News July - Alberta Holstein Association

Alberta Holstein
Association News
Alberta Holstein
Association
Volume 2, Issue 3
July 2008
After being trapped indoors
for months, now is the time to break
free and bask in the warm sunshine!
Naturally, there'll be barbecue invitations too…
“You Are Invited
To The Fourth
Annual Alberta Holstein
Association Family Picnic!”
Where: van de Brake Family & Lacombe Corn Maze
When: Thursday, July 31, 2008 Time: 1:00pm
Activities: Corn Maze, Playground, Pig Races
Dinner: 7:30pm - followed by Gery Schubert
Cost: $20 adults, $10 for children between 3&10
Tickets: available from any AHA director & office
Direction: From Jct. of Hwy 2 & Hwy 12, 2km W
on Hwy 12, 1.2 km S on Rg Rd 27.3 east side
For more information please contact:
Wim & Hennie van de Brake 403-782-5295
Heidi Voegeli-Bleiker 403-335-5916
Camping & Food Concession available!
We look forward to seeing you all there!
Thank you to the sponsors that already committed to
sponsor the picnic. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Inside this issue:
Message AHA President
Message National Director
2 Tier 1 Judging School
2
6
Bred & Owned Results
Alberta Shows
3 Alberta Youth
3 WCC/ Provincial 4-H
6
6
Holstein Canada Press Release
Marketing manager/ Field Service
4 Calendar of Events
4 New Members
7
7
AFSC Hail Report
5 Photos of AB Shows
8
Alberta Holstein
Page 2
President’s Message:
“On behalf of the
board of directors,
I would like to invite
everyone to the AHA
Annual Picnic on July
31st at the family
farm of Wim & Hennie van de Brake.”
As we move into the summer
months, I look back on the first few
months of being President of the Association. It has been excellent to meet so
many new people and revisit with breeders who I haven’t seen in awhile.
In March I attended the Green
Acres Awards Banquet. The Breeders
from the Green Acres Club are very
involved and the club is one of the most
active clubs in the province. The Banquet was a great event for all who attended and was a pleasure for me to
make the trip to the southern part of
the province. Late March brought Holstein Canada’s National Convention in
London Ontario. The convention holds
such events as the President’s Reception, Show & Sale, and Master Breeder
Banquet as well there are many different
farm tours you can attend while in the
area. It was a great event to meet breeders from other provinces and to recognize the “Master Breeders” of our industry. It was also encouraging to see many
Alberta breeders on hand to take in the
events.
Message from National
Director: Recently our Provincial
Government announced Monetary Aid
for the livestock industry.
There are some livestock sectors that
do not qualify and I do not wish to start
a debate in that regards. What we all
should be happy about is that in order
to qualify for subsequent payments, the
program is going to demand premise ID
and individual animal ID.
“We all need to
make sure we are
doing our part and
lead by example.”
After years of and several attempts to
get other sectors of livestock to buy in
to the importance of ID, some monetary
restrictions are being implemented.
The AHA sponsors “Best Bred & Owned” at
shows across the province and it was a
pleasure for myself and Wim (VicePresident) to hand out the awards at the
Calgary (April) and Alberta Dairy Congress
(June) shows.
Looking forward to the summer, on
behalf of the board of directors, I would like
to invite everyone to the AHA Annual Picnic
on July 31st at the family farm of Wim and
Hennie van de Brake. There will be many
activities for all ages and we will be going
across the road to the Corn Maze for hours
of family fun and visiting with others in the
industry. There will be lunch available, as
well stick around for the awesome entertainment of Gery Schubert and excellent
dinner in the evening. Tickets are available
from any director or contact Heidi at the
office.
I look forward to seeing many families supporting this picnic and would like to
wish everyone a safe and prosperous summer.
Jason Rietveld
Alberta Holstein Association President
One of the factors that have forced the governments to become more aggressive in the
ID and trace back system is that sales both
domestically and internationally have been
lost.
It is only months since the US border reopened and early on there were reports of
non-compliance. More recently, animals
crossing the border have gone very
smoothly.
We all need to make sure we are doing our
part and lead by example. Make sure your
animals are officially tagged on the farm, enabling them to leave at any time.
