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40 WC DAIRY NEWS  CHRISTMAS 2024
Island Club Celebrates Production Awards and Pioneers
Tars Cheema
Third year’s the charm for Vancouver Island Club
President Amanda Poelman who confidently
emceed the 2024 Annual Awards Banquet in
Duncan on October 19.
In addition to the customary production awards,
this year’s program included a short dynamic
video showcasing the Breeders Cup competition,
and a Holstein Pioneers Panel.
Following in the long tradition of this small but
close-knit club, Amanda read out the names of
Club members/friends who had passed in the last
year – Bertha Abma, Dr. Chris Urquhart, Case Van
Jaarsveld Jr., Gerry B. Wikkerink, Jake Knopp,
John Pendray, and most recently, Hugh Smythe.
Also recognized as a new Honourary Member
was Doug Blair, who received his award at the
VI Holstein Show in July, just two weeks before
his relocation to Calgary to be closer to family.
An emotional President Amanda presented a
50-year Holstein Canada Veteran Breeder pin to
her equally emotional Oma, Nel Poelman.
Amanda noted the club’s busy activity highlights
– judging in March, golf in June, the social and
Show in July and farm tours in August. The 3rd
Breeders Cup competition grew by 10 entries to
64 head, judged by Lorene Barnum.
Yvonne Roemer presented the Production
Awards, along with recognizing Cindy Wikkerink
as the Top Judge at the spring judging day.
Amanda was once again pleased to share her
professionally prepared video of the Breeders
Cup highlights to an appreciative audience.
Results can be seen on page 59.
The evening concluded with a Pioneers Panel
discussing brief details of their farms’ origins,
other long-gone breeder herds and the history of
the club. Joe Taylor brought to life the early years
of Saanwood, including the unlikely acquisition of
HEATHERBANK GREBEGGA CARNATION (the cow
behind YOUELLDENE ROYAL GEM). He shared
about the predominance of Jersey herds and
how the idea of the Vancouver Island Club was
hatched by parents at a 4-H meeting at Edgell’s
Saanichton farm in 1953. Burt Youell spoke about
how the local vet in Saanich remarked on the
150 herds he served from Sidney to Sooke in
1954. Many herds were supplying milk to Victoria
during those years, including Gordon Rendle
Sr. who had to be certified in pasteurized milk
production before Stanhope could supply the
local hospital in Victoria in 1956. Bill Wikkerink
referenced “bigtime cowman, Sam Bonsall,”
from Chemainus – a small but very prominent
breeder who was influential along with notable
early breeder herds, Manoah Steves (pioneer
importer) and others.
The panel’s memories sparked many discussions
and historic recollections among the audience
after the closing comments. We highly
recommend this idea for all club areas to share
the stories of your own pioneers – it was nostalgic
and moving. Thank you, Joe, Burt, Bill and Ridley.
The Island Pioneers
Panel: (L-R) Joe
Taylor, Bill Wikkerink,
Burt Youell and
Ridley Wikkerink.
Award Winners: (L-R back) Ben
Cuthbert, William Wikkerink, Colin
Balme, (L-R front) Gerald Poelman,
Cindy Wikkerink, Oliver Balme.
Production Awards 2024
These awards are sponsored by
VI Holstein Club and
YEARLINGS
1. WILLSWIKK DUKE HARMONY
11,984kg M 576kg F 410kg P BCA 313 409 336
Willswikk Holsteins
2. MEADOW GREEN ALLIGATOR JAWS
10,838kg M 470kg F 391kg P BCA 291 338 326
Meadow Green Farm Ltd.
2-YEAR OLD
1. WILLSWIKK DRIFTER JOY (2ND OVERALL PRODUCTION)
15,988kg M 737kg F 487kg P BCA 352 441 338
J. William Wikkerink Farms
2. WILLSWIKK KINGDOC DEZZRAH
14,150kg M 622kg F 441kg P BCA 327 386 317
J. William Wikkerink Farms
3-YEAR OLD
1. SUMMERSHADE ELLIE MONEY (OVERALL PRODUCTION WINNER)
17,688kg M 755kg F 542kg P
BCA 407 466 384
Willswikk Holsteins
2. WILLSWIKK KING DOC JENNY
14,514kg M 735kg F 484kg P BCA 318 438 334
Willswikk Holsteins
4- YEAR OLD
1. WILLSWIKK CHIEF APACHE
16,375kg M 761kg F 547kg P BCA 339 423 353
Willswikk Holsteins
2. WILLSWIKK UNIX JOLIE
14,976kg M 76kg F 451kg P BCA 304 422 291
J. William Wikkerink Farms
5-YEAR OLD
1. WILLSWIKK DOORMAN ADELAIDE
18,330kg M 780kg F 585kg P BCA 333 382 340
Willswikk Holsteins
2. WIKKSHAVEN ATWOOD DAHLIA
15,216kg M 859kg F 538kg P BCA 280 430 318
Wikkshaven Holsteins
Nel Poelman received
her 50-year Holstein
Canada Veteran
Breeder pin with
her son Gerald and
granddaughter
Amanda.
MATURE COW
1. WILLSWIKK GOLDCHIP DEMI
15,863kg M 1065kg F 505kg P BCA 286 525 294
J. William Wikkerink Farms
2. BALME AYR TSAR WYATT
12,509kg M 596kg F 416kg P BCA 327 385 330
Balme Ayr Farms
10-YEAR OLD +
1. BALME AYR POKER ADELAIDE
11,597kg M 399kg F 338kg P BCA 287 245 254
Balme Ayr Farms
2. BALME AYR NORMANDIN CEECEE-V
10,675kg M 415kg F 337kg P BCA 266 259 255
Balme Ayr Farms
LIFETIME MILK
1. BALME GARRETT INCOME
10 records 154,558kg M
Balme Ayr Farms
2. FRUEH JANA GILLESPY
6 records 131,503kg M
Frueh Farm Ltd.
LIFETIME FAT
1. WILLSWIKK BAXTER DOTTIE
12 records 6,485kg F
J. William Wikkerink Farms
2. BALME GARRETT INCOME
10 records 5,770kg F
Balme Ayr Farms
LIFETIME PROTEIN
1. BALME GARRETT INCOME
10 records 4893kg P
Balme Ayr Farms
2. WILLSWIKK BAXTER DOTTIE
12 records 4,424kg P
J. William Wikkerink Farms
May your Christmas and New Year
be fi lled with joy and blessings.
We would like to offer our sincerest gratitude for this past
year’s business and the privilege of working with each of you.
Merry Christmas!
From your friends at
Island Dairy Services Ltd.
(250) 710-1559 • islanddairy@telus.net
www.delaval.com
is a registered trademark of Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. and “DeLaval”
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