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2011 PURINA ALL CANADIAN WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

2012-01-13T16:18:00.000-05:00

2011 PURINA ALL CANADIAN WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Jersey Canada is pleased to announce thewinners of the 2011 Purina All Canadian Contest! Nominees in each category were selected inDecember and judging took place over the last few weeks by judges who alsojudged All-Canadian qualifying shows throughout 2011.

2011 Purina All Canadian Judges

Gary Bowers, Coaticook, QC	Pierre Boulet, Montmagny,QC
Andrew Vander Meulen, Brighton, ON	Gerald Coughlin, Peterborough, ON
Stephen Borland, Ormstown, ON	Jeff Sayles, Paris, ON
Orville Schmidt, Rollyview, AB	Kevin Jones, Midland, ON
Tom Arrowsmith, Peach Bottom, PA

The Champion Cow of the 2011 Purina AllCanadian Contest is L’Ormiere Fusion Christine, bred by Ferme L’Ormiere, Saint Justin, QC.and owned by River Valley Dairy, Tremont, IL. Christine was the Grand Champion at the 2011National Jersey Show at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

The Champion Heifer of the 2011 Purina AllCanadian Contest is Walkerbrae Comerica Nina, bred and owned byWalkerbrae Farms, Guelph, ON. Nina was the Junior Champion at the 2011 National Jersey Show at theRoyal Agricultural Winter Fair.

Photos and full show placings of the AllCanadian winners and nominees will be published in the upcoming February/Marchissue of the Canadian Jersey Breeder magazine. To book advertising space, please contact Marnie Wood as soon as possible.

Jersey Canada would like to thankAgri-Brands Purina for being the title sponsor of this year’s All CanadianContest. Jersey

Canada

would also like to thank Barney Printing for their sponsorship.

JerseyCanada est heureux de présenter les gagnants 2011 All Canadian. Les candidats ont été sélectionnés endécembre, et le vote All Canadian fut effectué en janvier. Les juges ne votant pas dans les classes oùils étaient propriétaire d’un animal.

Juges Purina All Canadian 2011

Gary Bowers, Coaticook, QC	Pierre Boulet, Montmagny,QC
Andrew Vander Meulen, Brighton, ON	Gerald Coughlin, Peterborough, ON
Stephen Borland, Ormstown, ON	Jeff Sayles, Paris, ON
Orville Schmidt, Rollyview, AB	Kevin Jones, Midland, ON
Tom Arrowsmith, Peach Bottom, PA

La VacheChampionne du concours Purina All Canadian 2011 est L’Ormiere Fusion Christine, élevéepar Ferme L’Ormiere, Saint Justin, QC, et propriété par River Valley Dairy,Tremont, IL. Christine était la GrandeChampionne de la Royal Agricultural Winter Fair 2011.

La GénisseChampionne du concours Purina All Canadian 2011 est Walkerbrae Comerica Nina, élevée et propriétépar Walkerbrae Farms, Guelph, ON. Ninaétait la Championne Junior de la Royal Agricultural Winter Fair 2011.

Les photoset résumés complets de tous les gagnants et candidates All Canadian serontpubliés dans l’édition février/mars de la revue Jersey Breeder. Contacter Marnie Wood pour réserver une annonce aussitôt quepossible.

JerseyCanada veut remercier notre généreux commanditaire titulaire, Agri-BrandsPurina, et aussi Barney Printing Ltd pour leur générosité.

The 2011 Purina All Canadians Listed ByClass

4-H Calf

All Canadian:

WILLDINA AMADEO JOLEEN

AVA DONER

Reserve All Canadian:

PAULLOR GILLER MALONE

MEGAN KRAUS

(tie)

HOMERIDGE JAMAL ANNETTE 3

COURTNEY RAY

Nominated:

DRENTEX BLACKSTAR GEN

AVONLEA JACKNIFE KRIMSON

MIXIN MOOS IATOLA CASSIE

EMMA CALDWELL

TAYLOR VANDER MEULEN

JENNA ELLIOT

4-H Yearling

All Canadian:

LOOKOUT BLACKSTONE TREASURE

ALANA MCKINVEN

Reserve All Canadian:

LOOKOUT REAGAN GLO

BROOKE MCKINVEN

Honourable Mention:

JONE'S JACKNIFE B-AWESOME

TANNER JONES

Nominated:

GLENHOLME RESS AMBROSE

TARTEN INN BUTTERKNIFE

DRENTEX REQUEST VELVET

KELLY ROSS

TRENT JONES

JENNA JAMES

Junior Calf

All Canadian:

RAPID BAY INIDIANNA GRACE ET

RAPID BAY

Reserve All Canadian:

WILLOW CREEK IATOLA MAJESTY

WILLOW CREEK JERSEYS

Honourable Mention:

GOLDEN GRANDE PRIX MIRACLE

GLEN & SHEILA BURGESS

Nominated:

MARLAU SOCRATES ARCADIOS

CHARLYN TEQUILA'S EVIL

SMITHDEN GP NUGGLES

LAURENT LAMBERT

CHARLYN JERSEYS

SLEEGERS/SMITH/EKSTEIN

Intermediate Calf

All Canadian:

MAKER VIVITAR SASSAFRASS

MAKER JERSEYS

Reserve All Canadian:

AVONLEA CF SILK ET

AVONLEA & CYBIL FISHER

Honourable Mention:

HOMERIDGE JAMAL ANNETTE

COURTNEY RAY

Nominated:

DREAMRIDGE TLH GINGER

SELECT RESS MILINA

GODALE GARCIA TORPILLE

DREAMRIDGE, TOPLINE & HURONHOLM

FERME SELECT JERSEY ET HOLSTEIN & MELANIE POTVIN

FERME GODALE SNC

Senior Calf

All Canadian:

MARLAU RESSURECTION MARGOT

FERME DROUIN ET FILS

Reserve All Canadian:

(tie)

PAULLOR GILLER MALONE

WILLDINA AMADEO JOLEEN

PAUL & LORRAINE FRANKEN

WILLDINA FARMS

Nominated:

AVONLEA JACKNIFE KRIMSON

LONE PINE ON TIME BELIEVE

SCOTTIERE TALINA MAX

AVONLEA GENETICS

AVONLEA GENETICS & ANCELMO VASCONSELLOS

FERME SCOTTIERE & AMELIE SCOTT

Summer Yearling

All Canadian:

TARTEN INN BUTTERKNIFE

TARTEN INN & JONE'S JERSEYS

Reserve All Canadian:

JONE'S JACKNIFE B-AWESOME

JONE'S JERSEYS & TARTEN INN HOLSTEINS

Honourable Mention:

FAIRVISTA AFFIRMATION FREESIA

MURRAY RUSSWORM

Nominated:

WILLOW CREEK GOVENOR TWINKLE

ROCKELLA KONFIDENCE NONSENSE

LOOKOUT CC ADORABLE

WILLOW CREEK JERSEYS

PAUL & LORRAINE FRANKEN

LOOKOUT

Junior Yearling

All Canadian:

LOOKOUT BLACKSTONE TREASURE

LOOKOUT & FJS

Reserve All Canadian:

LOOKOUT REAGAN GLO

LOOKOUT, RAPID BAY, COURTNEY MCLEAN

Honourable Mention:

GLENHOLME RESS AMBROSE

ROBERT & BRUCE MELLOW

Nominated:

WILLOW CREEK SULTAN RUBIE

SELECT GRAND PRIX TIF

HOMERIDGE GLASCOW VIOLET

WILLOW CREEK JERSEYS & JEFF WEST

AVONLEA GENETICS & NELSON EDUARDO ZIEHLSDORFF

FERME BLUE STAR, JEAN-LUC LAROSE

Intermediate Yearling

All Canadian:

WALKERBRAE COMERICA NINA

WALKERBRAE FARMS

Reserve All Canadian:

ALAND JACKNIFE AMY

ALAN & JULIE CUNNINGTON

Honourable Mention:

MISS TRIPLE-T SERENITY ET

TRIPLE-T & COLTON THOMAS

Nominated:

HURONIA VINCENT MINDY

AVONLEA CF BABY BREEZE ET

GRETZ REMAKE MISSY - ET

ROBERT JARRELL

AVONLEA & CYBIL FISHER

JAKE & ANNIE VANDER MEULEN

Milking Yearling

All Canadian:

MARLAU COMERICA FABIENNE

LOOKOUT, N SUITOR, G. VANCE, FJS

Reserve All Canadian:

PLEASANT NOOK SULTAN JETTA

PLEASANT NOOK

Honourable Mention:

BRIDON SD ZORA

BRIDON FARMS INC

Nominated:

RJF COMERICA COMEBACK

SPRINGERHILL PRALINES

CRANHOLME HG PATSY

ROBERT JARRELL

SPRINGERHILL FARMS

HOLLYLANE JERSEYS & ED MCMORROW

Junior Two

All Canadian:

ROZEVIEW GUAPO RAMBLE

C. FISHER, P. JONES. S. HONEY & AVONLEA GENETICS

Reserve All Canadian:

WOODSVIEW EXCITATION TRACY

GRETA & TERA KOEBEL

Honourable Mention:

DOUBLE ROSE A PRIME ANNA

BUDJON FARMS & PETER VAIL

Nominated:

LENCREST LAST DANCE

BRIDGEVIEW EXCITATION CASSIE

ROBINDALE SULTAN JUANITA

LENCREST

BRIDGEVIEW FARM

LOOKOUT & JEFFREY ROSS

Senior Two

All Canadian:

LAURICK GILLER MISSIE

WILLIAM MCKAY, DUSTY & NICOLE SCHIRM & RICK BREWER & FAMILY

Reserve All Canadian:

RAPID BAY CONNECTION DORELLE

RAPID BAY

Honourable Mention:

PLEASANT NOOK HAPPY BIRTHDAY

PLEASANT NOOK

Nominated:

RJF BELLA'S JEWEL

RAPID BAY CONNECTION SHASTA

RAPID BAY GORGEOUS GOODNESS

ROBERT JARRELL

RAPID BAY

Junior Three

All Canadian:

BRIDON EXPLOIT TWIRL

BRIDON FARMS INC

Reserve All Canadian:

MAPLE RIDGE GOLDEN GIRL

HOLLYLANE JERSEYS & ED MCMORROW

Honourable Mention:

LOOKOUT COMERICA NESTEA

LOOKOUT & FJS

Nominated:

PENNINSULA EXCITING KATE

KOOKABEAR OF AVONLEA ET

PARKVIEW C-GAR HARPER ET

JANE & ANNIE VANDER MEULEN

AVONLEA GENETICS & ARCADIA FARMS

L. ELLA & HOLLYLANE

Senior Three

All Canadian:

GENESIS EXCVATE JADE

LAURENT LAMBERT

Reserve All Canadian:

CHARLYN NEVADA EMMA

CHARLYN JERSEYS

Honourable Mention:

GOLDEN CONNECTION DOMAINE

GLEN & SHEILA BURGESS

Nominated:

