Looking for Red & White sires that will land in the winner’s circle? Add these high-Type Red carriers to your matings to create next year’s class winners. Contact your local representative today!
HULU Daughters (L-R): Kiefland Bring It On-Red, first place open summer yearling and reserve junior champion of the junior show, Midwest Spring National Red & White Show, 2025, Ava and Bryson Kieffer, Utica, MN; Flannery-Vu Alabama-Red-ET, honorable mention junior champion and first place fall calf, New York Spring Red & White Show, 2025, Kitchen, London and Sekerak, PA; Kampy Hulu Abolish-Red-ET, first place winter calf, Midwest Spring National Red & White Show, 2025, Butlerview, Chebanse, IL, Cowsmo photos.
Our back cover includes snapshots of our industry’s spring: show & sale candids! Congrats to all of the sale hosts & managers and breeders & exhibitors from this spring!
Box 1375, Oakdale, CA 95361
JULIE ASHTON, GENERAL MANAGER (815) 766-0045 · julie@cowsmo.com
In all my years in the registered cattle business, I can’t remember another sale season like the months from March through June - one eye-popping average after another whatever the breed or the setting. Animals with good individual type and deep pedigrees just keep bringing good sale prices without the typical slowing that we sometimes see moving into the summer months.
You’ll notice in this issue that we’ve run several more printed sale summaries than usual. We wanted to highlight the remarkable spring season, and we’ll have more summaries to publish in the Late Summer issue as the run of tremendous sales continues.
We’ve been fortunate to be at several of these successful events, and it’s been a pleasure rounding up the reports from those we couldn’t attend in person. A regular highlight is the crew photo that is often taken at the end of the sale. It’s a celebration of the planning and the hard work that goes into producing a robust event. It’s a reminder that everyone from the auctioneers and pedigree readers to the fitters and manure pickers fill valuable and irreplaceable roles.
It’s why we also love getting the show crew photos from the strings that win the Premier Breeder or Exhibitor banners - the same thoughts apply! The applauding of the efforts of a welloiled team after a long but fruitful day. The absolute satisfaction of working with a group of like-minded people and achieving a greater goal.
We’ve all been on teams that integrated seamlessly, and unfortunately, we’ve all been on teams that can’t get it together; that don’t hit the collective potential they should when you look at the individual talent. It’s a frustrating feeling. Why do some teams hit it out of the park, while some barely stagger to first base?
Part of a good team is having people that can dial back their egos enough to pull together for the common good. This is a competitive business, and we all have that drive to do better. Some people have a hard time being ‘just’ part of the team, and not the one shining in the spotlight. We can all bring to mind a sports team loaded with stars losing to an underdog that just played better together.
Many years ago, I was a member of a great company team doing a job I enjoyed along with others who enjoyed their roles. The fly in the ointment was a fellow employee who would call once a week to have a chat, and before you knew it, you were on the express train to negativity. This person was a superstar salesperson, yet always had an axe to grind about management or another employee. And that’s contagious, you know? Before long, I’d find myself starting to climb on that merry-go-round of complaint before I’d catch myself. I realized that it was better for me to communicate with that coworker mainly through email; that the negative spiral of a phone conversation wasn’t good for either one of us, and definitely not good for the team.
If you’re a manager - on the dairy, on a work crew, of a sports team - the challenge is to manage that ‘difficult’ superstar. And managing might mean getting them off your team altogether if their negative influence gets out of control. On the plus side, you can recognize that ‘steady Eddie’ on your squad - the quiet, even-keel person who always shows up and always deliversthe one you rarely notice because you never have to call them out or double check their work. Give me a team of those guys every time.
So here’s to the sale and show crews we’ve been watching this year! We see you and we appreciate all the work every single person does to carry that success across the finish line!
See you at ringside!
Kathleen O’Keefe
250HO16115
SIEMERS RZ PAZZLE 34954-ET
ROZLINE x (EX-91-EX-MS-GMD-DOM) Delta-Lambda x (EX-91-EX-MS-GMD-DOM) Denver
Early PAZZLE daughters are calving and pairing impressive mammary systems with their stylish frames. PAZZLE combines two prestigious maternal lines and offers a 250HO12961 DOC-free pedigree. Building upon the excitement, he was mated to some of the industry’s favorite cows to create an elite lineup of high Type sons. Move the needle forward by incorporating PAZZLE and his sons into your matings!
ANOTHER MASTER BREEDER SHIELD FOR ELOC FARM
The Coles of Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia Keep Building!
The shouts and applause rang out during the Atlantic Spring Showcase / National Holstein Convention Show earlier this year when the announcement was made that Dean Cole’s Eloc Farm had been named a Master Breeder by the Canadian Brown Swiss Association, one of only six breeders ever recognized with this award. It’s quite an achievement for the Brown Swiss in the 55-cow herd as they have always been a minority in an operation that runs predominantly to Holsteins carrying their Colstein prefix.
The roots of the family run deep in Nova Scotia with the Coles coming to Canada in the late 1700s. Dean’s grandfather farmed, and when Dean and his brother, David, returned from agricultural college, they also wanted to be dairy farmers. They purchased the farm in 1982 with its 42 Holsteins, and the first Brown Swiss came to the farm in 1987.
“I had never seen a Swiss until I went to the Royal on a 4-H trip. This area was mainly commercial Holsteins and Ayshires. So I saw them then, and I saw them when I went back to Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph. We went down to the royal a few times, and that was the first exposure to Swiss for me. I just kind of liked them,” explains Dean Cole. “After we had been farming a few years, I talked to a couple of breeders and then bought Terra Nova Tofino from an Ontario club sale.”
That first purchase laid the foundation for Swiss that are still in the herd today, and is the foundation dam of the most famous cow to carry the Eloc prefix: Eloc Wagor Kandid EX-95USA. A Hanny Swiss Ace Wagor daughter of a terrific brood cow in the herd, Eloc Cartoon Kara EX-90-5E-CAN, who eventually had eight VG & EX daughters, Kandid calved in as a tremendous young cow, and caught the eye of visitors to the farm. After a scoring round with classifier Carolyn Turner, Dean remembers her asking ‘Why is she still here?’ With that in mind, the Coles sent her to Callum McKinven to join his show string headed to World Dairy Expo. Sandy went along to get her ready, and she was quickly spotted by the top Brown Swiss exhibitors.
She was purchased Peter Vail and Ken Main of Elite Dairy, and became an anchor of their Cutting Edge show string based in Copake, NY. She won numerous Grand Champion titles, but none tops the day in 2014 when she won the Aged Cow class, and then the Senior Champion and Grand Champion banners at the International Brown Swiss Show in Madison, WI. Twice All-American Aged Cow, she also has the distinction of being the first cow ever classified EX-95 in the US, after the Brown Swiss Association USA established that as the new pinnacle score for the breed in 2016.
Kandid, by a bull bred in Switzerland out of a dam with a North American pedigree, was a payoff mating from Dean’s philosophy of combining some of the best European bulls that transmitted great udders with his cows that had tremendous width and strength. “When I first started with Swiss, some of the udders and rumps weren’t real pretty, so that’s what we concentrated on fixing. I never worried about strength and width back then, but as you correct things, what you need to mate for changes. Now I’m thinking I have to find a couple of bulls to put chest width back in them a bit,” notes Dean.
In the early 2000s, another classifier, Ralph Jardine, spotted a good Brown Swiss calf in an Ontario sale at Brubachers, and Dean purchased Glanbrook Pentacle Roxanne for his daughter to show. Roxanne became the start of the ‘R’ family, which along with the ‘K’ family, are the only two Brown Swiss cow families at the farm. A highlight of the ‘R’ line was Eloc
Reg Dillman, left, presents Dean & Rita Cole and their grandddaughter Pippa, their Master Breeder Award at the 2025 Atlantic Spring Show.
Eloc Wagor Kandid was the first Brown Swiss to be classified EX-95 in the U.S. She earned numerous awards at shows throughout North America for her owners Peter Vail and Ken Main of Elite Dairy.
Biver Rennie EX-90-CAN, by the Switzerland-bred Scherma Blooming Biver out of Eloc Brookings Rascal VG-86-CAN, an EX-2E Agenda granddam, and then Roxanne.
Rennie was spotted by Pierre Boulet when he judged the Middle Musquodoboit Exhibition, and before long she found a new home at Pierstein. From there, she staged a notable show campaign in 2019, as she was named Grand Champion at the Supreme Dairy Show before winning the senior 3-yearold class and capturing the Reserve Intermediate Champion rosette at the International Brown Swiss Show. Rennie was the All-American Senior 3-Year-Old for her owners, Pierre Boulet and Yvon Sicard, in 2019.
If anything, Dean seems a bit surprised with the Master Breeder recognition. “It never really entered my mind as something to aim for; I never thought I’d have enough of them to accumulate the points for us. There’s some luck involved - they have to get pregnant and have heifer calves. Some don’t turn out the way you hope, but sometimes you get a real crackerjack that you weren’t expecting,” he says. “We’ve tried to use bulls from all over, but one of the problems right now is that some of the very best Swiss bulls aren’t eligible for export to Canada. So we’re using the best we can get, and still striving to breed that good type cow.”
There’s never been more than 10 Brown Swiss cows at a time in the 55-cow tie stall herd, and sometimes as few as two, but the luck held and the heifer calves came at the right time to continue the breed’s hold on a few stalls at the farm. Currently, there are three Excellent and five Very Good Brown Swiss cows in the herd and they average 10,005M 456F 372P kgs (22,011M 1003F 818P lbs) for production.
Dean and his wife, Rita, have three children, Joan, Allyson, and Sandy. Allyson, an LPN, lives in British Columbia, while Joan, who is a landscape architect, lives nearby in Nova Scotia and still lends a helping hand at the farm when needed. Son Sandy, who spent several years as a professional fitter on the road, came home to the operation and married his wife, Emma, who grew up on her family’s Kingsway Farm in Ontario. The farm has been through a couple of transitions in the past fifteen years. In 2010, Dean’s brother David and his family bought a farm of their own down the road, so they split up the herd and the quota for him to get established there. David, who had always liked Jerseys, took the little brown cows with
him, and for a time, owned the dam of the three-time Royal Winter Fair Supreme Champion, Musqie Iatola Martha EX-97.
In 2020, Sandy and Emma purchased the farm from Dean and Rita. Married in 2018, Sandy and Emma now have three children, Pippa (5), Lauchlin (3), and Tilly (2). Along with the full plate of the dairy and the kids, Emma owns Just Bloom Flower Farm, a growing operation that offers bouquets for sale at retail outlets or on a weekly subscription basis, as well as offering a u-pick option.
Dean & Rita still help with the day-to-day responsibilities. Dean, thanks to two new knees, has retired from milking duties, but feeds the calves and helps with daily clean up. The silage and corn crop are custom planted and harvested, which is optimal for a family that would rather work with cows than drive tractor.
Sandy has always liked the Holsteins in the barn and his breeding philosophy for the black & whites isn’t all that different from his dad’s. “Our goal is to breed the complete cow. I like to have a lot of strength in the cows - width and good udders are really important. That’s kind of our main strategy - just breeding a good uddered cow, and profitable cows that make lots of milk and high test,” says Sandy. “I guess I’m probably old school, but I still like using proven bulls and I think cow families and maternal lines are very important. We still place a lot of emphasis on them.”
That shared family philosophy steered them to a Holstein Canada Master Breeder Shield in 2023, and the Colstein / Eloc prefixes join a very elite group of herds that have won Master Breeder awards in multiple breeds.