John L. Iversen
National Director for Alberta
Volume 2, Issue 3
Page 3
Alberta Holstein Association Bred & Owned Awards
The Alberta Holstein Association Bred and Owned Awards were awarded to the following Breeders:
Calgary Dairy Classic:
Jr. two year old - Rietben Dundee Ciao, Rietveld Dairies
Jr. three year old - Rainyridge Kite Barbara, Rainyridge Holsteins
Four year old - RF Romper Ebony, R&F Livestock
Five year old - RF Gibson Girl, R&F Livestock Inc./ Chilliwack Cattle Co.
Mature cow - Rainyridge Progress Megan, Rainyridge Holsteins
Green Acres Holstein Club:
Sr. two year old - Pol Butte Blitz Jewel, Pol Butte Holsteins
Sr. three year old - Pol Butte Roy Dawn, Pol Butte Holsteins
Four year old - Pol Butte Damian Marge, Pol Butte Holsteins
Mature cow - Pol Butte Modest Lesley, Pol Butte Holsteins
Alberta Dairy Congress:
Jr. two year old - Rietben Dundee Ciao, Rietveld Dairies
Sr. two year old - RF Lancelot Desiree, R&F Livestock Inc. / Chilliwack Cattle Co.
Jr. three year old - Crestomere Lorilee, Everett Simanton
Sr. three year old - Thornspyc Atlas Bonni, Thornspyc Dairy
Four year old - Corman Brawh Glisten, Corman Holsteins Ltd.
Five year old - RF Gibson Girl, R&F Livestock Inc. / Chilliwack Cattle Co.
For complete show results and photos please go to the Alberta Holstein Association website www.albertaholstein.ca.
Did You Know?
The first "organized" meeting of Holstein Breeders in the West (Manitoba, Saskatchewan
and Alberta) was in 1908.
They formed the "Western Canadian Holstein-Friesian Association" which was the equivalent of a "Provincial Branch" of Holstein Canada at that time.
There is a reference in "Rich in Heritage" to the Alberta Branch being formed in
1935. However, there was probably an informal provincial / branch structure prior to that
time because of the Association's funding of extension services.
The first Master Breeder from Alberta was CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) Demonstration Farm, Strathmore,
AB in 1932.
The first National President from Alberta was E.W. Jones, Calgary AB in 1935.
Many famous "names" came from Alberta: J.W. Hosford, Hays & Company, Acme, Pickard & Clark, Curtis Clark,
Lacombe Experimental Farm, Elwell, W.J. Tregillis…… the list is endless.
In addition, there are sections on Alberta in the following historical books:
History of the Holstein-Friesian Breed in Canada; Reaman; 1946
Century of Achievement, Holstein Journal,
1984 Rich in Heritage, Southern Alberta Holstein Club,
1985 The Chosen Breed, Morwick, 2002
Seed-Stock, Horace Bakus, 1999
Page 4
Alberta Holstein
Harley Nicholson Joins Holstein Canada Team
Brantford, ON April 8, 2008 - Holstein Canada welcomes Harley Nicholson as its new Marketing Manager.
Jill’s Family & Shylane Holsteins
Harley comes to the Association from Langley, BC, following many years in Canada’s cattle breeding and genetics industry. Most recently, he was General Manager of
Westgen, Milner, BC, one of Canada’s longest-operating,
producer-owned and directed AI organizations.
A graduate of the University of Guelph, with a Master of
Science in dairy cattle breeding, his first industry posting
was within the genetics division at Centre d’insemination
artificielle du Québec Inc., St-Hyacinthe, Qc. This was
followed with a management role at Eastern Breeders
Inc., Kemptville, ON.
Having a firm grasp of the intricacies within the Canadian dairy industry, Nicholson has headed several
initiatives and served on many committees and
boards dealing with genetic improvement programs and
New Field Service Coordinator Hired
Brantford, ON May 8, 2008—Holstein Canada is
pleased to announce the addition of Jill McCallum, Stratford, ON to its marketing department in the role of Field
Service Coordinator.
