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Youth Production Contests: Continuing a Tradition

September 2004

Study the ranks of this year’s youth production contest winners and one thing is clear: young people have done an outstanding job of selecting top genetics and then managing them to reach full potential and maximum profitability.

Among this year’s winners are a top 25 All-Time Production Leader, a top 10 National Class Leader, two cows that are ranked among the breed’s top 15 for JPI and nine that are appraised Excellent. The winners in the Pot O’Gold Production Contest averaged more than 23,000 pounds milk on a mature equivalent (m.e.) basis; in the National Jersey Youth Production Contest, they averaged more than 26,000 pounds milk on an m.e. basis.

Making his debut in the winner’s circle, Michael R. Kortus, Lynden, Wash., wins the 2003 National Jersey Youth Production Contest. For the third consecutive year and the fifth time in nine years, Wendy Marie Bok, Defiance, Ohio, wins the 2004 Pot O’Gold Production Contest.

The American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) has sponsored the youth production competitions since 1958. Records for both national production contests are ranked by the dollar value of the record. Dollar value for each record is determined by calculating the 305-day m.e., then applying the Net Merit Dollars component values that are used for genetic evaluations from the United States Department of Agriculture. The component values are $1.30 per pound fat, $2.30 per pound protein and $1.20 per hundredweight fluid milk.

Bok and Kortus, along with 30 other juniors, will be honored for their achievements on November 6, 2004, at the Junior Banquet, which wraps up Junior Day at the All American Jersey Show, in Louisville, Ky.

National Jersey Youth Production Contest

The National Jersey Youth Production Contest recognizes the efforts of juniors to compile and use official production records on their animals. Through this activity, youth gain experience in using records to manage and breed their Jersey cows. They also have opportunity to realize the importance of productive life and value the profitability of the Jersey cow.

Over the years, the program has become increasingly popular and competitive. This year, 68 participants submitted records for competition, making this the third highest number to compete during the past two decades. The m.e. average production of the top 10 animals of both divisions is 26,425 pounds milk, an amount nearly 2,500 pounds greater than that of last year and 4,500 pounds greater than a decade ago. The average MCP dollar value of the records on these animals is $4,017.41.

To qualify for competition, cows must have completed a lactation of no more than 305 days during the 2003 calendar year.
The contest is divided into two divisions. Division I includes first-lactation cows that calve before they reach 30 months-of-age. All other cows compete in Division II. Participants are eligible for an award in only one division, and an overall contest winner is recognized.

Total cash awards are $550. Each division winner receives $100. The second-place honoree receives $75; third receives $50; and fourth receives $25. The overall winner gets an additional $50, bringing their award to $150.

Division I

Overall and Division I winner is Michael R. Kortus. His winning entry, Lagerweys Hallmark Redrose, completed a record of 2-0 305 27,060 4.6% 1,256 3.5% 936 99DCR. The m.e. of this record is 33,881–1,559–1,182 and the MCP dollar value is $5,151.87, an amount that easily tops both divisions.

With this record, “Redrose” also places second on the National Class Leader List for milk and fifth for fat production among junior two-year-olds. She is appraised Excellent-90% and ranked among the top 1½ percent of the breed for JPI, with a JPI of +252.

The very skills the youth production contests strive to teach – careful selection and thoughtful herd management – are embodied in the story of “Redrose.” Kortus purchased “Redrose” and her dam, Lagerweys Berretta Rosalie, in December 2001 from fellow Washington Jersey breeder Curt Lagerwey, of Bellingham.

“As a calf, ‘Redrose’ had been kicked by a horse, so she had a big lump on her knee and walked a bit lame,” remarked Kortus. “But, she was a really nice heifer and I knew the genetic potential was there. Her grandam (Lagerweys Hermitage Rose) is well known and was heavily merchandized.”

“I was able to negotiate a pretty good deal for the ‘Redrose’ and ‘Rosalie’ package,” explained Kortus. “The knee has healed completely and ‘Rosalie’ has grown into a really great cow to work with.”

