New England Summer Holstein Show

July 13, 2022 · Hopkinton, NH · Judge Joel Phoenix, ON · 111 Head

SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION

Pineland Haven Hugs (Devour), 1st 5-Year-Old, Pineland Farms, Inc, ME

RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION

Pineland Solomon Honesty (Solomon), 1st 4-Year-Old, Pineland Farms, Inc., ME

HM SENIOR CHAMPION

Morrill Ava 3949-Red-ET (Avalanche), 2nd 4-Year-Old, Morrill Farm Dairy, NH

INTERMEDIATE & RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION

Desperle Goldwyn Rosey-ET (Goldwyn), 1st Junior 3-Year-Old, Hillside Homestead, VT

RESERVE INTERMEDIATE & HM GRAND CHAMPION

Wilsondale Crush O Tessie (Crush), 2nd Junior 3-Year-Old, Wilsondale Holsteins, ME

HM INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION

Pineland Tatoo Pattern (Tatoo), 1st Senior 2-Year-Old, Pineland Farms Inc, ME

JUNIOR CHAMPION

Luncrest Doc Lime-2386-ET (King Doc), 1st Summer Yearling, Justine Allyn, CT

RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION

Putnam-Farm Jordy Guppy (Jordy), 1st Winter Calf, Sarah & Tim Putnam, NH

HM JUNIOR CHAMPION

Carpsview Chief Executive Order (Chief), 1st Winter Yearling, Carpenter, Allyn, Hovden & Gibbs, VT

PREMIER BREEDER & EXHIBITOR

Morrill Farm Dairy, NH

RED & WHITE

SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION

Morrill Ava 3949-Red-ET (Avalanche), 2nd 4-Year-Old, Morrill Farm Dairy, NH

RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION

Morrill Awesome 3772-Red (Awesome), 3rd 4-Year-Old, Morrill Farm Dairy, NH

INTERMEDIATE & RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION

Morrill DB Shake It Up-Red (Diamondback), 1st Senior 3-Year-Old, Liette Viens, VT

RESERVE INTERMEDIATE & HM GRAND CHAMPION

Fairmont-RE Jr Freida-Red-ET (Jordy), 3rd Junior 2-Year-Old, Isabell Hall, VT

JUNIOR CHAMPION

Brigeen Redeye Rainn-Red (Redeye), 2nd Winter Calf, Sydney Bullard, ME

RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION

Fairmont A Fireball-Red-ET (Altitude), 3rd Winter Yearling, Fairmont, LLC, VT

PREMIER BREEDER & EXHIBITOR

Grand Champion LtoR: Grand Champion Pineland Haven Hugs, Pineland Farms, Inc, ME; Reserve Grand Champion Desperle Goldwyn Rosey-ET, Hillside Homestead, VT; HM Grand Champion Wilsondale Crush O Tessie, Wilsondale Holsteins, ME.

Senior & Grand Champion Pineland Haven Hugs, Pineland Farms, Inc, ME.

Red & White Senior & Grand Champion Morrill Ava 3949-Red-ET, Morrill Farm Dairy, NH. Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion Desperle Goldwyn Rosey-ET, Hillside Homestead, VT.

Red & White Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion Morrill DB Shake It Up-Red, Liette Viens, VT.

Junior Champion Luncrest Doc Lime-2386-ET, Justine Allyn, CT. Red & White Junior Champion Brigeen Redeye Rainn-Red, Sydney Bullard, ME.

Senior & Grand Champion: Raylore Lickety Split (Integral), 1st Aged Cow, Isabell Hall, VT Reserve Senior Champion: Showbros Diamondback Denali (Diamondback), 4th 4-Year-Old, Tyler & Dylan Slack, VT Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion: Howacres America Legendairy (America), 1st Summer Junior 2-Year-Old Keenan Thygesen, VT Reserve Intermediate & HM Grand Champion: Brigeen Sidekick Reta-ET (Sidekick), 2nd Junior 2-Year-Old, Reeve Twitchell, ME Junior Champion: Luncrest Doc Lime-2386-ET (King Doc), 1st Summer Yearling, Justine Allyn, CT Reserve Junior Champion: Brigeen Redeye Rainn-Red (Redeye), 2nd Winter Calf, Sydney Bullard, ME Junior Show Senior & Grand Champion Raylore Lickety Split, Isabell Hall, VT.

