Cloudy, rainy, grey, end of October day......not completely conducive to feeling an explosion of internal energy and joy and light, etc., etc.......and then........news arrives that sure "gets yer motor runnin"!
We've just gained access to some stats that "blow us right out of the water"!
Try these on for size.....
From late 2001 to late 2009 the number of milk-recorded Jersey herds in Canada that contain Jerseys has grown from 607 to 1172!! Were you aware that this kind of growth represents a 93% increase!!??
Were you aware that during the same time period the overall number of milk-recorded herds has declined by 18%?
Were you aware that in the same time period (2001 to 2009) the number of Jersey cows on milk-recording in Canada has climbed by 16%!!?? Yes, 16%!!!! During this same time frame the overall number of cows on milk-recording has stayed essentially the same.
Nice to think about what could happen but infinitely much better to celebrate what has happened!
May we enjoy much more of the same!
Friday, October 30, 2009
New Website: Jersey West!
Jersey West, the regional Jersey association responsible for the western provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, has created a new website to serve both it's members and anyone interested in Western Canadian Jerseys! You can find the site at:
The site features all the latest news and upcoming events, contact information for Jersey West officers, and an online member directory for all paid members of the association.
Now all four regional associations in Canada have websites. The others are:
Jersey Ontario - www.jerseyontario.ca
Jersey Quebec - www.jerseycanada.com/jerseyquebec
Friday, October 9, 2009
More Excelling by Great Young People from Jersey Farms
We are pleased to report that Melissa Sparling, daughter of Jim and Tammy Sparling of Jaspar Jerseys at Varna in Huron County, Ontario was selected for the prestigious title of Queen of the Furrow at the 2009 International Plowing Match held in Northern Ontario in September!! Melissa will have a very busy year ahead of her as she works hard to assist Elgin County in promoting and delivering the 2010 Plowing Match. More than 80,000 people took part in the 2009 match.
We at Jersey Canada know Melissa well. She's the perfect choice for such a Marketing/ambassadorial role as she was a spectacular Jersey Youth Ambassador at the National Jersey Show at the Royal a few years back. Melissa has a terrific work ethic, is outgoing and well-spoken and organized and knows all about life on the farm. In addition she exhibits the gift of a wonderfully firm handshake just like her mother Tammy and the ability to look a person in the eye when meeting them and a radiant smile!
Have a great year Melissa and congratulations from Jersey Canada!
We at Jersey Canada know Melissa well. She's the perfect choice for such a Marketing/ambassadorial role as she was a spectacular Jersey Youth Ambassador at the National Jersey Show at the Royal a few years back. Melissa has a terrific work ethic, is outgoing and well-spoken and organized and knows all about life on the farm. In addition she exhibits the gift of a wonderfully firm handshake just like her mother Tammy and the ability to look a person in the eye when meeting them and a radiant smile!
Have a great year Melissa and congratulations from Jersey Canada!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Did you notice the banner for our survey?
Jersey Canada is conducting a survey seeking input from Canadians over the months of November and December 2009. The purpose of the survey is to garner input for creation of the next Strategic Plan of the association. In addition we'll use information from the responses to improve our service delivery and set priorities for forward action.
There's an opoportunity to win a Jersey Canada True Type Model Cow if you live in Canada, complete the survey and provide us with your name and contact information!
You'll find the survey on our Jersey Canada website, and in hard copy form in the October/November Jersey Breeder magazine which is just hitting the streets now.
We very much value your input!
Deadline for responses to the survey is December 1!
There's an opoportunity to win a Jersey Canada True Type Model Cow if you live in Canada, complete the survey and provide us with your name and contact information!
You'll find the survey on our Jersey Canada website, and in hard copy form in the October/November Jersey Breeder magazine which is just hitting the streets now.
We very much value your input!
Deadline for responses to the survey is December 1!
Way To Go!!
Sometimes news slips by us and evades us all together! It was only last evening (October 7) that we received an e-mail from the eagle-eyed Carol Murphy in Sauble Beach, Ontario informing us of a significant accomplishment by a keen young Canadian Jersey supporter.
