S. and international customers, and to further develop innovative marketing services introduced during the past year.

David A. Jordan and Kimberly A. Billman will assume new responsibilities as Market Development Coordinator and Production Coordinator, respectively, on September 1. Sally Stine will continue as the company's Administrative Assistant.

Under the direction of recently designated Manager, Herbert D. Lutz, Jr., the expanded sales force in Ohio will work with nine regional representatives to deliver a full line of services for buyers and sellers of Jersey genetics.

Jordan, currently Herd Services Marketing Coordinator for the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA), will add responsibilities as JMS Market Development Coordinator. His work will include developing domestic and international embryo sales and expanding use of the silent auction format successfully executed by JMS for three herd dispersals and an embryo auction in recent months.

As full-time Production Coordinator, Billman will be in charge of JMS’s cataloging operations, including its newly enhanced web-based sale catalogs, plus sale advertising and direct mail promotions. A member of the AJCA staff since 1994, Billman most recently was Managing Editor of Jersey Journal, the official publication of the U.S. Jersey organizations.

“This team has the necessary experience to provide the level of personalized service that sets Jersey Marketing Service apart from other sales companies,” said Neal Smith, Executive Secretary and CEO of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. “Our goal is always to make owning Jerseys more profitable than owning any other dairy breed. These people are dedicated to making that happen.”

Jersey Marketing Service provides a complete line of professional services for buyers and sellers of Jersey genetics through private treaty and public auction sales. A subsidiary of National All-Jersey Inc., JMS has managed more Jersey auction sales during the past decade than all other sale managers combined. Transactions conducted by the Jersey market-share leader exceeded $9.8 million in 2000.

June 9, 2001--Registered Jerseys produced at unprecedented levels during the year 2000, and Jersey breeders achieved their goal, set in 1989, of a 650-lb. protein average for breed production.

Lactation records processed by the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) for 2000 averaged 654 lbs. protein, 17,680 lbs. milk, and 807 lbs. fat—for an average cheese yield of 2,127 pounds.

These averages shattered the previous records set just last year. Milk yield increased by 4.4%, or 703 pounds per cow. The gain was 31 pounds of milkfat, an increase of 3.99%. Both were the largest annual gains on record.

Equally impressive was the 3.32% gain in protein production, 21 pounds per lactation. This annual rate of increase is second only to that recorded in 1991.

The AJCA processed more lactation records than ever in its 100-plus years of recording Jersey production. The 57,170 lactations added to the database were 2,610 more than were processed during 1999, the previous record year with 54,560 lactations.

Herd lactation averages are calculated on a 305-day, 2x mature equivalent basis. A herd must have had a minimum of 10 lactations completed on official AJCA testing programs during the 1999 testing year. Any record must have had a minimum Data Collection Rating (DCR) of 90 to be included in the herd’s average.

Actual production per cow in 2000 was 15,891 lbs. milk, 733 lbs. fat, and 590 lbs. protein.

Component levels remained relatively stable, with the protein-to-fat ratio dropping by a slim one-hundredth of a percent to .81.

The production levels achieved by the Jersey breed in the modern era are cause for celebration and a harbinger of things to come.

In the first year after World War II, the AJCA processed just 13,865 records averaging 7,099 lbs. milk and 381 lbs. fat. Annual increases rarely exceeded 1% until 1980, when the final push was on to achieve a 12,000-lb. breed average.

In contrast, only three times since 1981 has the annual rate been under 1%. Based upon the trends of the most recent 10 years (1991 through 2000), production in 2010 is projected to be 20,917 lbs. milk, 936 lbs. fat, and 771 lbs. protein—or slightly more than 2,500 lbs. Cheddar cheese.

In the year 2000, there were four herds rising above the former benchmarks for protein (921 lbs.) and fat (1,164 lbs.), and three herds beating the previous record for average milk yield (25,644 lbs.).

Charles Price, Menomonie, Wis., went out on top, breaking the records he set over the past two years with a herd average of 26,444 lbs. milk, 950 lbs. protein, and 1,206 lbs. fat on 14 records. These lactations were completed before the record-setting dispersal of Priceland Jerseys on May 27, at $3,577.70 the highest averaging Jersey dispersal in U.S. history.

Tied for second in the nation with a protein average of 948 pounds were junior Melissa R. Kortus, Lynden, Wash., and Sunny Day Farm, Chester, S.C.

In the milk and fat categories, they ranked second and third: the 11 cows owned by Kortus averaging 26,410 lbs. milk and 1,194 lbs. fat, and Sunny Day at 26,016 lbs. milk and 1,169 lbs. fat on 49 records.

2000 was an exceptional year for Miss Kortus, who picked up the top award in the National Jersey Youth Production Contest with Lagerweys 285 Silky and taking first place on the National Class Leader List for senior yearlings with a daughter of that cow, Mainstream Berretta Joy.

At Sunny Day, the herd that first broke through the 20,000-lb. mark in 1991, two cows completed top 10 records on the National Class Leader List.

