By Barb Lumley
Photos by Dairy Agenda Today
In spite of a week of rain, sleet, five to ten inches of snow, and extreme cold weather in the area, it was a beautiful day for the Ohio Holstein Association Annual Meeting held Saturday, March 9, 2013 at the Sidney Inn, Sidney, Ohio. The morning began with the opening of the dairy bar with plenty of milk, ice cream, cheese, and crackers available for those in attendance to enjoy while visiting with old friends and meeting and greeting new ones.
At 8:00 a.m. the Ohio Holstein Women held their annual meeting. They oversee the Queen contest, donate scholarships, provide items for the Holstein office in Wooster, and participate in various other activities. Officers elected for 2013 are Kathy Johnson, president; Betty Whiteleather, vice-president; Sara Twining, secretary; and Lisa Mangun, treasurer.
The Ohio Holstein Association business meeting began at 9:00 a.m. The meeting featured officer’s reports, numerous committee reports, election of officers, reports from Holstein USA director Mike Jones from Indiana, and Glen Saegeser, National Holstein Field Representative from Kentucky, old and new business. Officers elected were Dallas Rynd, president; Randall Kiko, vice-president; Cathy Berg, secretary; and Lisa Kerr, treasurer. Don Alexander is the General Manager of the Ohio Holstein Association.
An Awards Luncheon was held at noon with 125 Holstein breeders and family members, friends, and associates of the Ohio Holstein Association in attendance. A buffet style meal was enjoyed by all. Leslie Maurice was the M.C. for the awards presentation. The newly crowned Ohio Holstein Queen, Cayla Inkrott was introduced. She is the daughter of David and Beverly Inkrott, Liepsic, Ohio, District 12. The runner-up was Allison Mangun, daughter of Roy and Lisa Mangun, Wooster, Ohio, District 7.
Progressive Breeder Registry Awards were presented by newly elected president Dallas Rynd. Awards for the highest selling Holsteins in the 2012 Ohio Holstein consignment sales were presented by Don Alexander. They went to Pine-Tree Farms, Matthew Steiner and Family, Convention Sale; Victoria, Ian, and Bryce Watson, Buckeye Classic Sale; Starmark Farms, Ohio Holstein Summer Sale; and Richard and Judy Wolf, Ohio Holstein Multi-Breed Fall Sale.
The Buckeye Breed Builder Awards were presented by Duane Logan.
The Kiko family front: Randall and his wife Becky with Ellie on his lap, Jodi and Russell Kiko. Back row: Wyatt and Elizabeth Kiko.
The Junior Award went to Russell Kiko, R & P Kiko Family Farms, Salem, Ohio.
The Topp Family front: Phillip Topp with Aurbree, Eric Topp with MacKenzie, Mary Lou Topp and Keith Topp. Back row: Mary(Eric's wife) Madelyn Topp and Keaton Topp.
The Senior Ohio Herd Builder Award went to Mary Lou Topp of Topp-View Holsteins, Botkins, Ohio.
The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Julie Renner,(left) Dalton, Ohio by Barb Lumley, right. Among the many other things that Julie does for the Ohio Holstein Association, she is chairman of the Annual Meeting Committee and oversees all the plans for the conventions.
Ohio Holstein Junior Members were recognized by co-chairmen of the Youth Committee, Matt Lawson. Junior members are re-organizing and have formed a board of directors, but have not elected officers yet. Juniors sold raffle tickets on a Sullivan chute donated by Beck’s Hybrids and the winner was Steve Moff. Other prizes awarded included a family week-end at Lake Kolahari, a cane of semen from Wabash-Way Explode, a free flush, and a free photo set-up. It was announced that the Ohio Holstein Women’s Scholarship went to Colton Harstine, District 3 and Marina Cable, District 1.
The Junior Memorial Award went to Mikayla Conrad, District 5.
Louis Liming, District 1 and Allison Mangun, District 7 received the Ohio Distinguished Junior Member Award.
The Sprang Family: Front Row: John and Suzanne Sprang. Back row: David and Carol Reece (brother and sister in law), Joe Cole and Ann (Sprang) Cole.
The Ohio Holstein Woman of the Year Award was presented by Kathy Johnson and Betty Whiteleather to Suzanne Spreng, Longacre Farms, Inc., Bucyrus, Ohio. The All-Ohio and Junior All-Ohio Awards were presented to the winners by Steve Moff.
The meeting concluded with the Ohio Holstein Women’s Fun Auction with Randall Kiko calling the bids. Numerous items were donated by the District Holstein Clubs and also by various individuals. The auction raised $3740 to be used for scholarships and other activities.