Jersey breeders from the Empire State have been leaders in the Jersey industry. Nine have been elected president of the AJCA or the American Jersey Cattle Club (AJCC) -- more than from any other state. Included in this group is the current AJCA president, Alan Chittenden, Schodack Landing. Twenty-five have served as directors of the AJCA or the AJCC and five have sat on the board of National All-Jersey Inc.
The AJCA Master Breeder award has been presented to eight Jersey breeders from New York (W.R. Kenan Jr., George W. Sisson Jr., Henry Uihlein, Stanley N. Chittenden, Ray Chamberlain, Dutch Hollow Farm, Silver Spring Farm and Flip and Sue Ferry). Four have been honored with the AJCA Distinguished Service Award (Stanley N. Chittenden, Ray Chamberlain, J. Lawrence Benson and Paul Chittenden). Stanley Chittenden and Chamberlain are two of just 11 individuals in breed history to receive both awards.
In the 47 years that the AJCA has presented the Young Jersey Breeder award to up-and-coming Jersey breeders, residents of New York have earned the honor 28 times, including the inaugural awards in 1976. Most recently, Jed and Laura Barnes of Mount Upton were honored with the award in 2023.
Click here to view a list of New York Jersey breeders that have served in national leadership positions or received national awards.
2023 AJCA Master Breeder
Flip and Sue Ferry of Johnstown were recipients of the Master Breeder award in 2023.
2023 AJCA Young Jersey Breeder
Jed and Laura Barnes, Mount Upton, own and operate CoBar Dairy, LCC.
Cheryl Carlson, front with clock, is the consignor and breeder of the Jersey breed's historical high selling heifer calf, Wetumpka Viceroy Java-P. She sold in the 2019 National Heifer Sale for $103,000 to Matthew Steiner of Ohio.
2019 AJCA Young Jersey Breeder
Josh and Katie Carpenter, Arcade, own and operate All Bright Jerseys.
2018 All American Ladies Showmanship
Christine Sheesley Rozler, Potsdam, right, won the ladies showmanship award at the All American Jersey show in 2018.
2016 All American Junior Show Premier Exhibitor
Blake Crothers, Pitcher, left, was named Premier Exhibitor of the All American Junior Jersey Show in 2016.
2017 AJCA Young Jersey Breeder
Nathan Chittenden, pictured with wife, Jill, and their children, Anna, Zachary and Jonathan, operate Dutch Hollow Farm with his family in Schodack Landing.
2017 AJCA Young Jersey Breeder
Heather Hyman and her husband, Todd, and their children, Elizabeth, Garrett and Charles, operate Hy-Light Farms LLC in Adams.
2016 AJCA Young Jersey Breeder
Brian and Tracey Poole operate Falls Pride Dairy in Oriskany Falls with their young children, Emma and Lucas. AJCA Director Alan Chittenden presented their award at the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings.
2016 AJCA Young Jersey Breeder
Meghan Moody, center, is pictured with her husband, Joe, rear, and their children, Ian and Emily, and AJCA Director Alan Chittenden. The family operates Springdale Farm in Hamden.
2014 AJCA Master Breeder
Silver Spring Farm, owned and operated by Charles and Sue Luchsinger and their children, Charlie and Ali, received the AJCA's highest award -- Master Breeder -- in 2014.
2012 AJCA Master Breeder
Dutch Hollow Farm LLC, owned and operated by the Chittenden family in Schodack Landing, received the AJCA Master Breeder award in 2012.