By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

WOOSTER, Ohio — The Ohio Holstein Assoc., which provides services and programs to its members and to young people so they might attain a better living from their involvement with Holsteins, will hold their annual meeting March 12-13 in Berlin, Ohio.

The convention will begin with the Ohio Convention Sale featuring 65 outstanding registered Holsteins, said Esther Welch, communications director for the group. The sale will be at the Galen Miller Farm.

Following the sale there will be farm tours to Weaverhof Holsteins, Velvet View Farms, and Doughty Valley Farm. Jessica Lynch will be the guest speaker following dinner in the evening. She will also help judge the Ohio Holstein Queen contest.

The annual meeting and awards luncheon will be held on Saturday.
Throughout the year the group, which has 850 members, has three consignment sales, handles dispersals and private sales, and publishes a magazine five times a year, Welch said.

“We also have an Ohio Junior Holstein Assoc. with activities for our youth from scholarships to show awards, and national activities,” Welch said.

“Each year there are two national Holstein shows in Ohio. One is at the Spring Dairy Expo which is March 26 this year. The other is at the Ohio State Fair. There are also 10 district shows.”

Don Alexander is the current general manager of the group, which published its first newspaper in 1938.

The Holstein breed originally came from Europe, Welch said.
“For a long time our cattle were named Holstein-Friesian and now we’ve dropped the Friesian and call them American Holsteins,” Welch said. “They immigrated from North Holland and the Province of Holstein Germany.”

One topic that is bound to come up for discussion at the annual meeting is the new national milk production record holder, Welch said. According to the Holstein Assoc. USA, a Holstein cow owned by Thomas Kestell of Waldo, Wis., produced 72,170 pounds of milk in one year, 2,787 pounds of butterfat, and 2,142 pounds of protein.
For information on the OHA the annual meeting, visit www.ohioholstein.com or phone the OHA at 330-264-9088. Reservations are necessary for meals.