By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

LIMA, Ohio — The National Brown Swiss Assoc. is bringing its annual convention to Ohio next month, for the third time – the convention is July 2-5 at the Holiday Inn and Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima.
About 260 people have registered or have told organizers they are planning to attend, said Joe Miller, secretary of the Ohio Brown Swiss Assoc., which is hosting the national convention. While most visitors will come from nearby states, some from New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and California are also expected, he said.
“We might have had some more people, but with gas prices and the cost of flying going up, it makes it difficult,” Miller said.

A highlight of the convention will be Friday night’s junior heifer show, he said. The Palmer Hoffman Memorial Heifer Show begins at 4 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

“We’re encouraging junior members to participate,” he said. “More than 80 junior members have entered the show or plan to attend.”
Wednesday’s activities include a golf outing, winery tour and Junior Olympics. Events on Thursday include the presentation of junior awards, and business and farm tours.

In addition to the junior show, Friday’s schedule includes the presentation of adult awards and a noon luncheon with a motivational speaker. The convention cattle sale is Saturday at 11 a.m. at the fairgrounds.

Ohio last hosted the national convention in 1997 near Cleveland. In 1987, the convention was in Dayton.

Brown Swiss rank behind Holsteins and Jerseys in number of animals nationwide, Miller said. The top Brown Swiss states are Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio. The national association has been in the United States for about 128 years, he said.

“We’re excited to host the convention and we’re happy to have it here,” he said. “We encourage people to come, and we also encourage them to look at some of our exceptionally good Brown Swiss cattle and farms in the state.”

The cost to attend the entire convention is $150, which includes meals and hotel. For those wanting to attend just the junior heifer show and dinner, the cost is $10 for dinner. For more information, contact Miller at 937-947-3144 or by e-mail at jomillerswiss@msn.com