Congratulations to Chris Kemper of Dane, Wis., for receiving one of six Young Jersey Breeder Awards given by the American Jersey Cattle Association.
The Young Jersey Breeder Award is presented to individuals or couples who are at least 28 years old and under the age of 40 on January 1 of the year nominated, who merit recognition for their expertise in dairy farming, breeding Jersey cattle, participation in programs of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc., and leadership in Jersey and other dairy and agriculture organizations.
Chris is well on his way to achieving long-lasting success in the Jersey dairy business. Dave and the late Patty Endres, Lodi, Wis., gave Chris his first full-time job as assistant herdsman, and he eventually worked his way up to herdsman for their Jersey operation. Chris bought a small herd of 15 cows in 1999 and housed them along with Dave and Patty’s herd while he worked for them.
Over the next eight years, Chris was able to grow his herd to 100 head of Registered Jerseys™ setting up a move to his own operation in 2006. Today, he is milking 285 cows with plans to continue his herd expansion. He has incorporated AJCA programs into his business plan including the REAP service package, JerseyTags and JerseyMate.
The 2010 AJCA lactation average on Chris’s herd was 22,637 lbs. milk, 984 lbs. fat and 822 lbs. protein with a cheese yield of 2,690 lbs. His herd currently ranks within the top 25% in the nation for Jersey Performance Index™ herd average.
“Chris has put great effort in many facets of his dairy to attain the top levels of production and reproduction in his herd,” wrote John Ambrosy, D.V.M., Waunakee, Wis. “He has done an outstanding job of using top-of-the line Jersey genetics and technology.”