About 50 Jersey breeders from across the state convened on March 23, 2019, at the Wyndham in Clarion, Pa., for the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Jersey Cattle Association (PJCA). In an industry that has struggled financially and emotionally in recent years, the day-long event provided opportunity to catch up with friends, celebrate blessings and recognize achievements.
The organization’s current president, George Dean, was honored with the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Award. Dean operates Ro-Ann Jerseys with his wife, Peggy, and their family in Chicora. The 50-cow Registered Jersey herd is enrolled on REAP. A second-generation dairy farmer, his interest in Jerseys was sparked through a 4-H project. When the Deans established a dairy herd on their 120-acre farm in 1979, they chose Jerseys.
Dean has served as PJCA president for the past five years and presided over the Western Pennsylvania Jersey Cattle Club for six years as well. For more than 30 years, he has volunteered for the Butler Farm Show and mentored youth as a 4-H leader.
Matt and Alicia Derr, Linden, received the Pennsylvania Young Jersey Breeder Award. The couple operates Heavens Blessins Jerseys on his family farm. The 85-cow Registered Jersey herd is enrolled on REAP and has an actual 2018 herd average of 19,596 lbs. milk, 925 lbs. fat and 706 lbs. protein. The herd includes 12 Excellent and 53 Very Good cows and has an appraisal average of 82.6%. Among the goals Matt established when he returned home 14 years ago was to improve herd type and production, adopt genotyping and increase forage yield and quality. Future goals include additions to their new heifer barn and robots for milking.
The Derrs received national-level laurels as well as they earned a Young Jersey Breeder Award from the American Jersey Cattle Association for 2019. They were recognized at the organization’s annual meetings hosted by the New York Jersey breeders this past summer in Saratoga Springs.
Mount Rock Jerseys, Newville, received the Norman Genetic Award as the state’s leading herd for genetic merit. The 468-cow herd had a December 2018 herd average JPI of +76, which ranked #30 in the nation among REAP herds.
Junior Awards
Youth were also recognized for their achievements in the Jersey queen contest, a dairy jeopardy contest facilitated by Pennsylvania State Dairy Science Club and other competitions.
Hannah Diehl, McVeytown, was crowned as the new Pennsylvania Jersey Queen. She also earned a PJCA scholarship and captured the top prizes in the senior divisions of the speech contest, the dairy jeopardy contest and the scientific poster contest.
Sara Lynne Reed, Columbia Crossroads, won the intermediate division of the youth achievement contest. Brock Champluvier, Wyalusing, received the first-year project award. Kaylee Knapp, Franklin, earned the top prize in the intermediate division of the speech contest. Olivia Champluvier, Wyalusing, took top honors in the junior division of the contest.
Other winners in the scientific poster contest were Blaine Warburton of New Albany, who won the junior division, and Riley Thomas of Ulysses, who edged his peers in the intermediate division.
Weston Taylor, Allenwood, received first prize in the junior division of the creative poster contest. Zachary Diehl, McVeytown, won the junior division of the dairy jeopardy contest. Lily Fries, Prompton, received a PJCA scholarship.
Cory William Noble, Gillett, earned the top prize in the youth production contest with Nobledale Nitro Bugatti. To win the contest, the Very Good-85% daughter of All Lynns Hendrix Nitro, GJPI +79, produced a record of 18,320 lbs. milk, 755 lbs. fat and 623 lbs. protein at 1-9, with an m.e. of 24,879–1,023–854.
Production Awards
Production awards were also presented for herd averages and individual cow production in 10 age categories based on cheese yield dollars.
Creek View Farm of Martinsburg was the high-producer for milk among large herds with 100 or more cows. The 443-cow dairy owned by the Pheasant family had a 2018 herd average of 21,614 lbs. milk, 1,019 lbs. fat and 798 lbs. protein.