LEE SALONEN AWARD

KATELYN POITRAS, BRIMFIELD, MA

This award recognizes New England Junior Holstein Exhibitors for their efforts and interest in all aspects of the Holstein industry. Recipients of this award have a high level of participation in junior programs, excel in herdsmanship, are knowledgeable of their cattle, have demonstrated leadership qualities, and have a sustained commitment to the industry.

Junior Show Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion Howacres Lee Salonen has been a member of the New England States America Legendairy, Keenan Thygesen, VT. Holstein Association for over 50 years. He has rendered tireless service on the board for 33 years in nearly every leadership position including President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Finance Chair and Finance Chair for the 2005 National Holstein Convention hosted by the New England States Holstein Association. Lee is also a recipient of the New England Association’s prestigious Distinguished Service award. Providing opportunities for youth to grow within the industry has been the cornerstone of Lee’s leadership philosophy, a philosophy that continues even today. Katelyn Poitras

The 2021 recipient was Katelyn Poitras of Brimfield, MA. Katelyn lives with her parents, Moira and Scott, and sister Madelyn. Katelyn has been involved with livestock from an extremely young age. Her father and grandparents, Rocky and Pat Poitras, showed sheep and her mother, her Aunt Jennifer Bosley and grandparents, John and Caryl Tierney, have been showing Jerseys since 1984. Katelyn has been an active 4-H member for 13 years. While in 4-H, she has shown Natural Colored, and Southdown sheep as well as Jerseys and Holsteins. In addition to showing, Katelyn also a member of the Massachusetts State 4-H Dairy Judging and Dairy Quiz Bowl teams. She has been an American Jersey Cattle Association junior member for nine years and has also been a New England Holstein and Holstein Association USA junior member for six years. She has been showing Jerseys at The Big E since 2008 and showing Holsteins for the last 4 years at the Northeast Fall National Holstein show. Katelyn has been a member of the New England Holstein Junior delegation to National Convention since 2015 participating in both the Dairy Bowl and Dairy Jeopardy contests. She now holds the officer position as President of the New England Junior Holstein Association alongside some of her closest friends. Katelyn was also selected in 2021 to participate in a week-long, prestigious youth opportunity within the Jersey breed, The Jersey Youth Academy, hosted by American Jersey Cattle Association. She owned her first project calf, Country Ayr Comerica Candy, at the age of four. "Candy" was purchased at the Massachusetts Blue Ribbon Calf sale in 2008 and Katelyn currently has the fourth generation of cows from that original purchase. She leased her first Holstein calf from Carrie and David Sears in 2017. In 2019 she was able to own her first Holstein, Whittier farms Monica-Red, from Todd Whittier. Katelyn and "Monica" made quite the pair and went on to win the Northeast Fall National Overall Champion Showman in 2019. "Monica" is now EX91 and has a bred and owned calf, Bittersweet Mystery-Red, that Katelyn is showing this year. "Mystery" was just Reserve Junior Champion at the 2022 MA State 4-H show. During COVID, Katelyn won overall showmanship during the Ayrshire and Milking Shorthorn swing and was Reserve Overall Showman during the Jersey and Brown Swiss swing at the Northeast All Breeds Fall Show in 2020. Katelyn also won Overall Champion Showman at the Northeast Fall National Holstein show in 2021 prior to receiving the Lee Salonen Outstanding Junior award. Since she has received the award, Katelyn has decided to pursue a degree in AgriBusiness Management through Penn State World Campus. Katelyn currently works for Cowsmopolitan Inc. where she is given the opportunity to take photos, write articles, and create digital design work Office & Cybil: for breeders. Katelyn has had the ability to work for outstanding Holstien 920.465.3880 breeders that have had an influence on her both in and out of the barn. In 2019, Katelyn first worked for Brigeen Farms Inc. at the Northeast Fall National and got to work with Klussendorf winner, Steve Briggs. Steve has a wealth of knowledge and a want for juniors to succeed and learn. Katelyn’s largest Holstein influence has been Todd Whittier of Whittier Farms Holsteins. Todd has given Katelyn the opportunity to succeed in the show ring with animals he has given exceptional care to, as well as a well thought out breeding philosophy. She has worked with name cow families like Kyte Linda, Roxy, and Contender Tabby. Katelyn wants to Jenny: 614.395.9823 Lea: 608.214.1845 continue to grow and develop her Holstein resume. jennythomas614@yahoo.com leamccullough@gmail.com