Classification totals in the herd include 20 Excellent cows, about 30 Very Goods, and seven Good Plus. “We’ve bred for show type for the last 20 years, and now we’re focusing on putting some more production back in the pedigrees,” notes Sandy.
Eloc Biver Rennie was named Grand Champion at the 2019 Supreme Dairy Show and then later took home Reserve Intermediate Champion honors at World Dairy Expo for Pierre Boulet & Yvon Sicard.
We’re just trying to keep growing. You’ve got to keep progressing if you want to stay in it, and that’s what we’re doing - always trying to build our farm.”
- SANDY COLE -
While he had spent his time on the road and on the show circuit, farming and a young family now precludes taking many cows to events beyond the county show. “I try to sell every single good cow I have because I don’t have the time or money to travel to the big shows,” Sandy says. One of the cows that hit the local show circuit in 2024 was Colstein Lambda Dre, a Delta-Lambda daughter out of five VG & EX dams that showed as a summer junior 2-year-old. Dre was a champion at the Halifax County Exhibition, and Sandy & Emma happily found themselves partnership owners with Kingsway Farms and Duckett Holsteins. Dre went on to place third in her class at the International Holstein Show, and was voted HM All-American Summer Junior 2-Year-Old for 2024. Now VG-88, she lives at Duckett Holsteins in Wisconsin.
With three youngsters just a few years from escorting show heifers of their own, Sandy is enthusiastic about their future on the farm in Nova Scotia. “We had the chance to buy a neighbor’s farm last year, so we were able to add a 400-acre parcel of land, which was kind of big one for us. A new facility is in the plans, but that farm purchase probably pushed that back a few years for us, but hopefully in the next five to ten years,” he relates. “We’re just trying to keep growing. You’ve got to keep progressing if you want to stay in it, and that’s what we’re doing - always trying to build our farm.”
Cole Family 2024 - at the Holstein Canada Master Breeder Award Gala. L to R: Lauchlin, Allyson, Rita, Dean, Sandy, Tilly, Pippa, Emma, and Joan
A SALE THAT WILL OFFER 50 LOTS OF THE FINEST GUERNSEYS IN NORTH AMERICA
In the early 20th century, the Langwater Farms sales dispersed All-Americans, foundation brood cows, and deeply bred animals that dominated Guernsey breeding for decades. This sale will offer several cows and heifers that will win the fall shows, and foundation animals for those discriminate breeders looking to expand their purebred business into Guernseys. The consignments are second to none. High quality Guernseys are in demand. Foreign embryo and live animal exports are thriving. This is the time for the revival. All animals will be entered and ready for the Guernsey Gold Show the following day.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2025
IN CORTLAND, NEW YORK
for perhaps the best group of Guernsey cows to sell in a decade with several that will put you in the center of the ring this fall.
Please stay tuned on Cowsmopolitan, Cowbuyer and Facebook for consignments and updates.
LANGWATER The Herd of Frederick Lathrop Ames Jr.
Frederick L. Ames Jr. was born in July 1876 in North Easton, Massachusetts, the second son of Frederick Ames Sr and Rebecca Caroline (Blair) Ames. Frederick Sr. was one of the wealthiest men in Massachusetts in the 19th century, an heir to a railroad fortune and the Ames Shovel Works manufacturing business. Frederick Sr. was also the Vice President of the Old Colony Railroad, co-founder of General Electric, and a director of the Union Pacific Railroad. He died suddenly in his sleep aboard his steamboat at the age of 58, leaving his son, Frederick Lathrop Ames Jr, a very wealthy man at the young age of 17.
Frederick Jr., known as Lathrop Ames, graduated from Harvard in 1898 and retained interests in the family’s shovel manufacturing business. During his life he served on the Board of Directors for many notable companies that included railroads, banks, mining operations and hospitals. In 1904, after his marriage to Edith Cryder, he built a 50-room mansion called the Stone House Hill House in Easton, Massachusetts. The mansion was expansive, and it contained an indoor gym, a glass-roofed indoor tennis court, marble swimming pool, a conservatory, and a barn complex.
It was here that Ames immense devotion to the Guernsey breed began. His father had kept a few Guernsey cows on his own estate, and joined the American Guernsey Cattle Club on April 12th, 1892. The young Ames Jr was enamored with the few cows that his father kept, so much so that prior to his graduation from Harvard he had begged his mother to start a herd of his own. His mother agreed and she assisted him with obtaining his foundation animals through Mr. Edward Burnett. Despite having to complete college and work in business, Ames’s true passion was his journey to breed a better Guernsey cow. It was noted that nothing, in his busy career, gave him greater pleasure than his inspection and work with his cattle. He always found time to study the breed and understand the problems he wanted to change, and the benefits of the breed he wanted to preserve.
Unfortunately, a fire struck the Ames barn complex which caused a minor lapse in progress. This forced Ames to take to the road visiting other herds. He observed herds of other dairy breeds and understood what their strengths and weaknesses were. Ames would visit other successful Guernsey establishments and question them on what made their herds successful versus what needed improvement. He took this newfound knowledge home
with him and applied it to his own breeding decisions. He would later visit both the Islands of Guernsey and the Island of Jersey noting that the Jersey breeders had made a correct type of cow which bred true. Ames knew the Guernsey was capable of the same but he had to overcome the lack of accessibility to quality bulls.
“I think I am correct in saying that all improved breeds of livestock have been developed by the most rigorous selection and concentration of the best producing lines,” said Frederick Ames Jr. He knew that he had to locate the best cows both in type and production, and the best bulls from those kind of brood cows to accomplish his dream. But he also understood that breeding the best cow to the best bull didn’t always work out; he had to find the proper balance in his decision making. He joined the American Guernsey Cattle Club on January 14, 1902, and was influential in establishing the Advanced Register and Herd Register. As the herd book and interest in the Guernsey breed grew, he financially backed the construction of new offices for the club. He strongly believed that a profitable dairy cow is one who produces the most milk and fat under average conditions and can pass those qualities on to her offspring. He understood that the profitable dairy cow could not obtain that feat without proper type, so he selected for both continuous improvement in type and superior production. Ames wanted to lengthen the fore-udder, straighten the topline, refine the head and bone but strengthen the ones that needed it. He endeavored to flatten the rumps on the Guernsey, while maintaining economically profitable production.
Lathrop Ames’ first purchase was in May 1901 when he bought four animals: Annie Maude Lawson, Melba Hastings, Early Rose of Raritan and Modena. Modena and Early Rose were the cows to leave an impact. The May Rose family was perhaps the most influential family at Langwater Farm. May Rose was a cow of unknown origin from the Isle of Guernsey. Her daughter, May Rose 2d, registered in England as Claremont May Rose, is the cow through which North American Guernseys can trace their lineage to May Rose.
Dolly Dimple, a daughter of Imp. Yeoman, paved the way for Guernsey production.
Imp. Yeoman
In 1906, Lathrop Ames purchased what was then the entirety of the May Rose blood in America from Florham Farms (Vanderbilt family), headed by Imp Itchen Daisy 3d, whose grandam was May Rose 2d. Ames paid $4,000 for her, the highest price ever paid for a Guernsey cow. She was a world record holder for Class B at 13,636 lbs of milk and 714 lbs of fat. The bull Imp. King of the May would prove himself for Ames as a reliable herd sire in which the May Rose blood would breed true. King of the May is considered one of the forefathers of the Guernsey breed in America.
In 1908, Ames purchased four more cows, all daughters of Imp. Golden Secret who all traced to May Rose through the Itchen family. Ames also arranged the importation of 3 additional daughters of Golden Secret in 1909. Ames was all-in on the cow family, and they would provide handsome return on investment for him and his family. Langwater Cleopatra, sired by Imp King of May, would sell at Auction in the 1922 dispersal for $19,500; a record price for the breed. Langwater Eastern King, a son of Langwater Cleopatra, would sell privately for $35,000, the highest price ever paid for a Guernsey bull.
The second sire to leave his mark on Langwater was Imp. Yeoman. He was imported in his dam, Imp Hayes Rosie. His impact would be felt through the record-setting cow Dolly Dimple and American Century Sire, Yeoman’s King of May. Dolly Dimple’s dam was Dolly Bloom who already had records of 17,298 lbs of milk and 836 lbs butterfat, but Dolly Dimple was the Guernsey who paved the way for the breed in terms of production. Dolly Dimple produced 14,009 lbs of milk and 703 lbs of fat in her 2 year old lactation that began in 1910. As a three year old, she produced 18,459 lbs of milk and 907 lbs of butterfat. As a five year old she produced 18,809 lbs of milk and 876 lbs of butterfat; the highest record for a Guernsey cow at the time. Her three records put her as the greatest long distance dairy cow in the world under Advanced Register supervision.
Today, the descendants from Langwater can be traced to 3 cows and 1 bull who had the most impact. They were Imp Hayes Rosie, Imp Itchen Daisy 3d, Dolly Bloom, and Imp King of the May. After 16 years of dedicated work, the first Langwater sale was held in 1916, offering 75 head. Gross sales were $80,625 with an average of $1075 ($31,000 in 2025 dollars). The Imp King of the May daughters averaged $1968. The second Langwater sale held in 1920 saw 51 head sell for gross receipts of $146,125 with an average of $2865 ($46,000 in 2025 dollars). The daughters of Langwater Warrior were in high demand, averaging almost $5000 a head.
Sadly, Frederick Lathrop Ames Jr was stricken with appendicitis at his home in May 1921 and despite surgery, he died on June 19, 1921, at the young age of 45. Despite his painstaking efforts to assemble the herd at Langwater, it was dispersed on May 25, 1922. Cattle sold to many states: MA, PA, NJ, NY, NH, MI, SC, OH, CT, RI and MD. The 96 head of cattle brought $262,930 with
an average of $2738. Bulls averaged $4593 while the females averaged $2475.
A tremendous crowd gathered for the Langwater Dispersal in 1922, with everyone standing and cheering when Langwater Warrior, right, sold for $15,000.
Langwater Cleopatra sold for a breed record $19,500 to RL Benson of New Jersey. When Langwater Warrior was led into the sales ring, the 2,000 people in attendance rose to their feet and cheered. He sold to a partnership of John S Ames and Florham Farms for $15,000.
The Guernsey Breeder’s Journal noted the sale as follows: “As a representative of the art of creative breeding, it may be stated with confidence that the Langwater Guernsey herd was equaled by no other contemporary Guernsey herd, and probably by no other herd of dairy cattle in existence. Uniform in their type, quality, and productive capacity, the Langwater Guernsey’s have acquired a recognition for merit accorded to no other family of the breed, and the blood if this herd has been a factor of greatest importance in the Guernsey trade.” During Lathrop Ames’ tenure as owner of Langwater, 206 bulls and 233 cows were bred by him. He understood and wrote about livestock breeding being both a science and an art and he was inherently good at blending his instincts with the science of choosing pedigrees. He was a master of it.
While most of the herd was dispersed elsewhere, John S. Ames (“Jack”) continued the Guernsey work in honor of his brother. He could not bear to see the herd leave in its entirety. He paired with his wife, Nancy Filley and together they kept the Langwater dream alive. Jack purchased 13 animals in the dispersal and continued to utilize Lathrop’s methodology to selecting bulls and breeding cows. The goal was always to breed a better Guernsey cow and that is what Langwater excelled at. By 1930, Langwater was still a highly respected herd managed under F.C. Shaw, producing the 1930 National Grand Champion Bull, Langwater Waldorf, who was owned by Boulder Bridge as well as many class leading production cows. The Ames family was still very involved in the local and national Guernsey clubs, often hosting field days for breeders to come and spend the day. Sales were held every few years with the 1954 sale being and exciting one: 35 head bringing in $58,550 with buyers located as far as South America.
