Highland County Dairy Service Unit hosts annual banquet

The Highland County Dairy Service Unit held their annual banquet on Oct. 12 at the Wharton Building on the Highland County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro. This event celebrated the group's achievements over the past year and marked their 60th anniversary as an organization. Currently there are five herds enrolled in official production testing in Highland County. They include Bohl's Jerseys, the Lowell Dickey family, Starlite Dairy (Tom Shawhan), the Nelson Winkle family, and Jared Rhoads. These herds were recognized for outstanding production records over the past year. Cows that achieved top 10% production status in butterfat and protein were awarded certificates. Plaques were awarded to the highest ranking Holstein and Jersey cows in milk, butterfat, and protein. Herds receiving plaques for these top ranking cows included Bohl's Jerseys, the Lowell Dickey family, Starlite Dairy, and the Nelson Winkle family. A portion of the program that is always highly anticipated is the awarding of premiums to exhibitors of dairy cattle at the Highland County Junior Fair Show. These premiums are generated from the sale of six pounds of butter at the Friday night sale at the fair. This year, local buyers stepped up and purchased these six pounds of butter for over $12,000. These monies were divided amongst the exhibitors based on their placing in the show. Another highlight of the evening is the presentation of the Outstanding Dairy Youth Award. This award is presented to a junior fair member that has demonstrated outstanding cooperation, enthusiasm, and leadership associated with the Highland County Junior Fair Dairy Show. This year's winner was Jessica Davidson. The Highland County Dairy Service Unit would like to thank the following donors for trophies, plaques, tickets, ice cream, and door prizes: Baxla Tractor Sales, Carr Farms, Kim Carr, Dan Pyles (C.O.B.A.), Chuck Wait Tire, Crop Production Services, the Dickey Group Realtors, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, Hubbard Feeds, Bob Johnson Milk Hauling, Little's Farm Supply, Master Feed Mill, Paint Valley Supply, Sabina Farmers Exchange, Semex, Ullery's Home Made Ice Cream, and United Producers, Inc. [[In-content Ad]]