The Pheasants also took home three certificates for individual cow production. Creek View Ace Angie 364 {4} was the high-producing senior two-year-old, with a 2-9 record with a cheese yield dollar value of $4,616.72. Actual production is 31,180 lbs. milk (4.3% fat, 3.5% protein). Among junior three-year-olds, Irishtown W3406 Dollar Jordan, Very Good-84%, made the top record with 26,240 lbs. milk (5.4% fat, 3.9% protein) and a value of $4,501.42. Herd matriarch, Hackline Zik Fax 598, Excellent-92%, led cows 10 years and older, with a 10-5 record with a value of $4,120.06. Actual yield is 31,440 lbs. milk (3.6% fat, 3.2% protein).
Brian Martin, Blairsville, was the state’s top fat producer among large herds with 100 or more cows. Country Lane Jerseys had a 2018 herd average of 21,138 lbs. milk, 1,048 lbs. fat and 769 lbs. protein on 136 cows.
Windy Lane Jerseys, Tyrone, earned the award for high protein production among large herds, with a 2018 herd average of 20,894 lbs. milk, 1,046 lbs. fat and 813 lbs. protein on 281 cows. The dairy owned by Ryan Clark was home to the state’s high-producing senior yearling in milk, Windy Lane Reno Wiscom 747, Very Good-81%. At 1-9, she produced a record of 23,520 lbs. milk, with tests of 5.5% fat and 3.8% protein and a cheese yield dollar value of $4,032.82.
Among herds with 60-99 cows, Duane Burkholder, Fleetwood, was the high milk and fat producer, with a 2018 herd average of 19,806 lbs. milk, 1,011 lbs. fat and 695 lbs. protein on 84 cows. Matt and Alicia Derr’s 85-cow herd was the leading protein producer.
In the category for herds with 30-59 cows, Todd and Ann Kantz, Conneaut Lake, received honors as high milk producer. Their herd of 54 cows had a 2018 herd average of 19,143 lbs. milk, 893 lbs. fat and 674 lbs. protein. Harold Harpster, Boalsburg, was the leader for components, with a herd average of 18,371 lbs. milk, 1,003 lbs. fat and 720 lbs. protein on 23 cows.
Among small herds with 7-29 cows, Paul Zimmerman led his peers for milk production with a 2018 herd average of 20,054 lbs. milk, 913 lbs. fat and 662 lbs. protein on eight cows. Mark Vogel, Wattsburg, was the high herd for components, with a herd average of 18,767 lbs. milk, 1,006 lbs. fat and 733 lbs. protein on 12 cows.
Five other dairies earned certificates for individual cow production. South-Mont Farm, Canton, received the award for high-producing junior two-year-old. South-Mont Premier Money {5}, Very Good-85%, made a 2-0 record of 21,300 lbs. milk, with tests of 5.6% fat and 3.6% protein and a value of $3,490.32.
Mount Rock Jerseys was home to the top senior three-year-old, Mains Zayd Ula {6}, Very Good-81%. At 3-11, she made a winning record of 25,050 lbs. milk, 1,084 lbs. fat and 797 lbs. protein, with a value of $4,287.66.
R-Dream Farm, Corry, owned by the Nickerson family, received laurels for the top four-year-old and five-year-old. JX Normandell Wizard Tanya {4} made a 4-2 record of 33,320 lbs. milk, with tests of 4.7% fat and 3.5% protein and a value of $5,117.06. Her herdmate, Mains Allstar Mindy, Very Good-80%, made a 5-1 record of 27,400 lbs. milk (6.3% fat, 4.5% protein) and a cheese yield value of $5,412.64.
Vanderfeltz Dairy, owned by Joe and Melinda Vanderfeltz, Lawton, earned the award for the high-producing cow 6-7 years-of-age. Vanfel Kobalt Tillie 770, Excellent-92%, made a 7-10 record of 26,820 lbs. milk (4.5% fat, 4.2% protein) and a value of $4,458.82.
Wingert Farms, Alexandria, received the final certificate for leading ladies. Wingert Mecca Annette 2173 {3}, Very Good-83%, made the top record among cows 8-9 years-of-age, with 28,500 lbs. milk, 1,595 lbs. fat and 1,070 lbs. protein at 8-2. The value of the record is $4,876.49.