Jack died in 1959 and his will required the dispersal of the herd which was held in 1960. 113 cattle sold $187,725 ending the 59 year history of Langwater Guernseys. While the Ames name is most closely associated with the success of Langwater, the farm
Langwater Dairymaid set a record sale price of $6100 at the 1916 Langwater Sale.
Langwater Waldorf, 1930 National Grand Champion Bull.
had a trusted team of employees that were loyal to their cattle and the Ames who employed them. F.C. Shaw managed the herd for 27 years. Joe Nagle was the herdsman for 45 years, Arthur Heath was herdsman for 39 years, Archie Freeman: 43 years, William Marshall: 38 years, Lorimer MacDonald: 35 years, William Chesley: 28 years, Richard Greene: 12 years and the farm secretary, Mildred Moore, served the farm for 29 years. The sale overall was a disappointment to the family despite having 500 people in attendance. By 1960, milk volume was starting to take priority instead of quality and components. The Guernsey was struggling to compete with the rising Holstein breed. It didn’t matter if the Guernsey cow could make 30% more fat and 12% more protein than the Holstein, volume was king.
In 1935, the lavish house, its furniture and 350 acres of land were sold to become a seminary that eventually became Stonehill College, which currently maintains the house to this day. Several public buildings in the area were funded by the family and remain in service to their community. The Langwater Guernseys have long since left the property, but the Langwater name lives on as the family still owns it, maintaining a small organic farm for tomatoes and row crops with Jack’s son managing the operation. A plan for the land has emerged which includes housing development, agriculture preservation, sports fields, and some commercial development but the ode to the farm’s past remains steadfast.
A gentleman of his time, Lathrop Ames was successful in many endeavors, especially the Langwater Guernsey herd, because he whole-heartedly devoted himself to it, as did his brother Jack who took great pride in the cows that grazed the pastures. The Langwater herd represented one of the greatest examples of constructive breeding and progress of any breed. Ames took his financial wealth and invested it in the farming community, benefiting all of those who came after him with a better Guernsey cow to build a livelihood upon. May we all take a little bit of F. Lathrop Ames with us in the things we are passionate about: when we devote ourselves whole-heartedly, great things will come of it.
BY CAYLEI ARNOLD
HEARTMAKER
The bull “graveyard” at Langwater, home to some of the most iconic sires of the Guernsey breed.
Foremost, a foundation herd sire of the Guernsey breed.
NEW YORK SPRING DAIRY CAROUSEL
March 28-31, 2025 • Hamburg, NY
HOLSTEIN
Total Head: 197 • Judge Ryan Krohlow, WI
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
Lovhill Sidekick Kandy Cane (Sidekick), 1st 5-year-old, Alicia & Jonathan Lamb, Oakfield, NY
RESERVE SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
Underground Adeline (Awesome), 1st lifetime production cow, Glamourview & Eaton Holsteins, Marietta, NY
A Joy F Coconut Cream (Foremost), 1st junior 3-year-old, Abbie & Andrew Evans, Little Meadows, PA
RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
La Rainbow Sweet Sangria ETV (Lover), 2nd junior 3-year-old, Brody Jackson, Blake & Garrett Hill, Cattaraugus, NY
JUNIOR CHAMPION
Northkill Creek Fired Up (Richard), 1st winter yearling, Clark Valley, Pierre Boulet & Peter Leach, Beaverton, ON
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION
Brothers Three TV Wynona ETV (Deluxe), 2nd winter yearling, Wynonna Syndicate, Thurmont, MD
BROWN SWISS JUNIOR SHOW CHAMPIONS
SENIOR CHAMPION: Brown Heaven Elmstar Blue (Elmstar), 3rd 4-year-old, Liliana, Emily, Arvine IV, Emmett, Robert & Lorraine Coon, Red Hook, NY
INT. & GRAND CHAMPION: La Rainbow Sweet Sangria ETV (Lover), 2nd junior 3-year-old, Brody Jackson, Blake & Garrett Hill, Cattaraugus, NY
RES. INT. & RES. GRAND CHAMPION: Edge View F Tactful ETV (Foremost), 2nd senior 2-year-old, Liliana, Emily, Arvine IV, Emmett, Robert & Lorraine Coon, Red Hook, NY
JUNIOR CHAMPION: Northkill Creek Groove ET (Daredevil), 3rd fall yearling, Hannah Balthaser, Bernville, PA
AYRSHIRE
Total Head: 35 • Judge Marjorie Rida, MA
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION - OPEN & JR SHOW
Jackson-Hill Beguiled Curry (Beguiled), 1st 4-year-old, Mulligan Palmerton, Delevan, NY
RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION - OPEN SHOW
Rock-View Perfecta Brandy (Perfecta), 1st 5-year-old, Daniel Hosking, New Berlin, NY
INTERMEDIATE & RES. GRAND CHAMPION - OPEN & JR SHOW
Halls V-Lane Spectacle-ET (Reynolds), 1st junior 2-year-old, Ashton & Levi Wilcox, Varysburg, NY
RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION - OPEN & JR SHOW
On-The-Map Ring JLo (Ringer), 1st senior 2-year-old, Ashton & Levi Wilcox, Varysburg, NY
JUNIOR CHAMPION - OPEN SHOW
Blink-Buck-Valley Brdt Vivian-ET (Burdette), 1st winter yearling, Maple Downs Farms II & Peter Vail, Middleburgh, NY
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION - OPEN SHOW
Jackson-Hill Reynolds Cocoa-Cola (Reynolds), 1st summer yearling, Jeff Atherton, Greenwood, NY
JUNIOR CHAMPION - JR SHOW
Chaluka Reynolds Bella (Reynolds), 1st spring yearling, McKayla Spencer, Attica, NY
Reserve Senior & Grand Champion
All-Glo Rampage Prim-ET, Justin & Ashley Kaufman.
Intermediate Champion A Joy F Coconut Cream, Abbie & Andrew Evans.
Senior & Grand Champion Pit-Crew Rampage Nola OSC, Pierre Boulet.
Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion Halls V-Lane Spectacle-ET, Ashton & Levi Wilcox.
Senior & Grand Champion JacksonHill Beguiled Curry, Mulligan Palmerton.
Reserve Senior Champion Rock-View Perfecta Brandy, Daniel Hosking.
Jr Show Grand Champion La Rainbow Sweet Sangria ETV, Brody Jackson, Blake & Garrett Hill.
Junior Champion Northkill Creek Fired Up, Clark Valley, Pierre Boulet & Peter Leach.
Junior Champion Blink-Buck-Valley Brdt Vivian-ET, Maple Downs Farms II & Peter Vail.
MILKING SHORTHORN
Total Head: 27 • Judge Marjorie Rida, MA
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
Weisman Belero Bonnie (Bolaro), 1st aged cow, Daniel Hosking, New Berlin, NY
RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION
Hard Core Lottery Fireworks (Lottery), 2nd aged cow, Payton Towe, Scottsville, KY
INTERMEDIATE & RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
Bell-VF Deuce Lana EXP P (Deuce P), 1st junior 2-year-old, Landon Neely, Utica, PA
RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Hillholm Cyride Saffron ET (Cyride), 1st senior 2-year-old, Ashlynne Lenker, Mechanicsburg, PA
JUNIOR CHAMPION
Henkeseen PV Lotta Rumors EXP ET (Lottery), 1st summer yearling, Peter Vail, Engelwood, FL
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION
KNH Endres Jester Legend ET (Jester), 1st fall calf, JD Brown II, Clear Spring, MD
MILKING SHORTHORN JUNIOR SHOW CHAMPIONS
INT. & GRAND CHAMPION: Bell-VF Deuce Lana EXP P (Deuce P), 1st junior 2-year-old, Landon Neely, Utica, PA
SENIOR & RES. GRAND CHAMPION: Hard Core Lottery Fireworks (Lottery), 2nd aged cow, Payton Towe, Scottsville, KY
JUNIOR CHAMPION: KNH Endres Jester Legend ET (Jester), 1st fall calf, JD Brown II, Clear Spring, MD
RtoL: Grand Champion Royalwater Parkavenue Dawn, Jay Ackley and Jim & Valerie Spreng and Bill Lund; Resersve Grand Champion Sunspark Chief Snuggles, Jay Ackley and Jim & Valerie Spreng; HM Grand Champion EtgenWay Chief Danica, Etgen-Way.
Jr Show Grand Champion Geno Doorman Tesla, Lilly Elsass.
Jr Show Reserve Grand Champion Stan-Mar-Dale Quinlee, Riley Doria & Avery Randall.
Kadapop Fireplace Chilipepper (Fireplace), 1st spring yearling, Maci Mclean, OH
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION - OPEN SHOW
RF Tanbark Storm P (Tanbark P), 1st summer yearling, Lee & Areena Hesler, OH
JUNIOR CHAMPION - JR SHOW
Lazy M Liam Zap (Liam), 1st fall yearling, Aubree, Aiden & Alaina Topp and Jesse Muse, OH
Senior & Grand Champion Latimore Seaman Tuffgirl, Zac Logan.
Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion Kiss Powerball Treasure, Mackenzie Topp.
Reserve Senior Champion Twingate Sibls Star, Cayden & Carter Bursiek.
Jr Show Supreme Champion Heifer Brown Velvet Powerball Vail, Elaina Lahmers.
Grand Champion Down N Dirty Drone Totz, Allen Spoltman & Craig Harding.
Reserve Grand Champion Morningstar Kaykay J, Michael Fridenstine.
Reserve Grand Champion JC Academy Maydays Miracle, Jeffrey Schrock.
Grand Champion Buckeye Knoll Clancy Piston, Mackenzie Topp.
Supreme Champion Heifer Wil-San James Dean Tori-ET, Cindy Bates.
AN EVERYDAY, ONCE IN A LIFETIME COW
TOPPGLEN WISHFUL THINKING
Everyone in the show industry dreams of the day they get to dance across the colored shavings in Madison and Louisville with their cow. But doing it for almost eight years in a row, with a homebred cow is a feat not many accomplish, let alone walking away with a champion title every year. Toppglen Wishful Thinking-ET EX-96 4E has added numerous wins and championships to her resume over the last eight years, and the ninth is looking to be no different as she was named Grand Champion of the 2025 Ohio Spring Ayrshire Show.
Wishful Thinking’s story began when Tanner Topp was just eight years old, growing up on his family’s 100-head registered Holstein operation, Toppglen Farms, in Wooster, Ohio. At that young age, he purchased his first Ayrshire, and that lit his fire for the breed. Over the next two years, Tanner purchased two more Ayrshires who became matriarchs and made memories to last a lifetime. The second cow, Shiredale Phil’s Susan, classified EX-93 4E, and was his very first class winner at World Dairy Expo in 2010. Conebella Sarge’s Wendy was the third, also classified at EX-93 4E, and is better known as the dam of Wishful Thinking and the granddam of the World Record Selling Ayrshire, Wyonna. Wendy was purchased in the Buckeye Classic Sale held in conjunction with the Spring Dairy Expo as a winter calf. “Wendy was the perfect showmanship cow for me for many years,” Topp said. Wendy had an impressive show record in her own right and was Nominated Junior AllAmerican six times in milking form.