Fourth for protein was Raycene Crews, the Star Jersey herd in Idaho averaging 938 lbs. on 75 records. The herd also ranks fourth for milk (24,280 lbs.). There were 11 different cows from this herd gaining National Class Leader recognition. Star Jersey Berretta Harmony now ranks tenth overall for protein production and leads the junior three-year-olds for protein. The lactation completed by Lani of Star Jersey is fourteenth on the all-time protein list and first for cows 10 years and over in all three categories (milk, protein, and fat).

Fourth for fat was the herd owned by Dianne Kemmeren, Bainbridge, N.Y., with 10 lactations averaging 1,165 lbs. fat. Also ranked eighth for milk (23,092 lbs.), Kemmeren tied for fifth high in the protein category with James L. and Sharon L. Osborn, Keymar, Md., at 881 pounds.

The Osborns also ranked fifth for fat production (1,132 lbs.) and sixth for milk yield. Three cows in the Queen-Acres herd completed records added to the National Class Leader List last year.

Ranking fifth for milk at 23,429 lbs. was the Shenandoah Jersey herd owned by Janet and Tracy Stiles, Boonsboro, Md. The Stiles Family also ranks eighth for protein (855 lbs.) and ninth for fat production (1,065 lbs.).

Sixth for fat was the Topline herd of Randi Fitts and Scott Fisher, Pittsfield, N.H., with an average of 1,112 pounds. It produced three additions to the National Class Leader List, including Rangeway Kevin Coco Puff-P, ranked twentieth overall for fat production.

Dale A. Smith, Hamburg, Minn., ranks seventh in all categories. The Smith Haven herd averaged 23,131 lbs. milk, 1,093 lbs. fat and 871 lbs. protein on 40 lactations, one of which made the top 10 for senior two-year-olds on the National Class Leader List.

Leroy C. Clark, Spring Valley, Wis., ranks eighth for fat (1,083) and tenth for milk (22,845 lbs.). Three cows from the Cave Creek herd completed fat records now listed on the National Class Leader List.

The herd owned by Jerry D. Rodeffer, Snohomish, Wash., ranks ninth for both milk (23,021 lbs.) and protein (847 lbs.) on 70 records. The leading performer among this group in 2000 was Greenridge Berretta Accent, whose lactation completed last October made her the U.S. and World Champion for milk and fat production. The record of 3-11 365 41,610 4.7% 1,943 3.6% 1,501 3x is also the sixth highest fat record in AJCA production testing history.

Rounding out the nation’s Top 10 herds is Patti Tohl, Tillamook, Ore., with averages of 842 lbs. protein and 1,058 lbs. fat on 27 records.

The national rankings for cheese yield are led by Charles Price, Melissa Kortus, and Sunny Day Farm:

Herd averages are also ranked within five herd size categories; 300 or more records; 150 to 299 records; 80 to 149 records; 40 to 79 records; and 10 to 39 records.

In the largest herd category, those with 300 or more records, Yosemite Jersey Dairy, Hilmar, Calif., ranked first for milk and protein. Owned by C. A. and Kirsten Russell, the herd produced 21,906 lbs. milk and 812 lbs. protein on 655 completed lactations. Mills Jerseys, Fallon, Nev., owned by Newell J. Mills, ranked first for fat with 1,004 lbs. on 343 lactations. Mills Jerseys was also second for milk and protein production, averaging 21,873 lbs. milk and 792 lbs. protein. Norman H. Martin, Tillamook, Ore., was second for fat production with 958 lbs. fat on 306 records.

K&K Jerseys, Newton, Wis., ranked first in milk and fat among herds with 150 to 299 records. The herd owned by Allen Kracht averaged 20,874 lbs. milk and 1,006 lbs. fat on 212 lactations. Jim Quist, Fresno, Calif., was first in protein production with 783 lbs. protein on 183 records. Second for milk and fat production was Norse Star Jerseys, Westby, Wis., with 20,760 lbs. milk and 993 lbs. fat on 214 lactations. An average of 782 lbs. protein on 258 lactations ranked Richards Jersey Farm, Erda, Utah, second for protein production.

In the category for 80 to 149 lactation records, James L. and Sharon L. Osborn, Keymar, Md., ranked first across the board for milk, fat, and protein. Second for milk production was Edwin R. and Cheryl F. Ettinger, Kinards, S.C., averaging 21,767 lbs. on 106 lactations. The University of Tennessee Experiment Station, Lewisburg, Tenn., ranked second for fat production, with 133 lactations averaging 1,031 lbs. Second for protein production was William H. Jenks, Buhl, Idaho, with 793 lbs. on 114 lactations.

Sunny Day Farm was the high herd for milk, fat and protein production among herds with 40 to 79 records. The herd owned by Raycene Crews ranked first for milk and protein production. Dale A. Smith was second for fat.

Charles Price swept all three production categories for the smallest herds, those with 10 to 39 records. Sweeping the second place rankings for milk, fat and protein was Melissa R. Kortus, Lynden, Wash.

