The newly formed All-American Dairy Foundation will support youth exhibitors with educational and training opportunities. The first $500 grant is to secure the $1,000 United States savings bond won by the Grand Champion Holstein of the Premier National Junior Show. The All-American Dairy Show is set for Sept. 18 – 23 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. The Premier National Junior Events, themed “The Stars Align in Harrisburg,” run Sept. 18-21.
The foundation is spearheaded by chairman Bob Heilman of Richmond, Va., the foundation was recently awarded charitable organization status as a 501c (3) non-profit group through the Internal Revenue Service.
Two years ago, Chip Savage of Knoxville, Md., donated a Holstein March calf, Savage-Leigh Z Linsee-ET, that sold in the Eastern Elite Holstein Sale during the 2008 All-American Dairy Show to provide $18,500 as the seed money to start the foundation.
Out of Savage-Leigh Bellwood Linda and sired by Ocean-View Zenith-TW-ET, the calf was first bought for $10,000 by a syndicate that donated the calf back for resale. Donating $2,000 shares to the syndicate were Dieter Krieg, Darwin G. Braund, New Direction Holsteins, Jason and Donna Myers, and the Centre County Syndicate consisting of Centre County Dairy Vets, Fred Strouse, Mike Weimer, Rita Kennedy and Jay Houser. Tyler Peachey of McAlevys Fort, Pa., bought the calf a second time for $8,500.
The Pennsylvania Dairy and Allied Industries Association will submit grant applications to the foundation board of trustee members Michael Birch of White Hall, Md., Rita Kennedy of Butler, Pa., and Jay Houser of Spring Mills, Pa., and Heilman. The trustees will then determine how the money should be used to support educational and training opportunities and awards for youth who participate in the All-American Dairy Show.
Source: All-American Dairy Show