Brent Young, Dallas, Wis., received one of six Young Jersey Breeder Awards given by the American Jersey Cattle Association in ceremonies June 28, 2019, during the association’s 151st Annual Meeting in Canton, Ohio.
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.
Young is the third generation to operate the all-Jersey herd at Dority Valley Dairy. Since 2004 he has been a partner with his father. His focus remains on improving the herd by expanding and updating facilities, expansion using only home bred replacements, increasing cow comfort and using milk testing to guide culling decisions. By these efforts, the 100 cow milking herd has been maximized for production and longevity. Their current actual rolling herd average is 17,932 lbs. milk, 867 lbs. fat and 639 lbs. protein.
Outreach to dairy consumers is another aspect Young strongly believes in. He started a Facebook page for the farm in 2012 to give the public an insider’s perspective on a working Jersey operation. They discuss many common farming topics and the uniqueness of the Jersey breed which has gained them a lot of interaction and positive discussion while portraying honest, accurate information.
In addition to his duties on the home farm, Young is active on the state and parish levels of the Wisconsin Jersey Breeders Association serving as both a past president and director at large. He and his wife, Tara, have also opened their farm to the community hosting and supporting farm-to-table events that promote the Jersey breed and agricultural industries.
The American Jersey Cattle Association was organized in 1868 to improve and promote the Jersey breed. Since 1957, National All-Jersey Inc. has served Jersey owners by promoting the increased production and sale of Jersey milk and milk products. For more information on its programs and services, visit www.USJersey.com or call 614/861-3636.
