Over 400 National Guernsey Convention attendees were welcomed today at Warwick Manor, Kevin & Dina Stoltzfus of East Earl, Pennsylvania for a farm tour, lunch and a chance to view the sale cattle.
(photos above courtesy of the American Guernsey Association)
The farm boasts a 50-cow tie-stall barn built new in 2000. Today, the cows are housed in a 125’ x 200’ bedded pack barn (built in 2007) and milked in the tie stalls. The 90 cows in the herd have a rolling herd average of 15,270M 4.5% 687F 3.3% 503P. There are 18 Excellent cows and 67 Very Good cows in the herd. Frequent exhibitors at numerous shows, the herd has been very successful in the showring. Recent highlights include winning Junior Champion at Harrisburg in 2008 and Intermediate Champion at Louisville in 2009.
After years of careful planning, 2007 marked the beginning of a new venture for Warwick Manor. The farm opened a processing plant that supplies Yoder’s Country Market with dairy products. Yoder’s uses about 25,000 pounds of milk a week from the farm. The farm continues to ship out about 7,000 pounds a week to their co-op. They maintain both markets because there are many times they need all the milk at Yoder’s if there is a busy week at the store. That way the Yoder’s plant never runs short.
Yoder’s was started in 1980 by John & Darlene Yoder (Dina’s parents). The store, restaurant and processing plant is now owned and operated by John & Darlene Yoder, Kevin & Dina Stoltzfus, and Micah & Denise Zimmerman (Dina’s sister and her husband). Yoder’s offers Golden Guernsey milk in Glass or Plastic Bottles. Golden Guernsey Milk is fresh from Warwick Manor Farm and processed right at the market. They have over 10 different flavors of ice cream that is produced on the premises. The milk is brought to Yoder’s Country Market, fresh from the farm. Aside from offering fat free skim milk, 1 ½% reduced fat milk, and whole milk, they also create premium ice cream by slow-churning their own Golden Guernsey milk with the ingredients of an old-fashioned recipe.
Visitors were transported to in this wagon to view the heifer facilities.
All the heifers have access to beautiful pastures.
One cow that was attracting a lot of attention was Warwick Manor Storm Steph who is fresh almost 3 weeks. Steph will show as a Junior 2 year old this year.
Warwick Manor also house cattle for a few friends including Holler View and Rutter Brothers Dairy.
Another favorite was this fancy young cow, Rutter-Bros Showtime Candy-TW, the '09 Unanimous All-American Winter Yearling owned by Kelly Johnson.
Visitors were also treated to a complimentary lunch
Cindy Weimer was in charge of the Minute to Win It games
Lineup of Sale Cattle
Selling as lot 1B is "Cutie-Pie", a March Natural from Supreme Champion Pistachio Pie.
Seth Johnson parades Cutie Pie out for potential buyers and curious onlookers