cybilfisher@hotmail.com cybilfisher.com

SUMMER CALF: G-M-C Warrior Bright Lights, Greg, Marcia & Brooke Clark, NH

SPRING CALF: Shaw-Farm RO Elegance, Cynthia Shaw, MA Reserve: G-M-C Diamondback Luna-ET, Greg, Marcia & Brooke Clark, NH HM: Millborne Unstopabull Tictac, Morey Miller, CT WINTER CALF: Carpsview Chief Executive; Seth & Bethany Carpenter; Richard & Justine Allyn; Dan Hovden & Duane Gibbs, VT Reserve: Whittier-Farms Un Lisa-Red; Katelyn Poitras, MA HM: Carpsview Altitude Fiona, Seth & Bethany Carpenter, VT FALL CALF: Quality Unix Majestic-ET, Sydney Bullard, ME Reserve: Blexys Denver Betty Boop-ET, Fairmont Farm LLC, VT HM: Ms Allyndale Denver Landree-ET, Richard Allyn, CT SUMMER YEARLING: JM Valley Denver Laya, Richard Allyn, CT Reserve: Watch-Hill Dback Sidra, Scott Davenport, CT HM: Ms Denver White Lighting, Richard Allyn, CT SPRING YEARLING: Cobequid Doorman Aspire, Jaydn Kimball, ME Reserve (tie): Brigeen Sidekick Reta, Reeve Twitchell, ME Reserve (tie): Windsorville Jordy Cannoli, Emily Syme, CT HM: Cobquid Diamondback Luna, Kennedy Kimball, ME WINTER YEARLING: Woodmansee TStorm Treva-ET, Michael Wolf, CT Reserve: Cobequid Allstar Make Waves, Kennedy & Jadyn Kimball, ME HM: Carpsview Jordy Ember-Red, Katlin & Joshua Blake, VT FALL YEARLING: Shaw-Farm DE Echo, Cynthia Shaw, MA Reserve: Runnymede Jordy Miami-Red, Runnymede Farm, MA HM: Woodmansee Drmn Huff-ET, Paul Saunders, CT

JUNIOR BEST THREE FEMALES: Allyndale Farm, CT Reserve: Seth & Bethany Carpenter, VT HM: Cynthia Shaw, MA YEARLING IN MILK: Juniper Chief Cheyenne, Juniper Farm, ME Reserve: Hannan Undenied Passion, Richard Allyn, CT HM: Brigeen Altitude Nanette, Elizabeth Bullard, ME SUMMER JUNIOR 2-YEAR-OLD: Ridgedale Area, Juniper Farm, ME Reserve: Martin-Place On Tyme, Juniper Farm, ME HM: Pineland Appl Crsp Hermione, Pineland Farm, ME JUNIOR 2-YEAR-OLD: Beslea Doorman Camaro, Richard Allyn, CT Reserve: Pineland King Passage-ET, Pineland Farm, ME HM: Grand Hill Denvr Rose-Marie, Renee Baker, VT

SENIOR 2-YEAR-OLD: Woodmansee Dback Bertha, Clark Woodmansee, CT Reserve: Brigeen Sidekick I Rolande, Elizabeth Bullard, ME HM: Ms Connies Crush Cait-ET, Scott Davenport, CT JUNIOR 3-YEAR-OLD: Pineland Solomon Honesty, Pineland Farm, ME Reserve: Moody-Meadows Jrdy Clue-ET, Aiden Biler, VT HM: Millborne McCutch Twissler, Morey Miller, CT SENIOR 3-YEAR-OLD: Carpsdale-J Firefly-Red-ET, John & Sara Carpenter, VT Reserve: Intense Awesome Pam-Red, Renee Baker, VT HM: Pineland Hula, Pineland Farm, ME

4-YEAR-OLD: Grand-Hill DBack Bronze, Renee Baker, VT Reserve: Amerada Bryant S-Greta, Curtis Koebke, MA HM: G-M-C Diamondback Avery; Greg, Marcia & Brooke Clark, NH 5-YEAR-OLD: Pineland Chicago Pumpkin, Pineland Farm, ME Reserve: Liddleholm Avenge-Red, John & Sara Carpenter, VT HM: Vale-O-Skene Dreams Kiara, Woodmansee, Coon & Perotti, CT

