BIG PRAIRIE, Ohio — Breeders from across the country dodged raindrops and mud to top off a whirlwind week of convention activities with a successful sale of superior Guernsey genetics.

As the finale to the 139th annual meeting of the American Guernsey Assoc., the sale hosted by Spring Hill Farm of Big Prairie averaged $4,648 on 52 lots. “We have a tremendous group of cattle and embryos to sell today,” said Blaine Crosser, reading the pedigrees. “This sale is truly the highlight of the convention.”

Rounding out the sales force were Stanley Chupp, auctioneer, and ring men Dale Chupp and Steve and Seth Andrews. The sale was managed by the Ohio Guernsey Breeders Assoc. and Guernsey Marketing Service and clerked by Cindy and Maria Chupp. Online bidding for the sale was available through the staff of JerseyAuctionLive.com

Topping the sale at $19,000 was Moziers Spider Delila-ET, a June 2014 daughter of Coulee Crest Luxury Spider ET out of Four Winds Hillpoint Delightful-ET. Delila was consigned by Dr. John Mozier, Louisburg, Kan., and purchased by Donna Whalen, Millbrook, N.Y.

Delila is backed by a strong maternal line of type and production, with a Very Good 87 grand dam and Excellent great-grand dam, Fourwinds Dee Sharp Design-ET, EX 93 at 6-3, with 25,130 pounds of milk, 1,210 pounds of fat and 769 pounds of protein. Her great-great grand dam is Westlynn Tom Dee, EX 96 at 10-5 with a lifetime production of 110,740 pounds of milk, 5,208 pounds of fat and 4,001 pounds of protein – and four-time Grand Champion Guernsey at the World Dairy Expo and All American Aged Cow three years in a row.

The second-high-selling animal was Four J Springhill Jerusha-ET, consigned by Springhill Farm and Marshall Overholt of Big Prairie. Springhill offered buyers the choice of Jerusha-ET and her full sister, Four J Springhill Journey-ET. When the bidding stopped, Jerusha-ET was purchased by a partnership of Morey Miller, Dan Baase, Mike and Linda Hellenbrand and Peter Vail, for $14,500.

She is a September 2013 daughter of Four Winds Showtime-ET out of Dix Lee Mentor Jazz-ET, EX 92, with 29,160 pounds of milk, 1,105 pounds of fat and 1,038 pounds of protein at 6-1. Jerusha-ET was no stranger to the winner’s circle as a Fall Calf, earning Junior Champion honors at both the 2014 Ohio State Fair and the World Dairy Expo’s National Guernsey Show, as well as All American Fall Calf honors.

She is backed by a maternal line with a string of Very Good and Excellent classification scores, as well as champion honors, including her grand dam, Dix Lee Tiller Joke, EX 93, with 31,350 pounds of milk, 1,543 pounds of fat and 1,033 pounds of protein at 5-6 and All American honors as a Junior 2-Year-Old.

The third-high-selling animal was Paokie Lil Ernie, consigned by Lily Lane Farm of Yukon, Okla., and Trotacre Farm of Enon Valley, Pa., and purchased by the Lil Ernie Syndicate and Select Sires for $9,500. Lil Ernie is a September 2014 son of Springhill Jetstream out of Coulee Crest AP Lorilee, EX 90, the former No. 1 CPI cow in the Guernsey breed and dam of two sons in AI service.

Lorilee has a 2-10 record of 41,180 pounds of milk, 1,945 pounds of fat and 1,425 pounds of protein. Lil Ernie is a grandson of Coulee Crest Nick Lorilyn, EX 91, with lifetime production of 107,900 pounds of milk, 2,254 pounds of fat and 1,298 pounds of protein. Lorilyn is also a past No. 1 CPI cow for the Guernsey breed, the dam of two sons in AI service. Lil Ernie is backed by a string of Excellent maternal grand dams listed as Gold Star Dams.

The fourth-high-selling animal was HP AC GG Alymo Melanie-ET, consigned by Adams Creek, Daniel Baase and City Slickers of Bangor, Wis., and purchased by Springhill Farm for $8,500.

Melanie-ET is a December 2014 daughter of Sniders Garrett Alymo-ET out of Adams Creek Hillpoint Marsha-ET, EX 94, with 17,570 pounds of milk, 942 pounds of fat and 669 pounds of protein at 4-11. Marsha-ET has a list of show winnings at all levels and earned Reserve All American as a heifer and All American honors as a cow in 2013 and 2014.

Melanie is a granddaughter of Marshdene Magic Mary, EX 94, with a total lifetime production of 164,120 pounds of milk, 8,477 pounds of fat and 6,021 pounds of protein. Mary was selected as the Total Performance Cow at the National Guernsey Show at the World Dairy Expo in 2007 and 2008, and All American 4-Year-Old in 2004.