The Wisconsin Holstein Association’s annual convention will be held Feb. 18-19, 2011 and hosted by the Dodge County Holstein Breeders at the Best Western Campus Inn in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
The weekend’s festivities will kick off Friday, Feb. 18, with registration, the Region 5 Holstein USA meeting, and Wisconsin Holstein committee meetings. Dinner for the night will include the presentation of production awards, and Friday evening will conclude with the second annual Wisconsin Convention Futures Sale, hosted by Wisconsin Holstein’s Young Adult Committee. Thirty-eight choices from the area’s best cow families will sell starting at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule of events includes the Past President’s gathering, spouses outing and the WHA Annual Business Meeting and Election. The WHA Board of Directors will welcome three new members this year, and relieve three members who have fulfilled their terms on the board. Following the business meeting will be an awards luncheon with recognition of outstanding juniors, long time members of WHA, and Wall of Fame inductees.
Saturday afternoon provides the opportunity for guests to view three outstanding herds in the area, as Carl and Bonnie Werner, Tom and LuAnn Bunkoske, and the Bruce and Val Vande Zande families will host farm tours. Saturday evening wraps up with the awards banquet and recognition of advertising winners, the retiring WHA Board members, the WHA Service Award recipient, the Distinguished Young Dairy Breeder Award, and the Distinguished Breeder Award.
The Distinguished Service Award recipient will be Ben Brancel of Endeavor, Wisconsin, who was recently named Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The remaining distinguished award winners will be announced on Saturday evening, Feb. 19.
Also during the banquet will be a dessert auction to benefit the youth scholarship fund. There will also be a Junior Activities Committee work auction, in which proceeds will benefit the junior fund. Evening entertainment following the banquet will be hosted by Dodge County.
All current members of WHA or those interested in joining are welcome to attend what is sure to be an exciting weekend. If you would like to know more information or see first hand what Adult Convention involves, feel free to stop in for either of the annual meetings.
There is still time to register – visit the WHA website for a registration form, or contact the WHA office at (800) 223-4COW. The sale catalog will be viewable from the website, or to receive a copy, contact the WHA office. PD
—From WHA news release
