Ria and Theo Elshof are pictured following the presentation of wine and roses to Ria and Theo receiving the Past President’s Pin. Thompson Goddard Photo
CORNWALL – The 2023 Jersey Ontario convention was a resounding success, with Jersey farmers from across Ontario enjoying the opportunity to visit local Jersey farmers, hold the 2023 annual general meeting and celebrate the achievements of their peers.
Theo Elshof, 2022 Jersey Ontario president and St. Lawrence Valley Parish Club member, explained the annual conference is held where the president lives.
This year, youth delegates participated in a tour on Thursday afternoon, which included a visit to Lucky Dairy, a Saanen and Alpine Goat Dairy operated by Natalie and Cyp Lachance, visited ZipGrow in Cornwall before returning to the hotel for dinner with the Jersey Ontario board of directors and participating in the 2023 conference.
On Fri., March 3, a barn tour was held featuring visits to four local farms, which included lunch at North Stormont Place in Avonmore which was enjoyed by an estimated 50 people. Farms visited include Walnutlane Jerseys operated by Ed, Victoria and Benjamin Cooper, Belsmith Farms operated by Robin, Ann Marie and Ashley Smith, Therihof Jerseys operated by Theo, Ria, Kevin and Marleen Elshof and Jamink Farm owned and operated by Thomas, Julia, Felicity, Thys, Heidi & George Booijink.
A banquet was held on Friday evening at the Best Western Parkway Inn and Convention Centre providing the opportunity to enjoy some food and fellowship. Following the dinner, Kyle Stockdale of KyVision Sharpening and Blade Repair provided a presentation on “Picturing Your Animals for Sales.”
The Jersey Ontario annual general meeting was held on Sat., March 4, with the organization receiving reports from various committees. A Jersey Ontario Management Symposium “The Breeding Sustainability” was held immediately following the AGM and featured several speakers on a variety of subjects.
Morning sessions in the symposium featured two speakers. Deborah Santschi and Dr. Dominique Maxime, Lactnet presented Understanding GHG Mitigation Strategies for Jersey Breeders, was followed by Barte Rijke from Dairy Farmers of Ontario Region 1, providing a presentation entitled Net Zero by 2030 which answered questions about Net Zero for Jersey producers. Following lunch Feeding Sustainability featured Mario LeClerc, director of Coop Embrun AgTreck Division and Sustainability & Reducing the Environmental Footprint presented by Nick Thurler.
The 2023 awards evening banquet featured several production awards being presented, followed by a silent auction as well as a hybrid live auction with auctioneer James Cooper. Michael and Monique Bol of Drentex Jerseys in Russell were presented with a painting of Drentex Grandious Coco by members of the St. Lawrence Valley Jersey Club, recognizing their 2021 Master Breeder Award.
Ria Elshof was presented with a bouquet of roses and bottle of wine as a thank you for her dedication and support of husband, 2022 president Theo Elshof who received his Past President’s Pin shortly thereafter from Glen Burgess. In his address, Theo described serving on the Jersey Ontario board of directors and as the president of the organization as a learning experience. He thanked members of the St. Lawrence Valley Jersey Club membership, Jersey Ontario office staff, Jersey Ontario members and the board of directors for their support. He described his wife Ria as “being tremendously supportive over the years”, thanking her and their family for the support shown to him.
2022 Production Awards
10 Plus Years:
IRCHEL BONO HERCIA SUP-EX 90-3E, Kurt & Alison Schmid, Little Britain Ontario
FREYS’ VALLEY VERMEER BRANDY SUP-EX-90-E, Colin & Laura Martin, Elora, Ontario
5-9 years
HAYFIELD VOLCANO LAVA VG 85, Tyler & Emily Hendriks, Brucefield, Ontario
PLEASANT NOOK PREMIERS MISS ME EX 94-3E, Pleasant Nook Jerseys, Ayr, Ontario
SHADY GLEN DAVID BREXIT, Kevin & James Jones, Midland Ontario
Senior 4
HENDRIKS MARCIN TRIXIE, Tyler & Emily Hendriks, Brucefield, Ontario
Junior 4
JALON DOREA 27D, John R.B. Miller, Creemore, Ontario
GREENMOOR AXEL RAINBOW, J. Paul & Jane Shulman, Embro, Ontario
Senior 3
HENDRICKS DISCO HALSEY 700, Tyler & Emily Hendriks, Brucefield, Ontario
GOLDEN BEAUTIFUL MONTY, Golden Jerseys, Mildmay, Ontario
Junior 3
SHADY GLEN MARCIN ELLA, Kevin & Steven Jones, Midland, Ontario
HENDRIKS DISCO TRACY 724, Tyler & Emily Hendriks, Brucefield, Ontario
Senior 2
PINEHURST MANTRA HOTFLASH G 79 Charlie & Kimberly Stewart, Gores Landing
HENDRIKS DISCO TRACY 843, Tyler & Emily Hendriks, Brucefield, Ontario
HENDRIKS VICEROY LISTERINE 719, Tyler & Emily Hendriks, Brucefield, Ontario
Junior 2
SHADY RUFUS R-RAOMI, Kevin & Steven Jones, Midland, Ontario
JALON FERGIE 66F G77, John R. Miller, Creemore, Ontario
ROWILL BOURBON ITCH GP 84, Rowill Jerseys, Seaforth, Ontario
Yearling
HENDRIKS WESTPORT TRACY 918, Tyler & Emily Hendriks, Brucefield, Ontario
2021 Lowest Somatic Cell Count Jersey Herd in Ontario, Prizdale Farms, Picton, Ontario
2021 Top Jersey Herd by Management Score in Ontario, Shady Glen Farms, Kevin & Steven Jones, Midland, Ontario
Skinner Perpetual Trophy – highest milk yield;
William F. Argue Perpetual Trophy – the highest fat yield;
Mellow Perpetual Trophy – highest protein yield.
HENDRIKS MARCIN TRIXIE, Owner: Tyler & Emily Hendriks, Brucefield, Ontario
Granclare Perpetual Trophy – highest composite fat and protein BCA, HENDRIKS WESTPORT TRACY 918 Owner: Tyler & Emily Hendriks, Brucefield, Ontario
Perth-Huron Jersey Club Award (for the herd with the greatest increase in composite BCA by points for 2021), Ervin Bowman, Clifford, Ontario
Most Improved BCA Jersey Herds 2021 over 2020
- 1st Ervin Borman, Clifford, Ontario
- 2nd Hendriks Dairies Ltd., Brucefield, Ontario
- 3rd Dream Lane, Roslin, Ontario
- 4th Paullor Jerseys, Clinton, Ontario
- 5th Drentex Jerseys, Russell, Ontario
- 6th Marbrook Inc., Maxwell, Ontario
- 7th Murray Rodenburg, Aylmer, Ontario
- 8th Walkerbrae Farms, Guelph, Ontario
- 9th Bowesland Jersey, Atwood, Ontario
- 10th Greenmoor Farms, Embro, Ontario
