Come show your appreciation to local dairy farmers at the upcoming Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) awards night.
The awards night celebrates the best in the local dairy industry.
“It’s basically to recognize herd cattle and herd accomplishments,” says DHI milk tester Jack van Dongen.
Awards focus on categories like top producing-cow for ages one through five and are split into smaller and larger farm categories to keep the competition fair. Local consensus is that the Agassiz DHI Awards night has been running at least 50 years.
While the awards are a fun night in the farming industry, DHI testing is something farmers opt to have done throughout the year for data collection purposes. Testers study everything from volume of milk to the amount of butter fat and protein, amongst other details that are important to farmers for how to grow and maintain their herd. It helps farmers make decisions based on up-to-date data, explains van Dongen.
“They want to know which are their top cows, which are their most profitable cows and which ones aren’t,” he comments. “Being on DHI, they get the numbers to show what their herd is doing.”
The awards night tends to bring out mostly dairy farmers, their friends and family. But organizers hope to get more of the general public out as well.
“Come to show your appreciation or interest in what’s happening within the agricultural community,” says van Dongen.
The Kent DHI Awards night takes place April 10 at the Agassiz Agricultural Hall. There will be a buffet dinner by Lori’s Catering and entertainment by comedian / magician Randy Charach.
Tickets are $40 and are available from Jack van Dongen by calling 604-997-4625 or call Gerald Struys at 604-819-8901.