Toppglen Wishful Thinking-ET, sired by De La Plaine Prime, was born in June of 2013, and while she was shown as a heifer, she did not stand at the top of the class until a couple lactations in. “Wishful Thinking as a young cow was a bit immature and not very deep bodied. She had a sweet little udder and she always had an ultra refined bone structure.” With the right
day-to-day care and nutrition, she developed to be more than what Tanner and his family could have dreamt. In her second lactation, a month fresh, she won the Junior 3-Year-Old class and was named Reserve Intermediate Champion at the Southern National Junior Ayrshire Show. She did not hit the show ring again until she was a 5-year-old. Tanner made the decision to not calve her in until she had turned five to let her develop since she had calved so late in the year as a 3-yearold. Wishful did her thing and developed how Tanner hoped in that year off, then claiming her first Unanimous Junior AllAmerican title.
In 2020, the year there was no World Dairy Expo, Tanner believed she was in her prime. In lieu of no show in Madison, Wishful and her crew made their way to Louisville, Kentucky to exhibit at the North American International Livestock Expo and Southern National Ayrshire Show. Well worth the trip, Wishful was named Grand of the Junior Show and Junior Show Supreme Champion. “She is an ‘everyday cow that has an incredible appetite and a really calm demeanor… I just try to make sure she has everything she needs to just do her thing,” Tanner explains. She has taught him many things along the way, and he keeps learning more. All while ‘doing her thing,’ Wishful Thinking claimed Supreme Champion of the World Dairy Expo Junior Show in 2023 when she was 18 months fresh. Alongside Tanner, Wishful Thinking comes with a crew filled with family that takes care of her together at home, gets her
is an ‘everyday cow that has an incredible appetite and a really calm demeanor… I just try to make sure she has everything she needs to just do her thing.”
out to the shows, and preps her for the ring. It is extra special to Tanner to have been able to succeed with his family’s help and support over the years.
As the majority of the milking herd was dispersed in 2014, only a select few special cows still call Toppglen home. Currently, all three cows Tanner is milking are descendants of Wendy. The three cows are Wishful Thinking, her Reynolds junior twoyear-old daughter, and a Burdette junior two-year-old from the same family. “I’m still trying to make the next one like her,” Tanner says.
Many of her offspring are owned by others who were fans of the cow and invested in her genetics. Today, Tanner’s favorite daughter is by Reynolds, a junior two-year-old for this year’s show season, that recently classified Very Good-88 at a month fresh. “Just WOW” is how he describes her udder when he walks in the barn before chores or after work.
While her legacy carries on through her daughters, there are also opportunities to tap into Wishful Thinking’s genetics through her sons in AI. His grandfather had been featured on the cover of Holstein World with a bull he had bred, and that was something Tanner had always admired and aspired to. “It has always been on my bucket list to sell a bull to Select Sires, and Wishful Thinking made that dream come true.”
Wishful Thinking, now classified Excellent 96-5E, has produced over 285,000 lbs of milk in her lifetime and displays qualities that make her the “modern” kind. “Balanced, great legged, dairy, an exceptional udder - the kind that milk and get better with age,” notes Tanner. He is continuing to breed from and improve upon her outstanding traits, hoping to make the next great one.
Wishful is currently on an IVF schedule and on track to be calving again in the spring of 2026. Cherishing every day he gets to take care of her, Tanner hopes to pass the same burning passion for breeding and developing great cows to his four young children that his parents did for he and his siblings growing up.
BY KATELYN POITRAS
TANNER TOPP -
-
Wishful Thinking is an easy-going, calm cow that isn’t bothered by much - from little hands at the show to getting cleaned up in the ring!
Headwater Select Cloud (Select), 1st senior 3-year-old, Maple Downs II & Peter Vail, Middleburg, NY
HM INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Ridgedale Eagle (Showtime), 2nd junior 3-year-old, Ridgedale, Sharon Springs, NY
JUNIOR CHAMPION
Ridgedale-W Max Overdrive (Maximum), 1st fall calf, Hannah Adams, Sharon Springs, NY
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION
Trent-Way Distant-Red-ET (Warrior), 1st summer yearling, Katherine Kelly, Willsboro, NY
HM JUNIOR CHAMPION
Curr-Vale-AE Arc Beloved-ET (Architect), 2nd fall calf, Rick Allyn & Jeremiah Lungwitz, Canaan, CT
PREMIER BREEDER - HEIFER SHOW Fairmont LLC, East Montpelier, VT
PREMIER EXHIBITOR - HEIFER SHOW Windcrest Farm, Cobleskill, NY
PREMIER BREEDER - OVERALL Ridgedale Holsteins, Sharon Springs, NY
PREMIER EXHIBITOR - OVERALL Woodmansee Holsteins, Preston, CT
JUNIOR SHOW CHAMPIONS
SENIOR & RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION: BlacknCherry A AdetteRed (Altitude), 5-year-old, Preston Peabody, Kolin Rowland, Devin Delamater, Buskirk, NY
RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION: Tinyfields Undenie Belatrix (Undenied), 4-year-old, Coghlan Mullen, Pine Plains, NY
INTERMEDIATE & GRAND CHAMPION: Extramile Miami To Denver (Denver), 1st winter senior 2-year-old, George Jr & Lucille Hoffman, Wassaic, NY
RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION: Ridgedale Kennedy (Master), 1st fall senior 2-year-old, Hannah Adams, Sharon Springs, NY
JUNIOR CHAMPION: Ridgedale-W Max Overdrive (Maximum), 1st fall calf, Hannah Adams, Sharon Springs, NY
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION: Pineland Bullseye Honeybun (Bullseye), 4th summer yearling, Mary Walker, Hoosick Falls, NY
Senior & Grand Champion Desnette Jade Duran, CLF LLC.
Reserve Senior & Grand Champion Locust-Ayr Monpoly Inez-Red, Maple Downs Farms II & Peter Vail.
LtoR: Grand Champion Desnette Jade Duran, CLF LLC; Reserve Grand Champion Locust-Ayr Monpoly Inez-Red, Maple Downs Farms II & Peter Vail; HM Grand Champion Harkdale Takia 2915, Steven Carson.
HM Senior & Grand Champion Harkdale Takia 2915, Steven Carson.
Mile High Reagan X-Factor (Reagan), 1st senior 2-year-old, Sarah Hill, Bristol, VT
RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
RtoL: Grand Champion Blue-Spruce Reagan Mariah-ET, Ridale Genetics; Reserve Grand Champion Ridale Nemo Serenity-ET, Ridale Genetics; HM Grand Champion Mile High Reagan X-Factor, Sarah Hill.
Palmyra Ringer R Rosy (Ringer), 1st senior 3-year-old, Peter Vail, Engelwood, FL
HM INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Dale Vista Reagan Lemonade (Reagan), 1st junior 3-year-old,
Liliana, Emily, Arvine IV, Emmett, Robert & Lorraine Coon.
Robert & Lorraine Coon.
BROWN SWISS JUNIOR SHOW CHAMPIONS
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION: Brown Heaven Elmstar Blue (Elmstar), 1st 4-year-old, Liliana, Emily, Arvine IV, Emmett, Robert & Lorraine Coon, Red Hook, NY
RESERVE SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION: Colebrook Creek DT Alina (Dynamite), 2nd 5-year-old, Abigail Wilber, New Hartford, CT
INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION: Champion View Winsom (Diego), 2nd senior 3-year-ld, Sarah Hill, Greyson Dalley and Sophie Cyr, Bristol, VT
JUNIOR CHAMPION: Willow Ridge T Sequoia (Time Out), 1st fall calf, Grace Balogh, Ashford, CT
Intermediate & Grand Champion Fairdale Daredevil Talia-ET, Peter Vail.
Senior & Reserve Grand Champion Ritchi View Nuck Hum Dinger, Elite Dairy 3, Kelly Jo & Kenny Joe Manion.
LtoR:
Champion
Daredevil Talia-ET, Peter Vail; Reserve Grand Champion Ritchi View Nuck Hum Dinger, Elite Dairy 3, Kelly Jo & Dr Kenny Joe Manion; HM Grand Champion Brown Heaven Elmstar Blue,
Jr Show Grand Champion Brown Heaven Elmstar Blue, Liliana, Emily, Arvine IV, Emmett,
Junior Champion Willow Ridge T Sequoia, Grace Balogh.
Senior & Grand Champion Elite HP Fire Spark, Peter Vail.
Reserve Senior & Grand Champion Honor Roll Ocean Breeze, Dan Bagley and Phil Haulk.
Intermediate Champion Briar Rockstar Ringo, Peter Vail.
Jr Show Grand Champion Bagley Bog Triple Crown Freed, Jason Bagley.
RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Millcreek KNH Money Let It Go (Money), 2nd senior 3-year-old, Lailah, Brielle, Isabella & Audrey Clark and GMC Farm, Cornish Flat, NH
JUNIOR CHAMPION
Cold Springs Star Aspen (Stargazer), 1st summer yearling, Cold Springs, Farmington, NH
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION
Cold Springs Liam Zappy (Liam), 1st fall yearling, Haywire, Bernardstown, MA
PREMIER BREEDER & EXHIBITOR - HEIFER SHOW
Cold Springs, Farmington, NH
PREMIER BREEDER - OVERALL Cold Springs, Farmington, NH
PREMIER EXHIBITOR - OVERALL Peter Vail, Engelwood, FL
GUERNSEY
Total Head: 43 • Judge: Judge Chris Lahmers OH
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
MILKING SHORTHORN JUNIOR SHOW CHAMPIONS
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION: Bagley Bog Triple Crown Freed (Triple Crown), 2nd 5-year-old, Jason Bagley, Farmington, ME
INTERMEDIATE & RES. GRAND CHAMPION: Hilholm Cyrd Chasin Dreams (Cyride), 3rd Senior 2 Year Old, Bailey Wright, DeKalb Junction, NY
JUNIOR CHAMPION: Shining Stars Ladysman Villian (Ladys Man), 2nd summer yearling, Sarah Hill, Bristol, VT
Knapps Digligle Qualitys Queeni (Top Gun), 1st aged cow, Lauren Nelson and Richard Giddings, Brandon, VT
RESERVE SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
Toolite Digligle Acorns Adelaide (Taz), 2nd aged cow, Richard Giddings and Jason Tooley, Brandon, VT
INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Prairie Moon Java Andrea (Java-P), 1st junior 3-year-old, Garrett Lambert, Philip Haulks & Matt Hartle, Norridgewock, ME
RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Millborne HP Lambeau Teralee (Lambeau-E), 2nd junior 3-yearold, P Morey Miller & Hillpoint Partners, Granby, CT
JUNIOR CHAMPION
Gladheart-Regal Hills Pam-ET (Jack Daniels), 1st fall yearling, Indian Acres Farm, South Deerfield, MA
JUNIOR CHAMPION: Cranehill Hulu 23049 (Hulu), 1st summer yearling, R,R, and W Matheron and M. Parsons, Hilmar, CA
RES. JUNIOR CHAMPION: Royal-Cut Dlamb Jumpin-ET (Delta-Lambda), 1st fall calf, Logan & Lauren Silveira, Chowchilla, CA
Senior & Grand Champion Exels-PA Crush Lovett, Exels Holsteins.
Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion, Jr Show Grand Champion Hilmar Hanans 19490 R,R, and W Matheron and M. Parsons.
LtoR: Grand Champion Exels-PA Crush Lovett, Exels Holsteins; Reserve Grand Champion Hilmar Hanans 19490 R,R, and W Matheron and M. Parsons; HM Grand Champion Ruann Doorman Jean-E-ETN, Stephen & Patrick Maddox.