AGED COW: Millborne-MG Clark Twister, Paul Saunders, CT Reserve: Juniper Awood Brady Diva, Juniper Farm, ME HM: Desperle Regina Aftershock, Renee Baker, VT 150,000 LB COW: Lookout Advent Flicka-Red, Sara & John Carpenter, VT Reserve: Millborne MG Phoenix Timone, Paul Saunders, CT HM: Conant-Acres Topside Cybil, Conant Acres, ME SENIOR BEST THREE FEMALES: Pineland Farm, ME Reserve: Clark Woodmansee, CT HM (tie): Dave Schillawaski & Millborne Farm

SPRING CALF: Shaw-Farm RO Elegance, Cynthia Shaw, MA Reserve: Whittier-Farms Glitter, Stella Ducharme, CT HM: Four-Hills Outstanding 68518, Sarah Hill, VT WINTER CALF (TIE): Brigeen Swingman River-Red, Sydney Bullard, ME WINTER CALF (TIE): Whittier-Farms Un Lisa-Red; Katelyn Poitras, MA Reserve: Whittier-Farms Alt Cherish, Robert Shaw, MA HM: Runnymede War Sierra-Red, Gregory Norris, MA FALL CALF: Quality Unix Majestic-ET, Sydney Bullard, ME Reserve: Windsorville Charlotte, Emily Syme, CT HM: Runnymede Warrior Laramie, Gregory Norris, MA SUMMER YEARLING: Hobby-Acres Make It Rain-ET, Kennedy Kimball, ME Reserve: Runnymede Warrior Ruth, Gregory Norris, MA HM: Ms Denver White Lighting, Justine Allyn, CT SPRING YEARLING (TIE): Brigeen Royalcrush Gertie, Sydney Bullard, ME SPRING YEARLING (TIE): Cobequid Doorman Aspire, Jaydn Kimball, ME Reserve: Windsorville Jordy Cannoli, Emily Syme, CT HM: Brigeen Sidekick Reta, Reeve Twitchell, ME WINTER YEARLING: Woodmansee TStorm Treva-ET, Michael Wolf, CT Reserve: Cobequid Allstar Make Waves, Kennedy & Jadyn Kimball, ME HM: Arethusa Awesome Lexxus, Ashley Longest, CT FALL YEARLING: Shaw-Farm DE Echo, Cynthia Shaw, MA Reserve: Runnymede Jordy Miami-Red, Runnymede Farm, MA HM: Oldbarn Tatoo All Time, Elizabeth Menard, VT JUNIOR BEST THREE FEMALES: Cynthia Shaw, MA Reserve: Sydney Bullard, ME HM: Greg Norris, MA YEARLING IN MILK: Carpsdale-J Fancy-E, John & Sara Carpenter, VT Reserve: Carpsdale-J Lady N-Red, John Carpenter, VT SUMMER JUNIOR 2-YEAR-OLD: Pineyvale Lovepotion, Curtis Koebke, MA Reserve: DurkAcres Apple Valley-Red, John & Sara Carpenter, VT HM: Ms Jordy Margarita-Red, Hannah Foster, CT JUNIOR 2-YEAR-OLD: Fairmont Raptor Solo-ET, Isabel Hall, VT SENIOR 2-YEAR-OLD: Brigeen Sidekick I Rolande, Sydney Bullard, ME Reserve: Just-A-Dream Avery Rosie-Red, Abby Foster, RI HM (tie): Carpsdale-J DB Allspice, John & Sara Carpenter, VT HM (tie): Brigeen Humbinkind M87 Gigi, Sydney Bullard & Reeve Twitchell, ME JUNIOR 3-YEAR-OLD: Moody Meadows Jrdy Clue-ET, Aidan Biler, VT Reserve: Milk & Honey A Mariska-Reld, Lailah & Johnathon Clark, NH HM: Durk-Acres Apple Ale-Red, John & Sara Carpenter, VT SENIOR 3-YEAR-OLD: Carpsdale-J Firefly-Red-ET, John & Sara Carpenter, VT Reserve (tie): Brigeen Crush 3291, Hayden Pike, MA Reserve (tie): Carpsdale-J Blexy, John & Sara Carpenter, VT 4-YEAR-OLD: Amerada Bryant S Greta, Curtis Koebke, MA Reserve: Brigeen M SS Gigi 2987-ET, Sydney Bullard, ME HM (tie): OCD Defiant Lustrous-Red, John & Sara Carpenter, VT HM (tie): Petitclerc Doorman Sapphire-ET, Sarah Hill, VT 5-YEAR-OLD: Rollinshedd Awe Sunup-Red-ET, John & Sara Carpenter, VT Reserve: Juniper Avocado Pudding, PJ Clair, ME AGED COW: Strouts AS Eden 275, Dale J. Strout, ME PRODUCTION COW: Lookout Advent Flick-Red, John & Sara Carpenter, VT Reserve: Amerada Shimmer-ET, August Koebke, MA

