Jim Herron, a 2006 graduate of the dairy cattle production and management program, has been named the recipient of the American Jersey Cattle Association’s (AJCA) Young Jersey Breeder Award. The award is based on expertise in dairy farming and Jersey cattle breeding; participation in AJCA and National All-Jersey programs; and leadership in Jersey and other dairy and agricultural organizations. Jim, along with his father, is the owner of Cold Run Jerseys LLC of Salem, Ohio.
Jim graduated magna cum laude and was recognized as Ohio State ATI’s most outstanding student as the recipient of the Director’s Award and was the student speaker at commencement. While at Ohio State ATI, he was named to the Director’s List in each of his academic quarters and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. He was the recipient of numerous scholarships, including the COBA-Select Sires Scholarship and the United FFA Scholarship. He was a leader in the Ohio State ATI Dairy Club, serving as vice president in 2005 and 2006. While he was at Ohio State ATI, he also earned his State FFA Degree.
Jim is the third generation in his family to breed registered Jerseys, with his family’s operation, Welcome View Farm, being founded by his grandfather. After graduation from Ohio State ATI, Jim went into partnership with his father to form Cold Run Jerseys LLC. They built a new free-stall barn and milking parlor in 2007 and began milking as a partnership with 80 cows from Welcome View Farm and five of his own. Jim has concentrated on growing the herd from within, reaching his barn’s capacity in 2011. His herd now consists of 250 mature cows and 225 replacement heifers. The farm also includes 1,200 acres of cropland where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and Sudan grass. They produce all the feed needed for the dairy, except for protein concentrate, and have surplus grain and hay to sell as a cash crop.
The Cold Run Jerseys herd has been nationally ranked in the top 10 of herds its size in production for four consecutive years. Cold Run Jerseys has had numerous individual cows produce Hall of Fame records and highest production award for their age groups in Ohio. Jim Herron’s great achievements while as a student at Ohio State ATI and subsequently in providing leadership in the building of his families dairy herd to and elite status (i.e., ranking in the top 10 Jersey herds in the USA) resulted in him being selected as the 2014 Young Jersey Breeder Award.