President's Perspective
Hello Iowa Holstein Friends,
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This is truly one of my favorite times of the year. Nature has come back to life, and as we drive along the rural roads, we witness the start of spring planting. The cattle grazing in the pastures complete the picturesque landscape and make you pause for a moment to appreciate it.
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A special thank-you to District 1 for hosting the State Holstein Convention. Be sure to read the profiles of this year’s award winners, and congratulations to each of them!
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Thank you, Kaitlyn Besler, our Holstein Princess, for your dedicated service to our Association over the past year. We look forward to another year of your reign. Congratulations to our new Iowa Holstein Princess, Natalie Besler! If you need assistance with dairy events, please don’t hesitate to reach out to either Kaitlyn or Natalie.
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A big thank-you to Courtney Sales for managing the auction this year at the Iowa Spring Holstein Sale. We had some outstanding cattle, and they sold very well. Thanks also to Blake Courtney for organizing another successful raffle this year. The sale averaged $3,600—congratulations to all the winners!
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Safe travels to everyone attending the National Holstein Convention in St. Louis, MO. Best of luck to the Junior Contestants!
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Wishing good luck to all exhibitors as you prepare for the county fairs, district shows, and the Iowa State Holstein Show, which will be held in West Union on July 15–16. This event will run concurrently with the District 1 show.
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Mark your calendars for the Iowa Holstein Picnic! This year, we’ll gather in Eastern Iowa at Genosource in Blairstown on August 16. The Genosource partners are thrilled to host us once again. We’ll also hold our state and district board meetings there, as we’ve done in the past.
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It’s encouraging to see the milk and cheese market finally improving. With the shortage of dairy replacements nationwide, we hope these prices remain steady.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the shows!
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See you around,
Paul Stempfle