2008 Annual Meeting 

Virginia Holstein Association Annual Convention Report
By Promotion Chairperson, Terry Perotti Lam

This year’s convention was again held at the Best Western Inn and Suites Conference Center in Waynesboro, Virginia on November 21 and 22.  It was held in conjunction with the junior convention.  Friday’s events began with an executive board meeting. About fifty Holstein enthusiasts attended. 

At Friday night’s banquet, the Meritorious Service Award, sponsored by Rilara Holsteins, was presented to Mr. John Miller of Bridgewater, Virginia. Dan Myers of Walkup Holsteins, read off an impressive list of community service organizations that John has been involved in.  His past work experiences included sales for Wayne Feed, field representative for Shenandoah’s Pride, and the executive secretary for the Virginia State Dairymen’s Association.  He has been very dedicated to the dairy industry throughout his career and also received recognition of his thirty-three years of service from the Virginia General Assembly.  Congratulations to John from his many Holstein friends and colleagues around the Commonwealth!

The following herds were recognized in the banquet program for the 2008 Progressive Genetics Herd Awards: Mar-Bil Farms, James Cook, Eastview Farm Inc., Melvin Ronk, Monta Vista Inc., Bernard Koogler, Early Dawn Dairy, Beery Farms Inc., Byard Rohrer, Allen Layman, Alvis Farm LLC, Riggs & Stiles, Inc. and Leland Keith Moyer.

Following a delicious buffet meal, Mr. Rick VerBeek, a sire analyst from Select Sire Power, gave a Powerpoint presentation/discussion of “Genomics in the Holstein Industry.”  There was a lot of interest in this topic and many producers asked questions after the presentation.

After the juniors ate supper with the adults, they went to another conference room to socialize and try out “Guitar Hero.”  The juniors also set up a craft/art silent auction which concluded at lunch on Saturday.

On Saturday, November 22, the “early bird” session consisted of reports from the 2011 National Holstein Convention committees. The dates are June 22-25, 2011 with the 19-21 of June slated for Pre-Convention tours. 

Next, the annual membership and board reorganization meetings were held.  Several “get well cards” were distributed for the attendees to sign as the group missed Margie Ann Dick, Mike Hendrix, Carol McComb, and Doris Phillips during this convention due to illnesses and recovery from surgeries.  We hope they are all doing much  better now.

During the adult meetings, the juniors held their public speaking contest, election, membership meeting and dairy jeopardy/dairy bowl contests.  Representing Virginia at the 2009 National Convention to be held in California are: Junior Division-Tripp Bopp “Just Say Milk” speech, Intermediate Division-Kathryn Liskey “Change is here” speech, Senior Division-Rosemary Liskey “Genomic Selection” speech.

 The juniors also surprised Barbara Clary and presented her with a beautiful, engraved, glass milk pitcher. She was chosen as this year’s Honorary Member.

All-Virginia & Junior All-Virginia Winners

At the joint, adult and junior luncheon, the All-Virginia awards were presented by Show Committeee Chairman, Ron Roudabush as follows:

Spring Calf-sponsored by Heiz-Acres, Middlebrook, VA
All-VA and JR. All-VA: Remrose Damion Honey ET        
B & O: Kelly Skeen
Reserve:BBK Stormatic Abby-ET
Owner: Janney Holsteins

Winter Calf- sponsored by Ameva Farm, Inc., Amelia, VAAll-VA:Janney Jupiter Estelle
B & O: Janney Holsteins
Reserve:Janney Scarletts Storm-Red
B & O: Janney Holsteins            

Fall Calf- Wall Bros. Dairy, Inc., Blacksburg, VA
All-VA and JR. All-VA: Pottsdale Goldwyn Rozina-ET           Owner: Logan Potts
Reserve and Reserve JR. All-VA: Pottsdale Logical Biancha
B & O: Chris Potts

Summer Yearling-sponsored by Early Dawn Dairy, Charlottesville
All-VA: Ken-Wan Mirandas Pretty B & O: Ken-Wan Farm
Reserve: Janney Roy Ecstasy B & O: Janney Holsteins