At the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin Tanner Jones, son of Shayne and Val Jones of Woodstock, Ontario excelled. Tanner was on the halter of his 2009 4-H calf Perennial Justice Natasha (bred by neighbour Bryan Weldrick) when she was acclaimed as the Junior Champion female of the 2009 US Central National Jersey Show, triumphing over a large showing of sweet heifers. That we knew...
What we did not know was that Tanner finished a very strong second in a dairy competition involving 74 young dairy people at Madison! In addition to finishing first in a showmanship contest in this massive field Tanner wrote an associated quiz on agricultural matters. To make things even better his brother Trent made the final cut for showmanship in a very large class of younger showmen!
Tanner was also featured in a video clip interview which appeared on the Dairy Agenda today website and Melissa Hart made very special mention of him in her blog on the same website.
Congratulations to the entire Jones family on these golden moments of success!!!
What we did not know was that Tanner finished a very strong second in a dairy competition involving 74 young dairy people at Madison! In addition to finishing first in a showmanship contest in this massive field Tanner wrote an associated quiz on agricultural matters. To make things even better his brother Trent made the final cut for showmanship in a very large class of younger showmen!
Tanner was also featured in a video clip interview which appeared on the Dairy Agenda today website and Melissa Hart made very special mention of him in her blog on the same website.
Congratulations to the entire Jones family on these golden moments of success!!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
More, more more!
Our most recent posting-just a few minutes ago!!-noted that registry activity levels at Jersey Canada are in very good form for the first nine months of 2009.
On the Genetic Improvement front some more great news arrived this week too!
At an October 5 Genetic Improvement Committee meeting it was reported that a new breed record for young sires entered on test per year would be set in 2009! What makes this news truly significant is that new record totals have been set in the preceding four years!
The owners of young sires for whom CDN fees (for timely releases of official proofs) have been paid reported that we could see upwards of 20 young sires entered for sampling this year!
This is terrific news for breed progress and what makes it even better is that in many cases the new tool of genomics has been used to help increase accuracy of selection!
This kind of growth in sampling activity is a prime target of Jersey Canada's Strategic Plan Jersey Rising. We have more progress to make to reach the overall target of at least 25 high quality young
sires sampled per year but are we ever heading in the right direction!
Thanks to all who are part of this energizing work toward finding future genetic stars and making the Jersey breed even better suited to modern dairying! On we go and grow!
On the Genetic Improvement front some more great news arrived this week too!
At an October 5 Genetic Improvement Committee meeting it was reported that a new breed record for young sires entered on test per year would be set in 2009! What makes this news truly significant is that new record totals have been set in the preceding four years!
The owners of young sires for whom CDN fees (for timely releases of official proofs) have been paid reported that we could see upwards of 20 young sires entered for sampling this year!
This is terrific news for breed progress and what makes it even better is that in many cases the new tool of genomics has been used to help increase accuracy of selection!
This kind of growth in sampling activity is a prime target of Jersey Canada's Strategic Plan Jersey Rising. We have more progress to make to reach the overall target of at least 25 high quality young
sires sampled per year but are we ever heading in the right direction!
Thanks to all who are part of this energizing work toward finding future genetic stars and making the Jersey breed even better suited to modern dairying! On we go and grow!
Elevating our Thinking
One of the most interesting times of each month at Jersey Canada arrives in the very earliest days. Jill Dann, our Registrar, crunches registry activity numbers and computes year to date totals in the early hours of every month.
Some highly significant accomplishments were noted when Jill worked with statistics to the end of September 2009!
And here they are:
In nine months we have processed registration of exactly 100 new herd names! 2009 is now the fourth consecutive year that we have processed 100 new herd names or more! And we have three months to go!
This news means that since January 2004 we have registered 786 new herd names! 786!! Just think about that! We're only 14 shy of 800 new herd names in six calendar years!
Adding new people through registration of herd names flows through to gains in membership as a natural process. Further exciting news can be found in the fact that memberships at the end of September stood at 988!!! Yes, this is 11% ahead of 2008 year to date and as we've noted before represents Jersey Canada's highest membership total since 1967! We're just 12 memberships away from 1,000!
Putting this significant number above in perspective it is appropriate to note that in 1967 there were approximately ten times as many dairy farms in operation in Canada as there are today!
Transfers of embryos are 180% ahead of 2008 year-to-date and are already 116% ahead of all of 2008! We've transferred a record annual total of embryos this year!