June 26, 2001--Officers and directors for the two U.S. Jersey organizations were elected during the recently concluded Annual Meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ).

The meetings were held June 23 and 24, 2001, at the Regency Suites, Green Bay, Wis.

James S. Huffard, III, Crockett, Va., was elected to his first one-year term as President of the American Jersey Cattle Association. Along with his brother, John, Huffard owns and operates Huffard Dairy Farms, home of Schultz Jerseys.

The new Vice President of the AJCA is Charles Luchsinger. Luchsinger and his wife, Sue, own and operate Silver Spring Farms, Syracuse, N.Y.

Three men were elected to their first three-year term on the AJCA Board of Directors. They are C. L. Collins, III, Sylacauga, Ala.; Michael Fremstad, Westby, Wis.; and Paul R. Schirm, West Salem, Ohio.

Collins has been in the Jersey business since 1957, and currently owns and operates Arco Jersey Farm. Fremstad and his family operate Norse Star Jerseys LLC in partnership with Arden and Jan Sherpe. Schirm owns and operates Schirm Dairy Farm with his wife, Dawn.

Re-elected to the AJCA Board was Bearl A. Seals, Sun Valley Jersey Farm, Cloverdale, Ore. Seals is beginning his second term as an AJCA Director.

William G. Mason, Buhl, Idaho, will continue as President of National All-Jersey Inc. This is his fourth term in the annually elected position.

James Ahlem, Hilmar, Calif., was re-elected as the District #2 Director and NAJ Vice President. Ahlem is a director and co-owner of Hilmar Cheese Company, and owner of JCJ Jerseys.

Also re-elected as NAJ Director was David Chamberlain, Wyoming, N.Y., from District #3. Chamberlain and his brother, Greg, operate Hi-Land Farms.

WIlliam R. DeGroot, Bellingham, Wash., was re-appointed as NAJ Director from District #1 by the AJCA Board of Directors.

J. Patrick Rankin, Faunsdale, Ala., was appointed to the NAJ Board to fill the unexpired term of James Huffard. Rankin is a partner in Cedarcrest Farms Inc. and Southeast Cheese, LLC, Uniontown, Ala.

The ex-officio members of the NAJ Board for the coming year are Helene Z. Dreisbach, Hamburg, Penna., and Calvin G. Graber, Parker, S.D. They serve in these positions by having been appointed chairs of the AJCA Development and Finance committees, respectively.

The American Jersey Cattle Association was organized in 1868 to improve and promote the Jersey breed. Since 1957, National All-Jersey Inc. has served Jersey breeders by promoting the increased production and sale of Jersey milk and milk products. For more information on services provided by the U.S. Jersey organizations, visit the website at www.USJersey.com or call 614/861-3636.

Pictures of the 2001-02 Boards of Directors

Text of speeches by AJCA President Paul Chittenden, AJCA Executive Secretary & CEO Neal Smith, and newly elected AJCA President James S. Huffard III

Text of speeches by NAJ President William G. Mason and NAJ Executive Secretary & CEO Neal Smith

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June 23, 2001--The 25^th Anniversary of National All-Jersey Inc.’s Project Equity was marked today during the Annual Meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. in Green Bay, Wis.

The 171 original Equity Investors were recognized. Of these, 50 people have contributed for all 25 years of the project. Their voluntary contributions of a minimum of 2¢ per hundredweight of milk shipped, or $2.60 annually per cow, fund the program, which continues today.

Project Equity was kicked off by the U.S. Jersey organizations at the 1976 Annual Meetings in Staunton, Va. Its aim was to change the way milk was priced from a fat-skim basis to its most valuable components based upon use in consumer products.

It began by encouraging protein payment programs by proprietary plants and cooperatives, then expanded its scope to promote the implementation of equitable Multiple Component Pricing (MCP) by individual plants and cooperatives.

Implementation of MCP in the Great Basin Federal Order occurred in April, 1988; followed by adoption of MCP in the Upper Mid-West Federal Order in January, 1996. On January 1, 2000, Federal Milk Marketing Order Reform implemented MCP in seven of the 11 consolidated orders, applying to 85% of all Federal Order milk.

Picture of Twenty-Five Year Investors present on June 23

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AMZI RANKIN, PAST PRESIDENT OF AJCA AND NAJ, DIES

June 16, 2001--Amzi Godden Rankin, Jr., 80, a lifelong dairyman, breeder of Registered Jersey cattle, and leader in the U.S. dairy industry, died June 16, 2001, at Bryan W. Whitfield Hospital in Demopolis, Ala. Graveside services were held June 18 at St. Michael's Cemetery in Faunsdale.

"Mr. Amzi" was one of the all-time great leaders in the 133-year history of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA). His service spanned its programs for breed improvement and promotion, to the work of its milk marketing arm, National All-Jersey Inc., founded in 1957. His logic, persuasiveness, and devotion to the Jersey cow and her product were an inspiration to his fellow Jersey breeders and to a younger generation of dairy industry leaders.

