Think Border Collie Keen!

We suspect that many of our readers have had the pleasure of seeing a Border Collie dog in action working with either sheep or cattle. There are some members of the breed who fall into the category of being "hyper-enthusiastic or even over-enthusiastic"! Energy is great but sometimes those dogs just don't know when to dial it down a few notches as they "encourage" larger animals to do what they want them to do!

We've been collecting a few neat quotes of late and one of them actually related to comparing oneself to a wide-eyed, ears-up Border Collie. Our good friend Crystal Fullerton, a talented artist and student of animals and life from Central Nova Scotia, offered up these words in an recent e-mail:

"I find myself so super motivated and gleeful each and every day. I feel like a Border Collie bounding about going: Where's the work? What do I do now? Huh, huh, huh???"

I wonder how much we'd all accomplish if we has this much energy and enthusiasm and "can do" spirit flowing through our veins as we jumped into each day? To always be on the outlook for something that we can do to make the world a better place and to help others is a glorious attitude!
And yes, that kind of attitude sounds like one brimming with confidence and positivity!
What a great way to start a new year full of promise!

A couple of other great quotes have landed in my inbox in recent days!

As I was doing an "e-mail chat" with Paula England of US Jersey on December 31st we both commented on what a great year 2010 had been for the Jersey cow in North America. Paula then made a seemingly simple comment which says a lot. Her words were: "May the Jersey cow continue to bloom in 2011." Great imagery! Being at the point of blooming means that a level of maturity and development has been reached. It generally means that what you are doing looks good to others and blooming is usually a precursor to yielding fruit! We're trusting that what Paula suggested will actually happen-and likely the blooms will look different than they did in 2010 and years before that!

Speaking of people who have a decided measure of "Border Collie keenness" about them like Crystal and Paula, two folks who overflow with ideas and insights and creativity allows us to make a smooth segue. We'll now share a quote from a keen "pup" also from Nova Scotia like Crystal. That would be the one and only dairy enthusiast Reggie Dillman of Musqie Valley Farm near Musquodoboit.
In relating to the wonderful grand finale that Jersey Canada had as we counted up our year-end activity numbers and also referring to the Jersey breed in general Reggie opined: "Jerseys are the "in thing" you know. Everyone should have one. They are a must!" Our only quibble with what Reggie's comment is that perhaps it would be better to say: Everyone should have a bunch of them! For now we'll settle for all dairy people having at least one Jersey!

It pays to have your eyes wide open-you never know when someone is going to make a comment worth retaining!

And our early in the year wish for everyone who sees this posting is that you'll have a year filled with the internal keenness of a (well-trained and disciplined) Border Collie!!

The Global Jersey Tidal Wave Gains Force!

A while ago we reported that our friends at Jersey South Africa had amassed their highest classification total in history during the first ten months of 2010! As of December 31st the American Jersey Cattle Association could claim to have completed three consecutive years of registrations topping 90,000 head! This was a first time feat for US Jersey! The three years were also the very best years US Jersey has seen in a 142 year history! Here in Canada we can now say that our 2010 registrations were the best we've known since 1968! In addition our 2010 classification total landed at an all time high!

There are numerous other stories of Jersey soaring around the globe! We find each and every one inspiring and motivating....to the max!

Here's a suggestion...designate 2011 and every year thereafter as The Year of The Jersey!

What we have seen to date is simply a prologue to future greatness! Watch for more detail right here!