If you haven't seen the spring issue of Jerseys East, we're sure you'll enjoy this comment from Craig and Susan Wicker, who are sending "Leah," a yearling granddaughter of their Excellent-93% "Rachel," who posted the best 305-day milk record in the U.S. last year (35,830M):

"If she could understand, we feel 'Rachel' would approve of the proceeds of the sale of (Leah) going to the research fund to help secure the future of the Jersey breed."

Thanks to the Wickers, Four Springs Jerseys, Centre Hall, PA, and the other herds making their pledges since the previous update: Oomsdale Farm Inc., Valatie, NY; Bob Dias and Family of Golden Meadows Jerseys, and Vern and Tim Wickstrom, Wickstrom Dairy & Valsigna Farms, both of Hilmar, CA.

Every star on the map represents a donated heifer. Want to know where they are coming from? Click here.

In other news:

• The AJCA Board of Directors has named the 78 men and women who served as chairs of the first 47 National Heifer Sales as Honorary Chairs for the 48^th sale; Merlin Woodruff as Honorary Auctioneer; and the living past Executive Secretaries—Jim Cavanaugh, Maurice Core and Calvin Covington—as Honorary Trustees.
• We received word Tuesday of sponsorship support for the sale events from the Beef Check-off program.
• Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Gonzalo Maldonado, World Dairy Expo's International Person of the Year in 2004, ASO Colombia has donated a lovely model Jersey for the auction. Pictures of it, the #29 Eustis cow donated by Jim Cavanaugh (pictured on the cover of the March Journal), and other rare Jersey memorabilia donated for the benefit auction will be added to the web site next week.