The National Guernsey Convention has long been recognized for the many exciting opportunities and contests that it offers youth to participate in. Youth from across the country traveled to the convention to compete in the many contests and recognition programs offered by the American Guernsey Association. At the recently concluded National Guernsey Convention, numerous awards were presented for outstanding performance within the Guernsey breed.
This year’s winning National Outstanding Guernsey Youth is Jade Jensen of Four J’s Farm, Conway, Missouri. Jade is the 21-year-old daughter of Jeff and Mary Jensen. She has various responsibilities on the 65 cow farm including helping with milking responsibilities on weekends when she is home from college, vaccinating, heard checks, classification preparation, and making sure paperwork is in order. Jade is also responsible for making sure any show prospects are ready and taking care of them while they are at the show.
Jade currently attends college at Missouri Southern State University where she is majoring in accounting. In the future she hopes to continue to breed her Guernsey cows to be competitive in the show ring as well as in production. With her degree Jade hopes to be a farm accountant and use her knowledge of the tax system to help farmers with their taxes and advising them on future plans and goals. She also hopes with this knowledge that she will be able to make her own family farm more successful.
Jade states “there are many attributes that I like about my Guernsey girls. I like the components that they produce, the ease of calving, and A2A2 milk. A2A2 milk is carried in many of our Guernsey cows and could be a breakthrough for our breed.”
This year’s Runner Up National Outstanding Guernsey Youth Candidate is Kyle Sollenberger of French Creek Farm, Spring City, Pennsylvania. Kyle is the 20-year-old son of David and Holly Sollenberger. Around their family farm Kyle helps with making genetic selections, helping to manage herd health, and doing most of the feeding for all age groups.
Kyle is attending Pennsylvania State University where he is majoring in animal science. After graduating college he hopes to work for one of the major artificial insemination (A.I.) companies in the United States.
The American Guernsey Association is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of the Guernsey dairy cows. The American Guernsey Youth Association boasts membership of over 700 young people nationwide.
For more information and photos, contact Lewis R. Jones, executive secretary of the American Guernsey Association at 1224 Alton Darby Creek Road, Suite G, Columbus, Ohio 43228, 614.339.5391, ljones@usguernsey.com or visit the website at www.usguernsey.com.
