Harris Wins National Young Jersey Dairyman Award
BY GINGER SECRIST MYERS
Adams Co. Correspondent
MILAN Brian E. Harris,
Sunset Ridge Jerseys, was
recently named as a recipient of
the Young Jersey Dairyman
Award from the American Jersey
Cattle Club for 1986. This award
will be presented at a special
breakfast on June 28 at the
Opryland Hotel in Nashville,
Tenn., site of the 118th Annual
Meeting of the Jersey Cattle Club.
A third generation Jersey
breeder, Harris credits his success
to the support he has received from
his parents, Eugene and Alice
Harris, and his desire to achieve a
sense of accomplishment in his
chosen field.
These two factors have resulted
in a 1985 DHIR average on 60 cows
of 13,712 pounds of milk and 628
pounds of fat. This is the same herd
that was recognized as the high
Jersey herd in the state in 1978 and
1980.
Presently the Harris family
makes their home on the farm
purchased by his father, Eugene.
Brian and his wife, Karen, see
their children Sasha, 7, and Seth, 4,
growing up under the same in
fluences that Brian did. As a youth
Brian was always active in 4-H and
the Junior Program of the Penn
sylvania Jersey Cattle Club,
winning the Club’s R.H. Olmstead
Award in 1967.
One thing Eugene and Alice
insisted on was that Brian attend
college. Penn State was a natural
choice for him after his numerous
visits there in connection with
state 4-H activities.
Harris does not credit his college
courses with a direct influence on
his present management prac
tices, but these courses did provide
the basics on which to build. He
feels the most important thing he
gained from his days at University
Park was the willingness to search
for and try new things in his
operation.
While at Penn State, Harris
developed as a leader on Ag Hill.
He was president of the Dairy
Science Club and in 1972 was
named Outstanding Senior in
Dairy Science. In the same year he
finished in the top five of the Dairy
Shrine Student Recognition
Contest.
A summer intern salesman
position with a feed company,
during Harris’ junior and senior
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year, confirmed his conviction that
what he really wanted to do was
return to the home farm.
Following graduation he
returned to Sunset Ridge Jerseys
and entered into a 50 50 part
nership with his father. Although
the relationship grew and
prospered, three years ago the
operation underwent a radical
change when Eugene had a heart
attack. More recently Eugene has
required back surgery, leaving
Brian with almost complete
management responsibility.
The loss of such a capable
partner, Harris admits, left him
with a sense of confusion.
However, he has picked up the
management reins and is deter
mined to challenge the herd to
even higher, more efficient
production.
In January the dairy herd’s
ration was changed to include a
mixture of steamed rolled
soybeans, a 22.9 percent pelleted
supplement, and more buffers and
minerals. Concerns by Harris that
ian jrris . imily incL ,-s (i
Sasha, his wife, Karen, Seth and Brian.
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the new ration might have an
energy problem have been
dispelled as the herd continues to
near the 14,000 pound mark.
To save on energy costs and help
maintain milk quality, Harris
recently installed a new pre
cooler. They presently use tap
water in the cooler, but hope to
switch to spring water. Harris then
plans to recapture the heated
spring water to fill their hot water
needs.
Meticulous about details in
management, the Harris family is
even more aggressive about
continually upgrading the genetics
in the herd. Duncan, Royal and
Legend are presently listed on the
breeding charts, while the recent
fresheners have added Top Brass
and Soldier Boy daughters to the
milking string.
Harris has expanded his genetic
base by sampling two Danish
Jersey Bulls offered through the
AJCC’s semen exchange program.
Also active in young sire sampling,
Brian belongs to four bull syn-
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Brian and his son, Seth, check on the new pre-cooler he
installed to save energy and improve milk quality.
dicates as well as using young sires
available from the A.I.
organizations.
While Harris is dedicated to
farming, he feels that it isn’t
necessary to sacrific everything to
farm. He finds time for a variety of
family and community activities.
He served as the PJCC Sale
Chairman for four years and was
the chairman of the Bradford
County Dairy Princess Pageant
from 1978 to 1982.
In addition to these activities he
has served as a 4-H leader for the
past 10 years and is the assistant
fire chief of the Smithfield
Township Volunteer Fire Com
pany. He is also a director-at-large
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Looking down the road to his
future with Jerseys, the en
thusiastic young dairyman relates,
“It really looks good for Jerserys.
They haven’t suffered the inflated
prices that the other breeds did.”
“I had more buyers here at the
farm last fall than ever before,” he
continues. “The management of
the AJCC has been strong with
programs ahead of their time, like
Genetic Recovery and the Linear
Evaluation system,” Harris noted.
“I’ve always had the attitude
that I like Jerseys, milking and
working outdoors. Farming is a
commitment to a lifestyle that I
enjoy,” he explained.
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