The permanent fund for Jersey Youth Academy added $7,330 from the fourth annual Cow Pie Bingo, held June 30 at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds in Fryeburg, Maine, during the annual meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc.

The heifer for this year's fundraiser was donated by Rector Jersey Farm, Hilmar, Calif., in memory of influential Jersey breeders and leaders of the American Jersey Cattle Association who have passed away in recent years.

Rectors Merchant Paris 22258 carried a genomic Jersey Performance Index™ of 151. She is sired by Sunset Canyon Merchant-ET, GJPI 176. Her dam by Ahlem Lemvig Abe-ET (GJPI 147) is Very Good-85% with 19,214-967-729 m.e. calving at 1 year, 9 months of age. The fourth dam is Excellent with four records over 21,000 lbs. milk, 1,000 lbs. fat and 800 lbs. protein.

More than 80 individuals and farms made donations of $10, $25 or $50 to select one or more of the 192 squares available. "Paris" chose her new owner by making her "deposit" on a square selected by Elsa Sherman and Janice Rector. They donated the calf to the 55th National Heifer Sale, where she sold for $2,100 to Alex Steer, Dalhart, Texas. All proceeds went to Jersey Youth Academy.

Cow Pie Bingo has now raised $27,900 for the endowment of Jersey Youth Academy.

Jersey Youth Academy is a 501(c)(3) educational foundation managed by the American Jersey Cattle Association to attract, educate and retain talented young people for careers in the Jersey dairy business. Contributors represent a broad spectrum of Jersey breeder and dairy industry support.

Applications for the third Jersey Youth Academy, scheduled for July 21-26, 2013, will be posted September 1 and are due November 30, 2012. For more information, visit the Academy website, contact program coordinator Dr. Cherie L. Bayer at (614) 322-4456, or write Jersey Youth Academy, 6486 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-2362.

07.23.2012