Groves has taken a lifelong interest in genetics and worked to breed the best herd of Registered Holstein cattle that he can. Today he and his family are milking 160 cows twice a day. Their ME production averages last year were 34,250 pounds of milk, 1,272 pounds of fat and 1,037 pounds of protein. They have a 107.9 percent BAA, with 18 Excellent, 54 Very Good and 45 Good Plus cattle on their last classification. They have marketed embryos to foreign countries and across the U.S.

Brad and his wife, Gail, have two children, Taylor, age 12, and Kiera, age 10. He volunteers several groups, including serving as secretary/treasurer for his county DHIA for over 10 years. Groves is involved with planning the 2012 National Holstein Convention and was recently named to the Genetic Advancement board for KABA/Select Sires.

Elite Breeder
Frank Raymond Ruby, of Fir-Ridge Holsteins in Scio, Ore., was recognized as Holstein Association USA’s 2011 Elite Breeder. The Elite Breeder honor is given annually to a Holstein Association USA member who has bred quality Holstein cattle and made notable contributions to the breed and Association.

Ray passed away in March 2010, but his legacy lives on through his family, wife Ida, children Scott and Michele, and three grandchildren; and the sound breeding program he dedicated his life to. He bred over 100 Excellent cows in his lifetime and over 500 cows scored Very Good. Ruby’s herd also excelled in milk production, with over 1,200 cows carrying the Fir-Ridge prefix achieving over 100,000 pounds of lifetime milk, 88 of which went on to make over 200,000 pounds. The herd received Holstein Association USA’s Progressive Genetics HerdSM distinction numerous times.

Numerous organizations benefitted from Ray’s involvement through the years. He was a longtime active member of the Oregon Holstein Association and Holstein Association USA, and served two terms on the national board of directors from 1996 to 2003. He was involved as a director for the Farmers’ Cooperative Creamery, the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association and his county DHIA. Additionally, he served his community on the Scio School Board for several years, and was a member of the Lions Club.

Distinguished Leadership Award
Charles Iager of Fulton, Md., was announced as the 2011 Distinguished Leadership Award recipient. This award is given annually to an individual who has provided outstanding and unselfish leadership to the Holstein Association or dairy industry as a whole.

Iager’s Maple Lawn Farms has been in the family since 1939. Passed down through the years, they now have 350 Registered Holsteins and 1,000 acres of crops, along with a rapidly growing fresh retail turkey operation. He and his wife Judy have been married for 46 years, working tirelessly for the causes they’re involved with. They have three sons, Mike, Matt and Mark, and seven grandchildren.