Auction participants believe in dairy’s future

MADISON, WIS. – April 2010 – Seven auction items brought a total of $12,150 for dairy education programs at the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin Business Conference, Tuesday March 16 in Madison. Also at the conference, the Silent Auction raised an additional $14,500 toward dairy education.

The auction benefits the Professional Dairy Producers Foundation, which raises funds and awards grants for educational programs and initiatives. For the past six years, the Foundation has helped fund such programs as PDPW’s Youth Leadership Derby, mentor program, and community education about dairying.

An elite genetics Holstein calf topped the auction at $3,700. Ripp’s Dairy Valley LLC of Dane, Wis. purchased Jenny-Lou Million 2069, donated by the Mitch Breunig family of Mystic Valley Dairy.

Other items sold include:

·         A GEA WestfaliaSurge Rotating Cow Brush sold for $2,200 to Warmka Holsteins of Fox Lake, Wis. 

·         100 units of Semex semen with a tank, donated by Semex and ai24, sold for $2,100 to Merry-Water Farms, Inc. of Lake Geneva, Wis.

·         A Wisconsin Golf Package featuring gift certificates to five of Wisconsin’s premier golf courses sold for $1,800 to Dic-Wisco Farms, Inc. of Dorchester, Wis. The package was donated by the five participating courses, plus AgStar, Stewart-Peterson and Diamond V Mills.

·         ANIMART donated a Door County Walleye Trip, which sold for $1,000 to Maple Ridge Dairy, Stratford, Wis.

·         A Pheasant Hunt package sold to Quality Liquid Feeds of Medford, Wis. for $650. It was donated by Sharon Brantmeier of Ameriprise Financial and Don Meyer, Rock River Laboratory.

·         A handmade quilt crafted by Karla Zimmerman was purchased by Badgerland Financial for $700.

JoAnn Maedke, Foundation board member and coordinator of the Live and Silent Auctions, thanks donors and buyers. “The Foundation is truly a blend of industry and dairy producers working together for future education. I am extremely grateful to be part of an industry with such great cooperation and commitment to education.”

The Foundation was established in 2002 by Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin as a vehicle to raise funds and award grants for educational programs for dairy producers and the public. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.dairyfoundation.org.