MORDALE BRC MONA

MARBRO JEFF KELLYANNE

PLEASANT NOOK COMERICA FUTURE

GREG MORTSON

MARBRO FARMS

PLEASANT NOOK

Four Year Old

All Canadian:

HILLACRES MORRAE MARYLAND

BUDJON FARMS & PETER VAIL

Reserve All Canadian:

LOOKOUT RES BELLA

LOOKOUT & FJS

Honourable Mention:

BRIDON GROVE BETSY

BRIDON FARMS INC

Nominated:

SENN-SATIONAL ACTION MELODY

SLEEGERHOLM CONNECTED TONUGGY

AVONLEA COMERICA BACARDI

C. FISHER, P.JONES & AVONLEA GENETICS

MIKE SLEEGERS, BECKY QUICKFALL & ARI EKSTEIN

RAPID BAY

Five Year Old

All Canadian:

L'ORMIERE FUSION CHRISTINE

CHRISTINE DESROSIENS, JULIEN & CHARLES ANTOINE SICOUD

Reserve All Canadian:

BRENBE GILLER ZAMBUCA

LOOKOUT, RAPID BAY, WILLY & JO TEMPLETON

Honourable Mention:

HURONIA RBR BREE

ROBERT JARRELL

Nominated:

WILLOW CREEK JACE GOLD WILMA

VANDENBERG SOCRATES DINA

ENNISKILLEN RESEPCT SUZY

WILLOW CREEK

AVONLEA GENETICS & CYBIL FISHER

ENNISKILLEN JERSEYS

Mature Cow

All Canadian:

WINDRIFT PLUM BREEZE SARAH

TRIPLE-T, HEATH, BARBEE & KELLER

Reserve All Canadian:

GLEN CARO NAN 2

TRENT VALLEY, CYBIL FISHER & JADON MELL

Honourable Mention:

VANDENBERG AMEDEO NATASHA

LOOKOUT, FJS, ALANA MCKINVEN

Nominated:

HURONIA SD NATASHA

LENCREST TOWNSHIP GLOW

HURONIA CONNECTION MYSTERY 54P

BRIDON FARMS INC

LENCREST

LENCREST, NOGUEIRA DE CAMPOS, ZIEHLSDORFF

Junior Herd

All Canadian:

LOOKOUT

Reserve All Canadian:

WILLOW CREEK

Honourable Mention:

AVONLEA

Breeder’s Herd

All Canadian:

LOOKOUT

Reserve All Canadian:

BRIDON

Honourable Mention:

PLEASANT NOOK

Nominated:

JAKE & ANNIE VANDER MEULEN

AVONLEA

LENCREST

Jersey Canada's 2011 Registry Activity Highest in 40 Years

2012-01-03T14:57:00.000-05:00

Thanks inpart to a surge in registrations at year-end, Jersey Canada has processed the mostregistrations in over four decades in 2011. During December alone, a whopping 895registrations were processed, bringing the 2011 total to 8445 Jerseys registered for the year – 88 more registrations than2010, representing the most registrations processed since 1968.

There hasbeen a significant increase in electronic registrations over the past fiveyears, as Jersey Canadamembers take advantage of the efficiency which comes from filing theirregistrations online, or through Valacta and CanWest DHI. In 2006, 33% of registrations were received electronically. The percentage of electronically filedregistrations has more than doubled in 2011 to 68%.

Theactivity at the Jersey Canada registry desk is proof positive that Jerseys continue to gain a stronger and stronger footholdin the Canadian dairy industry. As thenumber of registered Jerseys continues to increase across the country, Jersey Canada looks forwardwith great anticipation to the many new opportunities which lie ahead in 2012!

2011 Purina All Canadian Nominations

2011-12-23T16:13:00.000-05:00

2011 Purina All Canadian Nominations

Following a selection meeting with a subset of the AllCanadian judging panel, Jersey Canadais pleased to announce the following nominees for the 2011 Purina All Canadian Competition.Judging will take place over the next few weeks and the All Canadian winnerswill be announced in late January. Agri-Brands Purina is the title sponsor ofthe All Canadian contest, with additional sponsorship from Barney Printing.

NAME OF ANIMAL	EXHIBITOR
4-H CALF
AVONLEA JACKNIFE KRIMSON	TAYLOR VANDER MEULEN
DRENTEX BLACKSTAR GEN	EMMA CALDWELL
HOMERIDGE JAMAL ANNETTE 3	COURTNEY RAY
MIXIN MOOS IATOLA CASSIE	JENNA ELLIOT
PAULLOR GILLER MALONE	MEGAN KRAUS
WILLDINA AMADEO JOLEEN	WILLDINA FARMS

4-H YEARLING
DRENTEX REQUEST VELVET	JENNA JAMES
GLENHOLME RESS AMBROSE	KELLY ROSS, RUSSELL, ON
JONE'S JACKNIFE B-AWESOME	JONE'S JERSEYS & TARTEN INN JERSEYS
LOOKOUT BLACKSTONE TREASURE	LOOKOUT & FJS
LOOKOUT REAGAN GLO	LOOKOUT, RAPID BAY, COURTNEY MCLEAN
TARTEN INN BUTTERKNIFE	TARTEN INN & JONE'S JERSEYS

JUNIOR CALF
CHARLYN TEQUILA'S EVIL	CHARLYN JERSEYS
GOLDEN GRANDE PRIX MIRACLE	GLEN & SHEILA BURGESS
MARLAU SOCRATES ARCADIOS	LAURENT LAMBERT
RAPID BAY INIDIANNA GRACE ET	RAPID BAY
SMITHDEN GP NUGGLES	SLEEGERS/SMITH/EKSTEIN
WILLOW CREEK IATOLA MAJESTY	WILLOW CREEK JERSEYS

INTERMEDIATE CALF
AVONLEA CF SILK ET	AVONLEA & CYBIL FISHER
DREAMRIDGE TLH GINGER	DREAMRIDGE, TOPLINE & HURONHOLM
GODALE GARCIA TORPILLE	FERME GODALE SNC
HOMERIDGE JAMAL ANNETTE	COURTNEY RAY
MAKER VIVITAR SASSAFRASS	MAKER JERSEYS
SELECT RESS MILINA	FERME SELECT JERSEY ET HOLSTEIN & MELANIE POTVIN

SENIOR CALF
AVONLEA JACKNIFE KRIMSON	AVONLEA GENETICS
LONE PINE ON TIME BELIEVE	AVONLEA GENETICS & ANCELMO VASCONSELLOS
MARLAU RESSURECTION MARGOT	FERME DROUIN ET FILS
PAULLOR GILLER MALONE	PAUL & LORRAINE FRANKEN
SCOTTIERE TALINA MAX	FERME SCOTTIERE & AMELIE SCOTT
WILLDINA AMADEO JOLEEN	WILLDINA FARMS

SUMMER YEARLING
FAIRVISTA AFFIRMATION FREESIA	MURRAY RUSSWORM
JONE'S JACKNIFE B-AWESOME	JONE'S JERSEYS & TARTEN INN HOLSTEINS
LOOKOUT CC ADORABLE	LOOKOUT
ROCKELLA KONFIDENCE NONSENSE	PAUL & LORRAINE FRANKEN
TARTEN INN BUTTERKNIFE	TARTEN INN & JONE'S JERSEYS
WILLOW CREEK GOVENOR TWINKLE	WILLOW CREEK JERSEYS

JUNIOR YEARLING
GLENHOLME RESS AMBROSE	ROBERT & BRUCE MELLOW
HOMERIDGE GLASCOW VIOLET	FERME BLUE STAR, JEAN-LUC LAROSE
LOOKOUT BLACKSTONE TREASURE	LOOKOUT & EJS
LOOKOUT REAGAN GLO	LOOKOUT, RAPID BAY, COURTNEY MCLEAN
SELECT GRAND PRIX TIF	AVONLEA GENETICS & NELSON EDUARDO ZIEHLSDORFF
WILLOW CREEK SULTAN RUBIE	WILLOW CREEK JERSEYS & JEFF WEST

INTERMEDIATE YEARLING
ALAND JACKNIFE AMY	ALAN & JULIE CUNNINGTON
AVONLEA CF BABY BREEZE ET	AVONLEA & CYBIL FISHER
GRETZ REMAKE MISSY - ET	JAKE & ANNIE VANDER MEULEN
HURONIA VINCENT MINDY	ROBERT JARRELL
MISS TRIPLE-T SERENITY ET	TRIPLE-T & COLTON THOMAS
WALKERBRAE COMERICA NINA	WALKERBRAE FARMS

MILKING YEARLING
BRIDON SD ZORA	BRIDON FARMS INC
CRANHOLME HG PATSY	HOLLYLANE JERSEYS & ED MCMORROW
MARLAU COMERICA FABIENNE	LOOKOUT, N SUITOR, G. VANCE, FJS
PLEASANT NOOK SULTAN JETTA	PLEASANT NOOK
RJF COMERICA COMEBACK	ROBERT JARRELL
SPRINGERHILL PRALINES	SPRINGERHILL FARMS

JUNIOR TWO
BRIDGEVIEW EXCITATION CASSIE	BRIDGEVIEW FARM
DOUBLE ROSE A PRIME ANNA	BUDJON FARMS & PETER VAIL
LENCREST LAST DANCE	LENCREST
ROBINDALE SULTAN JUANITA	LOOKOUT & JEFFREY ROSS
ROZEVIEW GUAPO RAMBLE	C. FISHER, P. JONES. S. HONEY & AVONLEA GENETICS
WOODSVIEW EXCITATION TRACY	GRETA & TERA KOEBEL

SENIOR TWO
LAURICK GILLER MISSIE	WILLIAM MCKAY, DUSTY & NICOLE SCHIRM & RICK BREWER & FAMILY
PLEASANT NOOK HAPPY BIRTHDAY	PLEASANT NOOK
RAPID BAY CONNECTION DORELLE	RAPID BAY
RAPID BAY CONNECTION SHASTA	RAPID BAY
RAPID BAY GORGEOUS GOODNESS	RAPID BAY
RJF BELLA'S JEWEL	ROBERT JARRELL

JUNIOR THREE
BRIDON EXPLOIT TWIRL	BRIDON FARMS INC
KOOKABEAR OF AVONLEA ET	AVONLEA GENETICS & ARCADIA FARMS
LOOKOUT COMERICA NESTEA	LOOKOUT & FJS
MAPLE RIDGE GOLDEN GIRL	HOLLYLANE JERSEYS & ED MCMORROW
PARKVIEW C-GAR HARPER ET	L. ELLA & HOLLYLANE
PENNINSULA EXCITING KATE	JANE & ANNIE VANDER MEULEN

SENIOR THREE
CHARLYN NEVADA EMMA	CHARLYN JERSEYS
GENESIS EXCVATE JADE	LAURENT LAMBERT
GOLDEN CONNECTION DOMAINE	GLEN & SHEILA BURGESS
MARBRO JEFF KELLYANNE	MARBRO FARMS
MORDALE BRC MONA	GREG MORTSON
PLEASANT NOOK COMERICA FUTURE	PLEASANT NOOK