Reserve Senior Champion & HM Grand Champion Ruann Doorman Jean-E-ETN, Stephen & Patrick Maddox.
Reserve Intermediate Champion Ruann Hana Dorinda-15033-ET, Stephen & Patrick Maddox.
Junior Champion Exels Aircraft Mari 29647, Exels Holsteins.
RED & WHITE
SENIOR & RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
Golden-Oaks Tyche Red-ET (Moovin), 1st 5-year-old, Josie Nunes, Gustine, CA
RESERVE SENIOR & HM GRAND CHAMPION
Ruann Aris Bonnie-90936-ET (Aristocrat), 2nd 5-year-old, Stephen & Patrick Maddox, Riverdale, CA
INTERMEDIATE & GRAND CHAMPION
Ruann Butch Shar-11121-Red (Butch), 3rd senior 3-year-old, Stephen & Patrick Maddox, Riverdale, CA
RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Ms GilTex Alt Peony-Red-ET (Altitude), 1st senior 2-year-old, Gilbert Teixeira and Double D Dairy, Turlock, CA
LtoR: Intermediate Champion Gold Star Joel Allanah-ET, Avery, Lauren, Grace, & Claire Starr; Reserve Intermediate Champion MM Ferdinand Cypress-ET, Clayton Arntz; HM Intermediate Champion Claquato Fruit By The Foot, John Labno.
Junior Champion Kash-In Joel Shananay-ET, Brody & Finley Rosa.
WESTERN SPRING NATIONAL HOLSTEIN SHOW
May 14-16, 2025 • Richmond, UT
HOLSTEIN
Total Head: 197 • Judge Julie Hemp, IL
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
Exels-PA Crush Lovett (Crush), 1st aged cow, Henry & Carolyn Van Exel and P. & M. Amarante, Lodi, CA
RESERVE SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
McWilliams Lambda Wizard (Delta-Lambda), 1st 4-year-old, Pappys Farms, Ogden, UT
HM SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
Lyn-Vale Julieann-Red (Addison), 2nd aged cow, Jannalee Coleman & Isaac Folts, Turlock, CA
INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Exels Hshake Krispy27393-TW (Handshake), 1st junior 3-yearold, Henry & Carolyn Van Exel, Lodi, CA
Delcreek Crash My Party (Master), 1st senior 2-year-old, Addison Lortie, Kimmell, IN
JUNIOR CHAMPION
Quietcove Hot Topic-Red (Warrior), 1st fall yearling, H., H., H. McIsaac and M. & M. Price, Petaluma, CA
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION
Yellowstone Hangover-ET (Alligator), 1st fall calf, Yellowstone Genetics, Ogden, UT
HM JUNIOR CHAMPION
Hamming Advancer Two Steppin-Red (Advancer), 2nd fall yearling, Addison Lortie, Kimmell, IN
PREMIER BREEDER & EXHIBITOR - HEIFER SHOW Cache-Valley, Richmond, UT
PREMIER BREEDER & EXHIBITOR - OVERALL Pappys Farms, Ogden, UT
JUNIOR HOLSTEIN
Total Head: 89 • Judge Shawn Nehls, WI
SENIOR & RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
Den-K Rager Tori 1334-TW (Rager), 1st 4-year-old, Logan & Lauren Silveira, CA
INTERMEDIATE & GRAND CHAMPION
Pappys Sidekick Ruth (Sidekick), 1st senior 3-year-old, Ruth England, ID
RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Delcreek Crash My Party (Master), 1st senior 2-year-old, Addison Lortie, IN
JUNIOR CHAMPION
Quietcove Hot Topic-Red (Warrior), 1st fall yearling, H., H., H. McIsaac and M. & M. Price, Petaluma, CA
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION
Redcarpet Shot Caller-ET (HiHope), 1st fall calf, Addison Lortie & Noah Berry, OR
Senior & Grand Champion Exels-PA Crush Lovett, Henry & Carolyn Van Exel.
Reserve Senior & Grand Champion McWilliams Lambda Wizard, Pappys Farms.
Intermediate Champion Exels Hshake Krispy27393-TW, Henry & Carolyn Van Exel.
P. & A. Amarante; Reserve Grand Champion McWilliams Lambda Wizard, Pappys Farms; HM Grand Champion Lyn-Vale Julieann-Red, Jannalee Coleman & Isaac Folts.
Reserve Intermediate Champion
Budjon-Vail DL Dazzle-ET, Westcoast Holsteins.
Junior Champion Quietcove Hot Topic-Red, H., H., H. McIsaac and M. & M. Price.
RED & WHITE
Total Head: 64 • Judge Julie Hemp, IL
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
Lyn-Vale Julieann-Red (Addison), 1st aged cow, Jannalee Coleman & Isaac Folts, Turlock, CA
RESERVE SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
Ruann Aris Bonnie-90936-Red (Aristocrat), 1st 5-year-old, Stephen & Patrick Maddox, Riverdale, CA
INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Air-Osa Applely31861-Red-ET (Warrior), 1st senior 3-year-old, Kestin Martin & Phillip Airoso, Tipton, CA
Quietcove Hot Topic-Red (Warrior), 1st fall yearling, H., H., H. McIsaac and M. & M. Price, Petaluma, CA
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION
Hamming Advancer Two Steppin-Red (Advancer), 2nd fall yearling, Addison Lortie, Kimmell, IN
Reserve Senior & Grand Champion
Ruann Aris Bonnie-90936-Red, Stephen & Patrick Maddox.
Champion Air-Osa Applely31861-Red-ET, Kestin Martin & Phillip Airoso.
Folts; Reserve Grand Champion Ruann Aris Bonnie-90936-Red, Stephen & Patrick Maddox; HM Grand Champion Air-Osa Applely31861-Red-ET, Kestin Martin & Phillip Airoso.
Intermediate
Senior & Grand Champion Lyn-Vale Julieann-Red, Jannalee Coleman & Isaac Folts.
HOLSTEIN
WISCONSIN DAIRY SHOWCASE
April 25-27, 2025 • Madison, WI
Total Head: 209 • Judge: Pat Lundy, NY; Associate: Austen Schmidt, WI
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION & BEST UDDER OF SHOW
Premierpoint Mas Carmona-ET (Master), 1st 4-year-old, MapleLeigh, Arizona Dairy & Grai-Rose Cattle, Delavan, WI
Danhof Starlight-Red-ET (Altitude), 1st junior 2-year-old, Zachary Danhof, Waukon, IA
PREMIER BREEDER - HEIFER SHOW Kamphuis Farm, Brandon, WI
PREMIER EXHIBITOR - HEIFER SHOW Excelerant Genetics, Lena, WI
PREMIER BREEDER & EXHIBITOR - OVERALL Do-N-Joy Genetics, Arlington, MN
Intermediate & HM Grand Champion Durkacres Apple Tonic-Red, Milk Source LLC.
& H McIsaac.
LLC.
JUNIOR SHOW CHAMPIONS
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION: Morill-Hill Warrior 4271-Red (Warrior), 2nd 4-year-old, Caleb, Josiah, Helena, Adrian & Ella Olson, Lena, WI
RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION: Luck-E Jordy Kayla-Red-ET (Jordy), 2nd aged cow, L, H & B Smith, E Gunst & B Peirick, Watertown, WI
INTERMEDIATE & RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION: RV-Smith War Games-Red-ET (Warrior), 1st junior 3-year-old, E Gunst, L,H & B Smith, F & N Heinsohn and C & L Ziemba, Watertown, WI
JUNIOR CHAMPION: Opsal-JH Viva Las Vegas-ET (Kid Rock), 2nd fall yearling, Ela May Genetics, DeForest, WI
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION: Budjon-Vail Video Starr-ET (Video), 1st winter yearling, Budjon Farms, Peter Vail, & Emma Paulson, Lomira, WI
LtoR: Grand Champion Highview Balin Journey, Milk Source LLC; Reserve Grand Champion Payneside Maui Grilled Cheese, K, K, C Kasbergen, KashIn Jerseys and R Vandoske; HM Grand Champion Kash-In Joel Knockout-ET, K, K & C Kasbergen, Kash-In Jerseys and Superstition Cattle Co.
Jr Show Grand Champion Payneside Maui Grilled Cheese, K, K, C Kasbergen, Kash-In Jerseys and R Vandoske.
Intermediate
Senior & Grand Champion Highview Balin Journey, Milk Source LLC.
Junior Champion Budjon-Vail Joel Sweet-ET, Evan Jauquet & Legendholm.
BROWN SWISS
Total Head: 153 • Judge: Tyler Chupp, OK
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
Brown Heaven Carter Falby-ET (Carter), 1st aged cow, Milk
Source and Brown Heaven, Kaukauna, WI
RESERVE SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
RDT Daredevil Lola (Daredevil), 1st 5-year-old, Red Dirt Genetics and Katy Boehm, Perkins, OK
HM SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
Brandenburg Richard Valerie (Richard), 1st production cow, Emerson Brandenburg, Fort Atkinson, WI
INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Harvst Brz Els Windstorm (Elisium), 1st junior 2-year-old, Ellie Albert, Vandalia, IL
RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
V B Phantom Dynamic (Phantom), 1st senior 3-year-old, Voegeli Farms, Monticello, WI
HM INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION
Jenlar Rasta Welcome-ETV (Rasta), 2nd senior 3-year-old, L & S
Olson, R & L Read, R & L Beckard and T Wright, Hutchinson, MN
JUNIOR CHAMPION
Opsal-JH BR Picturesque-ET (Foremost), 1st winter yearling, Joseph & Hayleigh Opsal and Matt & Molly Sloan, Marshall, WI
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION
Opsal-JH BR Made For This (First Choice), 2nd winter yearling, Joseph & Hayleigh Opsal and Chip Savage, Blue Mounds, WI
HM JUNIOR CHAMPION
Jenlar Timeout Wynn-ETV (Time Out), 1st fall calf, Cripple Creek Farm, Schuylerville, NY
PREMIER BREEDER & EXHIBITOR - HEIFER SHOW
Opsal-JH, Joseph & Hayleigh Opsal, Blue Mounds, WI
PREMIER BREEDER & EXHIBITOR - OVERALL Voegeli Farms, Monticello, WI
GUERNSEY
Total Head: 67 • Judge: Tyler Chupp, OK
SENIOR CHAMPION - OPEN & JR SHOW
Pond N Pines Beau Mandy (Lambeau), 1st 5-year-old, Kayleigh, Kelsey & Karlee Haag and Josie Varney, Dane, WI
RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION - OPEN SHOW
Valley Gem Hit It Total Random (Hit It), 1st aged cow, Valley Gem and Matt Brahmer, Cumberland, WI
INTERMEDIATE & GRAND CHAMPION - OPEN & JR SHOW
Donnybrook Ammo Stevie (Ammo), 1st senior 3-year-old, Brittany Taylor and Laylaa Schuler, New Glarus, WI
RESERVE INTERMEDIATE & GRAND CHAMPION - OPEN & JR
RHG Villa Breezy Venus-ET (Tsunami), 1st senior 2-year-old,
RtoL: Grand Champion Brown Heaven Carter Falby-ET, MilkSource & Brown Heaven; Reserve Grand Champion RDT Daredevil Lola, Red Dirt Genetics and Katy Boehm; HM Grand Champion Brandenburg Richard Valerie, Emerson Brandenburg.
