The Canadian Red & White Club hosted the 2012 National Red & White Convention, "Me & You @ Rendezvous II" August 13-16 in Listowel, Ontario. The Convention began by members meeting the Canadian Red & White convention chairs for an evening hospitality. On Monday was the annual RWDCA meeting for directors with an evening hospitality, Tuesday entailed farm tours at Bombur, Sauder's and Fradon Holsteins and then shopping in downtown St. Jacobs and dinner at Anna Mae's in Millbank, Wednesday was the 43rd National Red & White Convention Sale, followed by the annual meeting and awards banquet and Thursday was the Ontario Red & White Show.
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Monday evening started the convention off with hospitality by convention chair members Ray and Kelly Van Der Wielen to the members present at David Carson Farms & Auctions.

The second day of convention entailed tours of elite dairy herds with Red & White cattle tracing back to well known bloodlines. First stop was Bombur Farms, the home of many daughters by Rosebett Red Licorice-ET. This farm is also home to our cover girls of the resent issue of The Red Bloodlines and the National Convention brochure. Next stop was Sauder Holme Holsteins home to many VG and EX Red & Whites and all family oriented. Last but certainly not least stationed high upon a hill was Fradon Holsteins. Fradon Holsteins is home to the elite Jodie cow family along with many red and red carrier decedents still on the home farm. Post the farm tours, all members were able to experience downtown St. Jacobs for shopping followed by an evening hospitality and dinner for all members at Anna Mae's.

Day three entailed the annual National Red & White Convention Sale, managed by David Carson Farms & Auctions. The sale consisted of 92 lots which averaged $2,078. There were about 150 buyers and spectators present during the sale. Walking away with high seller honors went to a Rose Royce daughter, who also was the 1st place summer yearling at the Ontario Summer Show in 2011, lot 112 selling for $10,000. Second high seller was lot 72, Lenslake Contender Matilda-Red VG-85, selling for $5,200. The third high seller of the day went to Westport Robo Suzanne-Red VG-88, selling for $4,700 and sold as lot 22.

Following the sale, the Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet took place at the Listowel Agricultural Hall in Listowel, Ontario, Wednesday, August 15th with 120 members present. After the meeting dinner was served by the Canadian Red & White Club and was enjoyed by all members. It was the pleasure of this organization to award the work of its outstanding members who have invested in the betterment of the Red & White Cow. The 2012 National Red & White Convention Awards Banquet began with recognizing the 25+ Year Members. John Gillies of Ontario, Canada was awarded the Larry Moore Master Breeder Award, Richard Hurtgen of Oregon received the J.P. "Doc" Ostrander Young Breeder Award and Kelsey Crull of Wisconsin received the Junior Breeder Award. The Don Albrecht Distinguished Service Award was received by Stephanie Stout of Wisconsin and Elmer Howe of Minnesota. Brian and Sue Crull of Wisconsin were awarded the Gary Mayhew Keystone Award. The 2012 Junior Essay winners were in the junior division; Cole Booth, WI, Lane Kummer, PA and Morgan Marotz, NE. The intermediate division consisted of; Kati Kindschuh, WI, Taylor Jirousek, MN and Carly Sherwood, PA. In the senior division the winners were; Corbin Wood, PA, Morgan Lundy, WI and Jordan Rassler, PA. The Albrecht Memorial Scholarships were awarded to Laura Emerson, Middletown, Delaware, Morgan Lundy, Jefferson, Wisconsin and Rose Morian, Atlantic, Pennsylvania. Colleen Ziller, hailing from Huntley, Illinois was crowned the 2012 National Red & White Queen. All-American, Junior All-American, and Superior Type Awards were presented to their recipients by past Red & White Queen, Laura Emerson. Members also recognized and thanked the retiring board members for their hard work and leadership; Mary Etta Lenkaitis, IL, Dr. Kimberly Morrill, NY and Tim Baumgartner, CA. New board of directors that were stated into office were; Yvonne Preder Plymoth, Wisconsin, Gary Janssen Wauconda, Illinois, and Sam Appleby Manitoba, Canada. New officers of the RWDCA Board of Directors include President Jake Skinner, PA, Vice-President Mike Brown, UT, Secretary Dr. Kim Olson, MN and Treasurer Yvonne Preder, WI. Stephanie Stout was promoted to Manager of the RWDCA and is the new Executive Secretary. The Association is currently looking to fill an Assistant Manager position.

A live auction of donated items followed the awards banquet with the proceeds benefitting the RWDCA's Junior Programs, the 2012 Convention and the 50th Convention. The Scholarship Calf Raffle winner was drawn at the beginning of the live auction that evening. The winner was Steve Dolson of Legacy Holsteins in Atwood, Ontario, Canada. Thank you to Dana Erway for donating the raffle calf; Del-Hollow Demlo Laurie-Red. In addition, a THANK YOU to all the donors, buyers and consignors of both the junior benefit auction and cattle sale and to those who purchased raffle tickets. Your continued support towards the Junior Programs and the RWDCA is highly appreciated by the members of the Red & White Dairy Cattle Association.

A special thank you goes to the Canadian Red & White Club for hosting a successful 2012 National Red & White Convention. Next year's convention will be held in Dunkirk, New York from August 13-15, 2013.

For more information, please contact the RWDCA Office at 608-676-4900 or 4909, rwdcastephanie@gmail.com. Watch our website for more convention updates at www.redandwhitecattle.com or our facebook page www.facebook.com/RWDCA.

Founded in 1964, the Red & White Dairy Cattle Association has been located in Crystal Spring, Pennsylvania since 1975 and Clinton, Wisconsin since 2009. The RWDCA strives to encourage and promote the progressive breeding and development of superior Red & White Dairy Cattle by providing breeders with information, programs, and services to help track, evaluate, and improve the breed from one generation to the next. The Association is based on the principle of an open herdbook and currently serves over 1,300 members. For additional information, you may contact the RWDCA at (608) 676-4900 or 4909 or visit www.redandwhitecattle.com.

08.27.2012