FOUR YEAR OLD
AVONLEA COMERICA BACARDI	RAPID BAY
BRIDON GROVE BETSY	BRIDON FARMS INC
HILLACRES MORRAE MARYLAND	BUDJON FARMS & PETER VAIL
LOOKOUT RES BELLA	LOOKOUT & FJS
SENN-SATIONAL ACTION MELODY	C. FISHER, P.JONES & AVONLEA GENETICS
SLEEGERHOLM CONNECTED TONUGGY	MIKE SLEEGERS, BECKY QUICKFALL & ARI EKSTEIN

FIVE YEAR OLD
BRENBE GILLER ZAMBUCA	LOOKOUT, RAPID BAY, WILLY & JO TEMPLETON
ENNISKILLEN RESEPCT SUZY	ENNISKILLEN JERSEYS
HURONIA RBR BREE	ROBERT JARRELL
L'ORMIERE FUSION CHRISTINE	CHRISTINE DESROSIENS, JULIEN & CHARLES ANTOINE SICOUD
VANDENBERG SOCRATES DINA	AVONLEA GENETICS & CYBIL FISHER
WILLOW CREEK JACE GOLD WILMA	WILLOW CREEK

MATURE COW
GLEN CARO NAN 2	TRENT VALLEY, CYBIL FISHER & JADON MELL
HURONIA CONNECTION MYSTERY 54P	LENCREST, NOGUEIRA DE CAMPOS, ZIEHLSDORFF
HURONIA SD NATASHIA	BRIDON FARMS INC
LENCREST TOWNSHIP GLOW	LENCREST GARY & MAUREEN BOWERS
VANDENBERG AMEDEO NATASHA	LOOKOUT, FJS, ALANA MCKINVEN
WINDRIFT PLUM BREEZE SARAH	TRIPLE-T, HEATH, BARBEE & KELLER

JUNIOR HERD
AVONLEA
LOOKOUT
WILLOW CREEK

BREEDERS HERD
AVONLEA
BRIDON
JAKE & ANNIE VANDER MEULEN
LENCREST
LOOKOUT
PLEASANT NOOK

Frank Stenger Inducted in Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame

2011-11-08T08:51:00.000-05:00

2011 Inductees to Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame

Guelph, ON [November 7, 2011] – Influential Canadians Dr. David Chalack, Laurent Souligny and Frank Stenger have joined the ranks of Canada’s most exceptional individuals as the 2011 inductees into the prestigious Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. The formal induction ceremony took place November 6, 2011 at the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame awards banquet in Toronto, Ontario.

“This year’s inductees have added significantly to the strength and development of Canada’s agricultural industry,” says Cam Dahl, president of the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association (CAHFA). “Through leadership and a lifelong commitment to a vibrant agricultural sector, David Chalack, Laurent Souligny and Frank Stenger continue their work and dedication to Canadian agriculture. CAHFA proudly recognizes their contributions with this highest honour.”

Dr. David Chalack

Nominated by the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association

Dr. Chalack began his journey in agriculture on the home farm in Bearspaw, and his formal education in a one-room school near Cochrane, Alberta.

David has been a champion for improved cattle genetics and for all sectors of agriculture. He campaigned for changes in Holstein breeding, emphasizing the “harmonious blending of parts” that an animal needs for a longer productive life. He has been instrumental in attracting investment in genomics research and bringing to Canada the best scientists to work for the improvement of Canadian livestock.

Recognizing the need for a good animal care model, David championed the development of a new animal welfare policy for the Calgary Stampede that includes an independent review and active engagement of the public. This model is now being copied by other exhibitions.

David is a governance leader. He has recognized the need for strong leadership within farm and industry organizations, and has worked to ensure our industry is led by talented and well-trained directors and staff who can work together. Through his 4-H, Holstein and Stampede connections, both professional and volunteer, David continues to motivate and inspire people to be the best they can be.

Laurent Souligny

Nominated by Egg Farmers of Canada

Laurent Souligny has spent most of his life directly involved in agriculture, much of it based in St. Isidore, Ontario, the home of the Souligny farm and a community where he and his wife Hélène still reside.

Laurent started farming in 1964 and in 1973 became involved in farm organizations when he joined the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. His advocacy on behalf of Canadian farmers continued, ultimately leading to Laurent becoming the Chair of Egg Farmers of Canada, a position he held for 11 years. He served as a member of the Board of Egg Farmers of Canada for 24 years.

Laurent’s goal as Chairman of Egg Farmers of Canada was to ensure a strong future for every part of the egg industry in Canada. He represented egg producers both in Canada as well as internationally, frequently travelling abroad to defend the interests of the sector. Laurent’s tireless work on behalf of his industry led to his selection as Chair of the organization representing the five supply-managed industries.

Laurent’s work on disease mitigation led to the Start Clean-Stay Clean™ program, the egg industry’s HACCP-based, on-farm food safety system – a program that is considered among the best in the world. Laurent helped establish Egg Farmers of Canada as a leader in traceability. He was instrumental in ensuring that egg producers are adequately compensated when disease does strike, a fact that will benefit generations to come.

Laurent reached out to international bodies such as the United Egg Producers to help promote scientific research on the nutritional benefits of eggs. In 2010 he oversaw the creation of a special research Chair at the Université Laval that focuses on the economics of egg production. The Research Chair on the Economics of Egg Production helps explore issues like the benefits of improved disease control, the potential impacts of international trade agreements, and the costs and benefits associated with reducing the carbon footprint of the egg industry. A research chair focused on nutrition is soon to be established because of his focus on research.

Laurent Souligny’s legacy in Canadian agriculture will continue to grow well into the future.

Frank Stenger

Nominated by Jersey Canada

Frank Stenger’s life story and that of his family is a classic example of what is possible in the agricultural industry within Canada. Hard work, persistence and smart decisions by this German immigrant not only fashioned a good life for the Stenger family but created growth and opportunity for his chosen country.

Frank is the breeder of the world-famous Enniskillen Jersey herd, a Master Breeder herd that has been the source of superior seed and foundation stock for domestic and foreign buyers for over five decades.

Frank began a lifetime of involvement in breed association activities over 60 years ago when he was elected as a director of the local Jersey association in the Durham region. Frank’s work in dairy breed improvement combined with his marketing efforts helped open the international marketplace for Canadian livestock genetics. Even today, Frank, in his mid-80s, is influencing others to turn to Canada again for their genetics needs.

As a former 4-H and Junior Farmer member, Frank never lost his zest for working with young people. A steady stream of youth from across Canada and around the world have called Enniskillen Farm their summer “home away from home” and have learned how to work hard and grow in their knowledge of agriculture while there.

Frank Stenger’s decades of successful devotion to improving the lot of fellow Canadian farmers and agriculturalists in other countries truly provides an example for those who follow in his footsteps.

The Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association honours and celebrates Canadians for outstanding contributions to the agriculture and food industry. Portraits are on display in the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Gallery located at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The CAHFA also publicizes the importance of inductee achievements to Canada. The CAHFA was organized in 1960 and is administered by 12 volunteer Board of Directors located across Canada. www.cahfa.com

For more information, contact:

Cam Dahl

President, CAHFA

Tel: (204) 803-4196

c_b_dahl@hotmail.com

Judy Shaw

Vice-President, CAHFA

Tel: 519-837-5328

judy.shaw@syngenta.com

First Canadian Jersey Export to Russia

2011-10-19T09:02:00.000-04:00

First Jersey Exportation to Russia

120 Canadian Registered Jersey Heifers left Becancour, Quebec October 1^st, 2011 for the port of Novorossiysk,

Russian Federation

. Their Journey on board the M/V Murray Express is scheduled for 23 days.

The Russian buyer requested that the heifers be bred to polled Jersey bulls and plans to utilize the offspring in a crossbreeding program with the native Yaroslavl cattle that are currently in production on one of their farms. The Yaroslavl cattle are smaller framed and only produce an average of 3000 kg of milk annually and the owners believe that the introduction of the Jerseys to this herd will maintain lower frame size while increasing production and introducing the polled characteristics.

The exporter Alta Exports International of Calgary, Alberta would like to acknowledge and express their appreciation to all concerned in this historical exportation including the Canadian Jersey Breeders, Walker Dairy Farms and CFIA for their support.

Canadian Jersey heifers on board the M/V Murray Express, destined for Novorossiysk, Russian Federation.

Russian buyer from Agrofirma Russia with Kate Kolstad of Alta Exports International Ltd.

Ms. Kate Kolstad - Vice President

Alta Exports International Ltd.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Phone: 403-861-8311

email: info@altaexports.com

www.altaexports.com

Premières exportations de Jerseys vers la Russie

120 génisses Jerseys canadiennes enregistrées ont quitté Bécancour, Québec le 1^e octobre 2011 à destination du port de Novorossiysk, en Russie. Leur voyage à bord du M/V Murray Express devrait durer 23 jours.

L’acheteur russe a demandé que les génisses soient saillies avec des taureaux Jerseys acères et il planifie utiliser la progéniture dans un programme d’accouplement croisé avec le bétail indigène Yaroslavl, présentement en production sur une de leurs fermes. Les animaux Yaroslavl ont un plus petit gabarit et ne produisent en moyenne que 3000 kg de lait par année. Les propriétaires croient que la venue des Jerseys dans le troupeau aidera celui-ci à maintenir une petite taille tout en augmentant la production et introduisant le trait acère.

L’exportateur, Alta Exports International, de Calgary, Alberta aimerait remercier chaleureusement tous ceux qui ont participé à cette exportation historique dont les éleveurs Jerseys canadiens, Walker Dairy Farms et l’ACIA pour leur appui.

Les génisses Jerseys canadiennes à bord du M/V Murray Express, à destination de Novorossiysk, Russie.

L’acheteur russe d’Agrofirma Russia avec Kate Kolstad de Alta Exports International Ltd.

Ms. Kate Kolstad – Vice-Présidente
Alta Exports International Ltd.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Téléphone: 403-861-8311
courriel: info@altaexports.com
www.altaexports.com

Ground Breaking for Miller's Dairy in Creemore, ON

2011-08-18T09:53:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Jersey Canada members John and Marie Miller and family of Jalon Jerseys in Creemore, Ontario held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new on-farm processing venture called Miller's Dairy. They will be bottling milk from their all-Jersey herd and selling it in their local area, including Barrie, Wasaga Beach, and Collingwood. They will produce a full line of bottled milk in both glass and plastic bottles, as well as chocolate milk and fluid creams.

The Millers are being mentored by Maple Line Jerseys of Massachusetts in this venture with cooperation from Dairy Farmers Ontario under their Operation Farm Gate program.

Here are some photos from the day:

Newly redesigned website for Lencrest Jerseys!

2011-07-30T14:21:00.002-04:00

Lencrest Jerseys has refreshed/redesigned their website, hosted by Jersey Canada. It can be found at www.jerseycanada.com/lencrest and is available in both English and French!

