By Eric W. Lang

            It was my pleasure to visit with Mary Creek of Hagerstown, Maryland, at the recent National Ayrshire Convention in Peoria, Illinois. Mary, her brother Ralph Shank, and their families own and operate a Registered Ayrshire and Holstein herd that has produced many bulls for artificial insemination and 125 females that have been nominated All-American with 44 earning All-American designation over the last 50 years of breeding. They have won Premier Breeder and Exhibitor banners six times at World Dairy Expo.

            My first question centered around Oak-Ridge Bruis Bonnie, an aged cow purchased by Palmyra in 1975 who lived long enough to be nominated All-American eight more times, and is now found in direct maternal line of many current and recent Ayrshire bulls in A.I. Mary claimed that the development of Bonnie and her descendants was a lot of luck, but on closer questioning, she acknowledged that there was really a lot of thought, study, and effort put in to this cow family. Bonnie was the Ayrshire cow to experience ova transfer. Geneticists were asked what service sires were of interest for future sons. And good management was necessary to keep an exceptional old cow producing and reproducing for so many years.

            I followed with a question about marketing genetics and how the Palmyra herd reaches the masses on a worldwide basis. Mary shares the importance of their livestock sales to family farm supplemental income and how it is enhanced through herd promotion. She also addresses the importance of credibility and integrity in maintaining long lasting sales relationships over time and gives an update on international interest in U.S. Ayrshires.

            Finally, Mary talks about the challenges and difficulties in maintaining a top herd while still offering top individuals for sale privately and at public auction over a period of years.

            To see the interview in its entirety CLICK HERE