In 1961, he was elected to the first of two terms on the Board of Directors of The American Jersey Cattle Club (now Association), and made significant contributions to the work of its performance and milk committees.

He later served 10 years on the National All-Jersey Inc. Board of Directors, and as NAJ President from 1967 to 1971. He was elected President of The American Jersey Cattle Club in 1975 and served until June of 1978.

Rankin’s firm, steady leadership and tough-minded economic outlook were invaluable as the Jersey organizations constructed the programs that have made the Jersey breed successful today.

As a member of the original Type Advisory Committee, he helped modernize the type classification program in the early 1960s. Fifteen years later under his leadership as President, the AJCA developed its linear type evaluation program and began the work that developed the Production Type Index (PTI).

Rankin led the AJCA as it created and defended a genetic abnormality reporting program, and also implemented the Genetic Recovery Program. Jersey Marketing Service and Project Equity were also introduced during his service on the national Jersey boards.

In his home state, Rankin was a director and then president of Black Belt Dairies, Inc. He helped develop All-Jersey^® distributorships in south Alabama, arguing before the Alabama Milk Control Board to win a favorable ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court permitting the sale of All-Jersey^® milk in the state. He also gave countless hours and days of personal time to milk marketing activities on behalf of Dairymen, Inc., and served as a director of the Production Credit Association of Demopolis.

Upon Amzi Rankin’s recognition as the 1973 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, it was noted that his service to the Jersey associations "has been to advocate, support and participate in all meaningful and forward-looking breed improvement programs. His service to the All-Jersey^® milk program is a matter of known record. His contributions to the breed and breed milk program continue to be meaningful and constructive."

Cedarcrest Farms was established in 1929, when his father A. G. Rankin, Sr. purchased his first Registered Jerseys. With the profits from this small herd, he was able to buy a small, worn-out cotton farm. Cedarcrest today is home to more than 2,000 Registered Jerseys and several thousand acres of improved, productive land. It is arguably the most famous Jersey herd in the world, having bred such cows as Generators Topsy, the 1973 U.S. National Grand Champion, and Duncan Belle, the only Jersey to ever earn the 12 Star Brood Cow Award in Canada and the dam of two highly ranked A.I. sires.

Mrs. A. G. Rankin and Sons were honored as Master Breeders by the AJCA in 1980 and by National Dairy Shrine as its Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeders in 1981.

Amzi Rankin, Jr. attended Auburn University and was a captain in the U.S. Army with field command service under General George F. Patton in World War II. He was a member and Elder of the Faunsdale Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Sledge Rankin; daughter, Nancy Rankin McKee and son-in-law, George McKee; three grandchildren, Elizabeth McKee Beeker, Garland McKee and Amzi McKee; and three brothers, John, Joe and William. He was preceded in death by two sons, Capt. Amzi Rankin III and Garland Rankin; and a granddaughter, Victoria Rankin.

Memorial gifts may be made to the AJCC Research Foundation or to the Cedarcrest Scholarship Fund.

SILENT AUCTION SALE IS TOP DISPERSAL IN 2001

June 7, 2001--In an innovative auction sale without live animals present, the dispersal of 89 cows and bred heifers owned by Funk Jerseys became the highest averaging Jersey dispersal to date for 2001.

The sale averaging $1,807.87 was held at the offices of Jersey Marketing Service (JMS), Reynoldsburg, Ohio, June 5-6, 2001. No live cattle were present during the auction. A total of 59 bidders participated by placing bids via email messages and phone calls to JMS staff. A two-hour session to close the sale involved more than 25 bidders on a conference call and cellular phones.

The high seller was Funk Barber Reggae, bringing $3,050 from Moo View Jerseys, Chowchilla, Calif. There were 29 lots that sold for $2,000 or more.

Funk Jerseys, owned by Eunice Funk and Jim and Melba Funk, Liberty, Ill., has been in business since 1921. The herd has a 2000 AJCA lactation average of 19,663 lbs. milk, 888 lbs. fat, and 708 lbs. protein. In 1998, the herd was enrolled in the National Voluntary Johne’s Disease Certification Program. It is currently at Level 3 in the program, one of only a few herds in Illinois to attain that level.

According to Owen Bewley, Manager of Jersey Marketing Service, the silent auction format is advantageous for all involved.

The sale catalog was published on the JMS website and distributed in print and CD versions. A video of the sale cattle was also produced.

"By providing the buyer a video, their travel costs are reduced. Expenses are also reduced for the seller, especially smaller herds or herds in isolated regions," he stated.

The sale catalog and results from the sale are posted on the JMS website at http://jms.usjersey.com/funksa.

This is the second herd dispersal to be conducted in the silent auction format by Jersey Marketing Service.

"The goal of Jersey Marketing Service is to continually improve its service to sellers as well as prospective buyers," said Neal Smith, Executive Secretary and CEO of National All-Jersey Inc., the parent company of Jersey Marketing Service.

"We look forward to working with other Jersey herd owners who want to use this sales strategy to market their Registered Jerseys," he commented.