Perth-Huron Club Sale: August 3rd

2011-07-18T11:08:00.000-04:00

IN NEED OF FALL MILK?

Plan to attend the annual Perth Huron Jersey Club Sale on August 3, 2011 at Carson's Sale Arena, Listowel, Ontario.

If you are interested in purchasing any Jerseys, they hope to have around 40 head, with the majority being at full flow of milk! However there will be some heifers. They typically have consigments from local club members (such as Huronia, Jaspar, Paullor, Genesis, Low Rich, Maker) as well as having consignments from other well-known herds across Ontario.

If you have any consigments that you would like to make, commission is only 12%, and consigments should be given to:

Kerry Fraser 519-503-8224 (or email) or
Paul Franken 519-482-5008 or
sent directly to Carsons, before August to get into the catalogue.

If you send your consignments in the next week or so, we may be able to get them advertised for you in the Ontario Farmer! Consignments need to be at Carsons (in the flesh) by Monday August 1st.
The Sales begins at 11:30am on the 3rd, and if you are unable to attend but wish to place bids, please call Kerry Fraser at 519-503-8224.

Un beaume sur 2010 pour Les Bergeries du Fjord

2011-06-08T13:39:00.002-04:00

Below is a link to a story in La Presse (in French) about Les Bergeries du Fjord who produce a high quality Jersey cheese that is winning awards!

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-quotidien/actualites/201106/08/01-4407138-un-beaume-sur-2010-pour-les-bergeries-du-fjord.php

Congratulations to the group at Du Fjord on these accomplishments!

Shady Glen Jerseys - Open House!

2011-05-30T10:22:00.002-04:00

Shady Glen Jersey Open House
Date: Saturday, June 25, 2011
Time: 10-3
Where: Kevin and Carolyn Jones' farm
1489 Ron Jones Road,
Midland (Tay Township), Ontario

While researching for this barn, we found it somewhat difficult to find "Jersey Dimensions" for freestall barns and parlors, so this is a good chance for anyone thinking of building or renovating to see how it worked out for us. It is also a good chance to see how the partnership of the Chasena and Shady Glen herds is going!

Note: This also doubles as the 400 Jersey Clubs Annual Picnic.

Announcement from Board of Directors

2011-05-09T13:47:00.000-04:00

The Board of Directors of Jersey Canada announces that Russell Gammon will be leaving Jersey Canada on May 31st after 30 years of service to the association. The Board and staff of Jersey Canada would like to extend their thanks, congratulations and best wishes to Russell on his new role as Jersey Program Manager with the Semex Alliance.

The board is currently researching and assessing the structure of the Jersey office and will be updating the membership as they move forward. In the interim, Phyllis Harrington will serve as Office Manager and policy questions should be directed to your regional director.

In appreciation of his 30 years of outstanding service, Jersey Canada will be making a donation to Russell’s favorite charity, Partners for Purpose, which supports literacy education and other development projects in Haiti. Anyone wishing to donate in honour of Russell can do so at the office or online at www.partnerswithpurpose.com

Adrian Haeni
President, Jersey Canada

Bridon Farms website updated!

2011-05-03T15:05:00.001-04:00

Be sure to visit www.jerseycanada.com/bridon to see the newly updated Bridon Farms website! Bridon Farms are the 2011 Jersey Canada Master Breeders!

revised website for Hometown Jerseys

2011-04-28T10:29:00.000-04:00

Hometown Jerseys (Neil and Melanie Hunter) have recently revised their website!

The entire site is now available in both English and French and there is additional information on some of their top genomic stars, such as Aruba, Ambrosia and Action Baby. Check them out at www.jerseycanada.com/hometown!

Thinking Productivity in Jerseyland

2011-04-25T11:42:00.002-04:00

NATIONAL JERSEY PRODUCTION AVERAGE

The latest national average production figures for Jersey were released recently. The 2010 national average is as follows: (based on publishable lactations only)

9,884 lactations:
6,559 kgs of milk,
317 kgs of fat (4.86%),
248 kgs of protein (3.80%)
average BCAs of 218-195-217

This average represents the highest totals ever for milk, fat and protein yield and BCAs for all three yield items.

In pounds these totals are: 14,463 milk, 699 fat and 547 protein. (305 day actual production)

Previous records for milk were set in 2008 (6,435), fat in 2002 (310), and protein in 2002 (245).

The increases from 2009 were: 188 kgs of milk (3.0%); 8 kgs of fat (2.6%); 6 kilos of protein (2.5%).

Our strategic plan (Jersey Impact) calls for annual increases of 5% for each of fat and protein yield. The 2010 increases (achieved prior to the formulation of the plan) are at about exactly half that targeted increase.

In relation to the other six dairy breeds, Jerseys rank:

6^th for milk yield
3^rd for fat yield
1^st for fat percent
4^th for protein yield
1^st for protein percent
2^nd for milk BCA
6^th for fat BCA
3^rd for protein BCA

For combined kilos of fat plus protein, the Jersey breed ranks third at 565 kgs. Holstein at 686 and Brown Swiss at 626 are superior at the moment.

The number of publishable lactations for the Jersey breed has risen every year since 2006, which is understandable with lower live exports in this period. The 2010 total is the highest since 1997.

Had the Jersey breed been ticking along at 5.0% annual increases for fat and protein yields as targeted in our strategic plan for later years the increases for fat and protein would have been 16 kgs fat and 12 kgs for protein. This is compared to our 2010 noted increases of 8 kgs of fat and 6 kgs of protein.

We have been reminded repeatedly that if the Jersey cow were to have a higher average productivity for both fat and protein yield and some modest improvement in fat and protein percents demand for the breed would be at even higher levels. Generally people are not suggesting that the breed needs extreme or unrealistic gains in per cow productivity. Rather more progress than we are making today.

Let’s project where the breed could be in three years if the annual increases in fat and protein yield were at 5.0%.

- Starting points as of 2010: 317 kgs of fat and 248 kgs of protein. 565 kgs of fat plus protein.

- With 5% increases every year 2010, 2012, 2013 the breed would be at levels of 368 kgs of fat and 288 kgs of protein.

- In an interesting twist of events, this would put us almost at the 2010 industry-leading level for fat production for Holstein and at the 2010 second-place level for Brown Swiss protein production.

In this instance the combined kgs of fat plus protein would be 656. This would be right between the 2010 Holstein and Brown Swiss totals of 686 and 626 respectively.

Defining Jersey as the solids cow requires a balance of percentages of components and yield of fat and protein.

All things are possible; it is simply a matter of will within the breed to see the Jersey cow capture and seize a even more competitive place within the Canadian dairy industry. Improved kgs of fat plus protein production while maintaining good percentages would do that job!

Are we up to and ready for the challenge?

Canadian Jersey genetics shine in New Zealand!

2011-03-02T12:55:00.000-05:00

The membership and leaders of Jersey New Zealand hosted an extraordinarily successful International Conference of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau during February. One of the highlights of post-conference tours in both the North and South Islands was the New Zealand Dairy Event held at Feilding on the North Island from February 16 to 18.

A special Jersey show was held at the Dairy Event this year as a large crowd of delegates took part in a series of enticing post-conference tours. Pat Nicholson of the well-known Jugiong herd in Northern Victoria in Australia served as a very capable judge. At the superb show stadium at Feilding, international Jersey visitors and New Zealand dairy producers were once again forcefully reminded of the ongoing excellence of Canadian Jersey genetics. A bevy of top-placing animals carried Canadian genetics close up in their pedigrees.

The highly appealing Supreme All New Zealand Show Jersey Champion and Best Uddered Jersey was Carrondale ES Lindy, exhibited by Bradley Parkes and bred by Jack and Jo Davies, long-term Jersey supporters and breeders who farm near Hamilton. Lindy is a maternal grand-daughter of Canadian-bred Rock Ella Paramount, marketed by Select Sires.

Following Lindy into the winners circle was Ferdon Comerica Viyella, a top-notch Two Year Old leading the stunning exhibit of her breeders and exhibitors, the Ferguson Family of Ferdon Genetics. This heifer was the All-Breeds Junior Champion at the Dairy Event in 2010. She came roaring back in milking form this year to take the following top honours:

Jersey and All Breeds Intermediate Champion after topping both Two Year Old classes;

fourth best uddered cow in Jersey and All Breeds classes; and

Reserve Grand Champion in the Jersey show.

Comerica Viyella is a daughter of Canadian sire Bridon Remake Comerica, marketed by the Semex Alliance. Her dam, Ferdon Folly’s Viyella, is sired by a son of Canadian sire Giprat Belles Jade from Rapid Bay Sires. Folly’s Viyella was herself very successful in the show as she was first in the Jersey and All Breeds Six and Seven Year Old in-milk classes, second in the best uddered Jersey class and was named Reserve Senior Champion in the Jersey show.

Other daughters of Semex Alliance sires Bridon Remake Comerica, Pine Haven Senior and Rock Ella Perimiter featured in the top five places in strong in-milk Jersey classes.

Canadian Jersey genetics were also a strong feature of heifer classes at the Dairy Event, with Ferdon Bstone Lola, the Junior Champion of the Jersey show, being one of three daughters of Semex sire Lencrest Blackstone in the top five in the Junior Yearling Class. Lola was also second in the All Breeds Junior Yearling class. Her dam is by a son of renowned Canadian sire Hollylane Renaissance (from Hollylane Jerseys). Lola is again owned and bred by the Ferguson family of Ferdon Genetics.

More Canadian connections could be found across the heifer classes, with numerous top five placings by Canadian sires Bridon Remake Comerica, Rock Ella Perimiter, Lencrest On Time, Vindication and Rapid Bay Ressurection.

Canada is pleased and always ready to help sister Jersey populations breed the kind of Jerseys that are making the breed more popular around the globe on a daily basis!

Jersey Canada's growth ramps up with 1000 new herd prefixes registered!

2011-03-02T12:52:00.002-05:00

Dairy industry participants in North America know that great and revolutionary happenings are taking place with the Jersey breed with stunning rapidity! Further proof of roaring Jersey progress can be found in some new information just announced by Jersey Canada.

After reviewing 2011 activity statistics to the end of February, Jersey Canada is thrilled to announce that a grand total of 1,002 new herd prefixes have been registered since January 2004!!

Digging into the story behind the story reveals that over 825 (82%) of these new herd prefixes have been registered since January 2006. This statistic provides strong evidence that Jersey Canada's National Extension Program (born in 2006) is working very well!

Jersey Canada regards registration of a herd prefix as evidence that a new Jersey owner intends to begin registering Jersey animals. Herd prefix registration stats are therefore used as a key indicator of more sustained growth in the ranks of Jersey owners in Canada.

The association has celebrated other recent milestones, including the highest number of registrations since 1968 in 2010 and the best two years for memberships since 1966/1967 in 2009/2010. Jersey Canada is now poised for further exciting growth as expanding numbers of dairy producers move to invest in Jerseys for their dairying future!

Russell receives a Distinguished Service Award from the WJCB!