Jill will divide her time visiting non-customer Holstein
herds in Ontario and several other provinces promoting
participation in all breed improvement programsregistration, classification, milk recording, and artificial insemination. Reporting directly to Brantford, but working
closely with field/branch staff and industry partners, Jill will
communicate the importance and value of registration to
animal traceability and age verification.
services. Achievements include Past President of Canadian Association of Animal Breeders, Semex Canada,
and Ontario Animal Breeders.
Raised at Shylane Holsteins, Stratford, ON, Miss McCallum
recently completed the academic requirements for a Diploma in Agriculture at the Ridgetown, ON campus of the
University of Guelph, with graduation taking place later in
May.
“Harley’s knowledge and experience in managing field
operations, developing youth activities, participating in
international activities, and commitment to bilingualism
provide an excellent foundation for directing the Association’s Marketing Department,” states Keith Flaman, Secretary-Manager.
Jill has been active in 4-H in her native Perth county since
1999 and has competed successfully at the local and regional levels, as well as at the Royal Agricultural Winter
Fair. As well, she has assisted many other 4-H members
train and fit their project calves.
Raised on a registered Holstein farm near Ottawa, and
active in 4-H and in exhibiting cattle during his youth in
Ontario, Québec, and the US, Nicholson and wife
Heather will be re-locating to the Brantford area in the
coming months.
Organized, confident, and with a broad-based knowledge
of Canada’s dairy industry, Jill is enthusiastic about the programs and services offered by Holstein Canada. She looks
forward to taking up the challenges and opportunities,
which accompany her duties which began May 5.
Note from the Branch regarding Field Service:
Jill spent a week already in Alberta from June 5th to June 13th. The Branch is looking forward to working with
her. Please let us know if you require assistance with any Holstein Canada or AB Branch programs.
Page 5
“Farmers are hoping this summer isn’t another record breaker for hail in Alberta. Last year a record
number of hailstorms blanketed the province, says
Carol Simpson, standing beside a map that shows
where crops were hit. Simpson is the Coordinator
of Insurance Processing for AFSC, the Crown corporation that provides hail insurance to farmers
across the province.”
Central Alberta Hardest Hit
Alberta Farmers Hope to Avoid Another
Record Hail Year
For two years straight, a record number of hailstorms have
battered crops across Alberta. With this summer’s hail season just around the corner and crops beginning to grow,
farmers are crossing their fingers, hoping bad hail years don’t
come in threes.
Two Record Years Back-to-Back
A record 89 severe hailstorms pelted the province last summer, leaving unprecedented levels of crop damage behind.
“We paid out $40.3 million in claims through our Straight
Hail program - the highest ever in our 70-year history,” says
Carol Simpson, Coordinator of Insurance Processing for Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), the provincial Crown corporation that provides the majority of hail
insurance to Alberta farmers. Environment Canada reported
83 severe hailstorms the year before, compared to 48 in an
average year.
Natural Weather Patterns
It’s “mainly chance” that Alberta has seen its two worst years
for hail back-to-back, says Geoff Strong, a meteorologist and
adjunct professor at the University of Alberta who has studied thunderstorm and hail formation across the province for
35 years. “We’ve seen strings of bad hail years before in this
province due to natural weather patterns,” he says, noting
that in the early 50s, there were four or five intense hail
years in a row.
It’s too soon to say if this summer will be another record
breaker. A lot depends on how wet and warm things get
during the coming weeks, says Strong, explaining heat and
humidity from evaporating soil moisture are two key ingredients in hailstorm formation. “Unfortunately the same conditions that promote crop growth set the stage for hail storm
formation.”
Alberta gets more hail than anywhere else in Canada, thanks in
large part to the northwest-southeast alignment of the Rocky
Mountains, says Strong. As warm, dry air flows eastward over the
mountains, it clashes with moisture above the foothills to produce storms. Central Alberta sees the most hail, but no corner of
the province is immune, he says.
Hail has always been one of the biggest problems facing farmers
in Alberta. One minute they can have a bumper crop - ten minutes later, they’ve got nothing because a hailstorm ripped through
their fields,” says Rod Rains, a member of the AFSC History
Committee, which has been looking back at Alberta’s hail history
this spring, as the corporation marks 70 years of providing public
hail insurance across the province.
