State College, PA -- The 2010 Annual Holstein Convention will Hosted by the Southwest District, be held February 25-27 in Washington County. it will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Canonsburg. The schedule of events includes traditional favorites such as the dairy bar, awards banquets, host  tours and a strong convention sale.

Thursday, February 25, the Board of Directors will meet at 10:00 a.m., followed by the 97th Annual Meeting of PHA. A Holstein Association USA Region II Meeting is also scheduled for the afternoon.

Thursday evening, the popular Awards Program and Junior Fun Auction will Guests will be entertained take place, with dinner and entertainment as always. by a popular magician who will amaze and astound with his tricks of illusion and skill.
On Friday, February 26, the dairy bar and commercial exhibits will open early to accommodate guests. Host Day Tour Activities will also get started bright and early, with tours to Somerset County or to the Pittsburgh Strip District and Heinz Hall.

The tour to Somerset County will feature a stop at Hillmont Holsteins, home of the Kirk Hillegas family as well as the popular Lyndi cow and many more. Lunch will follow, including a “virtual tour” of the many dairy farms in the county. Other stops after lunch will include the Flight  93 Memorial in Shanksville and the Flight 93 Memorial Chapel.

Attendees who do not want to travel to Somerset County will have the opportunity to visit Pittsburgh’s famed Strip District, a revitalized shopping area that has been renovated from many of the city’s historic mills and warehouses. The area has developed into a market district with many ethnic food purveyors, art studios, antique dealers, unique shops and restaurants. Also, they will have the option to tour Heinz Hall, home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

A banquet reception will kick off the night’s activities, which include the convention banquet and naming the recipients of the Hall of Fame, Pioneer and Young Breeder Awards.

Saturday, February 27, a convention sale breakfast will start the day at the sale location, the Washington County Fairgrounds. The sale will start at 10 a.m. and of course feature many top animals from around the state and the country. This will be a multi-media sale, an exciting twist to the traditional format.

Also Saturday morning, Wild World 0f Animals, a wildlife entertainment and education program, will be on hand at the fairgrounds to give sale-goers a glimpse of a variety of animals, which could include a tortoise, alligator, crocodile, legless lizard, snake, European eagle owl, fennec fox, binturong, monkey and a leopard.

Mark your calendars now and plan to attend the Pennsylvania Holstein Association State Convention, February 25-27. Watch for additional details as they become available. It will be worth the trip to catch up with friends in 2010!