IROQUOIS ACRES Ensuring the Future with Purebred Genetics

Farming in a bucolic setting overlooking Lake Champlain, the Ouellette family believes in the value of registered dairy cattle, and that belief is driving their future forward. They want their children and grandchildren to grow up on the farm, and that goal directs the current decisions they’re making for their operation. Stephanie Ouellette Pope loves seeing her kids flourish in the fresh air and freedom that defines a rural childhood, and feels lucky that her kids are having the same experience she did growing up. “My grandfather emigrated from an area of Quebec north of Montreal where his family were vegetable farmers and raised sled dogs. There were too many sons to support there, so he headed south in search of a farm, found and purchased this place in 1958,” explains Stephanie. “He and my grandma along with my dad, Steven who was a year old at the time, moved in the next day.” Harmel and Lila Ouellette were the new owners of 260 acres and 40 milk cows near Bridport, Vermont, and they immediately became dairy farmers. The farm is located near a narrow point of Lake Champlain where the crossing from the east to the west side is one of the easiest along the 125-mile stretch of the massive lake. The Native American trails to this point were still evident as were the remnants of native long house settlements in the woods on the farm. Lila Ouellette was a history buff, and soon decided that the farm would be named Iroquois Acres in homage to the earlier residents of the land.

That little boy, Steven, grew up to be a real cow lover and he cultivated that passion in his children as well. The herd has always been predominantly Holstein, and in the 1970s was all registered before a barn fire tragically killed all but one cow. They rebuilt the barn and replaced the cattle with mainly grade Holsteins in order to get things rolling again. Steven and his wife, Sherry, purchased the farm from his parents in 1979, and kept improving the operation over the years including a conversion to a free-stall barn in the late 1980s and building a new milking parlor in the early 1990s. They added cow numbers in the early 2000s before selling about 200 head in 2005. That income allowed them to fix up the main barn and to purchase another farm. All of this while raising a family of three, all of whom developed their own love for the farm. In 2017, Stephanie, her husband Seth, and her brother, Aaron formed an LLC along with Steven and Sherry to transition to the next generation. With the expansion and growth over the decades, the family now has a milking herd of 600 cows - still mainly Holsteins, along with about 25 registered Brown Swiss, and a handful of Jerseys, Ayrshires, and Milking Shorthorns housed in a freestall barn. They farm about 2000 acres on which they raise all their own forage. They have a rolling herd average of 25,937M 4.0%F 3.2%P and the average age of the herd is 3-07. The Brown Swiss average 85 points in score and the BAA for the Holstein herd is 107.4 after a recent classification, their first for the Holsteins in over 35 years! If the Iroquois Acres prefix sounds familiar, it’s probably because you heard or saw the name Iroquois Acres Jong Cali EX-96-3E-CAN, who has had an impressive show career - All-American and All-Canadian Junior 3-Year-Old in 2018; All-American 4-Year-Old in 2019; and Reserve All-American Aged Cow and Reserve Senior Champion at World Dairy Expo in 2021. Owned by the Pacheco family from California, Cali has been a long-time resident at Lookout Holsteins & Jerseys in Canton de Hatley, Quebec, which is owned and operated by Callum McKinven and his family. Callum is a long-time friend of the family and Stephanie credits him as being one of her mentors in the business. “When I was in high school, my dad and I would go to Canada on school breaks and ride around with Callum visiting herds up there - some of my fondest memories! He is so knowledgeable and taught me so much on what to look for when buying an animal,” notes Stephanie. “My niece, Ashlynn, who also works on the farm with us, has been helping them at some shows, so the next generations are building a relationship too.” Callum was at the farm several years ago looking to purchase some commercial Brown Swiss from the Ouellettes, and as he was leaving he asked about the ‘blond’ heifer out in the pasture. Stephanie told him the springing heifer had been Ashlynn’s showmanship heifer the year before as a summer yearling, but now

Seth & Stephanie Pope with their sons Rowdy & Remy and niece Ashlynn Foster.