BROWN SWISS JUNIOR SHOW CHAMPIONS
SR & GRAND CHAMPION: Brandenburg Richard Valerie (Richard), 1st production cow, Emerson Brandenburg, Fort Atkinson, WI
INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION: Harvst Brz Els Windstorm (Elisium), 1st junior 2-year-old, Ellie Albert, Vandalia, IL
JUNIOR CHAMPION: Jenlar Diego Wedding-ETV (Diego), 1st fall yearling, Tristen Ostrom, Kaukauna, WI
Grand Champion Brown Heaven Carter Falby-ET, Milk Source & Brown Heaven.
Reserve Senior & Grand Champion, RDT Daredevil Lola, Red Dirt Genetics and Katy Boehm.
Jr Show Grand Champion Brandenburg Richard Valerie, Emerson Brandenburg.
Intermediate & Grand Champion Donnybrook Ammo Stevie, Brittany Taylor and Laylaa Schuler.
Reserve Intermediate & Grand Champion RHG Villa Breezy VenusET, Alison Gartman.
Senior Champion Pond N Pines Beau Mandy, Kelsey & Karlee Haag and Josie Varney.
Junior Champion Prairie Gem Goldmine Lil Bling, Carrie Chickering Sears.
Alison Gartman, Sheboygan, WI
JUNIOR CHAMPION - OPEN SHOW
Prairie Gem Goldmine Lil Bling (Goldmine), 1st winter yearling, Carrie Chickering Sears, South Deerfield, MA
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION - OPEN SHOW
Knapps R Top Secret-ET (Reputation), 1st fall yearling, Kurt & Michelle Wolf and Last Call Syndicate, Guttenberg, IA
1st & HM Junior Champion, Midwest Spring Nat’l Jr. Show ’25
2nd Spring Yearling, Midwest Spring Nat’l Show ‘25 Dam: Brenbe Fizz Lyric (E-92%), HM ABA Junior All-American Senior 3-Year-Old ’23
Ela May
Chcochip Icing-ET
1st Jr & 3rd Open Winter Calf, Midwest Spring Nat’l Show ‘25 Granddam: Moringmist Joel Iveena EX 94
Opsal-JH Viva Las Vegas
1st Fall Yearling & Junior Champion, Midwest Spring Nat’l Junior Show ’25
2nd & Reserve Junior Champion, Midwest Spring National Show ’25 Reserve ABA Junior All-American & Nom. ABA All-American Fall Calf ’24 Kid Rock backed by 4 Excellent dams then E-97% Veronica!
Ela May Colton Shaboozey 2nd Junior, Midwest Spring Nat’l Show ‘25 7/24 Colton x Vierra Shotgun Rider-ET (E-91% max) x Bri-Lin Valson Spritz (E-97%) Sold for $20,500 in the Best of Triple-T & Friends Sale Good luck to her new owners, Logan & Chloe Duckett!
Adding a splash of color to the Ela May showstring... Bricker-Farms Strykr Crimson-ET 1st Junior & Junior Champion and 2nd Open, Midwest Spring Show ’25 Stryker x 4E-96 Carvella, 2X Res. All-American Owned with Ella Spiniolas & Melissa Sprecher
Exhibitor, Midwest Spring National Heifer Show ’25
ONTARIO SPRING DISCOVERY SHOW
April 23-24, 2025 • Ancaster, ON
HOLSTEIN
Total Head: 205 • Judge Aaron Eaten, NY
GRAND CHAMPION & BEST UDDER OF SHOW
Up-Ridge Alleyoop Freezie (Alleyoop), 1st 4-year-old, Up-Ridge Holsteins, Embro, ON
Milksource A Tierney-Red-ET (Architect), 1st fall yearling, Adam Clark, Jeff & Jim Butler and Pierre Boulet, Woodville, ON RED & WHITE RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION
Bobmur Alpha Nyla (Alpha), 3rd fall yearling, Bobmur Farms, Listowel, ON
Grand Champion Up-Ridge Alleyoop Freezie, Up-Ridge Holsteins.
Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion Goldenflo Lambda Dominate, Hodglynn Holsteins.
R&W Grand Champion Golden-Oaks Alexis-Red-ET, Hodglynn Holsteins & Raymond Smygwaty.
Grand Champion LtoR: Grand Champion Pine Haven Victorious Mahina, Gardenvale Farms Inc.; Reserve Grand Champon Leighside Chocochip Bumblebee, Macbeath Farms; HM Grand Champion Perennial Bontino Betty Jo, Kent Weeks.
KOOPYCREST P PER ALI ARIEL
NEW CANADIAN LIFETIME PRODUCTION HOLDER
One of the favorites in the multi-breed herd at Koopycrest Farm in Picton, Ontario made history earlier this year by setting a new Milking Shorthorn breed record for lifetime milk production. Over eight full lactations, Koopycrest P Per Ali Ariel VG-85-CAN has produced 103,591 4.1% 4246 3.2% 3307 kgs (227,900M 9341F 7275P lbs) with average BCAs of 411-418-398.
Born in June 2014, Ariel is now ten years old and has been an outstanding producer her whole career, as a seven-time Class Leader and seven-time Superior Production Award winner. Sired by the Swedish Red sire Pell-Pers, who is accorded status in the Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society herdbook, she is out of Koopycrest Mocha Ali Apple ET EX-90-CAN, who was the result of an embryo imported from the US. Apple herself has an impressive resume, being a multiple-time Class Leader, Superior Production Award winner, Star Brood Cow, 2013 Grand Champion of the National Show, and 2014 Canadian Milking Shorthorn Cow of the Year.
If the family name and its ties to high production sound familiar, it may be because Ali Ariel is taking over the lifetime production crown from her maternal sister, Koopycrest Logic Ali Anne VG87-CAN, who produced 95,601kgs (210,322 lbs) of milk in eight complete lactations. HM Grand Champion at the 2014 National Show, Anne was a notable homebred Milking Shorthorn for her owner, Shawn Koopmans. Anne is is also the dam of Koopycrest Anecdote-P, a proven sire marketed by Semex Alliance, who was used internationally and produced a number of accomplished daughters in multiple countries worldwide.
Currently, the Koopycrest herd consists of 40 cows (10 Milking Shorthorns, 5 Brown Swiss, and 25 Holsteins) that milked 3x a day in a tie-stall barn. The family operation sees everyone contributing with Shawn’s mother
Margaret helping in the barn, and his father, Allen, and brother, Chris, overseeing the field work. Shawn and his wife, Justine, have four children, Kailyn, Brayden, Madelyn, and Addison, who all help in the barn with the calves, with Brayden also pitching in doing milking, feeding, and tractor work. The family is a Master Breeder award winner with their Holstein herd. Shawn brought Milking Shorthorns to Koopycrest in 2009, when he purchased a lot of embyros by Clarefield Mocha out of Rovin Derek Ali Accent-P EX-92-CAN. “I was introduced to the breed by Dave Prinzen of Prinsville Dairy Farms after he asked me to help out at the Canadian National Show a couple of times,” remembers Shawn. “Then I visited David Kulp in Pennsylvania, where I purchased the embryos that resulted in Ali Apple.”
The dam of Apple, Rovin Derek Ali Accent-P EX-92, was the Reserve All-American 4-Year-Old in 2005, with a number of high production records herself. Out of an EX-93 2E dam, Accent-P proved to be a prolific brood cow for high producing cows in Canada. In addition to Ali Apple, another daughter imported as an embryo landed in the well-known Oceanbrae herd in PEI - Oceanbrae Fawn’s Accent-P ET EX-94-3E-CAN, who was the Canadian Cow of the Year in 2015 and was the All-Time Class Leader for Two- and Three-Year-Olds. Quite remarkable for one cow to have three record-holding daughters across Canada!
Ali Ariel is a no-fuss member of the herd. “Ariel is a good, strong, spirited cow. She never required much ‘over and above’ attention. She took care of herself as do most of the Milking Shorthorns in my herd,” says Shawn. “Currently, she has two milking daughters, three granddaughters, and one great granddaughter. Her daughters are strong milk cows, but could be higher on the type side. Her granddaughters are also good production cows, but have better conformation. She has one Excellent (by Comanche) and a VG-86 three-year-old granddaughter by Cyride. I think the longevity will continue to run in the family. I have her youngest son, by Inspired PP, but it’s hard for me to use him as 90% of my Shorthorns are related to Ariel - I have done a bit of linebreeding given the limited breed genetics available here in Canada.”
After a tough calving in February 2025, Shawn dried her off and now has Ariel in a well-deserved retirement, and presently, he has no plans to flush her or breed her back. She and her offspring encapsulate many of his breeding goals in the herd. “My goals are pretty much the same across all three breeds. I like them to be polled and A2A2 with high production and high type,” notes Shawn.
Koopycrest P Per Ali Ariel with Brayden Koopman. Photo provided.
Koopycrest Mocha Ali Apple ET EX-90-CAN, dam of Ali Ariel.
YOUNG BREEDER SCHOOL - US TEAM 2025
The Young Breeders School, the international learning event for young dairy enthusiasts aged 13 to 25 held annually in Europe, will take place once again September 3-7, 2025 in Battice, Belgium. This year, the 23rd edition, teams from a record 20 countries have registered, which will result in scores of passionate young breeders learning from highly qualified instructors and judges, and from their international peers.
The USA sent their first-ever team last year in 2024, and eagerly put together another squad for 2025. A quick introduction to the six individuals that will carry the US flag:
Lila Sloan is 21 years old and resides in Davis, Illinois where she calls Clearfield Farm home. She grew up working and learning beside my grandpa. Active in 4-H, FFA, and Junior Holstein clubs, she competed in dairy quiz bowl, jeopardy, and public speaking attending seven national Holstein conventions. She was honored to be named a Distinguished Junior Member in 2024. She received an Associate Degree at Highland Community College in the CollegeNOW program, and graduated last spring with a Bachelors Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she majored in Agribusiness and minored in Dairy Science. She was involved with many clubs, participated on the dairy judging team, and served on the sale committee.
After dispersing the Clearfield herd in 2020, she now has a few show cows and heifers as well as custom raising heifers. She currently works as a Regional Sales Representative for the Holstein Association covering parts of northeast Iowa, southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and all of Indiana.
Richmond Black & White Days, 8th High Individual at Harrisburg. She and her fiancé own Imperial Genetics, where they plan to start a direct-to-consumer creamery.
Suton Paulson is 19 years old and lives in Rockford, Illinois. He grew up on his family’s farm in Juneau, Wisconsin where he started showing cows at his county and state fair as soon as he could walk. After his parents sold their farm, he started school in Fletcher, OK. where his mother now lives. At about age 13, he picked up his first set of clippers, and he’s been clipping ever since with his dad by his side to teach him everything along the way. A recent high school graduate, he’s started fitting on his own for people across the country at shows and sales. Suton exhibits at shows across the country every chance he gets, traveling anywhere he can with his dad or to clip for someone else.
In 2024, He exhibited the Milking Shorthorn Futurity winner at World Dairy Expo with BDF-PV Rockstar Margarita, and she went on to be Nominated as a Senior 2-year-old. Along with his winnings in the ring, he also placed third at World Dairy Expo Fitting Contest in 2023.
Nate King is a first-year student at Cornell University, where he is pursuing interdisciplinary studies, focusing on agricultural economics and dairy management. He grew up on his family’s dairy, King’s Ransom Farm, in Schuylerville, NY. Nate has a passion for Holstein genetics and for showing dairy cattle, enthusiasms shared by the rest of his family. He takes pride in the daily care of the show heifers. His success in the show ring, includes exhibiting the Reserve Intermediate Champion at the 2022 International Junior Holstein Show. Nate is looking forward to participating in the Young Breeders School and making connections with other like-minded youth in the dairy industry from around the world.
