Winning a calf launched this youthful Jersey breeder BY ROBIN PHILLIPS Staff Correspondent NEWBURG From raising and showing pigs to excelling with champion Jersey cows, Marilyn Deaven, R 1 Newburg, has changed the route of her farming life. This 21-year-old past 4-Her and FFA member is currently renting a farm and milking her 38 purebred Jersey cows. For Marilyn, it has been a successful transition and progression for her cows are becoming widely known in the showring. "I didn’t even want to look at a cow,” Marilyn states, remem bering back to when she was showing her pigs. Throughout 4-H and FFA she carried her hogs as her projects. Explaining her father had a Holstein dairy at the time, Marilyn said, “we showed dairy and pigs all the time.” The change came early in the FFA career. Marilyn’s father, Mark, had a friend in the judging business. This friend wanted to support the local FFA chapter and donated a Jersey calf to be given away in an essay contest. Of course, as Marilyn tells us, she was expected to enter the contest. Her winning the small calf put the right showman with the right breed and the blue and purple ribbons began to appear. Getting started in 4-H is a little bit easier for Mary Deaven with help of older sister Marilyn. working with her Jerseys. “I was champion fitter the first year,” Marilyn says. Her Jerseys also took her to the Grand Championships of the York In terstate Fair, the Gratz County Fair, The Pennsylvania State Junior Show, and the 1984 Farm Show in the open and youth divisions. She has also earned numerous reserve championships, first place premiums, and fitting and showing honors. “Dad helps me,” Marilyn says of her father’s constant aid in the barn and support at the shows. She also credits her brothers for helping when needed, too. Nineteen-year-old, Mark Jr., who works on a neighboring dairy, assists in any emergencies, and 17- year-old Marlin works in the barn after school. Showing at 11 shows a year, Marilyn says she could not get everything done without their help. Her father and brother just smile and add, “she cracks the whip,” but admit that her ideas are usually the best ones. It is hard to catch this young lady without a smile and when you mention “Faithful Advancer Colleen” the smile gets bigger and bigger. “Colleen” has been her most successful bovine on the tanbark. In 1980 at the Farm Show, “Colleen” and Manly took the /v > <. .*1 ■'v *f :s his daughter all he can and enjoys ,at rl A i>v. ■r Deaven dairy family groups around a couple of their herd favorites. From the left are Marlin, Mark, Mary, Mark Jr. Marilyn. Reserve Championship in the youth show. In 1982, the pair returned for the Grand. Even a twisted stomach suffered after the 1982 Farm Show did not alter this cow’s winning ways. “She took the winter of ‘B2 as a vacation,” Mark Deaven says of ‘ ‘ Colleen’ ’. The fall of 1983 marked her comeback. Calving the day after she won the Reserve Cham pionship at the Fulton County Fair, “Colleen” went on the York and Gratz for the Grands. At the Pennsylvania All-American she took the Reserve Grand honors against stiff competition and the Grand m the youth show. “She can stay in the barn a while,” Marilyn replies to any offers to purchase “Colleen”. “I’m not going to sell her,” she adds. “Colleen” is currently projected over 12,500 pounds of milk and testing 6.1% butterfat. She was recently classified "Excellent - 90 11 The sire of "Colleen” is Golden Faithful, one of the best type bulls of the breed These bloodlines teamed up with those of Shadewell Ethan Allen, another well-known bull of the breed, have produced a winning daughter out of "Colleen” for the Deavens Mar-De Allen Cathy, is following in her dam’s footsteps. First place four-year-old at the 1984 Farm Show went to this homebred entry of the Deaven’s "Colleen’s” due in September again and Marilyn is hoping for another heifer After winning that first Jersey calf and winning with that first calf, Marilyn knows what to look for when selecting her winners Marilyn selected "Colleen” as a calf from a fellow Jersey breeder. Today, she breeds mostly for type, from bulls high on the list She is currently using a lot of Boss Man and trys to correct feet and legs in her herd. "If they’re not tall, forget it,” her father says of show animals. This enthusiastic dairy person is about to make another change in her life In June Marilyn plans to marry. Her fiance, Scott Zmn, Newville, works for a dairy farmer now. "He plans to get into red and whites,” Marilyn says of her future spouse’s plans. They plan to rent a neighboring farm and continue with Marilyn’s dedication and winning ways. Marilyn met Scott at a fair while showing her Jer seys. When asked if he approves of her Jerseys and wants to expand with them, she replies, "just give me a few years, I'm working on it.” Look for Marilyn and her Jer seys at the upcoming fairs and state shows this year You can recognize them by the quick smile V i .* i I \ *1 -5 w i I * / hWt^k of Marilyn and the glossy ap- helping in the showring. “We’re pearance of her charges. You will still trying,” we’re nothing also see the rest of the Deaven spectacular, but we’ll be there,” family caring for the cows and Marilyn concludes. Marilyn Deaven with some of the trophies she has won with her showring Jerseys. Another winning Deaven Jersey, a Production Plus daughter, is shown with Mark Jr. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 10,1984—E3 /7> ' * A C 1 A
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