Trent Hendrickson received the 2024 Outstanding Young Holstein Breeder Award during the National Holstein Convention awards luncheon on Wednesday, June 26. Pictured, from left, are Holstein Association CEO John Meyer, Trent and Kelsey Hendrickson, and outgoing president Jonathan Lamb. (Courtesy photo)
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — Members of the United States Holstein Association recently gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah for this year’s National Holstein Convention, which will be held June 24-27, 2024. Themed “Utah Udder,” the National Holstein Convention attracted 700 participants from across the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico.
“This is the first time the U.S. Holstein Association has hosted the convention and annual meeting; previously it was hosted by state associations,” said U.S. Holstein Association CEO John Meyer. “We have received many positive comments about the new format and the convention.”
Meyer continued, “As with all National Holstein Conventions, what I love most is the people. It’s great to see old friends and meet new ones!”
On Monday, June 24, Holstein lovers explored bustling Salt Lake City. One group took a scenic route to the Utah Antique and Classic Power Museum to see antique carriages and a pioneer village. Another group delved into Utah’s rich history at This Is The Place Heritage Park, enjoying historical interpreter demonstrations, a train ride, gold mining and more. Junior members had fun at This Is The Place Heritage Park after listening to inspirational messages and trying out the obstacle course at Impact Ninja Gym.
“One of the highlights of this year’s conference was the new forum ‘Holstein Horizons’, a series of interactive seminars featuring dairy industry experts,” said Meyer.
Holstein Horizons took place on Tuesday, June 25. The inaugural event featured a robust set of seminars covering a variety of dairy industry topics. Jeff King of Kings Ransom Farm in New York, Todd Koch of TMK Creamery in Oregon, and Michael Turley of Rolling Lawns Farm in Illinois spoke on a panel focusing on on-farm processing.
“We’re really excited to have Holstein Horizons join the competition,” said president Matt Hoff of New Windsor, Md. “We learned so much. The producer panel was fantastic and showcased three very different on-farm dairies. It’s always good to learn about what’s hot in the industry.”
The day began with Dr. Alquimides Reyes from University of Wisconsin-River Falls speaking about production opportunities for Holstein cattle. Dr. Roger Shanks from Holstein Association USA discussed the history of genetics with a focus on inbreeding, followed by Dr. Tad Sonstegaard from Axeligen on future prospects for genome editing. Dr. Jeffrey Bewley from Holstein Association USA concluded the day with insights into cutting edge technology from the WKU Smart Holstein Institute. Lisa Behnke from World Dairy Expo served as the emcee for the day.
Attendees also enjoyed a variety of casual events focused on networking among Holstein lovers. On Monday night, some headed downtown for Cutting Edge Connections, where they mingled with their Holstein friends and tried their hand at axe throwing. On Tuesday, adults mingled at Mountain View Mingle, where they had the opportunity to compete in several rounds of a dairy-themed quiz. The National Holstein Convention Sale, Trade Show and Awards Luncheon rounded out the week’s activities.
National Junior Holstein Association members showcased their talents in a variety of competitions and met new friends throughout the week of activities, and during a special workshop Monday night, past Distinguished Junior Member (DJM) finalists Andrew King, David J. Lentz and Michelle Ruby spoke about how their Junior Holstein experiences have impacted them.
“The National Junior Holstein Championships is a wonderful opportunity for young people from across the country to come together and not only compete but also network and make connections and memories that will last a lifetime,” said Courtney Glenna, Junior Holstein member from Amery, Wisconsin, and 2024 DJM finalist.
138Number Annual Meeting
138 of the Holstein Association USANumber The Annual Meeting began on Wednesday, June 26th. Chairman Jonathan Lamb, CEO John Meyer and CFO and Treasurer Barbara Kasna reported on Holstein Association USA’s 2023 performance. The 2023 Annual Report can be found at 20 Years of Growthhighlighted the progress and changes the U.S. Holstein Association has experienced over the past 20 years.
Executive Vice President John Burkett discussed the upcoming leadership transition, with CEO John Mayer stepping down on December 31, 2024 and current COO Lindsay Warden taking over as CEO on January 1, 2025.
Attendees also heard committee reports from the U.S. Holstein Board of Directors, which recognized its 40-year members, 2023 Outstanding Breeders and Stars of the Breed. A presentation by Dr. Jeffrey Bewley on the CowSignals program highlighted the importance of understanding cows’ responses to management practices.
Three members have resigned from the U.S. Holstein Association board of directors, including outgoing chairman Jonathan Lamb of Oakfield, N.Y. Dwight Lokey of Sabetha, Kansas, retired as Region 7 director and Steve Moff of Columbiana, Ohio, retired as Region 3 director.
Delegates had the opportunity to question the board candidates Wednesday afternoon, and the election took place Thursday morning. Re-elected to a second three-year term on the board were Region 2 Director Dean W. Jackson of Columbia Cross Roads, Pennsylvania, and Region Director Tony Bray of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
John Burkett of East Freedom, Pa., was elected chairman and Dwight Lokey of Sabetha, Kan., was elected vice chairman. Elected to the board for three-year terms were Paul R. Haskins of Butler, Ohio, representing Region 3, and Alfred Brandt of Lynn, Mo., representing Region 7.
The 2025 National Holstein Convention will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, June 23-26, 2025. For more information about the National Holstein Convention, visit www.holsteinconvention.com.
– United States Holstein Association
