Follow
The Light… to ME. …where cow families matter!
By Rep. Susan Austin
Representing: District 109 - Part of Gray, part of
North Yarmouth and part of Pownal
On Sunday, June 26, 2005 at Pineland Farms during
the National Holstein Association USA Convention,
premiered as "FOLLOW THE LIGHT- New England's
the SITE 2005", over 1200 people were in attendance
from around the world. In a Breeders Showcase some
80 cows were presented an opportunity to exhibit as
the finest Holstein cattle in New England. Many of
our Maine family dairies were participants and were
able to market their animals and their Holstein genetic
materials to those who attended the first "ever"
Holstein Convention in Maine.
Right, Craig Denekas with the Wilsons
During the ceremonies an award was presented by Mr.
Craig Denekas, Vice President of the Libra Foundation.
The award was for recognition of lifetime achievement
in farming in Maine. The recipient, a second generation
farmer who purchased Spring Vale Farm in Gray in 1961
was Mike Wilson. Over the years Mike with Marilyn
and their three daughters worked the farm into the
Wilsondale Farm. Now after almost 45 years of farming
in Gray, standing with Marilyn, Sherry, Vicki, Julie
and all the extended family by his side, Mike received
a hand carved Grouse to acknowledge his years of steady,
unwavering dedication to farming, breeding and the
milk industry. Do you recall the Oakhurst Dairy commercial
on the radio marketing Maine milk from local farmers
who didn't use hormones and hearing Mike's Maniac
accent across the air waves telling of his natural
cows at Wilsondale?
When purchasing the farm from Karl Merrill there was
a yearling within the herd that Mike named Trina Redstone
Marvel. The sun bleached brown cow became a pivotal
figure in Mike's career as a breeder of Registered
Holsteins. That one brown cow called "Trina"
went back 16 generations in direct female line to
a cow imported from Holland. The cow family had come
into the Merrill herd in 1927 thus establishing this
as the oldest continuous Holstein herd in the country
today.
Well over 100 excellent cows have been bred at Wilsondale
and 67 of these trace to "Old Trina". After
so many years Mike still hears Karl's warning words
of, "Mike no matter what you do, never sell that
brown cow." The Wilsondale breeding program's
success, especially with the Trina Family has brought
international exposure enticing visitors from around
the globe. Embryos have been exported to Europe and
Japan.
Governor Baldacci, Bob Spears, Commissioner of Agriculture
and Danny Martin, Commissioner of Inland Fish and
Wildlife were on hand at the convention's festivities.
The convention at Pineland Farms, New Gloucester,
and the Holstein Cattle Auction at Juniper Farms,
Gray, the next day were proud moments for the farming
industry of Maine and for the Wilson Family as the
local tradition continues with Mike and Marilyn's
children and grandchildren leading the way in their
third and fourth family generation along with many
other Maine farming families!!
Author's note: Should you visit Pineland Farms and
tour by the trolley-when the bells jingle for "all
aboard", they ring for the trolley's namesake
"Old Trina"…hence now Trina the Trolley
of Pineland Farms.