Jersey Marketing Service is the U.S. leader in marketing Jersey genetics. JMS private treaty and public auction sales exceeded $9.8 million dollars in 2000. For more information, visit the website at http://jms.usjersey.com or contact JMS at jms@usjersey.com.

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June 1, 2001--The 25^th Anniversary of National All-Jersey Inc.’s Project Equity will be celebrated during the Annual Meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc., on June 22 to 24 in Green Bay, Wis.

The initiative to promote equity in milk pricing began at the 1976 Annual Meeting in Staunton, Va. Its aim was to change the way milk was priced from a fat-skim basis to its most valuable components based upon use in consumer products.

It began by encouraging protein payment programs, then expanded its scope to promote the implementation of equitable Multiple Component Pricing (MCP) by individual plants and cooperatives.

Landmark dates included August 1, 1973, when Mississippi Valley Milk Producers Association Association (MVMPA), Davenport, Iowa, began paying for protein in producers’ milk. In 1981, the first cheese yield pricing program was instituted by Edelweiss Cheese, Marshfield, Wis. Implementation of MCP in the Great Basin Federal Order occurred in April, 1988; followed by adoption of MCP in the Upper Mid-West Federal Order in January, 1996. On January 1, 2000, Federal Milk Marketing Order Reform implemented MCP in seven of the 11 consolidated orders, applying to 85% of all Federal Order milk.

The Silver Anniversary Gala Celebration of Equity will be held Saturday, June 23, at the Regency Suites Green Bay. This event will recognize the 171 original Equity investors, whose voluntary contributions of 2¢ per cwt. from their milk checks began funding the project. Investors who have been contributing for all 25 years of the project will receive special recognition. Also to be recognized are the dairy industry leaders who helped promote MCP, test pilot pricing programs, and assist NAJ in developing Federal Order MCP proposals.

Since 1957, National All-Jersey Inc. has served Jersey breeders by promoting the increased production and sale of Jersey milk and milk products. For more information, visit its website at http://NAJ.usjersey.com or contact Mike Brown, General Manager, at askalljersey@usjersey.com.

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June 1, 2001--The American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) will recognize the achievements of outstanding breeders of Registered Jerseys at the organizations’ annual meetings on June 21-25, 2001, in Green Bay, Wis.

Duane Kuhlman, Snohomish, Wash., will receive the Master Breeder Award of the American Jersey Cattle Association. This award is bestowed annually to a living AJCA member, family, partnership, or corporation that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, has bred outstanding animals for many years and thereby made a notable contribution to the advancement of the Jersey breed in the United States.

Harold W. Roller, Weyers Cave, Va., will receive the Distinguished Service Award. This award is made by the Board of Directors to as many living AJCA and/or members’ families, who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, have rendered outstanding and unselfish service for many years and thereby have made a notable contribution to the Jersey breed in the United States.

Calvin Covington, Ocala, Fla., Chief Executive Officer of Southeast Milk, Inc., Belleview, Fla., will receive the AJCA-NAJ Award for Meritorious Service. This award is presented annually to a living individual, who, in the joint opinion of the AJCA and NAJ Boards of Directors of the Jersey organizations has made a notable contribution to the advancement of the Jersey breed and the livelihood of Jersey owners in the United States through research, education, development, marketing, or other significant activities of the allied dairy industry.

The AJCA Young Jersey Breeder Awards were first presented in 1976 to individuals or couples who merit recognition for their expertise in dairy farming, breeding Jersey cattle, participation in AJCA and NAJ programs, and leadership in Jersey and other dairy and agriculture organizations. Recipients must be under the age of 36 on January 1 for the year nominated.

Gary Chapman, Taylorsville, N.C.; Edward and Amy Kirchdoerfer, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Kelvin Moss, Litchfield Park, Ariz.; Paul and Carolyn Moyer, Roaring Branch, Penna.; Jim and Susan Regli, Ferndale, Calif.; Joe and Sarah Rocha, Tillamook, Ore.; and James and Rita Tisol, Chippewa Falls, Wis., are this year’s recipients.

The American Jersey Cattle Association was organized in 1868. For more information on the Association’s complete line of services for dairy business owners, call 614/861-3636 or send email to info@usjersey.com.

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The American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All Jersey, Inc. (NAJ) will hold their annual meetings June 21-25, 2001, in Green Bay, Wis. This will be the 133^rd Annual Meeting of the AJCA and the 43^rd for NAJ.

Registration begins Thursday, June 21, 2001, at the Regency Suites Green Bay, headquarters for the meetings.

The business meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 23. The featured speaker will be Kent A. Weigel, Research Scientist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He will discuss issues in balancing inbreeding concerns with genetic improvement for production and type traits during this session. The business meeting of National All-Jersey Inc. starts at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 24. The results of AJCA and NAJ officer and director elections will be announced in their respective sessions.

Events for all ages leading up to the meetings include five farm visits and a tour of Genex/CRI, Shawano.