2011-02-23T15:52:00.000-05:00

A full press release will follow, but check out the coverage on Dairy Agenda Today!

Think Border Collie Keen!

2011-01-04T11:19:00.002-05:00

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!

2011-01-02T12:34:00.002-05:00

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!

A Reflection on Change

2010-12-27T17:02:00.008-05:00

In the days leading up to Christmas an American friend forwarded a very neat and old booklet to us. The booklet was published by the then American Jersey Cattle Club. Back in the day, the AJCC was head-quartered in New York City. When this booklet was published the AJCC offices were on West 23rd street in Manhattan.
The booklet represented a celebration of the Excellent Jersey cow. In fonts in heavy use in the era the proclamation on the cover read: " A Jersey "Excellent" is the Living Model of the Cow Beautiful."
The subtitle for the booklet was: Jerseys on Parade.

All photos in the booklet carried the stamp of famed cattle photographers Strohmeyer and Carpenter.

The booklet was created over half a century ago. Included in the contents are photos of 50 Excellent cows and four Excellent proven sires. Production credits are listed for each cow.

And what stands out in the booklet when viewed with 2010 eyes?
The following:

-The cows have proportionately more fore udder and less rear udder than today's Jersey.

-In fact, there is a lot less "bloom", fullness and capacity to the rear udders of most of the cows.

-The trait rear teats too far back we sometimes see today is not at all obvious.

-The animals carry considerably more body condition than today's cow.

-Being able to discern the rib cage is rare.

-Necks are generally shorter and thicker than today.

-All cows are horned.

-If one flips through the booklet and looks at photos first then the cows that take your eye because of a longer, leaner neck, some angulation and visibility of ribs, fuller rear udder than average-more of the "today's cow" look are often the heaviest producers.

-Most every cow tests over 5.0% by a good margin and some over 6.0% but with less yield than we're used to in this era.

-Two cows I think most would appreciate today are Bindle Sleeping Souvenir who made over 850 pounds of fat at six years of age (305 day or 365 days??) or over 380 kgs of fat and Zenia's Sparkling Ivy who offered up 16,627 lbs milk, 916 pounds of fat at 5.5% fat.

One of the important parts of going forward is knowing where we've come from and if possible why.

We've come a long way...what is the right way ahead? Cows as sharp as we have today, fuller rear udders? Great questions!

What is an Excellent today? What will an Excellent be in 2015? 2025?

-

Re-writing the Jersey history books!

2010-12-23T16:36:00.003-05:00

As the Christmas season reaches it full height we can add even more reasons for celebrating in the realms of Jerseydom!
Recent number-crunching has revealed two great presents to close off 2010!

By Tuesday this week-that would be December 21-registrations had roared past the 1985 total and plunked us at the highest total since 1969! Subsequent processing has upped the total and we are now close to leap-frogging over the 1969 total! Whether or not we make the next hurdle is largely immaterial! 2010 has been a great year anyway! This year now closing has offered up more proof that the Jersey breed in Canada is on the move upward in a most powerful way!

Additionally some digging through annual meeting reports from decades gone by indicates that our 2010 total for classifications will be the highest ever in breed history in Canada! Classification of Jerseys in Canada started exactly seven decades before the year now waiting to be born! Yes, in 1941! And in all those 70 years there has never been a year like 2010 for classification activity!

Positive momentum is encouraging! Great accomplishments build a foundation of exceptional potential for the future! Feel the excitement and grab hold of it!

Thanks, thanks, thanks to all who have made this possible!

New date and location for the Ontario Spring Show 2011

2010-12-06T15:29:00.002-05:00

We have just received word from the organizing committee of some revised information regarding the 2011 Ontario Spring Show. For the first time this long-standing annual event will be held at the new fairgrounds in Ancaster, Ontario near Hamilton. Dates of Wednesday, March 30th (just prior to the Jersey Canada Annual Meeting at Alliston) for the Jersey Show and Youth Showmanship Classes and Thursday, March 31st for the associated Holstein show have been established.

Rexlea Jerseys hosts international visitors

2010-12-03T09:51:00.001-05:00

International visitors from Thailand and Indonesia visited Rexlea Jerseys in Schomberg, Ontario recently to learn about dairy farming in Canada, as well as about the Jersey breed in particular. Rexlea Jerseys currently maintains a herd average of close to 9600 kgs of milk in 305 days while having superior conformation animals as well. Thanks to the Sheardowns for showcasing Canadian Jerseys!

2010 a great year for registry activity!

2010-12-03T09:45:00.000-05:00

Just a few notes after reviewing registry statistics up to December 1st....

We are about 7% ahead of 2009 on registrations! It looks likely that we will have our best registrations totals since 1969!
We need 562 registrations to reach our goal...so be sure to send in your registrations before the end of the year!
We are now receiving about 60% of registrations electronically! Let's keep pushing this higher!
We are on track to have a similar number of members as 2009, the highest year since 1967!
We have had five consecutive years with over 130 new herd prefixes registered! Lots of new Jersey breeders across the country!

Nominees sought for Jersey Canada Awards!

2010-12-03T09:33:00.000-05:00

NOW is the time for you or your local, provincial or regional Jersey association to make nominations for the major Jersey Canada awards that will be presented during the annual meeting.

Here's a listing of awards for which nominations are due by January 1, 2011.

National Young Jersey Achievers
Honorary Life Membership
Ralph J. Barichello Memorial Award
Distinguished Service Award
Certificate of Appreciation

A brief description of each award can be found in the Awards and Results section on the Jersey Canada website. In addition a historical list of previous recipients of each award can be found in the same section. All nominations must be accompanied by a resume of the relevant accomplishments of the nominee.

Nominations for the Barichello award for an outstanding contribution to agriculture in Canada are received from provincial and regional Jersey associations. In all other cases, one can self-nominate, an individual can nominate someone else, or Jersey asosciations at the local, provincial or regional level can submit nominations.

For the first time, recipients of both the Master Breeder and Constructive Breeder awards will be selected automatically from within the Jersey Canada database based on a points system. Therefore no nominations are needed for these awards.

Nominations for the following award are due by January 31, 2011:

Youth of Distinction: again described in the awards and results section on the Jersey Canada website. Nominations for this award are received from the provincial and regional Jersey associations.

Tim Sargent will be the new Jersey Canada director for Central Ontario

2010-12-03T09:29:00.000-05:00

With Larry Sheardown completing his term as director for Central Ontario after the April 2010 Annual Meeting, a new director for Central Ontario was sought with nominations due earlier in the fall. Two people were nominated: Tim Sargent of Enniskillen Jerseys, Enniskillen, ON and Greg Mortson of Mordale Jerseys, Oro-Medonte, ON.

Following an election held by secret ballot and finalized in late November, we are able to announce that Tim Sargent will be the new director for Central Ontario, starting in April 2011.

Jennifer Vander Meulen wins 2011 Jersey Educational Travel Award

2010-12-03T09:24:00.000-05:00

The President and Council of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2011 Jersey Educational Travel Award (JETA) which sponsors five young farmers to attend the 19th International Conference of the WJCB in New Zealand in 2011.

Outstanding applications were received from each of the five regions of the Bureau: Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania. James Godfrey, Secretary of the WJCB said 'The selection committee were posed with a very difficult decision selecting these five worthy winners from what was an exceptional list of applicants'. The winners are:

Jenny Evans, from Mozambique, in the African region. Jenny took her first AI course when she was only twelve years old and is responsible for providing the first fresh milk, processed dairy products and cheese Gouda Gold direct to the public. Jenny and her husband Brendon own a farm in Mozambique with a herd of over 400 Jerseys and Holsteins from which they process nearly 2000 litres which is then processed into cheese, milk and yogurts.

Benoit Guioullier, from France in the European region. Beniot is very much involved in promoting the Jersey breed in France. He is the President of the ‘Jersey Breeders Syndicate of Western France’, participates in various working groups. Benoit is currently on the family run farm when their herd of Jerseys of 130 milking cows are producing over 700,000 litres a year.

Mariano Storani, from Argentina in the Latin American region. Mariano is currently studying veterinary medicine. Mariano’s family has been in the industry for 35 years, his grandfather introduced Jerseys to their herd 23 years ago.

Jennifer Vander Meulen, from Canada in the North American region. Jennifer is a co-owner and co-operator of Avonlea Genetics Limited. Marketing the Jersey breed has become a passion for Jennifer and her husband Andrew. Jennifer has now sold embryos to 26 different countries and actively volunteers for various committees and fundraising for the Jersey breed.

Troy Mauger, from Australia in the Oceania region. Troy is currently a member of the board for Jersey Australia Committee with special responsibility for promoting the breed. Troy milks 340 cows in partnership with his parents in New South Wales and also breeds and raises bull calves for the dairy with his wife Meagan.

The Big Run-up

2010-11-20T10:18:00.006-05:00

Part of the human condition is wanting to know the end of the story NOW! For instance, we'd love to know where we'll be at the end of December 2010 with regard to our animal registration total for this year! We'd like to know how far above 130 we'll be for new herd names registered during the year! We'd also like to know what percentage of our registrations will be submitted electronically this year!

When you're in a people and animal growth phase as the Jersey breed is in Canada (and indeed around the globe!) this kind of information feeds your enthusiasm and energy banks! You're also inspired to strategize about how more growth will happen!

For now we know that "maybe" we'll see the highest registrations since 1969, forty one years ago! "Looks like" we'll be nicely over 130 new herd names registered this year! That will mark the fifth consecutive year over 130! "Appears" that we'll set a new record for electronic registration submissions! Our information gathering leads us to believe that the number of young sires coming on stream this year will at least match the record total of 2009!

You may think that these possibilities are good and nice but may question why they are cause for any excitement! We fully understand. Statistics by themselves can be cold and static and boring creatures. As so often it is " the story behind the story" that is revelatory and most important!

When-note when not if-we reach these totals we'll have further confirmation that the Jersey breed is on a powerful and sustained upward march in the Canadian dairy industry! Yes, we have the stories and stats of past years. We are constantly reminded to avoid "resting on the laurels" of yesterday. Fresh news and accomplishments provide "the wind beneath our wings"!

It has been said that "the best way to predict the future is to create it'. Therefore we invite all Jersey owners in Canada to join in the push to catapult our 2010 registration total over the 1985 total! That's the one that stands between us and 1969's total! Let's add in a new record total for electronic registration submissions.

Are you excited to be involved with a part of the agricultural industry that is enjoying a consistent, sustained growth phase? Are you ready for even greater happenings in 2011 and beyond? Do you have a vision of an even larger role for the Jersey breed in Canada's dairy industry? Are you ready to exceed the accomplishments of yesterday and soar much higher?

We have a rich heritage of success but have even more enticing prospects in the present. When one starts to dream about where we could be in the future we really come alive!

Join the Jersey parade!!

Jersey on, Jersey South Africa!