The duo has served Kortus well from a herd growth and merchandizing standpoint. Kortus recently sold a daughter of “Redrose” at the National Heifer Sale, two sons to A.I. organizations and several embryos to Japan.
This same story of success in developing a purchased animal applies to second-place winner in Division I, Andrew M. Bok, Defiance, Ohio. His entry, D&E Daniel Secret, was purchased from D & E Jerseys, Hilmar, Calif., at the Pot O’Gold Sale in Louisville, Ky.

With this win, Bok shows that he knows how to manage his Jerseys to full potential. He has placed first or second in the National Youth Production Contest twice, and in the Pot O’Gold Production Contest four times.

“Secret” made a record of 1-11 305 22,630 4.5% 1,009 3.6% 815 94DCR, with an m.e. of 30,128–1,321–1,081 with the MCP value calculated at $4,565.14.

“Secret” also places third in the 2004 Pot O’Gold Production Contest. The Excellent-90% cow ranks 15th on the August Top 200 JPI Cow List, with a JPI of +359.

Third-place honors in Division I belong to Tera Koebel, Three Oaks, Mich., with her entry, Montana B Pimento. “Pimento” made a record of 2-0 305 21,940 5.1% 1,128 3.5% 766 93DCR. The record has an m.e. of 28,480–1,431–990 and an MCP value of $4,479.06.

Like Kortus and Bok, Koebel attained success by developing a purchased heifer. Koebel bought “Pimento” in the Pot O’Gold Sale in Louisville, from Rowzee Jersey Farm, Newton, Miss. As well, “Pimento” is appraised Excellent-90% and is ranked 72nd on the August Top 200 JPI Cow List, with a JPI of +314. “Pimento” placed fourth in this year’s Pot O’Gold Contest.

Division II

Alison Strandberg, Alma Center, Wis., makes her first appearance in the production contest with a win in Division II. Her entry, Avon Road DC Pop, made a record of 7-2 305 30,440 5.6% 1,702 3.2% 986 93DCR. The m.e. of this record is 30,639–1,708–979 and the MCP is $4,839.77.

Her extended record of 36,523 pounds milk, 2,209 pounds fat and 986 pounds protein in 365 days, places her among the top 25 records for fat for all time. The Excellent-93% nine-year-old has more than 142,000 pounds fat, 7,400 pounds fat and 5,100 pounds protein in six lactations.

Brett Barlass, Janesville, Wis., takes home second-place honors with BVJ Barber Christa-3. The Very Good-87% daughter of WF/L&M Duncan Barber-ET, JPI +141, made a record of 4-8 305 24,700 6.0% 1,479 3.8% 942 94DCR, with an m.e. of 24,776–1,464–939. The MCP value of this record is $4,360.21.

Third-place in Division II is taken by Tess Lee Ann Martin, Tillamook, Ore. Her entry, Sunset Canyon Karate Pea, made a record of 5-1 297 26,570 4.3% 1,143 3.4% 897 92DCR. The record has an m.e. of 27,231–1,179–920 and an MCP value of $3,975.47. This record is the Very Good-87% “Pea’s” fourth consecutive over 20,000 pounds milk.

Also being recognized with production awards at the banquet will be Jennifer Richards, Erda, Utah; Jessica Louise Stiles, Boonsboro, Md.; Taryn Martin, Tillamook, Ore.; Erica Renee Ettinger, Kinards, S.C.; Amber L. Ettinger, Kinards, S.C.; Amanda Mitcheltree, New Castle, Pa.; Matthew J. Sweeney, Visalia, Calif.; Cassandra L. Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y.; Benjamin J. Havill, Tyringham, Mass.; Courtney Flowers, West Salem, Ohio; Jeffrey James Seals, Cloverdale, Ore.; Joshua Parks, Morristown, Tenn.; Brooke Core, Salvisa, Ky.; and Amber Rocha, Tillamook, Ore.

Entries for the 2004 National Jersey Youth Production Contest are due to the AJCA on or before March 1, 2005.