Spring Yearling-sponsored by John Barns Family,Saltville, VA
All-VA and JR. All-VA: Pottsdale Advent Sadie-ET
B & O: Haley Potts
Reserve: South Bound All Smarty Pants
B & O: Terry Perotti Lam

Fall Yearling: sponsored by Ron-Rou Holsteins, Mt. Solon
All-VA: JK-RG Advent Maureen-ET
Owner: David Tait & Michael Syptak

Jr. 2 yr. old-sponsored by Walkup Holsteins, Harrisonburg
All-VA: Gloryland Lakota Rae-ET
Owner: David Tait & Lawson Bennett
Reserve All-Va & Reserve JR. All-VA: Pottsdale Zenith Matilda
B & O: Chris Potts

Sr. 2 yr. old- sponsored by JR and JG Goodwin, Orange
All-VA: West-Hope Aspen Adora-ET
B & O: West Fint

Jr. 3 yr. old-sponsored by ABS Global-Terry Perotti Lam, Mt. Solon
All-VA and JR. All-VA: Pottsdale Rubens Bitsy
B & O: Chris Potts

Sr. 3 yr. old-sponsored by Jareco Farms, Penhook
All-VA:Heiz-Acres Linjet ZipB & O: S. Lee and Dale Heizer
Reserve:Ken-Wan Allegiance Jade B & O: Ken-Wan Farm
Hon. Mention: South Bound Racer Mystic B & O: Terry Perotti Lam

4 yr. old- sponsored by Cherry Dale Farm, Inc., Doswell
All-VA and JR. All-VA: Greenlea Mindy-RED
Owner: Wm. Hunter McCray
Reserve and Res. JR. All-VA: Heiz-Acres Outside Vermont Owner: Lindsey Heizer
Hon. Mention: Pottsdale Rubens Morgan
B & O: Chris Potts

5 yr old-sponsored by Eastview Farm, Inc., Beaverdam
All-VA: Twin-Gro Honey Magnifico
Owner: Ken Wan Farm
Reserve: Gloryland Lexie Rae-ET
Owner: John Wetzel and D. Tait

Aged Cow-sponsored by Gloryland Holsteins, Grottoes
All-VA: Ken-Wan Lee Lucky Barb B & O: Ken Wan Farm

100,000 pound cow-sponsored by James & LaVaun Janney, Staunton
All-VA: West-Hope Lee Ivory-ET
B & O: West Fint

Junior Best 3 Females-sponsored by Alvere Holsteins, Culpeper
All-VA: Dogwood Farm

Produce of Dam-sponsored by Ken-Wan Farm, Luray
All-VA: David Tait, Wetzel and Bennett

John Miller recognized as 2008 Meritorious service recipient

Mr. Virginia Dairy, John Miller was recognize at the 2008 Virginia Holstein's Annual membership banquet held in Waynesboro in November.  Dan Myers presented the award to his longtime friend and mentor.  Excerpts from Dan's presentation follows:

Zan Stuart of the Stuart Land and Cattle Company started the Virginia Meritorious Service Award within the Virginia Holstein Association family.  For years Zan developed a very humorous presentation that was sponsored by the Stuart Land and Cattle Company.  Change is inevitable, in 2008 we seriously select and present Virginia Holstein Association highest award.  Rilara Holsteins, Riley and Barbara Wagner again this year sponsor this award.  A special thanks go to Riley and Barbara Wagner. 

Tonight our Association has extended to me one of the greatest honors of introducing the recipient of the 2008 Virginia Holstein Association’s most coveted award.  This award has become the most prestigious award given by our Association.

It is given after many candidates are considered and the Executive Committee deems this person most worthy of this honor.  Within your program for tonight you may review the names of past award recipients.  Several of the past honorees are now deceased.  May God’s grace be with them and their loved ones.

Tonight I have the honor and privilege to introduce the 2008 Meritorious Service Award recipient.  I gladly accepted the offer to introduce him and take this responsibility seriously.  Our recipient is a friend to Virginia Holstein Association and the larger Dairy Industry family and a personal friend to many of us and a very special friend to me.

