Holstein Association USA members recently gathered in St. Louis, Missouri for National Holstein Convention, held June 22-26, 2025. Themed “Meet Me in St. Louis,” National Holstein Convention drew almost 800 attendees from across the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico.
“The National Holstein Convention is always a powerful reminder of the passion and commitment our members bring to the dairy industry,” said Lindsey Worden, CEO of Holstein Association USA. “From insightful seminars and farm tours to dynamic Junior events, this year’s gathering in St. Louis was a true celebration of the Holstein cow and the people who dedicate their lives to her.”
The National Holstein Convention began on Monday, June 23, with the Local Lens Farm Tours. Holstein enthusiasts took a trip to three different Registered Holstein farms that have all found their niche in the industry. First, attendees stopped at Carter’s Corner, where the Carter family highlighted their herd of Registered Holsteins and IFV facility. Next, the tour stopped at Rolling Lawns Farm before heading to the farm’s storefront, The Milk House, for a delicious lunch. The final stop of the day was Wilra Farms, where attendees saw the rotary parlor and heard about the herd’s genetic strategy from the Harre family.
The Juniors ended the day listening to words of wisdom and learning about the impact the Holstein Association can have on their path to success during the “Mics, Markets, and Law” workshop. Then, they got dressed up and danced the night away at The Great Gatsby Ball.
Holstein Horizons held on Tuesday, June 24, offered attendees a full slate of enriching seminars on timely topics in the dairy industry. Jared Holt of Ascent Advisors opened the day with strategies for farm transition planning, followed by a breeder panel that shared personal transition stories. Next, Dr. Jason Lombard of Colorado State University provided insights into evolving biosecurity practices and lessons learned from HPAI in dairy cattle. Dr. Matt Lucy of the University of Missouri-Columbia discussed approaches to achieving productive and long-lived dairy cows, and Christopher Urban of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) closed the day with a look at how we can position dairy to win in the future. Lisa Behnke of World Dairy Expo, served as moderator for the day.
Attendees also enjoyed a variety of casual events designed to foster connections with fellow Holstein enthusiasts. On Tuesday evening, convention attendees relaxed with friends during “Family Night Under the Sea” at the St. Louis Aquarium. The night included games, dinner, and a walk through the beautiful aquarium. On Wednesday, the Awards Luncheon showcased talented adult and Junior members. The National Holstein Convention Sale, dairy bar, and trade show rounded out the week’s activities.
Throughout the week, Holstein Association USA Junior members showcased their talents through various contests and made new friends along the way. Whether attending workshops, dances, or tours, or testing their dairy knowledge during competitions, Juniors brought enthusiasm and excitement to the convention.
“The National Junior Holstein Convention brings people together from across the country,” says Junior Holstein Member Garrett Ulness from Valders, Wisconsin. “I have attended for almost a decade and as a result have created many strong friendships with people who all have the same passion for the Holstein cow.”
139th Annual Meeting
Holstein Association USA’s 139th Annual Meeting commenced Wednesday, June 25th. President John Burket, CEO Lindsey Worden, and CFO/Treasurer Barbara Casna gave reports on Holstein Association USA’s 2024 performance. The 2024 Annual Report details the Association’s financials and other highlights from 2024.
Attendees also heard committee reports from the Holstein Association USA Board of Directors, and 40-Year Members were recognized, along with the 2024 Herds of Excellence and Star of the Breed. Dr. Jeffrey Bewley publicly introduced the Build a Better Cow project – a research and development effort being led by HAUSA, working on groundbreaking advancement in dairy cow conformation evaluation using a camera-based system and machine vision.
Two members retired from Holstein Association USA’s Board of Directors. Robert Webb of Plymouth, Wisconsin retired as Region 5 Director and Bill Genasci, of Modesto, California, retired as Region 9 Director.
Delegates had the opportunity to ask questions to 2025 Board of Directors candidates on Wednesday afternoon and elections took place on Thursday morning. Re-elected for their second three-year terms on the board were: Region 8 Director R. Joshua Wright of Jerome, Idaho and At Large Director, Jeff King of Schuylerville, New York.
Elected for their first three-year terms on the board were: Joseph C. (Joey) Airoso of Tipton, California, representing Region 9 and Craig Carncross, of Lodi, Wisconsin, representing Region 5.
The 2026 National Holstein Convention will be held June 22-25, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. For more information about National Holstein Convention, visit www.holsteinconvention.com.
Holstein Association USA, Inc., provides programs, products and services to dairy producers to enhance genetics and improve profitability — including animal identification and ear tags, genomic testing, mating programs, dairy records processing, classification, communication, consulting services, and Holstein semen.
The Association, headquartered in Brattleboro, VT., represents approximately 25,000 members throughout the United States. To learn more about Registered Holsteins® and the other exciting programs offered by the Holstein Association, visit www.holsteinusa.com, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