2010-11-16T15:53:00.002-05:00

Seems like the Jersey breed is catching on, going places and kickin' up dust, making it happen and rockin' on all over the globe! Just after the first of November we received some highly motivating news from our good friends at Jersey South Africa! During the first ten months of 2010 their team of classifiers and appraisers scored a record number of cattle for any year in history! And.....there were still two full months to go at that point! In recent years registered Jersey numbers in this astounding country have climbed to be the highest of any breed!

One of the most important things in life is to celebrate and rejoice in the success of others! And we are surely celebrating and rejoicing along with the leadership of Jersey South Africa! This is both a monumental accomplishment and a harbinger of great things to come!

Bravo, Jersey South Africa! More of the same please!

Furthermore......

2010-10-29T13:55:00.005-04:00

In our most recent post we commented on the significant increase in numbers of Jersey cows involved in milk recording programs in Canada over the latest nine years. We also trumpeted the fact that the number of milk-recorded herds that contain Jerseys had jumped by 96% over the same time period!!

As with so much in life there is "a story behind the story". A couple of regions of the country really experienced super-significant growth during those nine years.

Western Canada is really interesting in that the number of herds containing Jerseys more than doubled from 2001 to 2010-up 106% from 62 such herds up to 128 as of September 2010! The number of Jerseys on milk recording also outstripped the fine national increase of 19.6% by landing at 34.5%!

In The East the province of Quebec has been at the center of a very positive Jersey explosion! The number of herds containing Jerseys in this province has grown from 140 in late 2001 to 622 as of September 30, 2010!! That is an increase of....wait for it..........344%!!! 2010 marks the first year that the number of herds containing Jerseys has been over 600!

No surprise that there has been an increase of 186% in the number of Jersey cows on milk recording in Quebec as well!
The province just to the west of Quebec, Ontario has certainly fueled demand for Jersey cows in Quebec with loads and loads of cattle!

The story simply gets better and better each year and we are motivated and inspired by this growth and also very thankful!

News SO Worth Sharing!!

2010-10-25T11:35:00.007-04:00

One of the annual reports that is available within the Canadian dairy industry speaks to the number of herds and cows covered by DHI/milk recording services across the land. For some reason or other these reports cover the period from October 1 to September 30.

The latest version of this report was created by Canadian Dairy Network early this month and covered the period up to September 30, 2010. What a bread-basket full of great news this report supplies for those of us involved with the Jersey breed in Canada!

Overall the number of Canadian milk-recorded dairy herds that contain Jerseys has grown from 607 in late 2001 to an impressive 1188 in late 2010! That is an increase of...wait for it......96%!!!!!!!

To put these numbers in even clearer perspective the 607 herds in 2001 would have equated to between 5 and 6% of all milk recorded herds in Canada. In 2010 there were 9535 individual milk-recorded herds in Canada. Therefore a much larger 12.5% of herds would have contained Jerseys in late 2010!!!!

We fully appreciate the fact that the number of Jerseys in many of these herds may be small-less than 5. However; those herds did not contain any Jersey presence in late 2001!!! Now that spells potential! We find that the success rate for those investing in Jerseys is very high. Your association is doing everything in its power to ensure that the success rate remains high!

The great news continues at cow-side! The number of Jerseys involved in milk recording in Canada has grown by 19.6% since September 2001! This kind of growth is every bit as important as the amazing migration of Jerseys into barns where other breeds are milked over the last nine years!

The number of herds where Jerseys are present has grown every single year since 2001 and the number of Jerseys in milk recorded herds has grown every year for the most recent five years! Jersey's growth based on these two measures can only be described as beyond robust and shines among breeds!

The target for tomorrow and the tomorrows after that remains keeping these numbers on an upswing!

Go Jersey breed, GROW!!

Declutterization

2010-10-22T09:26:00.006-04:00

In the spring of 2010 Jersey Canada staff initiated a process that has proven to be extremely valuable and reaped huge rewards. What we did was take part in a truly major version of what is commonly known as "spring house-cleaning".

Major discoveries were made as part of this process. One prominent discovery was that we were keeping/storing many items that we had no use for and thus there was not one valid reason to be keeping those items.
After all if the item is at least ten years old and you haven't used it in at least eight or nine years do you really need to keep it? Really?
We also discovered that there are not that many items that justify their existence on the basis of "sentimental value". When the "pitching" process starts a ruthless approach is decidedly the best one.

Think about some really impressive places, rooms, houses, barns that you have visited. Are they often cluttered? Are they often overflowing with items? The ones I recall most clearly are not stark and essentially empty but are well-organized, living up to the maxim: " There is a place for everything and everything in its place", and radiating a sense of order and peace.
When you declutter and organize those items that remain are either tucked away out of sight or easy to see because they do not compete with unnecessary items.

As part of the process we learned another maxim from a very wise lady who knows the subject of cleaning and organizing inside out. Her words were: "If something remains in your work-space or barn or home you have made an decision that it can stay there-even if you never use it, you simply walk by it and in essence no longer even notice that it is present. You are still making a decision about it every day, if if you don't realize you are!" Now, I grant you that at first that seems far from profound. I do, however, invite you to apply that kind of thinking to the area where you live and move and have your being. A massive percentage of that which surrounds us is there because we have made the decision that it can stay around us! What we have to ask ourselves is: Do we need each physical item to stay around us?? Really and truly? Sometimes the answer will be yes and sometimes no. "When the answer is no, the item should go"! Just creating a one-line poem!

We'll be honest that the declutterization process made a demand on us that we make a ton or two of decisions and that we had to work to do the pitching. BUT.....was this process ever worth it, was it ever laden with value!!!
After a big chunk of two separate days we had the lion's share of what we needed to do done! The results were very close to having a brand new work area!
One extra benefit of the work was that there was a palpable sense of peace in the office once the process was completed. Things "felt organized".

We've also learned that good habits can be maintained. Once you have things cleaned up you really notice piles accumulating. You "nip the rebirth of clutter in the bud so to speak"! You also find that time spent searching for items or information that you truly do need is radically reduced. Without making too much of an issue of it you are partially "taking back your life" when you declutter!

Having enjoyed the immense benefits of the process at work I applied it at home and was amazed by the transformation there! That which was once cluttered is now wide open and those remaining items are so easily visible and accessible.

As another step in the process I "went after" an overflowing e-mail in box and deleted or filed in folders, let's just say " a lot" of e-mails, and made notes on a surprisingly small number that required action.

Ultimately it is a matter of focus and being able to focus on the right tasks and projects. Once decluttering has taken place you can access what you need, when you need it with relative ease.

We've noticed that once you've gone through the process and then followed up by keeping things in order and pitching the non-useful on a regular basis you notice circumstances that could use a serious decluttering. As much as possible should be decluttered so that we can think effectively and save time and spend more of our precious hours reaching goals!

Yes, I'm a convert and a reformed believer and fan of the idea! I know some will argue that there daily agendas are too full, every day, to be able to take part in the "time-consuming" process of clutter-busting. I would argue that you are not consuming time but rather investing it wisely when you declutter! Time and effort spent sorting and letting go of "stuff" can be some of the best time and effort that you'll ever expend. Getting back to the basics of what you need can and does prove to be golden!

Then you have time and desire to sort out the clutter that lives in some minds!

Congratulations to those who have never had to deal with clutter or who have been free from it for years! It is one of life's great delights to "join the club" of those who have wrestled clutter to the ground and vanquished it and want that state to be maintained!

Couldn't recommend the process of declutterization and all the benefits that flow from it more highly! Great stuff it is to release stuff from your life!

The Art of The Possible.....

2010-10-21T09:38:00.004-04:00

One of the great joys for those involved with Jersey Canada has been the steady growth in both the people and the animal sides of our business that we've seen over the latest decade! This current decade has commenced with another year that looks like the trend is going to continue and amplify!

Allow us to provide a sampler of stimulating news on Jersey advancement in Canada in 2010:

-One of the most important aspects of a company's business life is the ability to keep growing as evidenced by new people making investments in the breed. Our success in this area has been nothing short of astounding in recent years! Many people are buying their first Jerseys now. A goodly percentage of these new buyers are settling in to owning Jerseys. They express their longer-term commitment by registering a herd prefix. This act signifies that they plan to register Jersey cattle.

As of the latter part of September we had registered 108 new herd prefixes since January 1, 2010.
This accomplishment marks the fifth consecutive year that Jersey Canada has registered more than 100 new herd prefixes in a year! Results from the last quarter of the year are still to be tallied. It does appear that by January 1, 2011 we'll be enjoying and celebrating our fifth consecutive year with over 130 new herd prefixes registered!

Add to this good news the fact that since January 2004 we have registered well over 930 new herd prefixes and you can see that a significant growth trend is well under way!

Continuing on the people side it is encouraging to see that our 2010 membership total is slightly ahead of our 2009 year-to-date total! 2009 was our best year for memberships since 1967, over four decades earlier! We'll see where we land but for now things look promising!

With regard to animal-related activity it is neat to be able to report that we are ahead of our 2009 registration total. The 2009 year end registration stat was the highest since 1985, 24 years earlier and the second best annual finish since 1969. If all continues as it is now we'll be at our highest level since 1969 this year!

Transfers of animals are slightly behind the 2009 total.

And how are those registrations arriving at Jersey Canada? More and more arrive as an electronic file!
This year we are running at 57.6% of registration applications submitted electronically after nine months. Last year we set an all time record of 57.2% electronic. We are convinced that we'll see the first year in history over 60% this year!

To think that many of our measures of activity are the best they've been in over 40 decades in a radically changing industry is both exciting and motivating! And then when one dreams about how much more we'll grow during this new decade the motivation factor expands!

It is understandable that questions arise after a period of sustained and steady growth. Will this continue? Will things get even better? Is that possible?
For now the answer appears to be that the upward trajectory of the last five to ten years is being well-maintained! Now that's exciting and inspires us to dream of even more growth! Go Jersey!

Site update: Jersey West

2010-10-13T09:50:00.000-04:00

The Jersey West website has been updated this morning will some of the latest news from Jersey breeders and programs in Western Canada. Included are links to pedigrees on Jersey consignments to the Red Deer Westerner Dairy Showcase Sale on October 29th.

Another 9/11 remembered

2010-09-11T10:38:00.005-04:00

Two years to the day after that fateful September morn in 2001 I and a small contingent of other Canadian Jersey people were in an unusual spot. After a very long overnight flight across continents we were shuttling between New York City's major airports LaGuardia and JFK. We had spent the first ten days of September 2001 in the fascinating, captivating, scenic and Jersey- rich country of South Africa. Our mission had been all about attending the annual council meetings and associated tours of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau. Now, jet-lagged and overflowing with precious and happy memories we were most of the way home to our final air destination of Toronto, Ontario.

