The Illinois Holstein Association is 508 adult and 233 junior members strong. Annual activities of the association include a state show, picnic, state sale and state convention. The juniors conduct an annual meeting in the fall and Spring Thing where they select their teams for competition at the National Convention. The association also has a magazine, the Illinois Holstein Herald, which is published four times a year and includes feature stories, reports on state activities and advertising.

Junior Breeder
            This year’s Young Breeder Award recipients are Jason and Dena Brammeier, Carlyle, Ill.
            Jason began his career with Registered Holsteins at age six when he received his first registered calf. This young calf gave him his first opportunity to show and sparked great interest in showing and fitting cattle.
            He has received six All-Illinois awards, one Junior All-American 2-year-old Award and four Junior All-American nominations. He has shown the best three bred and owned females over all breeds and Supreme Champion over all breeds at the DuQuoin State Fair.
    He has fit cattle for many shows and sales in several states. He was very active in 4-H and in the Illinois Junior Holstein Association. He was on the 1990 Dairy Bowl Team that attended the National Convention and also was a member of the Illinois 4-H Dairy Judging team at the Invitation Dairy Judging Contest in Louisville.
            He became a partner in the family’s farming corporation in March 2001. Dena left her job in town to help on the farm and together with their oldest daughter they do most of the milking. The 100-cow herd has a rolling herd average of 24,015 pounds of milk, 820 pounds of fat and 754 pounds of protein. In 2007, the herd was recognized by Holstein USA as 11th high herd in the state for their Mature Equivalent lactation average.
            This year’s recipient has served as Illinois Holstein Association’s Board of Directors and is currently the President of his local Holstein club. The family has also hosted the state picnic. He is a past member of the DHIA Board and was an eight year volunteer firefighter for the local fire department. Together they are members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church when he is an usher and she is the preschool director. They have three children.

The Illinois Purebred Holstein History Book has been completed and is available now.  The 260 page book chronicles the history of Illinois Holsteins from the late 1800’s through 2006.  The cost is $35.00 plus shipping. Contact Connie Winter at 815-745-2049 to place your order.

The Udderly Delicious Cookbook containing recipes from Illinois dairy people is available for $10.00 plus shipping.  Contact Lori Lyons at moolyons@aol.com  or by phone at 815-962-0001 to place your order.

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2008 Illini Golden Opportunity Sale Summary

            Holstein enthusiasts from across the country gathered at Lindale and Team Holsteins, Hampshire, Ill., on October 25, 2008, for the 2008 Illini Golden Opportunity Sale. Managed by the Illinois Holstein Association, with Jeff Drendel as chairman, the sale averaged $4134.44 on 91 live lots and choices grossing $380,225.
            Topping the sale at $16,000 was a Lylehaven Lighting first choice female from Gold-N-Oaks S Showdoll-ET, VG-87 EX-MS 2y. Showdoll is a Shottle daughter with a +2278 CTPI and a 2-2 2x 288d 26,397 5.1 1340 3.0 788 incomplete record. John and Judy Swenson of Barneveld, Wis., consigned the first choice female and Gordon Lamb, Oakfield, N.Y., placed the winning bid.
            Top selling live lot and second high seller of the day was Regancrest-BH Dixie-ET, selling for $13,000. Dixie is a fancy March 2008 Baxter daughter of Windsor-Manor Z-Delight-ET, EX-91. Consigned by Regancrest Farm and Butz-Hill Holsteins, Waukon, Iowa, the heifer sold with a +1867 PTPI. Her dam already has six sons in A.I. and made over 33,000 lbs. milk in her first lactation. The grandam of the consignment is the 2008 #1 Productive Life cow in the nation, Windsor-Manor Rud Zip, 3E-95 GMD DOM. She has 20 sons in A.I. and embryos have been exported worldwide. Mark Paul, Luxemburg, Wis., purchased Dixie.
            Third high selling female of the day was Opsal Durham Sammi-ET, for $11,500. Sammi was consigned by Troy Opsal, Blue Mounds, Wis., and purchased by Bremer Holsteins, Sheldon, Wis. Sammie is a VG-86 Durham daughter and sold fresh in September. She had a 2-4 record of 24,750  4.3  1066  3.2  786 in 365 days. She also have a full sister that is also VG-86. Her dam was a 2E-92 GMD DOM Rudolph with over 125,000 lbs. milk lifetime. She is backed by eight generations of Very Good or Excellent with records exceeding 38,000 lbs. milk.
            Selling for $11,000 was A-L-H Daisy Daytona-ET, consigned by ALH Genetics USA Inc., Spring Green, Wis. Daytona, a April 2008 Laurin, was purchased by David Kelp, Manheim, Pa. Her dam is Markwell Durham Daisy-ET, EX-92 GMD DOM, and was nominated All-American Senior 2-yr.-old in 2002. She has a best 365-day record of 40,490 lbs. milk, 1628 lbs. fat and 1262 lbs. protein. The consignment’s great-grandam is the Queen of the Breed finalist Markwell Bstar E Raven-ET, 3E-95 GMD DOM.