Add to this news the facts that our registrations are almost 4% ahead of 2008 to date, transfers are falling in line with 2008 stats after a big burst of export transfers in early 2008 and that electronic registration submissions have moved up to over 56% of all registrations and you have a recipe for true Jersey excitement!
Talk about motivation! Talk about exciting news! Talk about great news!! Talk about encouragement to stay on the job! We are pumped!!
Some highly significant accomplishments were noted when Jill worked with statistics to the end of September 2009!
And here they are:
In nine months we have processed registration of exactly 100 new herd names! 2009 is now the fourth consecutive year that we have processed 100 new herd names or more! And we have three months to go!
This news means that since January 2004 we have registered 786 new herd names! 786!! Just think about that! We're only 14 shy of 800 new herd names in six calendar years!
Adding new people through registration of herd names flows through to gains in membership as a natural process. Further exciting news can be found in the fact that memberships at the end of September stood at 988!!! Yes, this is 11% ahead of 2008 year to date and as we've noted before represents Jersey Canada's highest membership total since 1967! We're just 12 memberships away from 1,000!
Putting this significant number above in perspective it is appropriate to note that in 1967 there were approximately ten times as many dairy farms in operation in Canada as there are today!
Transfers of embryos are 180% ahead of 2008 year-to-date and are already 116% ahead of all of 2008! We've transferred a record annual total of embryos this year!
Add to this news the facts that our registrations are almost 4% ahead of 2008 to date, transfers are falling in line with 2008 stats after a big burst of export transfers in early 2008 and that electronic registration submissions have moved up to over 56% of all registrations and you have a recipe for true Jersey excitement!
Talk about motivation! Talk about exciting news! Talk about great news!! Talk about encouragement to stay on the job! We are pumped!!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
The Great Gift of Gratitude
As a postscript to the posting I made earlier today (October 4) about the Franken family in Seasons of Refreshing I am compelled to write more! So, what else is new?
I set forth into a dark and rainy night to drive the exactly 100 kilometers from their doorstep to mine in Fergus. I knew my mind would be going over lots of things over the next hour and a bit. I had not given much thought to the fact that I'd be drawn repeatedly to the concept of gratitude over the course of the drive. Perhaps the fact that our celebration of Thanksgiving is at hand helped.
I reviewed some of the things that had happened in the previous few days and found a veritable garden of gratitude welling up inside of me!
My experiences in Haiti over the past thirteen and a half years have taught me a world of things about: a) not taking things for granted even though I still do! b) giving thanks for the glorious (and yes, at times crazy!!) lives we in the developed world live c) about understanding that life really, really isn't "all about me"-in fact I should be a useful but side bar player on the stage in the theatre that is my life.
In this season of thanksgiving and harvest we should focus on those words. Our lives are rich. Someone reminded me today that at any given meeting or gathering here in Canada most of those present would be in the top 5% of income earners in the entire world-maybe even the top 1%!
With gratitude comes responsibility-toward others not just yourself.
Immersed in an understanding of overflow I found that I was soon home in Fergus. My conclusion at the end of this trip is that anytime is the time for more thanksgiving and gratitude.
As we expand our practice of thanksgiving we soon discover that the number of things we have to be thankful about has expanded in proportion to our thankful attitude! May the cycle continue!
I set forth into a dark and rainy night to drive the exactly 100 kilometers from their doorstep to mine in Fergus. I knew my mind would be going over lots of things over the next hour and a bit. I had not given much thought to the fact that I'd be drawn repeatedly to the concept of gratitude over the course of the drive. Perhaps the fact that our celebration of Thanksgiving is at hand helped.
I reviewed some of the things that had happened in the previous few days and found a veritable garden of gratitude welling up inside of me!
My experiences in Haiti over the past thirteen and a half years have taught me a world of things about: a) not taking things for granted even though I still do! b) giving thanks for the glorious (and yes, at times crazy!!) lives we in the developed world live c) about understanding that life really, really isn't "all about me"-in fact I should be a useful but side bar player on the stage in the theatre that is my life.
In this season of thanksgiving and harvest we should focus on those words. Our lives are rich. Someone reminded me today that at any given meeting or gathering here in Canada most of those present would be in the top 5% of income earners in the entire world-maybe even the top 1%!