Just as on that sunny, bright Tuesday morning in 2001 New York was bathed in sunlight and hope for a new day or activity and productivity. Some things are simply too ironic. Sometime after 8:30 a.m. we were making our way through another security check. Just as we got close I was standing right beside a security agent. I was so close that I could hear him say softly, with definite solemnity and a tinge of sadness in his voice into a microphone on his shoulder: "8:46 a.m.". And then, I instantly recalled. That was the moment that that the first hi-jacked plane hit the first tower at the World Trade Center. And you could almost "hear silence descend" over the bustling terminal. For a moment frozen in time we were cast into a sea of deep reflection on lives lost in an instant, hopes dashed, families torn asunder, hatreds unravelling but bravery and heroism and leadership coming to the fore too, fear rising, and so many questions asked some never to be answered.

Then on we went, somehow secure in the knowledge that our plane would wing its way across New York State, over Lake Ontario and safely on to Toronto.

This tiny instant provided yet another door of insight into a landmark and horrid moment in the history of the world, North America in particular but as it turns out the whole world. Seven, and nine, years later it is good that we recall both moments and the day that heroism and bravery took their rightful place and said no to terrorism and yes to life after our lives had taken a body blow of gigantic proportions!

Yes, we remember, so clearly.

Here a Jersey, there a Jersey, everywhere...

2010-08-15T13:49:00.003-04:00

And I would guess the best way to begin is.......a Jersey, Jersey....as a tip of the hat to the legendary Old MacDonald who had a farm!
Late this past week Adrian Haeni, First Veep of Jersey Canada and a team leader at Lone Pine Jerseys
in Alberta told us a brief but interesting story.
He had trucked four of the family's mature cows to a Holstein Judging school farther north in Alberta. The Moreys of Unique Valleystream Genetics had done the same deed with four of their older cows and Markus Hehli had sent his best mature Jersey on a trip with the same destination.
This marked the first time that Jerseys had been part of this event. We're sure they were an impressive group who represented the breed well and also provided a good challenge to place!
We were reminded that Kristie Rivington of Jersey Ontario had told us that of nine classes placed at the Ontario 4-H inter-county judging competition three consisted of Jerseys!

Yes, the breed is certainly making rapid advances in profile and we "heart" that!

There are a few million other examples of where Jersey people have stepped up and made their cows available for examination by the dairy public further enhancing the breed's image and visibility!

All together now for a rousing rendition of: "Everywhere a Jersey, Jersey"!!!

I can't stop thinking big

2010-08-14T12:13:00.003-04:00

In 2011 a new album will be released by the iconic Canadian rock band Rush. One of the songs on this forth-coming album has already been released. It is called Caravan. The lyrics are unusual and fresh. The central theme and main line of the song seems to be the refrain " I can't stop thinking big". Like any good refrain it is repeated a number of times amidst the guitar riffs and other musical goings on!

What a great short sentence! Think about it: I can't stop thinking big! What an excellent predicament! Sometimes we let life restrict us to small thinking and living below our God-given potential
On the other hand when we let our imaginations run free and our hopes soar and feel our pulses quicken we can see into the future with brilliant positivity!

We had such an experience recently when a number of Jersey breed leaders from across Canada sat down in an wonderful church in Belleville, Ontario called Maranatha Church. The goal of the conclave was to work up a draft base for a brand new strategic plan for Jersey Canada to cover 2011 to 2013.

Thankfully our team of about a dozen, led by facilitator Jo Anne Henderson, were, to a person, people who "can't stop thinking BIG"!!!

Long before the draft has been vetted and doctored and then approved it has already impacted and revised our thinking.

Why settle for small paltry dreams? Why not the best? Why not having the best days for Jersey Canada and its members still ahead of us? Why not dreaming about touching the sky and then propelling upward into the absolute stratosphere?

Why not think big, talk big and then act big and work and make it happen?

Apply this kind of approach to your entire life and see what transpires!??

The world needs more big thinkers who will then step up and speak out and actualize their big thinking!

We've found time and time again that when you set great goals and are definite and clear about them
something fine and indeed awesome happens. Either you're drawn to achieving the goals or the achievement of them comes closer to you and you start to see miracles happen!

Try it!

Thank you Rush for a renewed stimulus to become fixed on thinking big!

The Breeder is now online!

2010-08-12T08:49:00.000-04:00

Since the August - September 2010 issue of the Breeder was made available on the website for free on Tuesday, August 10th, over 180 people have read the magazine! In just two days!

You can find the Breeder online here and can be viewed in a flip book format or can be downloaded as a PDF.

Jersey cheese featured in the Globe and Mail

2010-08-12T08:47:00.000-04:00

La Belle de Jersey, a cheese produced by Les Bergeries du Fjord in the Lac St-Jean region of Quebec, has been featured in the Globe and Mail, one of Canada's national newspapers.

Globe and Mail - Belle de Jersey

This cheese is made from the milk provided by the Jersey du Fjord herd from Laterriere, Quebec. The "Belle de Jersey" name comes from the fact that a certain percentage of the herd is descended from the great Duncan Belle!

Jersey Cheese-fit for World Leaders!

2010-07-12T15:24:00.003-04:00

As many will be only too well aware the G20 global leaders and their massive and seemingly endless entourages descended upon southern Ontario for a few hectic ( did someone just say chaotic?) days in late June. Could this be an opportunity for solid Jersey promotion? It could and it was! Thankfully world leaders being ultimately mere mortals like the rest of us have to take on nourishment, simply put, eat, every now and then. At a very special banquet for the G20 leaders Canadian products were featured. We have to hope this was the case throughout their stay. However, we know for sure that Canuck foodstuffs were the products of choice at "the big banquet"!

And lo and behold four fine Canadian cheeses were an important part of the menu.
Even better one of the cheeses, Belle de Jersey, is made from 100% Jersey milk! And, a second cheese on the menu is created at a Quebec plant that does make a highly regarded a Jersey cheese.
Belle de Jersey is produced by Les Bergeries du Fjord in the Lac St. Jean region of Quebec. This cheese was a Silver Medal winner at the First North American Jersey Cheese Awards held in Syracuse, New York in July 2009. And yes, the name relates to the family surrounding the internationally renowned Jersey cow Duncan Belle!

One of the other cheeses was from Laiterie Charlevoix from the Charlevoix region of Quebec. This plant has a beyond amazing dairy museum and is the source of L'Hercule de Charlevoix, a Jersey milk-only cheese that also won silver at the 2009 NA Jersey Cheese Awards.

It is so great to think that Jersey cheese would be so high profile! We heard this great news via Cheeselover.ca and then Kathy Guidi of Artisan Cheese Marketing informed us that the cheeses had been mentioned in a full page article describing the meal in The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper.

This is only the beginning of great news for top quality Canadian Jersey cheeses and the cheese-makers who lovingly create them!

Youth Program Deadlines

2010-06-07T10:14:00.000-04:00

Calling all Jersey youth and young adults! Deadlines are set for applications for three youth programs:

Jersey Canada Youth Scholarship

Jersey Canada is pleased to offer a scholarship of $750. The scholarship will recognize outstanding interest, knowledge and achievement in the Jersey Breed, as well as agriculture in general. The scholarship is available to all young Canadian Jersey enthusiasts, enrolled in at least the second year of study at any post-secondary College or University and who have not previously been awarded the Jersey Canada Youth Scholarship. Deadline for applications is September 1st, 2010. Application forms available from the Jersey Canada office or apply online at: www.jerseycanada.com/assoc/scholarship_form.php

Royal Jersey Ambassador

Each year, one Jersey Canada youth is selected to be the Royal Jersey Ambassador. Duties include working at the Jersey Canada booth at the RAWF and awarding prizes and ribbons in the RAWF classes. Applications are due by September 1st, 2010. Applications forms are available from the office or apply online at: www.jerseycanada.com/about/ambassador_form.php

Nola Brown Continuous Achievement Award

The award will be presented yearly at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to one qualifying individual. The recipient must be connected to the Jersey business or keenly interested and involved with the Jersey cow. The recipient will also be a student entering or continuing college or university. The post secondary program applied to does not have to be agriculture related.

The successful candidate must demonstrate participation in activities in their home communities, display qualities of leadership, ambition and initiative, and have a strong independent work ethic. The individual should clearly demonstrate the ability to work with others in a cooperative and productive manner, have the potential to become a leader in society and display a keen interest and aptitude in some aspect of agri-business. The individual should have a love of animals and the agricultural community, contribute significantly to their schools and communities through volunteer work and participate in extracurricular activities. The applicant should also be committed to personal and physical development, have a sense of their personal capabilities and demonstrate efforts to continually improve.

Applications must be received by Jersey Canada by 4:30 pm on September 15, 2010. Resumes may include academic awards, community or school volunteer work and employment background in order to support their application. Only applications from Canadian citizens will be considered, thank you. Please submit documents to Jersey Canada or email resumes to nolabrownaward@gmail.com. The applications will be forwarded to an independent selection committee for review.

Site Update: Jersey Atlantic

2010-05-10T15:57:00.000-04:00

Jersey Atlantic has updated their website with a new listing of their membership. Check it out at www.jerseycanada.com/jerseyatlantic! And if you are looking for Jersey cattle in the Atlantic provinces, please feel free to contact these Jersey breeders!

Inclusion in this membership directory is one of the benefits of being a member of Jersey Atlantic!

Exciting news from the Vente Fondation in Quebec

2010-04-20T14:40:00.000-04:00

This year's edition of the Vente Fondation (Foundation Sale) managed by Jersey Quebec was held at the Salon International Laitier (International Dairy Showcase) on Thursday, April 15th.

41 head sold to buyers from Quebec, Ontario and Brazil. The sale averaged $3111 across all lots, with a high seller of $9500 for Rapid Bay Maya Reagan Glitch, consigned by Rapid Bay Jerseys and purchased by RJ Farms of Corbyville, Ontario.

The big news? 20 out of the 41 lots were purchased by Quebec producers new to the Jersey breed within the last three years or making their first Jersey purchases! WOW!! Just an example of how the Jersey breed continues to accelerate forward in Quebec!

New Website: RJ Farms

2010-03-12T16:14:00.000-05:00

Be sure to check out the new website for RJ Farms at www.jerseycanada.com/rjf. Bob and April Jarrell and Family now have a comprehensive web presence featuring many of their top cow families, as well as a page dedicated to their Red Carpet Spectacular Sale on July 10th at the farm in Corbyville. Check it out!

Picture-perfect picture, picture-perfect timing!

2010-03-06T13:35:00.003-05:00

Right after the winter Olympics concluded we received a message from the super-keen John Brand of JNJ Jerseys near Clinton, Ontario. The morning after the great games wound up he received his Feb/Mar 2010 Jersey Breeder. Hm...great photo of a Jersey cow and the Canadian flag. Fairly appropriate, he thought. Then he noted that Melissa Bowers of Ferme Lencrest near Coaticook, Quebec had taken the photo. The photo was a great winner of the Jersey Canada/Unique Stock Photo contest for 2009. Hm...John looked at the tag in the cow's ear. Hm....2642 management number. Sounded familiar. And....the cow is one John and his family bred at JNJ and sold to Lencrest! Hm....87% at 2-2, easily good enough to be at The Royal in 2009, by a neat young sire and making a nice 2-0 record...hm......and her most fitting name is......JNJ Tyler OLYMPIA!