There is very little that I can tell you about this farm boy without revealing his identity.  Several within this room already know who is our 2008 Meritorious Service Award winner.  To the best of my knowledge, the recipient is not aware of his prestigious award.  With the help of his wife I have a list as long as your arm which may be considered an autobiography. 

Our recipient for the 2008 Meritorious Service Award is John Leigh Miller.  Most of us know John as retired Executive Secretary-Treasurer of Virginia State Dairyman’s Association, a position he held from 1967 to 2000, 33 years of service to the Virginia Dairy Industry.

I invite John L. Miller and his wife, Janet, to come to the podium while I tell you some of his history.

John was born at the beginning the Great Depression of the 1930’s.  His early years found John living in North Carolina were his Dad was a County Agent, for a period of 10 years before returning to Bridgewater, VA.  After high school, John attended Bridgewater College for 2 years, served in the U.S. Army for 2 years, and graduated from Virginia Tech in 1956 with a degree in Animal Husbandry.

In 1954 John and Janet were married.  Their daughter Dawn, graduated form Va. Tech and daughter Faye graduated form Bridgewater College.

Did you know that John worked for Wayne Feeds as a sales representative?  Shenandoah’s Pride Dairy also employed him as a field representative and in plant management for 9 years.

We all remember John as Executive Sec.-Treasurer of VSDA.  You may better understand the depth of his involvement in the Dairy Industry from this list:

¨Dairy Science advisory Board, Va. Tech
¨Extension Milk Quality Leadership Council
¨State Chamber of Commerce, Agricultural Committee
¨Va. Milk Quality Council
¨Va. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer services, Brucellosis Eradication Advisory Committee
¨Va. Agribusiness Council Board
¨Liaison with General Assembly helping to pass crucial legislation benefiting Va. Agriculture and the Virginia Dairy Industry
¨A Champion of the Va. Tech Dairy Club
¨Board member and president of the VA 4-H Foundation for 24 years
¨Past President of the Va. Council of Farmer Cooperatives
¨Member/Officer of the Va. Purebred Cattle Association
¨Member: American Agronomy Society

Alpha Zeta, Honorary Agriculture Fraternity
Dairy Cattle Nutrition Council   
Va. Forage and Grasslands Council

¨And a member of the Virginia Holstein Assoc. and our National Association.

Yes, John did have time for Civic and Community activities.  Here is another list: 

·Blue Ridge Community College – Chairman, Agricultural and Environmental Curriculum Advisory Committee
·Public relations Council of Shenandoah Valley
·Pure Water Forum, representing the Town of Bridgewater
·Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador at large, and Issues Committee
·Member of the Bridgewater Ruritan since 1958
·Member of the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren

I do not know all of John’s involvement within the church, I do know he is presently a member of the Stewardship Commission.  Charlotte and I appreciate the opportunity to worship with John nearly every Sunday morning. 

I shall repeat a statement that I have made many times in years past about John Miller.  For all the years that John has been Executive Sec-Treas. Of VSDA, I don’t know of anyone who has maintained the dedication and enthusiasm for his job, throughout his entire career, as John Miller. 

It comes as no surprise that our 2008 Meritorious Service Award winner has received a “commendation in recognition of 33 years of service as Chief Spokesman for Virginia’s Dairy Farmers” from the Virginia General Assembly.

Other awards and recognition include: 

®Va. Tech Dairy Club’s Milky Way dedication in 1991
®Tuner Ashby High School FFA , Honorary Chapter Farmer
®Young Farmers of Virginia, Recognition Award
®Va. Tech Dairy Science Dept., Distinguished Service Award
®Virginia Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Career Leadership Award
®Va. Tech Agriculture Alumni Organization, For Leadership, support and Dedication to the College of Agriculture and Life Science

I invite Riley and Barbara Wagner, award sponsors, to come forward to present the 2008 Meritorious Service Award.

 Special thanks go to John’s wife, Janet, in providing much of the information for this presentation.  Without her my job would have been much more difficult.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Virginia Holstein Association, I present to you the 2008 Meritorious Service Award winner, John Leigh Miller.