March 29, 2009

News Release

 

By: Cynthia L. Warner—FARMSHINE CORRESPONDENT

 

MARYLAND BROWN SWISS BREEDERS MEET FOR ANNUAL MEETING

 

Adults and Youth celebrate achievements with Awards

 

Woodsboro, MD. --  The Maryland Brown Swiss breeders gathered recently at the Woodsboro Activities Center for their Annual meeting and awards banquet.  The interest in the Brown Swiss breed continues to maintain positive support, as evidenced by nearly 100 breeders, members, and friends in attendance. This well attended meeting just shows the growing interest and popularity of the breed here in Maryland, and surrounding states.  “It’s great to see such support on an evening when we recognize the achievements of the adult and junior members,” said Scott and Judy Hood, Jr. Directors of the association.

 

Maryland once again posted another successful year throughout the state, but also has much success on the national level. A review of the All American nominations had about a third of the 114 animals someway connected with Maryland, either through the calf sale, purchases made by a Marylander, Maryland breeders selling animals, and connections with our surrounding states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia-- there was an All American connection with Maryland, and the Maryland breeders, reported Cindy Warner, President of the Maryland Brown Swiss Association in her opening remarks. “Maryland continues to hold its own in comparison with much larger states,” said Warner.  “Even though Maryland is small in size, we continue to be highly competitive in the show ring, the sale ring, and in the production ring,” said Warner.  “When people think of Maryland, they think of high quality Brown Swiss, and that is what we have.”  A report on the upcoming Mid Atlantic Brown Swiss Calf sale was then given by Dennis Smith.  “The sale is on Saturday, April 18, at the Frederick Fairgrounds in Frederick, Maryland.  “This year we have several selections from “EX-90 to EX-94 dams with lots of potential. There is a great selection of September, December, June/July calves, as well as a strong group of ten March calves. The pedigrees are strong, and a great calf matches up,” Smith concluded.  For more information on the sale and a catalog, contact Cindy Warner at 301-371-5206, or Dennis Smith at 301-845-6894.

 

Maryland Brown Swiss breeders were then presented with Production awards by Tom Remsberg and Dennis Smith.

Winning the production award for 20 cows or more went to Scott and Judy Hood, Middletown, MD. 25,138 ECM on 44 cows.  In the category of 19 cows or less—the production award went to Oak Spring Dairy, Allen and Tammy Bassler, Upperville, VA. with 20,356 ECM on 16 cows.

All records are calculated to ECM—Energy Corrected  Milk

 The following were the winners in the Individual Awards:

-Jr. 2-year-old: Hilltop Acres DSTY Jan ET   2-2   305d    30,276 ECM

                          Owner: Fair Hill & Lee Majeskie, Chestertown, MD.

-Sr. 2-year-old:  Miss Nudges Mirvana     2-8   305d    26,396 ECM

                           Scott & Judy Hood, Middletown, MD.

 

-Jr. 3-year-old: R Hart Jolt Dramatic     3-1     305d     30,072 ECM

                          Fair Hill Farm, Chestertown, MD

 

-Sr. 3-year-old:  Hoodstead Special Mia    3-7    305d     31,152 ECM

                           Scott & Judy Hood, Middletown, MD.

 

-4-year-old:  Hoodstead Blue Chip Nada    4-7     305d     60,145 ECM

                      Scott & Judy Hood, Middletown, MD.

 

-5-Year-old:  Hoodstead Dominate Panda    5-3    305d    35,606 ECM

                       Nicole Hood, Middletown, MD.

 

-6 years and over:  Old Mill Ernt Divinity    6-3    305d    38,878 ECM

                               Allen & Tammy Bassler, Upperville, VA.

 

-Lifetime (over 200,000 lbs. milk)

  Windsor Acres Simon Peppy     9L    4,492d     225,980m    8771f   7548p

 

 

Another highlight of the meeting was the Youth Report given by Scott and Judy Hood, Youth Directors.

 

Record Book Winners were:

Junior Division: 1. Kayla Lenhart; 2. Grant Zimmerman; 3. Jonathan Hubbard.  Honorable Mention—Joshua Hubbard

 

Intermediate Division: 1.Daniel Myers; 2. Nichelle Upton; 3. Kristin Myers

Honorable Mention—Kyle Lawrence, Matthew Lenhart, Ryan Hevner

 

Senior Division: 1. Nicole Hood; 2. Jeffrey Hubbard; 3. Hannah Thompson

Honorable Mention- Brianne Hevner

 

And Ethan Hood, Libertytown, MD. was the recipient of the sweepstakes showmanship honor, given to a Junior member who has excelled in the Fitting and Showing competition at the 2008 Maryland Brown Swiss State Show.

 

Another highlight of the meeting was the recognition for the Brown Swiss Scholarship given out that evening.  Kathy Whitman of the Scholarship committee announced and congratulated this year’s winner who was Hannah Thompson.  Hannah received a $1000 scholarship, and is attending Ohio State University.

 

 Bellringer awards were given out for the state level.

 

The Juniors also participate in a poster contest to promote Brown Swiss.  And the winning posters are then displayed at the Mid Atlantic Brown Swiss calf sale on April 18.

Intermediate winner:  Matthew Lenhart

Senior winner: Audreyona Beachley; second was Kristin Zimmerman

Other participants were; Nicole Hood, Kristin Myers, and Daniel Myers.

 

 

 

 Maryland Swiss Miss, Brittany Cole gave the Milk Toast to start the evening, and Maryland Swiss Princess; Nicole Hood gave the invocation before the meal.

 

The Junior Club Officers were elected and announced:

President: Audreyona Beachley

Vice President: Daniel Myers

Secretary: Nicole Hood

Historian: Nichelle Upton

                 Kristin Myers    

 

Allen Bassler District 111 Director brought news and updates from the National Brown Swiss office.  The office staff is making progress with the data base, and it will be easier to register calves on line, and receive pedigree information.  “The Brown Swiss breed has a bright future, and is growing through the advancement of sexed semen, and will be a force in the dairy industry, as we also continue to focus on her longevity, low somatic cell count, and popular merchandising appeal to other breeders,” said Bassler. Projects for the Bovine Genome research, smart calf, and others were discussed, and the association will be held more accountable for the dollars spent, and the progress and ongoing results reported back to the membership.

 

It was also announced that Maryland will be hosting the National Brown Swiss Convention in 2011 in Frederick, Maryland.  The Maryland Ayrshire Breeders will also combine with Brown Swiss breeders for a Joint convention.  Tentative dates will be

July 6-9, 2011.  Maryland Brown Swiss and Maryland Ayrshire breeders last hosted this joint convention in 1999.

 

Warner also wanted to bring attention to the Maryland Brown Swiss website that continues to post information on activities, events, and other happenings in the state—and the website for this is:  www.marylandbrownswiss.org –Please visit us and see what is going on!!  The Mid Atlantic Calf sale will be posted on this site—so you can view the whole catalog and consignments.

 

The show committee reported the Maryland Brown Swiss State Show will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at the Frederick Fairgrounds, in cooperation with the Ayrshire breed, beginning at 9:30 am with Michael Heath doing the judging

 

Concluding the program was the election of officers:  They are as follows:

President; Cindy Warner

Vice- President; Dennis Smith

Secretary:  Emmy Covell

Treasurer; Kathy Whitman

Directors: Tom Remsberg, Scott Hood, John Perdue, and newly elected for Director was Jennifer K. Hill.

 

 

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