Jackie Mudd is 22 years old and resides in Goshen, Indiana. She is a 2025 graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Animal Science and a Minor in Food and Agribusiness Management. This summer, she participated in the US Dairy Education and Consortium in Clovis, New Mexico, followed by the Fred Stout On-Farm Experience through US Jersey, where she will work for a Jersey Creamery. Previously, she worked at Butlerview Farm for three years during weekends, breaks, and at shows. She grew up on a small dairy in Northern Indiana, where her love for showing cows began. She served as the 2022 National Jersey Queen, and spearheaded the planning for the first-ever Purdue Dairy Club Showmanship & Fitting Clinic. Her collegiate judging career highlights include: High Team NAILE, 1st Individual NACTA, 2nd Individual at
Summer Hamman is 19 years old and grew up on her family’s dairy farm, Triple H Holsteins and Jerseys, where they milk 45 registered cows in Barron, WI. In high school, Summer was a three sport athlete, and very active in her FFA Chapter, 4-H Club, and the Junior Holstein Association. In 2024, Summer was a FFA Dairy Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency National Finalist. She has also bred and exhibited four Junior All-American nominated animals: three Jerseys and a Holstein, along with earning top showmanship honors at NAILE. Summer is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison pursuing a degree in Dairy Science, with the goal of becoming a herdsman. She is looking forward to the opportunity to learning how cattle are prepared and presented in other countries.
Jasenko Gavranovic is 24 years old and resides in Nicollet, Minnesota. He grew up helping his grandpa on his 30-cow Holstein farm, and began showing on a local and state level. From there, he began doing nightline at a few national shows, and starting meeting a wider circle of people. In 2020, he began traveling across the country as a full-time fitter, working with numerous AllAmerican nominated animals across several breeds. He has been named a National Distinguished Junior Member Semi-Finalist by the Holstein Association, and has been the Overall Champion in the World Dairy Expo Fitting Contest. He works daily with about 20 head of his own Jersey cattle, focusing on breeding for consistency in the show ring. His ultimate goal is to breed and sell the Jersey genetics he has been developing and make WinTop Jerseys a household name.
There is a fundraiser planned for the YBS USA team - an online embryo auction posted on countryclubsales,com - that ends on August 15, 2025. Stay tuned for the Late Summer issue of Cowsmo where we will introduce the individuals on the YBS Canada team!
Lila Sloan
Jackie Mudd
Summer Hamman
SOUTHERN SPRING NATIONAL SHOW
April 8-10, 2025 • Stillwater, OK
HOLSTEIN
Total Head: 142 • Judge Brian Behnke, WI
SENIOR & GRAND CHAMPION
Robthom Martina Pety (Pety), 1st 5-year-old, M, L & H Angelo, F, A & A Ling, M Turner and M Streets, MO
Mapleleaf CC Candy Cane (Canadian Club), 1st winter 2-yearold, Kiliana Breuer & Brayden Carpio, CO
Intermediate Champion Ratliff Lolalala Dreamer-ET, Ron &
JUNIOR CHAMPION
Lost Brooke CF Kid Rock Faith-ET (Kid Rock), 1st summer yearling, Makayla, Kaleb, Kylie, Katie & Jacyln Osinga, TX
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION
Red Dirt Kid Rock Bam Bam (Kid Rock), 1st unfresh summer junior 2-year-old, Gracie Dornan & Red Dirt Genetics, OK
Champion Ratliff Ladd Vicki, Ron & Christy Ratliff; HM Grand Champion Ratliff Victorious Virtue-ET, Ron & Christy Ratliff.
Senior & Grand Champion Kunde Abel Natty, Ron & Christy Ratliff.
Reserve Senior & Grand Champion Ratliff Ladd Vicki, Ron & Christy Ratliff.
Intermediate & HM Grand Champion Ratliff Victorious Virtue-ET, Ron & Christy Ratliff.
Jr Show Grand Champion Barnabas Elsa of SLJ, Treasure & Maelee Clark and Caleb Peterson.
Jr Show Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion Ratliff Syler Divine, Katelynn Klipp.
Junior Champion Vierra Rock ShowET, Ken & Karla Deaver.
Reserve
Christy Ratliff.
BREEDERS BASH
May 17, 2025 · Pulaski, WI · $6131 average on 107 lots
The Breeders Bash at Betley Family Farms took place on Saturday, May 17th in Pulaski, Wisconsin. Sale hosts, Jeff, Jena, Claire & Jacob Betley along with Trent & Laura Styczynski, and Jay & Heather Jauquet, presented a super group of cattle and a full schedule including the Shawano County Twilight Meeting and educational seminar. There was spirited bidding all day from the large crowd, and the sale grossed $656,089 on 107 lots for a $6,131 average!
HIGH SELLERS:
LOT 26 ... $40,000 ... Lyn-Vale Believeitornot-Red, a 3/24 spring yearling by Believe-P out of Ms Rollnview Jumpn4me-Red EX-90 who is a full sister to Lyn-Vale Just Believe In Me VG-87-2YR-CAN who was the All-American Fall Yearling and Reserve Junior Champion at the International Holstein Show in 2024!
BUYER: Breitview Holsteins, WI
CONSIGNOR: William Schultz III, WI
Lot 18 ... $18,000 ... D2 Eyes of Honour-ET EX-91 – an AOT Honour junior 3-yearold out of Ladyrose Caught Your Eye EX-95, the three-time All-American in milking form!
BUYER: Mark England, ID
CONSIGNOR: Yellowstone Genetics, UT
NY SPRING SELECT SALE
March 29, 2025 · Hamburg, NY · $8517 average on 86 lots
One of the highlights of New York Spring Dairy Carousel was the New York Spring Select Sale held in front of a nice crowd at the Erie County Fairgrounds on a damp Saturday evening, March 29th, 2025. A number of the sold animals went on to do very well in the Northeast Spring National Holstein Show the next day. Managed by Thomas Marketing & Consulting and Aaron Eaton of Eaton Holsteins, 86 lots of Holsteins and Jerseys averaged $8,517!
HIGH SELLERS:
Lot 56 ... $77,000 ... Arolene Sidekick Elda, a 1/23 Sidekick fresh in December out of an EX-94 Dempsey dam back into the Elegance family!
BUYER: Elmvue Farm, NY
CONSIGNOR: Eaton Holsteins, Kelly Barbee & Ferme Petitclerc, NY
Lot 54 ... $54,000 ... Rosblais Tatoo Madisson VG-87-2YR-CAN, max score junior 2-year-old out of a VG-87 Sidekick dam!
BUYER: Glamourview - Iager & Walton, MD
CONSIGNOR: Aaron Eaton, Crackholm & Ferme Petitclerc, NY
America daughter out of Craigcrest Rejoice Blackbeauty that was nominated All-American Junior 2-year-old in 2022! Next dam is three-time All-American Craigcrest Rubies Gold Rejoice EX-94!
BUYER: Lookwell & Bob Osborn, IN
CONSIGNOR: Milksource & Duckett, WI
Lot 33 ... $15,000 ... Budwesisers Drb Dream Big-ET, a Dropbox spring yearling out of Blexys Crush Budwesier EX-91, All-American Winter Yearling in 2020, then Rosiers Blexy Goldwyn EX-97, the Supreme Champion at World Dairy Expo in 2017!
BUYER: Kroll, Christoph & Jauquet, WI
CONSIGNOR: Heartland Dairy & Ross Risner, WI
Lot 34 ... $13,500 ... Stitchs-TTT Panama, a Hulu summer yearling that was 3rd at the Midwest Spring Show out of T-Triple-T Palm Bay EX-91, then the Dundee Paige family!
Lot A ... $27,200 ... 1st Choice Major x Rach-Len Dundee Lilly - three pregnancies due in June out of the well-known EX-97 3E show campaigner, HM All-American Lifetime Production Cow in 2023!
BUYER: Keith David Martin, PA
CONSIGNOR: Eaton, Glamourview, Cates, Morrill & Zeh, NY
Lot 73 ... $21,000 ... Liddleholme Kingdoc Morgan EX-92 from three generations of EX cows including EX-96 4E Team Durham Morgan!
April 7, 2025 · Arlington, MN · $4759 average on 102 lots
The Midwest Spring Edition 2 @ Do-N-Joy Genetics Sale was held on a very breezy early spring day at the farm in Arlington, MN, and a saw a massive crowd turn out for the all-breeds sale! With the brisk wind and chilly temperature, the decision was made to move the sale from a tent to the renovated barn loft which was a nice refuge. Sale animals are sold on video screens after everyone had the chance to study the live lineup in the sale tent. The change of venue didn’t slow the enthusiastic bidding and at the end of the day, 102 lots averaged $4,759!
BREED HIGH SELLERS:
AYRSHIRE:
Lot 87 - $13,000 - DNJ-GF Viking Dynamite, a 7/24 Vicking out of Maple-Dell Kingsire Daron EX-93, 1st 4-year-old at MN State Fair 2024, then six more VG & EX dams!
CONSIGNOR: Do-N-Joy & Goldfawn, MN
BUYER: Linda & Leslie Bruchey, MD
BROWN SWISS:
Lot 61 - $21,000 - Goldfawn DNJ Tank Bali, a 9/23 Tank daughter due in July out of Robland Norwin Bermuda-ET 2E-92, the Reserve Grand Champion of the 2022 International Brown Swiss Show!
CONSIGNOR: Do-N-Joy & Goldfawn, MN
BUYER: The Goldenberg Legacy, TX
GUERNSEY:
Lot 74 - $6,600 - Empire Torpedo Patrova-ETV, a 12/24 Torpedo from the Misty Meadows Adacka Pixie EX-92 family. Her maternal sister was the AllAmerican Fall Calf in 2023, Empire Drone Patina!
CONSIGNOR: Megan Schrupp, MN
BUYER: Levi Plocher, OH
POST TIME AT RATLIFFS V
May 10, 2025 · Garnett, KS · $4789 average on 87 lots
Lot 112 - $8,700 - Do-N-Joy Lambda Espe-ET, a junior 2-year-old Lambda fresh in March out of nine generations of VG & EX cows from the Elegance family!
CONSIGNOR: Do-N-Joy, MN
BUYER: Alane Uhe, WI
JERSEY:
Lot 90 - $7,100 - Schulte Bros Sting Fancylike-ET, a 6/24 Sting out of Felicidad Rockstar Fiona-ET EX-92%. Fancylike is a maternal sister to the Junior Champion of the 2024 International Jersey Show, Schulte Bros Colton Fallon!
CONSIGNOR: Schulte Bros, IA
BUYER: Kerri McMahon, TX
MILKING SHORTHORN:
Lot 70 - $3,700 - Krauses Secret Ruth-ET P, a 12/23 Secretariat that was the winning winter calf at the 2024 MN State Fair Milking Shorthorn Show, out of EX Anecdote dam!
CONSIGNOR: Do-N-Joy, MN
BUYER: Bethany Schroht, MN
RED & WHITE / RED FACTOR:
Lot 6 $15,000 - Morrill Warrior 4271-Red VG-88, a 4-year-old Warrior that was Grand Champion of the MN State Fair R&W Show in 2024, and is an 11th generation VG & EX from the Centra Selsy-Red family!
CONSIGNOR: Do-N-Joy & Luke Alsleben, MN
BUYER: Excelerant Genetics, WI
The Post Time at Ratliffs sale series continued its successful run with the 5th edition of the event held at the farm in Garnett, KS on May 10th, 2025. Featuring an impressive group of cattle from the Ratliff breeding program along with outstanding consignments from coast-to-coast, 87 full lots averaged $4,789!
