Harrisburg, PA — Derek Wilson of Titusville, Crawford County, PA, exhibited the Southdown named Supreme Champion Ram, while Travis Johnson of Minerva, Ohio, led the Border Leicester named Supreme Champion Ewe during the Junior Breeding Sheep Show, on Sunday, Oct. 5, during the 2014 Keystone International Livestock Exposition at the Pennsylvania Farm Show and Expo Center.

Wilson and Johnson were each presented with a $200 check sponsored by EMM Sales & Service Inc., Brownstown, Lancaster County. Continue reading→

by Sally Colby

John and Jacqueline Chotkowski, of Spring Flight Farm in Elmira, NY, have plenty to do with a herd of 160 to 180 cattle, but recently took time to exhibit some of their best Highland Cattle at the Keystone International Livestock Expo (KILE) in Harrisburg, PA.

The Spring Flight herd includes both purebred Highland and purebred Angus. “We use a Highland bull on our Angus cows,” said Jacqueline, who is past president of the American Highland Cattle Association. “Angus are brood cattle — they’re used to being with people. Our Angus cattle see us every day so they aren’t wild.” Jacqueline noted that because the gene for horns is recessive, nearly all of the crossbred calves are polled. “We also get hybrid vigor,” she said. “We have faster meat production but not so fast that we’re taking animals at 12 or 14 months.” Continue reading→

MADISON, WI — The dynamic duo Ken Main and Peter Vail of Elite Dairy — home of Cutting Edge Genetics — received multiple honors during the International Brown Swiss Show on Oct. 2 at World Dairy Expo. Topping the outstanding performance for Main and Vail was Eloc Wagor Kandid, the winning Aged Cow and eventual Senior and Grand Champion. Kandid received the Udder Comfort $1,000 Grand Champion Cash Award. Elite Dairy also exhibited the Intermediate Champion and was named Premier Exhibitor of the show. Reserve Grand and Reserve Senior Champion was Brown Heaven Glenn Fantasy, owned by Brown Heaven of Verchères, Quebec. Continue reading→