Pot O’Gold Production Contest

Since the first Pot O’Gold Sale was held in 1958, youth between the ages of seven and 20 have been offered the opportunity to purchase genetically superior heifers from the country’s top Jersey herds. A percentage of the sale gross from two sales is set aside in a fund, then held for three years, to provide cash awards for the juniors whose heifers complete the highest MCP dollar value records.

In 2001, the two sales offered 26 juniors the chance to purchase animals. From the Western National Pot O’Gold and the All American Pot O’Gold, $13,116 was set aside in the fund. It will be distributed as follows: first prize, 25%; second, 16 %; third, 10 %; fourth, 8 %; fifth 7 %; sixth 6 %; seventh and eighth, 5% each; ninth and 10th, 4% each; 11th and 12th, 3% each; and 2% awarded to the final two placings. Beginning with next year’s competition, the “pot” will be expanded to 22 places.

The purpose of the program – to offer young people the best genetics available – continues today and is evident in the performance of the winners. The records of the 16 qualifying heifers average an impressive 23,159–1,060–805 m.e. This equates to an MCP dollar value average of $3,507.

To qualify for competition in the Pot O’Gold Production Contest, heifers must calve before they reach 30 months-of-age. Loss, death or transfer of ownership of any purchase before the record is complete eliminates the heifer from the competition.

With her fifth win, Wendy Bok takes the title as the most winning participant in the Pot O’Gold Production Contest. It also marks the fifth time Bok’s prize winnings have exceeded the price of her purchase. Bok will receive a check in the amount of $3,278.88. This amount is 104% greater than the $3,150 she paid for her purchase from the All American Pot O’Gold Sale: Yosemite Jerrick Khan A8409, the consignment of Yosemite Jersey Dairy, Hilmar, Calif.

Calving at 1-9, “Khan A8409” produced a record of 20,350 pounds milk, 1,115 pounds fat and 806 pounds protein in 305 days. The MCP dollar value of this record is $4,765.99. Proving the efficiency of the breed and Bok’s management skills, she has completed another record since, with 24,500 pounds milk, 1,300 pounds fat and nearly 1,000 pounds protein.

“Khan A8409” also joins two of Bok’s other Pot O’Gold winners in the elite circle of the breed’s top JPI cows. Berretta’s Linette (winner of the 1999 Pot O’Gold) is currently ranked first, with a JPI of +407; Schirm Berretta Lindy (winner of the 2003 Pot O’Gold) is ranked eighth, with a JPI of +370; and “Khan A8409” is ranked fifth, with a JPI of +380.

Melissa Kortus, Lynden, Wash., takes second place in the contest with Enchanted Valley Mannix Winter. A member of the nation’s leading herd for milk, fat and protein production, “Winter” fittingly made a record of 1-11 305 23,590 5.5% 3.3% 777 99DCR. The MCP dollar value of this record is $4,704.80. Kortus will receive a check in the amount of $2,098.48. “Winter” was bred and consigned to the All American Pot O’Gold by the Enchanted Valley Syndicate, Wyoming, N.Y.

Third place and a check for $1,311.55 goes to Andrew Bok for his entry, D&E Daniel Secret, previously mentioned for placing second in Division I of the 2003 Youth Production Contest.

Tera Koebel is the owner of the fourth-place cow, Montana B Pimento, who also won third place in Division I of the 2003 Youth Production Contest. Koebel will receive a check for $1,049.24.

Other juniors who will be recognized for placing in the Pot O’Gold Production Contest are Jennifer Richards; Laurie Blackhurst, Lindon, Utah; Rachel Rawn, Charlestown, W.V.; Kristin Flowers, West Salem, Ohio; Kyle Schirm, West Salem, Ohio; Scott Blackhurst, Linden, Utah; Dore Baker, Wyoming, N.Y.; Benjamin and Elizabeth Holmes, Johnston, S.C.; Ashley Unkefer, Columbiana, Ohio; and Crystal Payzant, Oregon City, Ore.

The 2004 Pot O’Gold Sale is scheduled for Saturday, November 6, in Louisville, Ky. The animals purchased from this and the Western National Pot O’Gold will compete in the 2007 Pot O’Gold Production Contest.