Does it get any better or more fitting than that!???!

When all the pieces fit together.....

2010-03-06T10:18:00.006-05:00

Seemed like an innocuous enough kind of call....from the ever-enthusiastic and energetic Dean Cole in "Mosquito-Bite" in Halifax County, NS. Arriving on one December day in the year of Our Lord 2009. Dean is sire of Sandy Cole. In the deep, dark days of December Sandy was deep into preparations for his Semex/Holstein Canada three month junket to the wilds and wonders of Aussie, Ozi, or, if you must, Australia! One of Sandy's roles at the Cole's family's Eloc ( Cole, Eloc, you got it, eh?) is Lord High Chamberlain of Stall Card Preparation. On my latest foray into Eloc land on August 1, again in the year of Our Lord, 2009, we had been reviewing the cows prior to evening milking. Yours truly was caught up short by a card above a rather-young looking Holstein that read "Springbank Snow Countess". Hm.....seemed to me that the legendary black and white Snow Countess had been born at least 100 years prior to 2009! I was informed by Dean that I had just witnessed his son's puckish sense of humour in operation.

Anywho, back to December 2009. Dean wanted to know about "that cow from Tattrie's up in Brule on the North Shore of NS" (and there is no shore like the North Shore, that's for sure!) that had a big splash at the RAWF in the 1950s. Because of all my "life experience" I knew Dean was referring to the iconic (well iconic in some limited circles!) Patsy Of Windblown. This fine cow born in 1950 had been the $3800 high seller in the 1955 Sale of Stars at the Royal. Doug Tattrie and his brother Angus and wife Anne and their family were relatively new Jersey breeders at the time. The buyers from a little piece away in Truro, NS were the Norrie family of Fundy Jersey Farm. Now at this juncture I must note that the Tattrie farm at Brule is on "the doorstep to heaven" as it is in the very most eastward part of (north) Colchester County right up against Pictou County. Dean wondered if we could pull together a few pieces of information on Patsy. Sandy would then exercise his card-creation mastery for one of the fine Jerseys at Eloc before taking wing for the trek to Aussie. At this point I am compelled to ask if you are highly impressed by the extra-important tasks that Jersey Canada staff are asked to complete on a daily basis? Just nod and say: Yes, Suitably impressed!
I'll also add that the Eloc is a true United Nations herd with Holsteins, Jerseys, Swiss and Milking Shorthorns gracing the barns and pastures.

So, we set out to get the job done and started on a trail that had so many bunny trails one could hardly believe it!

Patsy of Windblown was an Excellent daughter of Popeye's Standard Dreamer. Dreamer was bred by J. Arthur Malcolm a very nearby neighbour of the Tattrie family. Mr. Malcolm is to date the only Nova Scotian ever to serve as President of Jersey Canada-a role he filled in 1955-56. This gent was also brother of Jennie Malcolm MacInnis. Mrs. MacInnins (wife of Logan M) was part of the MacInnis family of Scotch Hill farm about a mile from where yours truly grew up in Lyon's Brook in Pictou County. I recall slugging bales on that farm in my early teen years and attending 4-H meetings there when a few Jerseys were still part of the herd. Standard Dreamer was a son of Flora's Faye a member of a famous cow family bred by Edison Mutch of River North Jerseys on nearby PEI. And Edison Mutch was maternal grandsire of who? Wayne Boswell, 2004 President of Jersey Canada and only PEI resident to date to be President of Jersey Canada.
The dam of Patsy of Windblown was Brownie's Anne 02Z, born in 1945 and bred by one Amos C. Tattrie of River John. And where is River John? East of Brule on the western edge of heaven on earth-i.e. Pictou County. Anne was a rather intensely line-bred daughter and maternal grand-daughter of a bull named Norway Prince Charlie. Hm...Norway.....I wonder? So, checking on Prince Charlie's roots I discovered that he was indeed bred at the Maritime Oddfellows Home Farm on the west edge of the marine town of Pictou-about three miles from where I was raised. Norway refers to Norway House the large house that had served as main building on the retirement home on the farm.
If you track back on Anne's maternal line you'll going back almost a century in the Amos Tattrie herd.
Then you'll find genetics from herds near Amherst still on the North Shore and near the border with New Brunswick.
So? Well at Christmas time my Dad, the feisty Jack(son) Gammon was visiting some neighbours named MacConnell and brokered the loan of an amazing scrapbook the family had kept on their Stony Acre Jersey herd. The MacConnells had farmed at Meadowville, a great farming community between Lyon's Brook and River John and Brule. Rollie MacConnell has been a family friend for decades. The scrapbook told a compelling story about Rollie's grandparents Sigbert Mac Connell and Mrs. M and his parents the late Rae and Helen MacConnell and their family. The MacConnell kids had been part of the Pictou County 4-H program at the same time as the Gammon brood.
Helen MacConnell was an especially energetic and keen Jersey person. She was for a time the dynamic Secretary of the provincial Jersey association. As was the case at the time the local newspapers carried lots of stories on the exploits of the Mac Connells and their top Jersey herd. From a herd of 35 to 40 head and maybe 25 to 18 milking cows the family won numerous show championships and even produced a couple of Canadian All Time Class Leaders for Production in the late 1950s and 1960s. One of their cows even broke a 30 year old Canadian production record set by a cow in BC on the west coast! Sometime ago I wrote that they had hosted a Provincial Jersey Field Day in the summer of 1959 that attracted well over 250 guests!
And where was Helen MacConnell born and raised? As daughter of the aforementioned Amos Tattrie of River John she was raised by the sea on her Dad's farm. Later in life Helen took to expressing herself through painting. On my desk at home in Fergus sits one of my most prized possessions a small original painting of a lovely horned Jersey cow in pasture by the sea. I have to believe Helen was painting a Jersey cow at her home sea-side farm.
Many of the foundation cattle at Stony Acre farm were from the Tattire herd. Their champion producers were by a bull named Dalcraig Royal Dick, a bull who was bred by the Master Breeder Adamson family at Heathbell which is between Lyon's Brook and Meadowville.
Hm..are you tracking with me?
One day over Christmas I was doing my much-needed walk on a trail close to home and just west of Pictou. Hm....part of the trail was "off limits" due to construction but I could see tracks in the snow that told me "everyone else was walking on the trail anyway". In addition the off limits section would on a seaside portion of the trail right in front of Norway House and the former Oddfellows Farm where Norway Prince Charlie had been born in 1939, 70 years earlier. Seemed like a no-brainer that I had to do that walk. As I did so I there was, as Canadian singer Jann Arden would say: "A massive explosion of thoughts in my head" as I reflected on the Tattries and Mac Connells and other Jersey families on the North Shore not far from home.
On the afternoon of Sunday, December 27th my Dad and I headed west along the North Shore for our annual Christmas visit with the Thompson and Johnston families at Pine Haven Farm at Oxford another almost-North Shore towns. Over Christmas I had browsed an amazing book about the communities of Seafoam and Toney River on the North Shore, in Pictou County east of River John. As we drove through these villages I thought of learning that there had been Jersey 4-H calf clubs there in the 1940s. West of River John Dad pointed out the former Amos Tattire farm. Then we passed Amet Farm formerly owned by the Jersey-loving Langille brothers, over the county line into Colchester and past the two barns where Doug and Anne Tattrie and Harold and Kathy Tattire had milked Jerseys at Windblown, the Semple farm, home of some very famous Jerseys once upon a time; Arthur Malcom's former farm, then quickly by farms where families with names like Reid, Gunn, Ross, Schaad, MacLanders and Cock had milked cows. At the Cock's Norwall farm a cow named Norwall Castor's Anda had been bred. She spawned a bevy of great cows at Pine Haven. One branch of the Anda family had yielded the Miss Pixie line at Norval Acres in Quebec. As we drove to Oxford we were not aware that, on that afternoon, Don McCaig of Norval Acres was leaving this earthly life.
At Tatamagouche, just a few miles west of Brule and that cluster of former Jersey farms, we passed the Balmoral Inn-scene of many NS Jersey meetings and then the former Weatherby Jersey farm.

In life it is always important to be active today and to plan for and be expectant about the future. Then again, it is always helpful to be reminded of your past and where you came from back in the mists of time.

Thanks to Dean Cole for starting this walk down memory lane!

In praise of and celebrating "Comeback Kids"

2010-02-18T11:00:00.005-05:00

Recently the Eastern Ontario publication " Farmers Forum" published an article with the title "Comeback Kid". The article was about Rob and Jody Beggs and family of North Gower in the Ottawa Valley and their decision to re-enter the ranks of milk producers! It has been a few years since the Beggs family have milked Jerseys with the well-known Cranbrook prefix. Now, they are back at it with a young family and great enthusiasm!
We recall a time just over 18 years ago when a then very young Rob was showing a really nice cow named Cranbrook Ray's Lee, Ex in the big leagues at the National Jersey Show at the RAWF. And not just showing her but doing really well in the fast company of veteran showmen!

All industries need renewal! The Beggs family are not the only young people who have returned to milking cows-and indeed Jerseys, in this region within the last six months!
We have been encouraged by the number of new entrants and re-entrants to the dairy industry who have chosen to milk herds of all or a large percent Jersey! The trend seems to be growing!

May all these folks find ways and means of drawing a good living from the industry and making a positive contribution by producing a valuable, high quality product!

Jerseys are unquestionably the "comeback kids" of the global dairy industry and it is great to see keen and able young people like Rob and Jody decide to work with our growing breed!

Pure Inspiration!!!

2010-02-15T14:36:00.002-05:00

What wings of joy we were carried upon when we learned of the Gold Medal victory of Alexandre Bilodeau at the Olympics on Sunday! What a true success story for this 22 year old wunderkind!
Perhaps most touching is the joy this victory brought to Frederic, 28 year old brother of the Gold Medalist-the first ever for Canada on home soil as host of the games after three go rounds over almost 34 years!!! Frederic has cerebral palsy and is more than a hero to his younger bro!

I sometimes feel waves of moderate despair wash over me when I read the reactions of fellow Canadians to moments of pure mountain-top delight like this! In the comments sections of CBC and CTV news websites there are those who blow off this spectacular victory with carping about it being a judged rather than timed sport. There are those who wanted to post-mortem and nit-pick the stunning opening ceremonies to pieces. Perhaps I should stop reading these comments! Everyone is entitled to their own take on things and their own opinions. I do feel sorry for some of these folks who carp and make put-downs at times like these. How dark and negative and lonely and long their days must be!
I shall pitch my tent with those who think bigger and brighter and know how to celebrate a glorious moment without dissecting it to bits!

This is a great moment for a young man, his brother and other family members and friends, coaches and fans! Tis a great moment for an entire country too! My response is to cheer: Bravo, Alexandre!

Love that sign at Gencor.....

2010-02-15T09:15:00.001-05:00

And the roadside sign in fornt of the Semex partner unit north of Guelph, Ontario on Highway 6 simply reads:

GO CANADA, EH!

We fully concur!!!!