Howard R. Bickel, age 89, of New Vienna, passed away Friday, August 2, 2024, at the Highland District Hospital in Hillsboro, Ohio.  He was born June 11, 1935, in Cincinnati, the son of the late Virgil C. and Edna (Baumann) Bickel, Sr.  Howard grew up near Marathon, Ohio, and graduated from Batavia High School.  After graduating, Howard served our country as a member of the United States Army.  After his service in the Army, he began his lifelong work starting his own dairy farm, along with starting his family.  In 1963, Howard moved his family to Clinton County and started the Bickel Family dairy farm, which is still in operation today.   Howard’s passion was farming and making sure that his farm was successful.  He was a 50-year member of the National Holstein Association, member of the National Famers Organization, and the Ohio Farmers Union.  Howard is survived by four children, Raymond Bickel of New Vienna, Donald (Jackie) Bickel of New Vienna, Kimberly (Richard) Burton of Wilmington, and Todd Bickel of New Vienna; great nephew who was raised like a son, Guy (Yvonne) Cutler, D.V.M. of Horseheads, New York; grandchildren, Curtis Bickel of Wilmington, Keri (Alex) Hodson of New Vienna, Carson Bickel of New Vienna, Emma Mathews of New Vienna, Maggie Mathews of New Vienna, Erica (Danny) Unger of Loveland, Travis Burton of Wilmington, Logan (Bridgette) Burton of Wilmington, and Paige (Ryan) Evans of Wilmington; great grandchildren, Kannon Bickel, Cole Hodson, Clay Hodson, Brooklyn Unger, Breck Unger, and Hadley Evans; lifelong friend and “Army Buddy” Paul Esz of Milford, Ohio; and several friends within the farming community.  In addition to his parents, Howard is preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, JoAnn (Boner) Bickel on January 29, 2005; and two brothers, Virgil Bickel, Jr., and Eugene Bickel.  Funeral services will be held 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at Brown Funeral Home, Wilmington.  Graveside committal services and burial beside his wife will follow in the New Antioch Cemetery, New Antioch, Ohio.  Visitation will be held Tuesday, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  The Bickel Family asks that Memorial Contributions be made to the Clinton County Farmers Union, c\o 5/3 Bank. To leave an on-line condolence, please visit www.arehart-brown.com, or see our Facebook page, Brown Funeral Home. 

MARVIN LEE TOPP, age 82

of New Bremen, died on Monday, July 29, 2024 at 7:11 A.M. at the Otterbein Senior Lifestyles of St. Marys. He was born on June 24, 1942 in New Bremen, the son of the late Walter H. and Angela C. (Berning) Topp. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Linda L. (Place) Topp, whom he married on November 23, 1961. Also surviving are his children: Kelli (Doug) Walker of Pataskala, Ohio, Gregg (Angie) Topp of New Bremen, Kurt (Rachel) Topp of West Salem, Ohio, and JuliAnne (Wes) Wyatt of New Bremen. Marvin has twelve grandchildren: Tyler (Catherine) Topp, Tessa (Seth) Hauts, Tanner (Shannon) Topp, Brennan Topp, Mick (Audri) Walker, Marissa Topp, Aaron Topp, Carson Wyatt, Casey Topp, Xavier Wyatt, Logan Topp, and Anna Topp, as well as nine great-grandchildren. Marvin is also survived by his siblings: Martha (Paul) Ewing, Doris Carr, and Thomas Topp; and his in-laws: Mary Lou Topp, and Tim (Kathy) Place. Along with his parents, Marvin was preceded in death by his brothers: Herbert (Helen) Topp and Donald Topp; his father in-law and mother in-law, Ira and Marjorie (Shappel) Place; and his in-laws: Jerry Carr, Jay (Sue) Hixenbaugh.

Marvin was a 1960 graduate of New Bremen High School. He loved his family, farming, showing his registered Holstein cattle from Toppation Farm, and playing music with “The Moonlighters” wedding band. He began playing drums at the age of 14 with his dad, brothers, and sisters in the “Topp Band” which eventually merged into the “Dicke Band,” then into “The Moonlighters,” playing music for a total of 62 years. He was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen where he sang in the church choir for many years. Marvin was affiliated with several associations over the years including: Buckeye Hustlers 4-H Club (where he had served as an advisor), the Farm Bureau Council for 50 years, the NOBA Board of Directors, the Ohio Holstein Association, and the National Holstein Association. Marvin and Linda enjoyed sporting events and many wonderful road trips with their New Bremen gang, and they also loved attending many of their grandchildren’s events from wresting to football and dance recitals to band concerts. According to one of his nieces, Marv was “a special one.”

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, August 25, 2024 at 2:00 P.M. at the St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen with Pastor Bryan Trego officiating. Following the service, there will be a Celebration of Life at Speedway Lanes in New Bremen where a meal will be served. Private family inurnment will take place in the German Protestant Cemetery in New Bremen. Memorial contributions in memory of Marv may be made to the Cardinal Music Boosters or to St. Paul Church. Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared with the Topp family online at http://www.gilberghartwigfh.com.

Follow along with the Junior Holstein and Junior Red and White shows at the Ohio State Fair with their show books – HO Junior Final        RW Junior Final

Both shows will start with cows, the black and white’s begin at 9:00 a.m. and the red and white’s starting their show at 1:00 p.m.

The Junior Holstein show will be judged by Kaleb Kruse, IA and the Junior Red and White show will be sorted by Madison Fisher, PA.

