SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The 2012 National Holstein Convention was June 27-30 in southern Missouri, against the backdrop of triple-digit temperatures and a severe drought.

While Holstein enthusiasts from coast to coast gathered at the downtown convention hotel, just a few blocks away, the sale cattle gathered in a parking garage-turned-cattle barn. Tied in the bottom level of the cement structure, the cattle were on display a week before they were to walk across the grand stage of the Juanita K. Hammons Performing Arts Center on the campus of Missouri State University.

Burton and Associates of Kansas managed the sale with the help of Missouri Holstein breeders Leroy Wright and Michelle Ramaeker-Eilenstine. Dallas Burton remarked, “This is the first time we’ve ever used a parking garage for sale cattle, but it turned out well despite the hot weather. We are very pleased with the outcome.”

The sale ring was just as strange – a performing arts stage. Holstein enthusiasts gathered in the air-conditioned Hammons Center to witness a one-of-a-kind opening to the big sale. Before the cattle paraded across the stage, the Bontrager Family of Coloma, Iowa, provided entertainment. The 10 Bontrager children with their parents, Marlin and Becky, have a music ministry that takes them from their dairy farm across the country to sing about the importance of God and family.

After the Bontragers exited the stage and the buyers and tire-kickers got comfy in the cool, comfortable auditorium, Burton welcomed them to the annual convention sale and made his introductions of the sale staff.

The entire theater went black while a spotlight hit the solo vocalist, who sang “America the Beautiful.” Forty seconds later, the stage lights revealed the first sale consignment in center stage, surrounded by the family members who owned her, rising up in the orchestra pit.

The sale continued in grand fashion as 81 live animals averaged $12,825. Topping the sale at $76,000 was a three-month-old calf selling in absentee, Cookiecutter Epic Hadele-ET. With a deep pedigree, a tremendous sire stack and maternal family, the consignment of Cookiecutter Holsteins of Hudson Falls, N.Y., commanded the high-selling position with Daisy Dairy of Paris, Texas, holding the card at the end of bidding.

The second-high, at $52,000, was the consignment of Larcrest Holsteins. This March calf, sired by Facebook and the granddaughter of the famous Dam of Merit, Larcrest Crimson-ET was purchased by Lerry Lexvold of Goodvue, Minn.; the consignor is located in Albert Lea, Minn.

A new consignor to the National Holstein Convention sale, Keith Nettekoven, with a different branch of the famed Dellia cow family, found his consignment commanding the third-high of the sale at $48,000. Daisy Dairy was again the buyer of this outstanding young heifer.

The night before the live cattle sale, a sale full of absentee cattle were dispersed in the National Convention Futures Sale. Twenty-seven lots averaged $11,169.

The high seller in the Futures Sale was a consignment from Roorda Dairy of Paullina, Iowa. The first choice female calf from 14 pregnancies of a McCutchen-sired offspring out of Roorda OB McKenzie 15276-ET sold for $37,000.

The second-high seller went for $25,000 and was consigned by Curr-Vale Holsteins of Tully, N.Y. The February calf was a Sandy-Valley Cold P-Red-TW out of Curr-Vale Shottle Delight, who was backed by 10 generations of Excellent or Very Good classification scores.

Joshua and David Bishop of Doylestown, Pa., consigned the third-high selling consignment, the first choice female from the mating of Amigheti Numero Uno-ET and Ensenada Alan Peggy-ET. This choice sold for $22,000.

The two sales linked to the 2012 National Holstein Convention had a combined total gross of  $1,308,700 with a combined average of $12,463.81 on 105 lots. The consignments sold to 17 different states, and both Canada and Germany appeared on the sale summary.

The Indiana Holstein Assoc. will host the 2013 National Holstein Convention in Indianapolis, July 7-11.