VERMONT HOLSTEIN HITS A HOME RUN FOR YOUTH

            The Northeast Show Calf Summit held on April 4^th & 5^th at Cowtown Holsteins in Derby Line was sponsored by the Vermont Holstein Association.  One hundred and sixty-two youth along with parents, leaders and friends from New England and New York enjoyed the two days of education by internationally recognized presenters. 

The attendees rotated from station to station to hear and participate in a wide variety of subjects.  They learned the fine points of showmanship from Callum McKinven of Quebec, how to select their show calf from Norman Nabholz of Iowa, trimming of hooves by Gerry Cherrier of Vermont, feeding by Rick Allyn of Connecticut, Ag Careers by Seth Johnson from the American Guernsey Cattle Association, clipping by Abe Light of Vermont and Jason Thomas of New York, calf care by nutritionist Vicky Carson of Vermont, making a straw beds and equipping a show box by Martha Seifert of Vermont and judging by Dr. Jim Gilmore of Vermont.  They had the opportunity to use some of Cowtown Holsteins elite cows for their judging sessions and the Cowtown heifers for selection, clipping and washing.  Calves from the impressive line-up of the sale consignments were used for the showmanship demonstrations.

Friday evening was a time for fun as Marci Guillette and her helpers served pizza with all its accompaniments and then engaged those present in games and fun events at the IROC Sports Center.

The workshops continued Saturday morning followed by the highly successful Show Calf Summit Sale.  Topping the sale at $17,500 was a March heifer calf by Durham from Indianhead Stormy-ET 2E-94.  She was consigned by the hosts, Cowtown Holsteins, and purchased by Summit Syndicate, Fairfield, VT.  Second high at $17,000 was a March of 2007 Outside daughter out of Milibro Cousteau Leila 2E-94.  She was consigned by Arethusa Farm of CT and purchased by junior member Max Wolf of Lebanon, CT.  Top Brown Swiss consignment was Shelburne Jolo Leanne at $3,050 from Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT going to Cedarland Farm, Oldwick, NJ.  The high Jersey was Billings Synergy Mia at $3,675 from Billings Farm, Woodstock, VT to Meghan Moody of Easthampton, MA.  The overall average was $4541with the 46 Holsteins reaching an average of $5518.   

All meals were provided for the youth and the partial refund for their rooms were made possible by the generous sponsors of this new venture.  All of those attending and the Vermont Holstein Association are grateful to these agricultural businesses and agricultural related businesses for helping to make the Summit a success.   The Nelson family of Cowtown Holsteins were very gracious by allowing the group to use their wonderful facilities and outstanding herd of cattle for the workshops. 

The whole program was such a success that youth are already registering for the 2009 Show Summit.