Both shows will have complete show coverage at Dairy Agenda Today curtesy of generous sponsors.

The District 7 show is being held in conjunction with the Wayne County Fair Open Holstein show on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

Wayne County Fair entries open on July 22 and close August 10.  Make fair entries as usual to be included in the D7 show.

Click HERE for the Wayne County Fair Premium Book.

Juniors who wish to qualify for awards during this show must be paid Ohio Holstein junior members.  If not already a member, you may pay $2.00 prior to the show to qualify.

Today is the deadline to submit your Junior transfers! Transfers must be received via mail or online by 11:59 P.M. EST tonight, July 15th. 🐄📬

If you have any questions or need help, please contact Holstein Association USA Customer Service at 800.952.5200.

A few changes have been made to the Holstein week schedule at Ohio State Fair over the past few years…so find the full listing of the week’s events here…

DAIRY CATTLE SCHEDULE – JUDGING TIMES

Session 1: Ayrshire, Milking Shorthorn, Holstein, and Red and White

• Move in may begin at 8:00 a.m., Sunday, July 21, 2024
• Must be in place and checked in by 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 23, 2024
• All Shows in Cooper Arena unless noted

Wednesday, July 24

9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.  — In Person Skill-A-Thon  — Voinovich Building Terrace
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m  — Lunch and Junior Activities
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.  — Dairy Jeopardy

Thursday, July 25 (All Junior Shows will start with Cows)

9:00 a.m. — Regional Summer National Junior Holstein Show — Judge: Kaleb Kruse
1:00 p.m. — Junior Red and White Show (Sanctioned) — Judge: Madison Fisher
1:00 p.m. — Junior Ayrshire Show — Judge: Stephanie Aves Schroeder
4:00 p.m. — Judging Clinic

Friday, July 26

10:00 a.m. — Milking Shorthorn Show (Junior & Open combined) ** Start with Cows — Judge: Corey Jodrey
2:00 p.m. — All Breeds Showmanship (Including Peewee show to start) Judge: Stephanie Aves Schroeder

Saturday, July 27

9:00 a.m. — Summer National Holstein Open Show — Heifers & Dry Cows — Judge: Pat Lundy
11:00 a.m. — Red and White Open Show (Sanctioned) — Heifers & Dry Cows — Judge: Tyler Reynolds
1:00 p.m. — Ayrshire Open Show — Judge: Kurt Wolf
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. — Dairy Youth Incentive Dinner for sponsors and all Junior members
7:30 p.m. — National Holstein Futurity  — Judge:  Pat Lundy. **SHOW IN COOPER ARENA

Sunday, July 28

9:00 a.m. — Summer National Holstein Open Show — Cows — Judge: Pat Lundy
11:00 a.m. — Red and White Open Show (Sanctioned) — Cows — Judge: Tyler Reynolds

Cattle may be released after their breed shows are completed – only with prior approval from the OSF Dairy Office and the proper release forms. 

Ohio Holstein breeders enjoyed a beautiful, warm sunny Saturday at the Ohio Holstein Breeder Tour, hosted by Velvet-View Farms in Big Prairie, Ohio. The Schlauch family operates a smaller, high type, show cow operation and process their own yogurt and ice cream, which were available for the visitors as part of a delicious lunch! They also have an IVF facility newly incorporated in the operation.

The guest speaker was Emily Mullen of The Mullen Dairy and Creamy in Okeana, Ohio. She spoke of the innovations she implemented on her family’s generational dairy farm to keep the operations going in current times.

Enjoy the pictures below and thank you to all who came out and supported Velvet-View Farms and the Ohio Holstein Association.

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MADISON, WIS. – Entries for the Dairy Cattle Show at the 57^th World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin are now being accepted, exclusively online at worlddairyexpo.com. The first entry deadline is September 2 at 11:59 p.m. (CDT). Late entries, for an increased fee, can be submitted online through September 15 to be included in the cattle log, or until 5:00 p.m. (CDT) the day before the respective breed meeting.

The Dairy Cattle Show will run Sunday, September 29 through Friday, October 4. Entry information, the schedule of events, rules and other updates can be found in the premium book – available online at worlddairyexpo.com. Exhibitors may request a mailed copy of the premium book by contacting Laurie Breuch, Dairy Systems Manager, at lbreuch@wdexpo.com, or Lexa Miller, Dairy Cattle & Contests Coordinator, at lmiller@wdexpo.com.

World Dairy Expo is closely monitoring Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) and is in contact with state and federal animal health officials. WDE will share new information and directives as provided, but for the latest information on H5N1, visit DATCP Home Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Dairy Cattle (wi.gov).

World Dairy Expo’s prestigious Parade of Champions will be split into two events for the 2024 Dairy Cattle Show. Recognizing each champion deserves her moment in the spotlight, the selection of the Junior and Open Show Supreme Champion Heifers will move to Thursday evening, immediately following the selection of the International Holstein Show’s Junior Champion. The Junior and Open Show Supreme Champion Cows will continue to be selected on Friday.

Serving as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo is the premier forum for the global dairy community to learn, share, create commerce and showcase competition. The annual event will return to Madison, Wis. October 1-4, 2024, where dairy producers near and far can experience the world’s largest dairy-focused trade show, a world-class dairy cattle show, attend seminars, meetings and presentations highlighting the latest and greatest in the industry and connect with other producers. Download the World Dairy Expo mobile app, visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow WDE on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Spotify, or YouTube for more information.