Stephanie & Ashlynn with Iroquois Acres Jong Cali EX-96-3ECAN, Reserve Senior Champion at the International Brown Swiss Show in2 021.

was to calve as a junior 2-year-old. The deal was struck and Cali calved with a heifer calf - Iroquois Acres Total Candy, now EX-93-CAN - and soon they made the move to Quebec. Earlier this year, Candy was the winning 5-year-old and Grand Champion at the New York Spring Brown Swiss Show, so the Pachecos have a powerful dam & daughter pair for 2022. Stephanie credits her father as the reason the Swiss were in their herd to begin with. Her brother Aaron wanted a Brown Swiss calf to show instead of a Holstein, so in 1990, they bought their first one at a club sale. That calf was Junior Champion at every show around for Aaron, so in the years to come, they bought more calves for Stephanie and her sister, Nicky. “My father was the biggest champion for us as far as anything we wanted to do with cows and the farm. My niece Ashlynn wanted a Milking Shorthorn, so he made sure she got one. He’s always been the person I look up to the most. He instilled a love for cattle in all of us. When we expanded, I always went with him to buy cattle, and he encouraged that - we traveled to Quebec, PEI, all over the place,” Stephanie remembers. Iroquois Acres C Tearin, a Carter daughter that had been nominated All-American Fall Calf in 2019 sold for $12,250 last year in the National Convention Sale as a senior 2-year-old prospect. She is a potential seventh generation Excellent from the famous Timberline Jetway Toni family, and her pedigree represents what the Ouellettes look for when buying cattle. “Cow families, cow families, cow families! Deep pedigrees. I won’t buy anything that doesn’t have a deep pedigree,” emphasizes Stephanie. With that in mind, the family has purchased a number of Holstein flush cows with powerful pedigrees in the past couple of years. IVF embryos from these cows will be implanted in herd recipients with the goal of milking more Registered Holsteins and improving the overall genetics. These cows include OCD Defiant Lustrous-Red EX-92 who goes back to Tora Triple Threat Lulu EX-96; Santschi Windbrook Valencia EX-91-CAN, a 10th generation VG or EX cow and the dam of Lookout Sid Voodoo EX-94; and Pierstein Damion Lindsay EX-94. Stephanie likes the fact that the work is already ‘done’ on these cows - they’re scored and pictured - so those boxes are ticked if they decide to merchandise any of the offspring. They’ve purchased other Holsteins from good herds in the region including Woodmansees, Carpenters, and Liddleholme. Stephanie credits New York Holstein breeder Jason Lloyd for helping them in the process. “Jason gets a lot of calls from me! He is a wealth of information and is always willing to help out. He boards some animals for us as well, and I really trust his advice.” With IVF calves on the way, Stephanie hopes to market more animals in the future. They’ve always consigned a few to local sales, and sold cattle privately, but they’re looking to make sale of genetic stock more of a profit line for the farm. “Due to our location near the lake and the limits of our milk supply management system, we’re pretty much locked in at about 600 cows. At one time, we thought we might expand to 1,000 cows, but now we’re working with advisors to make sure we can cash flow 600 cows for the whole family. Our future is our kids and we want to ensure they have a chance to operate this farm if they want. Everything we choose to do has an economic impact on the farm, so we have to make smart decisions,” she explains. One of those decisions is to continue milking mainly Holsteins, primarily for their superior milk production as young cows. They’ll keep working with their key Brown Swiss cow families, especially now that Seth & Stephanie’s sons, Rowdy (9) and Remy (7) are starting their 4-H and junior careers. “We want to give them the opportunity to have some fun and a choice if they want to show Brown Swiss or Holsteins or another breed,” she says. Stephanie’s sister, Nicky Foster, studied at the Vermont Institute of Artisan Cheese and then started Bridport Creamery after a number of years of managing the Iroquois Acres herd. She produces a variety of flavored cheese curds, and a creamy, mildly nutty cheese they call Swisserella. The creamery maintains a small farm stand at Iroquois Acres, where customers can make the connection between the cows in the barn and the cheese on the shelves. She also markets her products in a number of small and specialty stores in Vermont and Massachusetts.

With four generations active on the farm, one thing is clear. This family loves cows and loves farming, and each generation has nurtured that love in the next. The future for this farm on the lake looks to be filled with the passionate Ouellette, Foster, and Pope kids carrying on the family business.

STEPHANIE OUELLETTE POPE

By Kathleen O’Keefe Iroquois Acres R Party Girl was named Junior Champion of the Northeast All Breeds Spring Brown Swiss Junior Show for Ashlynn Foster. She is a Rasta from the Top Acres Coll Party 2E-93 family.