Sleepy Hollow Dairy started in the Holstein business in 1903, and for nearly 100 years, was one of the most respected providers of outstanding Registered Holstein genetics in the dairy industry. The first registered animal entered the herd in 1925 and three years later, the herd was moved by Kip’s dad, Max, to Petaluma. Kip became a partner in 1961 and managed the herd until it was sold to Ron Pietersma in 2000.

From the time Kip took over the herd until it was sold, the name Sleepy Hollow was synonymous with superior genetics. Numerous internationally recognized cow families were developed at Sleepy Hollow, among which 151 cows were designated Gold Medal Dams and 77 Dams of Merit. A total of 173 cows were classified Excellent.

Distinguished Leadership Award
Richard Coyne, Avon, N.Y>, is the 2008 recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Award. In its second year, the award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding and unselfish leadership for the betterment of the dairy industry.

Dick served on the National Holstein board of directors from 1984 to 1992. During his tenure, Dick’s knowledge and expertise in breeding, merchandising and showing dairy cattle were of great benefit as a member of the Genetic Advancement Committee (GAC). As a GAC member, he was one of the directors who led the board in changing the TPI formula to a better balance of type and production. That decision paved the way for the TPI formula to include information other than type and production that would guide the U.S. dairy industry toward breeding more profitable cows.

Dick always understood the importance of dairy farmers providing a positive image of dairying in the public eye. He was a member of the founding committee for the Dairy of Distinction Program in New York, which recognizes farms for their overall appearance. Coyne Farms was a recipient of the award and Dick continues to serve on the program committee.

Distinguished Young Holstein Breeders
Mark and Angie Ulness, Valders, Wis., are the 2008 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeders. The Ulness’ have made great strides since taking over their operation in 2002, building a strong foundation for their future with Registered Holsteins based on hard work, careful decision making and strong values.

Both Mark-31 and Angie-30 grew up on Registered Holstein farms in northeast Wisconsin. Mark’s parents, Wally and Ava, established the Ragnar prefix in 1976 and started building their Registered Holstein herd. Angie grew up at Cycle Farms, a fourth-generation Registered Holstein farm, owned by Bill and Clarice Brey and their family.

Mark and Angie were actively involved in 4-H and Junior Holstein activities growing up. Following graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Dairy Science, Mark returned to the home farm and Angie was employed by the Holstein Association as a regional field representative from 2000-2005. The current rolling herd average on twice daily milking is 27,714 pounds of milk, 1,068 pounds of butterfat and 892 pounds of protein on 69 cows.

The Ragnar herd has received the Holstein Progressive Breeders Registry Award for the past 15 years. Many of the top cows in the herd trace back to Ragnar Linjet Callie EX-93-3E-GMD-DOM, the granddam of the first bull they sent to AI. The herd’s current BAA is 108.9, with 14 cows scored Excellent, 29 Very Good and 21 Good Plus. Six cows have been named Gold Medal Dams and six cows in the herd have produced over 200,000 pounds of milk in their lifetime.

Mark and Angie are highly involved in the dairy industry and their local community, serving on national, state and local committees. In February, they received the Wisconsin Holstein Association Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder Award.

2008 Distinguished Junior Holstein Member (DJM)
Six finalists were named in the DJM competition at the National Junior Holstein Convention on June 26. The contest recognizes Junior Holstein members for outstanding work with their projects and is the highest honor that can be received by a Junior Holstein member.

This year’s finalists are Andrew Birch, Derby, Vt.; Julia Hudyncia, Fort Plain, N.Y., Heather Petersheim, Viroqua, Wis., Lucas Sjostrom, Lafayette, Minn., Michael Stewart, Oelwein, Iowa, and David Wilson, Port Royal, Pa.