Alberta’s Hail History
Rains says hail insurance has been around since the early 1900s,
but heavy hail losses in the 1920s and 30s made it extremely difficult to provide farmers with hail insurance back then. “Historical
accounts show many private insurers went broke shouldering
millions of dollars in losses at that time, and the depression years
led to the collapse of hail insurance offered by municipalities because farmers couldn’t pay their premiums.”
In 1937 - with no municipal hail insurance in place and only a limited number of private insurers - many farmers were left unprotected, he says. “That’s what forced the government to take action and pass special legislation creating the Alberta Hail Insurance Board in 1938, now called AFSC. It made hail insurance
available to all farmers in the province, even in the highest risk
areas. That same mandate continues today, although now it also
includes crop insurance, lending, and income stabilization programs.”
“Hail insurance hasn’t changed much since then,” says Simpson.
“AFSC continues to build up reserves over time to cover off the
bad years, and usually there’s enough surplus to issue premium
rebates to farmers.”
Farmers can access Straight Hail coverage at any time. Once a
policy is written, coverage takes effect at noon the following day.
For more information, producers can contact their local hail
agent, AFSC office, or call the AFSC Call Centre at 1-888-7867475
Page 6
Alberta Holstein
Tier I Judging School, Leduc
On June 5th the Tier 1 judging school was
held in Leduc at the Alberta Dairy Congress.
A total of 25 participants registered and a few
sideline judges judged 4 classes of 6 animals
(two heifer & two milking). Erik Klugkist was
our official judge of the day.
The day went well as some senior judges
commented it was a great learning day.
We had volunteers from WCC help with leading animals as well as 4-H members from three
different clubs.
Submitted by Rob Crest, Judging & Show chair
2009 Alberta Holstein Calendar
Plans are underway for the 2009 calendar. We are
still looking for some beautiful scenic pictures to feature on the front page of the 2009 calendar. Please submit your picture to the Branch office and your photo
may appear on the cover.
Thank you to the breeders that support the calendar
project year after year.
During the evening program at the family picnic
we will be auctioning off one page of the 2009
calendar.
Alberta Holstein Directory
I hope all members received a directory in the mail.
By request directories will be available from the office.
Please let me know of any changes that might be required for the next issue. With your help we can make
the directory as accurate as possible. I apologize for any
changes that have been missed in the 2008 issue.
Alberta Youth
Young Adult Convention 2008: Amanda Kroeker and
Michael Lovich represented Alberta at the Young Adult National
Convention in London, ON.
Amanda’s comments: “I would like to first acknowledge my sincere
gratitude to the Alberta Holstein Association for allowing me the privilege to represent Alberta at the Young Adult Convention in London
Ontario on March 26-30. Overall the agenda for the convention was
well designed and executed. All the participants at the Young Adult
Convention had diverse backgrounds and knowledge that they brought
to the convention.”
Michael’s comments: “The Convention was an absolute great opportunity for any young adult to meet people and network. I made many
friends and learned so much. I recommend this program to everyone!
I would like to thank the Alberta Branch for making this awesome opportunity available. Thank you for your continued support of the youth
industry!”
Provincial 4-H Dairy Show: Approximately sixty to
eighty 4 -H youth from across the province will qualify to showcase their hard work and dedication to agriculture at the Westerner Park from July15-17, 2008. The showman-ship and confirmation classes will be held on the Red Deer Westerner
Grounds on July 17th.
WCC: The Western Canadian Classic was started by a group
of volunteers from BC, AB, SK and MB. The committee designed
a concept of hosting a competitive show dashed with social functions to promote friendly interaction between the participants
for all four provinces. The first WCC was held in 1985 in Saskatoon. The 2008 WCC is going to be held in the Keystone Centre in Brandon, MB on August 16 -23, 2008.
(Scotiabank) “Classic”: It is with great pleasure that
the Ontario Branch announces the new sponsors of the
Scotiabank Classic Canadian Dairy Youth Show for the
upcoming year and beyond. The "Classic" is pleased again
this year to invite 4-H entries from across Canada.
Volume 2, Issue 3
Welcome New Members:
Agape Dairy Ltd.
