The impressive new Western Fair Agriplex in London, Ontario will be site of the one of the most impressive dairy youth events in Canada in 2005 on June 29th!

Jersey Canada, the 104 year old national Jersey Association, headquartered at Guelph, Ontario is hosting the 17th International Conference of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau from June 26th to July 4th.

The conference itself will be headquartered at the Waterloo Inn in Waterloo, Ontario. Conference week will be surrounded by pre and post-conference travel programs to Central and Eastern Ontario and Quebec and Alberta and British Columbia.

With a theme like "Shaping Tomorrow" the conference organizing committee, headed by Brian and Donna Sayles of Paris, Ontario believed that a major youth event was a perfect fit for a highlight activity during conference week!

Jersey Canada and provincial Jersey associations have a long history of supporting youth activities and encouraging young people to develop leadership skills through practical educational experiences. Given the strength of 4-H program in Canada in producing leaders in society at large and the agricultural industry in particular the format for the event came together rapidly and easily.

The basic outline of the National Youth Heifer show is that competition is open to any dairy youth 25 years of age or younger as of January 1, 2005. Participants can come from any dairy background but will be exhibiting registered Jersey heifers only. Each participant can show up to three heifers in conformation classes ranging in age from junior heifers to uncalved senior yearlings. In addition to the conformation classes there will be showmanship classes, a clipping competition, a herdsmanship contest, and a judging competition. A Youth Ambassador for the show will be also selected.

Associated with the World Conference are other youth events like the Unique Stock Farm photography contest sponsored by the Morey family of Unique Stock Farm at Rochester, Alberta and a colouring contest for all ages! These contests are open to interested young people anywhere in the world!

Keeping with the global nature of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau Conference the Youth Heifer show will also include a showmanship competition for young people from outside Canada with entries already starting to arrive for that facet of the program.

Two very well-known dairy cattle judges have been asked to place the conformation and showmanship classes. Marty Unholzer of South Woodslee, Ontario has the honour of placing the showmanship classes. Norman Nabholz of Nabholz Farms, West Union, Iowa will have the thrill of placing the conformation classes.

All delegates at the World Jersey Conference will travel to London for the show. It is anticipated that well over 150 delegates from at least 15 countries will be in attendance.

On the evening of June 29th a banquet at Western Fair grounds will put the finishing touches on a memorable day and allow delegates and the exhibitors and their families to get to know each other better!

Jersey herd-owners and AI companies have been invited to partake in a Breeders Showcase of top quality animals on the same day as a marketing addition to the program.

For complete details on how you can be part of this "once in a generation" event please visit Jersey Canada's website at www.jerseycanada.com and click on the WJCB Conference button. Main contact for Youth Heifer Show information is conference Coordinator Kerry Alexander who can be e- mailed at world@jerseycanada.com!

Tremendous excitement has been generated by this event! The Jersey breed is alive with electricity over growing influence of the breed in the domestic industry, the upcoming World Jersey Conference here in Canada and this sure-to-be-amazing National Youth Heifer Show!