Three herds will be visited on Friday, June 22. The first stop will be at Steinhauers Jerseys, owned by Karl and Candace Steinhauer, Mattoon. Once a Holstein operation, it began a conversion to Jerseys in 1983. Today the herd is all Jersey, and has a 2000 AJCA lactation average of 17,419 lbs. milk, 835 lbs. fat, and 645 lbs. protein on 137 cows.

The tour will continue to Olympic Horned Dorsets, owned by Jim and Jennifer Seel, Bonduel. The Seels recently moved to Wisconsin from Washington State with 61 cows averaging 15,655 lbs. milk, 739 lbs. fat, and 593 lbs. protein.

A stop at Da-Vew Jerseys, Maribel, concludes Friday’s tours. David and Linda Wagner, owners, began their Jersey herd 26 years ago when they purchased replacement heifers for Holsteins. The herd today averages 20,002 lbs. milk, 917 lbs. fat, and 733 lbs. protein on 47 cows, and also ranks nationally on the AJCA’s list of Top 25% of Herds for Production Type Index (PTI).

Two herds will be visited on Monday, June 25, starting at K&K Jerseys, Newton, owned by Allen and Bonnie Kracht. The farm began as a small family operation in 1957 and has since grown to a 281-cow commercial dairy. The herd is the top producing herd in the U.S. with 150 to 299 records for milk (20,874 lbs.) and fat (1,006 lbs.), and also ranked third high for protein (777 lbs.).

The second herd on Monday’s tour is Sorenson’s Hillview Jersey Farm, Inc., another nationally ranked herd that is ninth for fat production (1,001 lbs.) among herds its size (40 to 79 records). The herd also has a 20,415-lb. average for milk. The farm has been in the Sorenson Family since 1930, and is currently operated by Chris and Steve Sorenson and other family members. All but three of the nearly 100 cows in the barn today are homebred.

One of the most prominent Jersey sales of the year will be held Saturday, June 23, 2001, at 12:30 p.m. The 44th National Heifer Sale will offer elite heifers to potential buyers at the Brown County Fairgrounds, DePere, Wis.

The 2000 sale set a record for the series when it averaged $3,626.67 on 45 head. This year, 72 consignments will be offered from 19 states and one foreign country, with five of the heifers among the Top 300 Heifers in the Breed for Parent Average PTI. A percentage of the proceeds from the National Heifer Sale are set aside each year to support the AJCA youth program, which includes scholarships, Jersey Youth Achievement and Production Contests, and All American junior events.

Special activities are also planned for the youth during the Annual Meetings, including a Junior Dairy Bowl competition on Saturday, June 23.

Click here for hotel and registration information, or call the AJCA Communication staff at 614/861-3636.

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June 1, 2001--The American Jersey Cattle Association will recognize production achievements at the organization’s annual meetings on June 24, 2001, in Green Bay, Wis. Individual trophies will be presented to the Living Lifetime Production champions, and also to the 2000 winners of the President’s Trophy and Hilmar Cheese Yield Trophy.

The Living Lifetime Production Contest recognizes cows alive as of December 31 of the contest year that have produced a minimum of 175,000 lbs. milk, 8,7500 lbs. fat, or 7,000 lbs. protein. A total of 27 cows were nominated for the 2000 contest.

The Ogston Farm Trophy will be presented to the Living Lifetime Milk Champion. Merle Lawton, Newark Valley, N.Y., will receive the award for Lawtons Duncan Seranade, who has production credits of 240,864 lbs. milk in 3,337 days. Her average daily production was 72.2 lbs. milk, the highest of any cow in this year’s contest.

The High Lawn Farm Trophy, for the Living Lifetime Fat Champion will be presented to Springdale Darcy Playboy Drama. She had 10,968 lbs. fat in 4,490 days. Owners Colby and Lois Whitcomb, Waldo, Maine, will receive the trophy.

The Edyvean Farm Trophy is presented to the Living Lifetime Protein Champion. Greenridge FW Chief Althea-ET is this year’s winner, with 8,800 lbs. protein in 4,820 days. She is owned by Chaney Farms, Bowling Green, Ky. "Althea" was voted second in the Jersey Journal 2000 Great Cow Contest.

The President’s Trophy will be presented to the cow with the highest individual 305-day record for pounds protein m.e. (mature equivalent). Lani of Star Jersey, owned by Raycene Crews, Star, Idaho, is this year’s recipient, with 1,422 lbs. protein m.e. The cow’s actual 305-day production (1,330 lbs.) is the fourteenth best protein record completed in AJCA production testing history.

The Hilmar Cheese Yield Trophy for 305-day production will be presented to Jerry Rodeffer, Snohomish, Wash. He is the owner of Greenridge Berretta Accent, with Cheddar cheese yield of 4,145 lbs. (actual). "Accent" is the current World Champion for milk and protein production based upon her 365-day record of 41,610 lbs. milk, and 1,501 lbs. protein (2x, 3x).