Jordan van de Kraats, Millet
Byemoor Colony
Christ Walder, Byemoor
De Knar Dairy
Andrea & Jan Verhoef, Red Deer
Fairview Dairy South
Jim & Esther Vuerink, Coaldale
Huddlesford Holsteins
T.H.Cope, Ponoka
Slapshot Genetics, Ryan Ronalds, Ponoka
Waeckelin Dairy, Urs & Silvia Waeckelin, Taber
Page 7
We are proud to serve you as your board of directors.
Please feel free to contact us with any of your
questions and concerns.
Board of Directors 2008
National Director – John Iversen
Phone: (403) 556-8935 Fax: (403) 507-2206
Email: innis@airenet.com
Cell: 403-556-0472
President – Jason Rietveld
Phone: (780) 992-0918
Fax: (780) 998-1400
Email: jrietveld@albertacom.com Cell: 780-915-5914
Past President- Ken Fenske
Phone: (403) 783-5974 Fax/Barn: (403) 783-5975
Email: hylacholsteins@xplornet.com
Cell: 403-318-1358
Vice- President- Wim van de Brake
Calendar of Events:
July 15-17: Provincial 4-H Dairy Show, Red Deer
July 19: NAHC Dairy Show
July 26: CAHC Calf & Heifer Show
July 31: Alberta Holstein Picnic
August 8&9: Mountain View County Fair
August 19-23: WCC, Brandon, Manitoba
September 24th: GAHC Herd Builder Sale
October 1 - 4: World Dairy Expo, Madison Wisconsin
October 24: Central Alberta Holstein Club Showcase Sale
October 25: Westerner Champion Ship Show, Red Deer
October 30: SAHC Futurity Deadline
October 31: Alberta Branch Scholarship Deadline
November 15: Deadline for Young Adult Convention
November 20: CAHC Christmas Party & Awards Night
December 5: SAHC Christmas Party
December 5: NAHC Christmas Party
Phone: (403) 782-5295 Fax: (403) 782-7145
Email: vandebrake@albertahighspeed.net
Secretary/ Treasurer – Heidi Voegeli-Bleiker
Phone: (403) 335-5916 Fax: (403) 335-4751
Email: info@albertaholstein.ca
Directors:
Tim Knull
Phone/ Fax: (780) 387-4244
tcknull@xplornet.com
Cor van Gunst
Phone: (403) 732-4063 Fax: (403) 732-4793
Email: vangunst@shockware.com Cell: 403-308-6272
Rob Crest
Phone: (780) 675-4643 Fax: (780) 675-4874
Email: screst@mcsnet.ca
Gerwin Molendijk
Phone: (403) 556-1961 Fax: (403) 556-1964
Breeder of the Year Note:
Email: molendyk@xplornet.com
Cell: 403-506-1315
Rene Klugkist
“We would like to thank the Alberta
Branch for sponsoring the Breeder of the
Year Award and also thank Don and Carol
Wright for sponsoring at the Club Level.
We very much appreciate those who took
the time to vote and congratulate all the
participants who were also nominated.”
The Crew at Crestomere Holsteins
Phone: (403) 843 3052 Fax: (403) 843-3047
Email: rjklug@telus.net
Rita Haynes
Phone: (780) 986-5997
Fax: (780) 980-0902
Email: jackrita@telusplanet.net
Cell: 780-387-1490
Eric Taylor
Phone: (403) 337-2101 Fax: (403) 337-2101
Email: eetaylor@xplornet.com
Alberta Holstein Association Office:
Heidi Voegeli-Bleiker
RR 1, Didsbury, AB T0M 0W0
E-mail: info@albertaholstein.ca
Website: www.albertaholstein.ca
Leduc Dairy Congress: Rietveld Peewee's - Junior show: Chad Crest, Judge Matt Flaman - Judging School Tier I
Green Acres Club Show: photos provided by Tony Kok, Junior Show - Djoeke van den Pol - Judge Tom Hofstra
Calgary Classic Show: Patiently waiting for placing - Beautiful udders
For more photos and show results please go to the Alberta Holstein Association website - www.albertaholstein.ca