Cross-Canada Connections

A WORD FROM THE NATIONAL JUDGING CONFERENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR, NANCY BEERWORT:

It has been five years since Holstein Canada has held a National Judging Conference so a key word for this year’s Conference was “consistency” - aiming to have all our judges on the same page. The Conference was attended by 47 influential judges from across Canada. A variety of topics were discussed and there was feedback from these judges as to how we can make our Judging Program even better. I really appreciate the commitment these judges made to attend, and I especially appreciate their positive attitude and input.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Dan Doner, Brian Carscadden, Pam Charlton, Nancy Beerwort, Linda Ness

PARTICIPANTS BY PROVINCE:

AB, BC, MB, NB, PEI (1 each); NS, SK (2 each); ON, QC (19 each), USA (1)

1 2

- NANCY BEERWORT

PHOTOS 1. L to R - Ontario Judges: Dan Doner, Josh McKay, Brent Howe, Adam Hunt, Richard Osborne, Kyle MacLeod, Andrew den Haan, 2. Dandyland Holsteins welcomed the group for the afternoon sessions, supper and a Breeders’ Cup panel discussion, 3. A group shot of all of the attending Judges, 4. The crew at Quality Holsteins getting all the animals prepped and ready and to the classes on time, 5. Jordan Hawthorne and Vern Lange making sure the heifer is ring ready, 6. Josh McKay takes a turn at the microphone giving his reasons, 7. Participants observe and listen to class results and reasons. PHOTOS 3 AND 4 BY FARM BOY PRODUCTIONS, ALL OTHERS BY MOLLY MCMILLAN AND PAM CHARLTON.

5 4

6 GOALS OF THE NATIONAL JUDGING CONFERENCE:

1. Have a truly ‘national’ focus 2. Have judges make a commitment to their craft and invest in their judging career 3. Attendance is mandatory for both the in-class session and practical judging session 4. Provide mentorship opportunities for all levels of judges

5. Hold a first-class event that is enjoyed by judges personally and professionally

THE SCHEDULE: SUNDAY, JUNE 26 • Official Judges from across Ontario and Canada arrived throughout the day. • In the evening, the group took part in a Showmanship Panel, moderated by Mike West and delivered by Matt Lange,

Shawnda Enright and Dominic Fortier.

MONDAY, JUNE 27 • Participants were welcomed in the morning with Glen

McNeil moderating. • Brian Slaughter brought greetings as the new Chair of the

Show & Judging Committee. • A series of presentations were given over the course of the morning at the hotel from Dan Doner (“The Professional

Judge”); Mike Farlinger and Murray Reissner (“Selecting the

Champion”); Dr. Gord Atkins and Vincent Landry (“Show

Ethics - A Judge’s Role”). • Dr. Gord Atkins introduced the idea of Functional

Conformation to the attending judges. • After lunch, the group traveled to Dandyland Farms in

Schomberg, Ont. to work on Functional Conformation in a real-life setting. Brian Carscadden, Bruno Jubinville and Dr.

Gord Atkins led the session.

• Official Judges, Mike Farlinger and Stephanie Murphy presented on Reasons. • In the evening, Devin O’Hara, Kenton Lindenbach and

David Crack sat on a panel discussing “Tips for Judging

Breeders’ Cup Competitions.”

TUESDAY, JUNE 28 • Judging day at Quality Holsteins! • After breakfast at the hotel, the judges traveled to Quality

Holsteins to judge six classes of dairy cows (1st Lact., 2nd

Lact., Mature Cows in the morning and Jersey 2-year-olds,

Winter Calves and Jersey Summer Yearlings in the afternoon). • Following the Champions Parade, Glen McNeil and Brian

Slaughter offered a conference wrap up and closing remarks.