With gratitude comes responsibility-toward others not just yourself.
Immersed in an understanding of overflow I found that I was soon home in Fergus. My conclusion at the end of this trip is that anytime is the time for more thanksgiving and gratitude.
As we expand our practice of thanksgiving we soon discover that the number of things we have to be thankful about has expanded in proportion to our thankful attitude! May the cycle continue!
Seasons of Refreshing
Hm...how do I start explaining all this? You know how sometimes you are having a very good day and then it gets even better?
Well....on Saturday, October 3 I got up early and headed out in rain showers for the Wingham/Teeswater, Ontario farm of Ed and Bonnie Franken and family. Now, yes, the Frankens do have some Jerseys on their farm-only natural since Ed is brother to Paul of Paullor and Mike, formerly of Ken-Fran Jerseys and John who has been involved in the breed. There are a few special brown 4-H heifers penned in their barn. The real mission, however; was the classification of 60 some head of female dairy goats and colourful-smelling bucks.
I was in a great mood heading to Frankens as we had done some goat classification training work at their farm at Easter time this past April. I had been deeply impressed by the enthusiasm, energy, work ethic and smarts of a sampling of Ed and Bonnie's seven offspring who are currently more or less between 20 and 8! And then there was Bonnie's incredible (and HIGHLY edible!!! home-cooking-so much like the food my Mother had prepared during growing up days in Nova Scotia!) They have some nifty goats too!
So my expectations of a good day were high-gloriously they were surpassed by a wide margin!
We got right down to work. Over the course of the day, six of the seven young Frankens were in the barn-working but having fun too! I must say that the younger Frankens would rival anybody in their level of organization and helpfulness. We whipped through 32 head before lunch (have I mentioned the excellence of Bonnie's home-cooking??) took a break and then went back at it. As we finished up later in the afternoon-Ed suggested that we must have done 60 or more head. I figured he was high by 10 to 15 head as it all seemed to have moved along very quickly. Once we counted-sure enough 61 head!
What refreshed me was the work ethic of these young people! Ed explained that many of the family were involved with the concrete forming/foundation business that he and Bonnie own but also pour themselves into farm work as well. I opined that no matter where the young Frankens ended up in careers they would be stand-out workers as they'd not only know how to work but also do their work with enthusiastic attitudes and a mind-set of working efficiently!
Pictures of some of the more special goats were taken, some animals were milked out, ideas for future steps in the breeding program were put out there, text messages to significant others about scores of certain goats were sent, all the while getting the task at hand done with ease!
It is always good to reminded by the example of the younger Frankens that there are many great young people coming on in the Jersey breed and other parts of agriculture. I thought about the challenges any of these young people who decide to work in animal agriculture will face. They'll be radically different challenges than those faced by their parents in their growing up days or even now.
(And did I mention how good Bonnie's home-cooking is? :-)
I suspect that, even if we are unaware of the need, we all need days like our time with the Frankens to elevate our thinking to higher levels! I left with a lot of hope, thankfulness, a nicely filled tummy and a load of new energy even in the latter parts of a full and long day!
Stay ope n to the good moments that will come your way "out of the blue"!
Well....on Saturday, October 3 I got up early and headed out in rain showers for the Wingham/Teeswater, Ontario farm of Ed and Bonnie Franken and family. Now, yes, the Frankens do have some Jerseys on their farm-only natural since Ed is brother to Paul of Paullor and Mike, formerly of Ken-Fran Jerseys and John who has been involved in the breed. There are a few special brown 4-H heifers penned in their barn. The real mission, however; was the classification of 60 some head of female dairy goats and colourful-smelling bucks.
I was in a great mood heading to Frankens as we had done some goat classification training work at their farm at Easter time this past April. I had been deeply impressed by the enthusiasm, energy, work ethic and smarts of a sampling of Ed and Bonnie's seven offspring who are currently more or less between 20 and 8! And then there was Bonnie's incredible (and HIGHLY edible!!! home-cooking-so much like the food my Mother had prepared during growing up days in Nova Scotia!) They have some nifty goats too!
So my expectations of a good day were high-gloriously they were surpassed by a wide margin!
