News from Holstein Association USA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Holstein Association USA Recognizes Outstanding Junior Project Work

Brattleboro, Vt. (April 15, 2008)…Holstein Association USA is pleased to announce twelve semifinalists in the 86th annual Distinguished Junior Member (DJM) competition. The Distinguished Junior Member award, established in 1922, is the highest honor given to Junior Holstein members.

“These Junior Holstein members are the cream of the crop,” said John M. Meyer, Holstein Association USA CEO. “Each year, I am impressed by the quality of all of our youth, especially those who apply for this recognition. It’s inspiring to see the passion these kids have for Registered HolsteinsSM and the dairy industry.”

The semifinalists in the 2008 Distinguished Junior Member contest are: Jessica Berg, Baltic, S.D.; Andrew Birch, Derby, Vt.; J.R. Boyke, Fond du Lac, Wis.; Danyel Hosto, Juda, Wis.; Julia Hudyncia, Fort Plain, N.Y.; Heather Petersheim, Viroqua, Wis.; Kate Probert, Mansfield, Mo.; Kelly Sheehan, Huntley, Ill.; Lucas Sjostrom, Lafayette, Minn.; Michael Stewart, Oelwein, Iowa; David Wilson, Port Royal, Penn., and Hannah Young, Clifton Springs, N.Y.

“As I look back over my years of involvement with the Junior Holstein Association, I see remarkable growth and change,” said David Wilson in his Story of Junior Project Work. “I like to believe this change is due not only to my involvement in Junior Holstein activities, but also the friends I have found through Junior Holstein and the adult advisors who have helped me along the way.”

Heather Petersheim stated in her Project Story, “Ideally, I would love to own a small farm of my own someday, where I could raise a family with the same great values that I learned growing up on a farm. I can’t imagine myself working anywhere other than in the dairy industry. It is what I love to do, it’s my passion.”

These semifinalists will interview at the National Junior Holstein Convention, June 23-26 in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., where six finalists will be chosen to receive the DJM honor.  

Any junior Holstein member, age 17-21, is eligible to compete in the Distinguished Junior Member contest. Contestants are judged on an entry book highlighting their Junior Holstein project work and involvement with activities, both in the Holstein and dairy industries, as well as in their schools and communities.  

For more information about these, or other Junior Holstein programs, contact Kelli Dunklee at 800.952.5200, ext. 4124 or kdunklee@holstein.com or visit www.holsteinusa.com.


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For a hi-res picture of any of the DJM Semifinalists, contact Lindsey Worden at lworden@holstein.com or 800.952.5200, ext. 4096.  



Holstein Association USA, Inc., www.holsteinusa.com, provides products and services to dairy producers to enhance genetics and improve profitability–ranging from registry processing to identification programs to consulting services.  
The Association, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vt., maintains the records for Registered HolsteinsSM and represents more than 30,000 members throughout the United States. The Association is also leading the initiative for national animal identification through the National FAIR program.