The American Jersey Cattle Association was organized in 1868 and has provided herd production recording services since 1928. For more information, contact the Association at 6486 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-2362, or phone 614/861-3636.

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SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR JERSEY YOUTH

June 1, 2001--The American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) announces the availability of scholarships for the 2001-2002 academic year. Successful candidates for the Jersey scholarships are individuals who have significant and extensive experience in breeding, managing, and showing Registered Jersey cattle.

Two scholarships, the Paul Jackson Memorial Scholarship and V.L. Peterson Scholarship, are available to students who have completed at least one year of college.

The scholarship in memory of Paul Jackson was founded following his death in 1965. Jackson was honored with The American Jersey Cattle Club Distinguished Service Award in 1961. For many years he managed Breezy Hill Farm and was a Jersey consultant at Wilmington College in Ohio.

The 2000 recipient of the Paul Jackson Scholarship, in the amount of $600, was Julia Snodgrass, Morristown, Tenn. She is a sophomore majoring in animal science with a focus on pre-veterinary medicine at the University of Tennessee.

The V.L. Peterson Scholarship was founded to honor "Vic" Peterson, the dean of all Jersey Area Representatives, following his retirement on January 1, 1972. Mr. Peterson served a number of areas during his 25 years with the Jersey organizations.

Jennifer Kunde, Manchester, Iowa, and Iris Peeler, Starr, S.C., were the recipients of the 2000 Peterson scholarships, each in the amount of $750. Kunde is a senior at Iowa State University majoring in dairy science. Peeler is a sophomore majoring in dairy science at Virginia Tech.

The Cedarcrest Farms Scholarship of $1,000 was established in 1999 to be awarded to a student in large animal veterinary medicine, dairy production, dairy manufacturing, or dairy product marketing.

The recipient for 2000 was Veronica Steer, Cottage Grove, Tennessee. Veronica is a junior at Virginia Tech, majoring in dairy science.

The William A. Russell Scholarship is for high school graduates ready to enter college. It was established in 1977 to honor "Bill" Russell following his death in 1976. In 1971 Russell became Southeast Area Representative for the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. He made significant contributions to increase the popularity and profitability of Jerseys.

The 2000 William A. Russell Scholarships of $600 each were presented to Kristin Flowers, West Salem, Ohio; and Carin Frenchick, Paynesville, Minn. Flowers is a freshman at Ohio State University, majoring in animal science. Frenchick is a sophomore at Iowa State University, majoring in dairy science.

The Reuben R. Cowles Jersey Youth Award is available for students that are at least a high school senior but not over 36 years of age as of January 1, 2000. Residents of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia are eligible to apply for this award. Applicants must state whether the award money will be used for a scholarship, a trip to the All American Jersey Show and Sale, a trip to the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings or other educational Jersey trips.

The award is a tribute to Reuben Cowles for his dedication to the Jersey breed. Mr. Cowles, past AJCA director and Distinguished Service Award recipient, was instrumental in developing All-Jersey milk markets in the South which greatly influenced the demand for Jersey cattle in this area.

The 2000 winner of a $1,000 Cowles Jersey Youth Award in the amount of $1,000 was Mary Ruth Steer, Ninety-Six, S.C. She is a student in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia.

Applications are available on the USJersey website. They must be received at AJCA office at 6486 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-2362 by July 1, 2001. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is required to apply for these scholarships. Applicants must submit a copy of their high school or college transcript with the application form. For more information, contact the AJCA Communication Department at 614/861-3636.

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COWLES AWARD AVAILABLE FOR YOUNG JERSEY BREEDERS IN SOUTHEAST

June 1, 2000--Applications are now being accepted for the 2001 Reuben R. Cowles Jersey Youth Award.

This educational award is available for students who are at least a high school senior but not over 36 years of age as of January 1, 2001. Residents of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia are eligible to apply for this award. Successful candidates are those who plan or are pursuing a career involving the genetic development, management, or marketing of Registered Jerseys. Applicants must state whether the award money will be used for a scholarship, a trip to the All American, a trip to the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings or other educational Jersey trips.

The Cowles award is a tribute to Reuben Cowles for his dedication to the Jersey breed. Mr. Cowles, past AJCA director and Distinguished Service Award recipient, was instrumental in developing All-Jersey milk markets in the South which greatly influenced the demand for Jersey cattle in this area.

The 2000 winner of a $1,000 educational award was Mary Ruth Steer, Ninety-Six, S.C. She is a student in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia.

Applications are available on the USJersey website. They must be received at AJCA office at 6486 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-2362 by July 1, 2001.

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JERSEY DISPERSAL CATALOG PUBLISHED IN NEW FORMAT

May 10, 2001--The first Registered Jersey auction sale catalog composed directly for the World Wide Web was completed and published today by Jersey Marketing Service (JMS), Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

The catalog for the Funk Jerseys Dispersal, a JMS Silent Auction to be conducted on June 5 and 6, 2001, is published at http://JMS.USJersey.com/funksa.

