New England States Holstein Association
Senior Awards
Ralph Gushee Memorial Caretaker Award
This award recognizes a person who exhibits passion towards care of dairy cattle, the people involved, and the dairy industry as a whole. This is a unique opportunity to give thanks to those who excel in animal and farm care and who may not always find themselves in the limelight. In the spirit of it’s namesake, this award is intended to recognize those persons whose tireless efforts, many times behind the scenes, make great accomplishments posible. Maybe it’s making sure calves are raised just right at home, or that fancy, but flighty heifer is fully housebroken, or feeding just one more cart of hay the day before the show, that collection of little things that enables other big things to happen. The winner will be selected by the New England Holstein Breed Promotion Committee and recognized at the New England Holstein Convention in the fall of each year.Nominations may be emailed to neholstein@nesholsteins.com or mailed to the address above. The deadline for nominations is October 1.
Joanne Hill was honored with New England's Ralph Gushee Memorial Caretaker Award at the New England Convention. The award, presented by Betsy Bullard, was accepted by Ron Hill.
Master Breeder / Distinguished Service (alternating years)
2021 New England Convention, October 30, Buckland, MA
Betsy Bullard presents Art West with the Distinguished Service Award, which was awarded posthumously to Joyce West.
Joyce was born and raised with three brothers and two sisters on a farm in Amherst, Massachusetts. She married a Hadley Farmer, Arthur West, in 1967. Together they raised four children and six grandchildren. Joyce was a “family first” woman. Lasagne at the July 4th picnics, Christmas at her house, dance recitals, and baseball games, she was there! Joyce had that certain glow people have who are satisfied with the life they are living, happy with it in a way that enables them to carry on with energy and good humor through good times and bad.
Joyce always found time for her community. She served on the Town School Committee and the Town Finance Committee. She was a volunteer at the Three County Fair and a 4-H leader for 45 years. She was past secretary of the Hampshire Franklin Holstein Club and the state association. She worked in the banking industry and then became a dental assistant. She was a dental assistant for 20 years, retiring in 2016.
Joyce passed away in April of 2019. She is greatly missed by her family and friends in Massachusetts and throughout New England.