2011 Spring Thing

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT!

The Illinois Junior Holstein Association held their annual Spring Thing on March 5-6, 2011, at The Chateau Hotel in Bloomington, Ill.

Saturday morning started with registration, last minute dairy bowl preparation and renewing acquaintances. After a brief welcome everyone took the dairy bowl test which was prepared by Dave Fischer.

While the tests were being scored the speech contest took place. We had three junior speeches, one intermediate speech and one senior speech. All the speeches were great and the judges asked some really hard questions.

Meanwhile the judging of the folding displays took place. We had seven juniors make posters for this contest. Also on Saturday, were the dairy bowl and dairy jeopardy competitions. In the Junior Dairy Bowl competition we had eight teams competing. In the final round it was the Boone-Winnebago Smarties versus the Boone-Winnebago Boomers for the championship. The Smarties were the winners, and the members of the team were Emily Irwin, Stephen Mitchell, Emma Carlson, and Brock Irwin. In the Senior Dairy Bowl competition we had five teams competing with the championship round being between Boone-Winnebago and Tri-County. In the end the Tri-County “My Hero's” team consisting of Morgan Bollech, Ryan Sheehan, Sarah Sheehan and Matt Drendel were victorious.

When the dairy bowl competition was completed we had the Dairy Jeopardy contest. In the Junior Jeopardy contest we had 22 contestants. The top three in order were, Anna Folgate, Kaitlyn Carlson, and in a tie for third was Bria Koester and Kaylen Miller. In the Intermediate Jeopardy competition there were 13 participants with the top three finishers being Morgan Bollech, Emily Irwin, and Dan Obert. In the Senior Jeopardy competition we had eight participants with the top three finishers being Aaron Mitchell, Sarah Sheehan and Phillip Shanks. It was a busy day as juniors showed off their knowledge of the dairy industry.

Saturday night was the banquet, and we had Danielle Hammer speak about being an advocate for agriculture and using social media to do so. Dave Fischer spoke about the Allen Tucker Memorial Scholarship and announced this years winner as Amy Schaufelberger. He also encouraged junior members to apply for the scholarship in the future.

Rod Stoll joined Dave in an entertaining dairy bowl qualification round where the Top 10 individuals in both the junior and senior division competed for a spot on the state team to attend national convention.

Following the banquet the pool was open and we also had ice cream. A special thanks to Stephen and Lisa Mitchell for setting this up and serving the ice cream.

Sunday morning we held our business meeting. Many important topics were discussed in the meeting and can found in the minutes on page 28.

It was another successful Spring Thing. Congratulations to all the juniors who participated and many thanks to the judges and adult helpers who help to make it all possible.

Emily Irwin, Reporter

Meeting Minutes

Aaron Mitchell called the meeting at 9:30 a.m. Sarah Sheehan read the minutes of the previous meeting. Justin Crull made the motion that the report was approved. Ryan Sheehan seconded it. Emily Irwin read the reporters report. Morgan Bollech and Brianna Sheehan volunteered to work on the state scrapbook. Morgan Bollech read the treasurers report and we currently have $2,031.58. Last year we made $22,105.62 and we spent $20,074.04. Matt Drendel approved the report and Steven Mitchell seconded it. Haley Lyons reminded us that State Show will be coming up sooner than we know it.
State Junior Advisor Melissa Irwin tgave an advisors report. She discussed ideas on moving some activities to Sunday morning for Spring Thing. Virginia will be expensive and we plan on flying. We need kids to participate in the activities and fundraisers, and really give it your all. We really need to participate in the fundraisers, because again, Virginia will be expensive.

Old Business: We talked about the production awards that were handed out last meeting, and that the National Production awards are due May 1. Brianna Sheehan and Sarah Sheehan are chair and co-chair head of the committee for the awards.
Brian Olbrich talked about the embryo shuffle. We raised $4,500. Justin Crull gave the Spring Thing report. We went down in attendance from last year, other than that the whole thing was good. Steven Mitchell made a motion to sell embryos at the Northwest Sizzler Sale May 20. Riley seconded it.

New Business: Sarah Sheehan and Morgan Bollech will chair the Workers Auction. Steven Mitchell made a motion to have the event at State Show. Brianna Sheehan seconded it. Julie Drendel suggested having a back up plan, and Sarah Sheehan made an amendment to the State Show motion. Ryan Sheehan seconded it.

Railbird Judging will also be held at State Show. Brianna Sheehan and Morgan Bollech will be in charge of setting it up.
More ideas for fundraisers are making barn quilts (8 by 8 plywood) painted to hang on a wall. Ryan Sheehan made a motion that each club make one. Matt Drendel seconded it. One person from each club stepped up to be the chairsperson. No sale date was set at the time.

National Convention will be held June 22-25, 2011, in Virginia. Travel method will most likely be to fly or possible by train. Participation fees are usually $250, but this year the fees will be higher. The fee for this year will be around $300. Motion made by Justin Crull and seconded by Emily Sheehan.

Banner Committee consists of Kaylen Miller, Emily Sheehan, Brianna Sheehan, and Justin Crull. Kaylen Miller and Brianna Sheehan are the chairs.

Emily Irwin needs pictures for the Scrapbook; send pictures to her mom so they can put it together.

Dave Wallace is the judge for the Illinois Championship Junoir Show. Haley needs suggestions about Showmanship judges. Ideas included Molly Florent, Doug Nifong, Bob Miller, Perry Phend. Sarah Sheehan took suggestions for awards which included belt buckles, fleece sweatshirts and duffle bags.

November 2011 Annual Meeting will be on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in Champaign; they will try to get a farm tour or a guest speaker lined up.

Spring Thing 2012 committe is Meredith Ziller, Ryan Sheehan, Kaylen Miller, Kristina Drendel, Emily Irwin, Dan Obert, Brianna Sheehan, Anna Fulgate, Morgan Olbrich, and Miranda Kollmann. The chair committee will decide final location and details. Spring Thing will be held the first weekend in March.
Julie Drendel talked about how to get more information about your county through the Herald. Melissa Irwin mentioned to think about slogans for 2015 National Holstein Convention, which will be hosted by Illinois.

Award were then handed out. The following juniors were recognized:
Kyle Mitchell Outstanding Junior Award: Aaron Mitchell

Junior Top Ten: Brianna Sheehan, Dan Obert, Bria Koester, Anna Folgate, Kate Carlson, Morgan Olbrich, Meredith Ziller, Lane Heinzman

Senior Top Ten: Justin Crull, Ryan Sheehan, Kristy Droste, Morgan Bollech, Sarah Sheehan, Elizabeth Myelle, Aaron Mitchell, Josh Huelsman, Philip Shanks.

Junior Speech: 1. Megan Hexner, 2. Emma Carlson, 3. Jessica Crull
Intermediate Speech: 1. Kate Carlson
Senior Speech: 1. Sarah Sheehan

Junior Poster: 1. Kaylen Miller 2. Brock Irwin 3. Kate Carlson
Intermediate Poster: 1. Emily Irwin

Kaylen Miller, Emily Irwin, and Brock Irwin’s posters will be going to National Convention.

Junior Jeopardy: 1. Anna Folgate 2. Kate Carlson 3. Bria Koester and Kaylen Miller tied
Intermediate Jeopary: 1. Morgan Bollech 2. Emily Irwin 3. Dan Obert
Senior Jeopary: 1. Aaron Mitchell 2. Sarah Sheehan 3. Philip Shanks

Sarah Sheehan motioned to adjourn the meeting and Riley seconded it.

Colleen Ziller, Secretar