The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.
“The Nelson McCammon Youth Heifer Program helps youth interested in working with dairy cattle gain hands-on experience with high-quality Registered Brown Swiss, explains Wisconsin Brown Swiss President Josh Hushon. “By working with Brown Swiss through this program, our hope is that they will learn to appreciate the many outstanding qualities the Brown Swiss breed offers as the well as the camaraderie of those who own them.”
Award recipients will receive a grant for 50% (up to a $1,000 total) towards the purchase price of a Registered Brown Swiss female of any age. The program is intended to run for two years with the applicants being between the ages of 9 and 18 for cows and 9 to19 for heifers as of January 1, 2024. Applicants must be residents of Wisconsin and become members of the Wisconsin Junior and the National Junior Brown Swiss Associations.
Since the project started in 2013, 31 youth have purchased Registered Brown Swiss heifers thanks to the generosity of long-time Brown Swiss breeder and youth supporter Nelson McCammon, who generously donated the funding for the program via his estate when he passed. Mr. McCammon was a mentor to many, and a past winner of the Klussendorf Trophy.
Winners will be presented at the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Annual Meeting, March 1-2, 2024, at the Clarion Inn & Suites Conference Center, Lake Delton, Wi. Grants will be awarded Friday night, just ahead of the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Sale which will allow winners to purchase a calf from breeders who have made them available.
Applications and more information about this and other programs can be found at the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Association website at www.wibrownswiss.com or by contacting Christopher Voegeli at christophervoegeli@gmail.com or 608-558-4728.
