The 2020 Minnesota Holstein Association Field Day was hosted by KurthKine Holsteins of Buffalo Lake, Minnesota. Nearly 150 Registered Holstein enthusiasts from across the state came to the event held on July 11, 2020. KurthKine Holsteins is owned by Bill and Leah Kurth and Family.
A lunch of pulled pork, beans, chips, and ice cream was served prior to three featured speakers. Bill Kurth spoke on behalf of his wife, Leah, and their children to welcome everyone to the event. The 66th Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Amy Kyllo, Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture, Thom Peterson, and Barry Visser of Vita Plus all spoke in regards to dairy and dairy farming in Minnesota. Door prizes were given out and the Minnesota Holstein Association President, Tracy Schaefer, presented the Kurth Family with a clock. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Junior Holstein Association presented a fitting clinic for youth.
A downpour of rain led attendees into the barn for the announcement of judging results and information on the cows in the contest. The dairy judging contest included three Holstein cow classes: a two-year old class, three-year old class, and four-year old class. There was an adult division and a junior division. John Schroeder served as the official judge for the dairy judging contest and winners received KurthKine Holsteins apparel, donated by the Kurth Family. In the adult division, Kari Swanson and Tom Sohm tied for first place and Gerald Kramer placed third. In the junior division, Megan Ratka placed first, Kayla Visser placed second, and Matthias Annexstad placed third. Nearly 120 individuals participated in the dairy judging contest. The event wrapped up with some final comments from Bill Kurth and Tracy Schaefer after the judging results.
The Kurths and MHA would like to thank Clancy Kurth, the Schroeder Family, Ethan and Kyle Grams, and Barry Visser for all of their help with the event. In addition, thank you to Centra Sota and Vita Plus for sponsoring the meal, First District Association for sponsoring the ice cream, and AgriBoost Consulting LLC for donating water and ice. Still further, thank you to Craig Buss of Dairyland Seed, Scott Vacek of DeLaval, and Barry Visser of Vita Plus for donating door prizes.
The Minnesota Holstein Association would like to extend a huge thank you to Bill and Leah Kurth and family for all of their tremendous work planning and hosting the 2020 Field Day, it certainly was a wonderful event!