We got right down to work. Over the course of the day, six of the seven young Frankens were in the barn-working but having fun too! I must say that the younger Frankens would rival anybody in their level of organization and helpfulness. We whipped through 32 head before lunch (have I mentioned the excellence of Bonnie's home-cooking??) took a break and then went back at it. As we finished up later in the afternoon-Ed suggested that we must have done 60 or more head. I figured he was high by 10 to 15 head as it all seemed to have moved along very quickly. Once we counted-sure enough 61 head!
What refreshed me was the work ethic of these young people! Ed explained that many of the family were involved with the concrete forming/foundation business that he and Bonnie own but also pour themselves into farm work as well. I opined that no matter where the young Frankens ended up in careers they would be stand-out workers as they'd not only know how to work but also do their work with enthusiastic attitudes and a mind-set of working efficiently!
Pictures of some of the more special goats were taken, some animals were milked out, ideas for future steps in the breeding program were put out there, text messages to significant others about scores of certain goats were sent, all the while getting the task at hand done with ease!
It is always good to reminded by the example of the younger Frankens that there are many great young people coming on in the Jersey breed and other parts of agriculture. I thought about the challenges any of these young people who decide to work in animal agriculture will face. They'll be radically different challenges than those faced by their parents in their growing up days or even now.
(And did I mention how good Bonnie's home-cooking is? :-)
I suspect that, even if we are unaware of the need, we all need days like our time with the Frankens to elevate our thinking to higher levels! I left with a lot of hope, thankfulness, a nicely filled tummy and a load of new energy even in the latter parts of a full and long day!
Stay ope n to the good moments that will come your way "out of the blue"!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
It's Now October and The Royal is at Hand!
One of the absolute highlights of the Jersey Canada calendar is the National Jersey Show held at the venerable (the RAWF was "born" in 1922!!) Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario.
As we race toward the mid-November dates for this year's rendition of "The Royal" some reminders and requests from Jersey Canada are in order.
A. If you'd like the all-time perfect Christmas or otherwise gift for the Jersey lover in your life we have the answer! Jersey Canada true type Model cows are available for delivery to the Royal upon request.
We can also deliver one or two to the All American Jersey events in Louisville, Kentucky in early November if you let us know in advance. Please contact Phyllis at 519-821-1020, ext. 21 or phyllis@jerseycanada.com for more details and to place your order!
B. Again Phyllis would love to hear from anyone who would be willing to fill a brief three hour shift in the Jersey Canada booth at the RAWF. We are very much looking for willing volunteers! The booth will be staffed from Tuesday, November 10 to Sunday, November 15 so there are many opportunities to serve the breed there! Can you help Jersey Canada out? If so contact Phyllis!
C. Deadline for the three Junior Jersey Showmanship classes is Monday, October 19. Entries will be accepted from anyone 10 to 21 years of age at the time of the RAWF. See the August/Setpember Jersey Breeder (page 42) or access the application form on-line at the Youth Page of our Jersey Canada website. We've already had international entries and Canadian entries are flowing in too! Make your entries today! Thanks to Select Sires Canada for sponsoring this great class!
As we race toward the mid-November dates for this year's rendition of "The Royal" some reminders and requests from Jersey Canada are in order.
A. If you'd like the all-time perfect Christmas or otherwise gift for the Jersey lover in your life we have the answer! Jersey Canada true type Model cows are available for delivery to the Royal upon request.
We can also deliver one or two to the All American Jersey events in Louisville, Kentucky in early November if you let us know in advance. Please contact Phyllis at 519-821-1020, ext. 21 or phyllis@jerseycanada.com for more details and to place your order!
B. Again Phyllis would love to hear from anyone who would be willing to fill a brief three hour shift in the Jersey Canada booth at the RAWF. We are very much looking for willing volunteers! The booth will be staffed from Tuesday, November 10 to Sunday, November 15 so there are many opportunities to serve the breed there! Can you help Jersey Canada out? If so contact Phyllis!
C. Deadline for the three Junior Jersey Showmanship classes is Monday, October 19. Entries will be accepted from anyone 10 to 21 years of age at the time of the RAWF. See the August/Setpember Jersey Breeder (page 42) or access the application form on-line at the Youth Page of our Jersey Canada website. We've already had international entries and Canadian entries are flowing in too! Make your entries today! Thanks to Select Sires Canada for sponsoring this great class!
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