The process used to construct the Funk Dispersal catalog was a significant departure from conventional ink-and-paper procedures. Previously, JMS catalogs were created as printed documents, then reproduced in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) for distribution on the JMS website.

However, website users consistently reported difficulty with the PDF pedigrees because of relatively slow Internet connections and large file sizes.

The procedure developed for the Funk catalog addresses those issues. It was composed for viewing on the World Wide Web first, and second for print reproduction.

Sizes of pedigree files in the website were dramatically reduced by using HTML coding. And as opposed to expensive four-color printing, color photographs were used throughout the web-based catalog at no additional cost.

A user with a 28.8 Kb modem can access each pedigree in the Funk dispersal catalog in less than 10 seconds, or faster with a higher speed Internet connection.

Camera-ready copy was produced from the website's layout and used to print the 116-page catalog.

The design of the website also enabled JMS to reproduce the Funk catalog in other formats. It was burned to a compact disc (CD), and accompanied a videotape of the animals selling mailed to potential bidders. The catalog can also be downloaded from the JMS website to a user's PC in less than six (6) minutes at a modem speed of 28.8 Kb. If copies of pedigrees are desired, the user can print them on letter-size paper using their own printer.

"The goal of Jersey Marketing Service is to continually improve its service to sellers as well as prospective buyers," said Neal Smith, Executive Secretary and CEO of National All-Jersey Inc., the parent company of Jersey Marketing Service. "Producing sale catalogs that are a cost-effective marketing tool is clearly an important element of better customer service."

"We believe that the Funk dispersal catalog sets a new standard. Not only were we able to print a high-quality sale catalog, we were able to make the online catalog faster and easier to use. Being able to create a CD is a bonus," he noted.

"We expect that the out-of-pocket costs to produce and distribute this catalog will be lower than what is typical for other JMS-managed sales," Smith added.

"We are grateful to Jim and Melba Funk and Eunice Funk for agreeing to be the pioneers in helping JMS to develop this innovative cataloging approach."

Jersey Marketing Service is the U.S. leader in marketing Jersey genetics. JMS private treaty and public auction sales exceeded $9.8 million dollars in 2000. For more information, visit its website.

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GRANTS AWARDED BY AJCC RESEARCH FOUNDATION

At its March, 2001 meeting, the Board of Directors of the American Jersey Cattle Association awarded grants totaling $42,475 to fund nine Jersey-related research projects. Funding was made available from interest income of the AJCC Research Foundation.

Qualifying proposals were selected from a field of 17 based on their relevance to Jersey research priorities that include:

• Nutrition of high-producing Jerseys (particularly practical feeding methods           to maximize production of valuable milk components);
• Factors affecting yield of products manufactured from Jersey milk;
• Factors affecting net income, longevity, and lifetime profit;
• Breeding plans to optimize genetic gain while maintaining genetic
        diversity;
• Biological and economic efficiencies of Jerseys; and,
• Factors affecting management of Jersey calves.

Researchers and their respective institutions will receive the designated funds to conduct the following investigations:

Gengler, N., & G. R. Wiggans, Gembloux Agricultural University, and Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory; Enhancement and Validation of the AJCA MT-CT-BLUP Type Evaluation System. $5,000.

Hansen, L.B., A. J. Seykora, D. G. Johnson, J. G. Linn & B. E. Seguin, University of Minnesota; Comparison of Conception, Embryonic Loss, Calving Difficulty, Stillbirths, and Post Calving Complications of Holstein Cows Bred to Jersey Versus Holstein Sires and the Survival and Growth of Their Calves. $6,800

Robison, J. D., California State University, Fresno; Rump Structure and Its Relationship to Rear Udder Width and Height and Feet and Leg Placement. $2,500

Schrick, F. N., M. E. Hockett & S. P. Oliver, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Does Clinical Mastitis Reduce Steroidogenic Function of the Preovulatory Follicle in Lactating Jersey Cows? $5,000

St-Pierre, N. & S. Noftsger, The Ohio State University; Achieving Optimal Milk Protein in Jersey Cattle Using the 2001 NRC Ration Formulation Model. $4,800

Tozer, P. R., J. R. Stokes, & G. W. Rogers, The Pennsylvania State University; Minimizing Inbreeding and Maximizing Economic Returns in a Dairy Cow Breeding Program. $5,000

Tyler, H. D., J. A. Booth & M. A. Rasmussen, Iowa State University; Effects of Crudefiber Levels on the Physical and Metabolic Development of the Rumen. $6,000

Tyler, H. D. & S. I. Wawrzyniak, Iowa State University; Effects of a Novel Electrolyte Solution with Added Antioxidants on Rumen Function and Small Intestine Absorption in Jersey Calves. $2,375

Weigel, K. A., University of Wisconsin, Madison; Application of Optimal Contribution Methods for the Control of Inbreeding in U.S. Jerseys. $5,000

Research proposals are solicited annually. For further information, contact the American Jersey Cattle Association, Cari Wolfe, Director of Research and Program Development, at 614/861-3636.

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