HIGH SELLERS:
Lot 89 - $24,500 - Ratliff Machine
Velocity-ET, a 3/23 junior 2-yearold that had won her class at the 2025 Southern Spring National Jersey Show! Velocity is out of Ratliff Ladd Vicki EX-95%, who was Reserve Grand Champion at the same show!
CONSIGNOR: Ratliff Jerseys, KS
BUYER: Ethan, Ella, and Nora Marcoot, IL
Lot 23 - $11,100 - Schulte Bros Kid Rock Sadee-ET, a 9/24 Kid Rock out of Vierra Salud VG-88%, the Mr Swagger daughter of Bri-Lin Valson Spritz EX-97%, the two-time Grand Champion of the International Jersey Show!
CONSIGNOR: Schulte Bros, IA
BUYER: Dean Schendel, TX
Lot 52 - $10,500 - Red Dirt Kid Rock Bam Bam, a 6/23 Kid Rock due in July to Victorious out of a deep Billings Farm pedigree that will show as a summer junior 2-year-old!
CONSIGNOR: Red Dirt Genetics, OK
BUYER: Raymond Carpio, CO
Lot 17 - $9,000 - Vila Nova Velour, a 9/24 Gentry out of eight EX dams back through TJ Classic Minister Venus EX-95%, Supreme Champion, 2016 World Dairy Expo!
CONSIGNOR: Vierra Dairy, CA
BUYER: Preston Engleman, NE
Lot 6 $7,900 - Smokin Hot Victorious Trend-ET, a 12/24 Victorious out of Drentex Blkapple Tiffany EX-92% and a maternal sister to Smokin Hot Texas Tornado EX-91%, 2nd at the 2024 Jersey Jug!
CONSIGNOR: Smokin Hot Genetics, WI
BUYER: Dean Schendel, TX
Lot 80 - $7,400 - Ms Gentle Ginger-ET, a 3/25 Gentleman out of Steel-Fire Burdette Gracen EX-92, Reserve All-American Senior 2-Year-Old in 2021, back to seven more VG & EX dams!
CONSIGNOR: Madison Fisher, MD
BUYER: Glamourview - Iager & Walton, MD
Ratliff Machine Velocity-ET, high seller
QUEST FOR SUCCESS VII
April 12, 2025 · Delavan, WI · $7275 average on 123 lots
The Quest For Success VII sale was held on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the gorgeous Maple-Leigh Futures facility in Delavan, WI. A balmy early spring day in Wisconsin set the stage and the sun shone on a tremendous lineup of all-breed consignments. The Ryan and Harbaugh families along with the whole crew at Maple-Leigh put on an outstanding event, and a huge crowd turned out to attend the sale!
At the end of the day, 123 lots averaged $7,275 and sold to buyers from 18 states, Canada, and the Netherlands.
BREED HIGH SELLERS:
AYRSHIRE: $6,982 AVERAGE
High Seller $14,700 – Bricker-Farms Stryk Crimson-ET
CONSIGNOR: Adam Ludwig, Epworth, IA
BUYER: Ella Spinolas, Melissa Sprecher & Ela May Genetics, Harvard, IL
BROWN SWISS: $10,237 AVERAGE
High Seller
$30,000 – Topp B-3 Deluxe Fine Wine-ETV
CONSIGNOR: Brothers Three & Topp-View, Watertown, WI
BUYER: John & Bonnie Ayars, Mechanicsburg, OH
GUERNSEY: $8,909 AVERAGE
High Seller $19,000 – Gold N Pines Butterthanyou-ET
CONSIGNOR: Mike Maier & Suzie Benoit, Stitzer, WI
BUYER: Jesse & Kiley Muse, Etoile, KY
High Seller $34,500 – Genosource Juju-ET
CONSIGNOR: Genosource, Blairstown, IA
BUYER: Caught A Break Partners, Dyersville, IA
JERSEY: $7,042 AVERAGE
High Seller $17,000 – Schulte Bros VIP Shotgun Rider-ET
CONSIGNOR: Schulte Bros., Watkins, IA
BUYER: Glamourview-Iager, Walkersville, MD
MILKING SHORTHORN: $9,000 AVERAGE
High Seller $18,000 – Heavenly Let Her Dance-ET
CONSIGNOR: Heavenly Show Cattle, Monroe, WI
BUYER: Glamourview-Iager and Walton, Walkersville, MD
RED & WHITE / RED FACTOR: $6,564 AVERAGE
High Seller $17,200 – Luck-E Moovin A-Moon-ET *RC
CONSIGNOR: Dennis Bowers & Rob Krohlow, Hartland, WI
BUYER: Nora & Ellie Klever, Leah, Hattie & Blake Smith and Elizabeth Gunst, Davis,
THE BEST OF TRIPLE-T & FRIENDS
May 3, 2025 · Circleville, OH · $7535 average on 127 lots
The most recent edition of the long-running ‘The Best of’ sale series returned to the Pickaway County Fairgrounds in Circleville, Ohio on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, under the management of Thomas Marketing and Consulting. Always known for a superb high-type lineup, the selection of Holsteins, Red & Whites, and Jerseys this year was no exception! When the gavel struck for the last time, 127 lots averaged $7,535.
HIGH SELLERS:
LOT 22H … $78,500 … Ms Milksource Sunday-ET, a 9/24 Tatoo out of Glenirvine Unix Sally EX-94, the All-American & All-Canadian Senior 3-Year-Old in 2023!
BUYER: Pine Tree Dairy & Vierra Dairy, OH
CONSIGNOR: Adam Liddle, NY
LOT 51J … $25,000 … Vierras Andreas Flavor, a 12/23 Andreas due in December to Jordan out of MM Bontino Favor-ET EX-91%, Reserve All-Canadian Senior 2-Year-Old in 2023! Next dam River Valley Excitation Flawless EX-93%, AllAmerican Senior 3-Year-Old in 2019!
BUYER: Glamourview - Walton & Iager, MD
CONSIGNOR: Cherrylock Cattle, Australia
LOT 52H … $24,750 … Red-Violet W Ivanka-Red-ET, a Warrior winter senior 2-yearold that was 1st winter senior 2-year-old & HM Intermediate Champion at the NY Spring R&W Show! She is a potential 11th generation Excellent hailing from the Jan-Com Fond Matt Matilda EX-97 5E cow family!
BUYER: T & L Cattle Ltd., BC
CONSIGNOR: Johnathan King & Emily Mikel, NY
LOT A … $21,000 … First choice Lambda female from three 3/25 calves out of Rach-Len Dundee Lilly EX-97 3E, Reserve All-Canadian Lifetime Production Cow in 2024!
BUYER: Butlerview, IL
CONSIGNOR: Black Lilly Partners, NY
LOT 37H … $21,000 … Vale-O-Skene Master Kaptin, a 6/24 Master summer yearling that was Junior Champion at the Atlantic Spring Showcase! Out of Vale-O-Skene Awesome Kim K-ET EX-90-CAN who has numerous sisters nominated All-American.
LOT 37J … $20,500 … Ela May Colton Shaboozey, a 7/24 Colton out of Vierra Shotgun Rider-ET EX-91%, then 2x WDE Expo Grand Champion, Bri-Lin Valson Spritz EX-97%!
BUYER: Logan & Chloe Duckett, WI
CONSIGNOR: Ela May Genetics, WI
LOT 47H … $20,000 … Trent-Way Rompen Cane-Red, a VG Rompen junior 2-yearold that is a potential 7th generation Excellent from the Yursden Kite CaramacRed family!
BUYER: Jonathan & Alicia Lamb, NY
CONSIGNOR: Duckett Holsteins & Triple-T Holsteins, WI
THE GUERNSEY EVENT
May 31, 2025 · Wooster, OH · $5996 average on 64 lots
Wooster, Ohio was the focus of the Guernsey breed on May 31st, 2025 for The Guernsey Event, the highly-anticipated sale hosted by Springhill and Warwick Manor Farm, two of the powerhouse breeding programs and show strings in the breed!
The sale lived up to expectations and cattle sold to 14 states and to Canada. As the gavel fell on the last lot through the ring, 64 live lots averaged $5996!
HIGH SELLERS:
Lot 70 - $15,500 - Lot 32 - $14,250 - Springhill Elmhurst Unwit, a 7/24 Vengeance out of Springhill JCP Uncommon EX-90, a maternal sister to Undertaker-P at Masterpiece Genetics, then Springhill Altitude Unix-ETV-P EX-93!
CONSIGNOR: Springhill. & Elmhurst, OH
BUYER: Grace Andrews, PA
Lot 69 - $13,600 - Warwick Manor Kojack Suarez-ETV, a 9/24 Kojack out of Warwick Manor Sweet Ride Shakira EX-90, nominated All-American Senior 3-Year-Old in 2024! Full sister to the high seller of the sale!
CONSIGNOR: : Kevin & Dina Stoltzfus, PA
BUYER: Elise Mercer, IN
Lot 57 - $12,500 - Springhill JD Festive-ETV-P VG-88, a polled senior 3-year-old Jack Daniels that was Reserve Grand Champion of the 2024 Ohio State Fair Guernsey Show, out of Millbourne Hillpoint S Fiesta-ET EX-93, the All-American
Lot 1 - $10,500 - Warwick Manor JCP Shamrock, a 7/23 JC Penney due in August to Matchmaker! Shamrock was the 2024 Unanimous All-American Summer Yearling who won her class at three National shows, including the International Guernsey Show!
CONSIGNOR: : Kolby Stoltzfus, PA
BUYER: Joseph Piskorowski, NY
Lot 22- $9,800 - Mar Ral OHGR Martini-ETV, a 3/24 McDreamy that was nominated All-American Spring Calf in 2024, out of Mar Ral Maestro Milly EX94, then four more VG & EX dams!
CONSIGNOR: : Plocher, Crosser & Weaver, OH
BUYER: Mary Kirk, PA
Lot 34 - $9,800 - Warwick Manor Torpedo SJ-ET, a 12/24 Torpedo out of Hollow View Senator Senora EX-94, dam of two nominated All-American daughters!
WAYNE L. CONARD
December 14, 1957 - May 11, 2025
Wayne L. Conard (67) of Sharon Springs, NY, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2025, after a courageous battle with leukemia.
He was born in Princeton, NJ on December 14th, 1957, the first-born child of Willis S. and Patricia (Martin) Conard. In 1969 the family moved to Sharon Springs where they established Ridgedale Farm. He graduated from Canajoharie High School in 1976 where he was active in FFA, earning the NYS FFA Empire Degree, The American Degree and was named a National Star Farmer. He attended SUNY Cobleskill for a semester before leaving to pursue his cattle breeding and farming passions.
His parents allowed him time away from Ridgedale to work and learn from cattle industry experts including: The R. Austin Backus Company, Tom Coyne, and Hanover Hill Sales; these experiences also inspired him to attend auctioneering school, a skill he used throughout his life. Many times a master-showman, Wayne became a trusted leadsman for Dreamstreet, Hanover Hill, Top Acres and Elite Dairy at National Dairy Cattle Shows.
Wayne and his late brother Willis Jr. received the Klussendorf -MacKenzie award at World Dairy Expo in 1992. Later, in 2013, Wayne received the coveted 72nd Klussendorf Trophy, the highest recognition given to a dairy cattle showman in the U.S., awarded by his peers.
Under Wayne’s leadership, Ridgedale Farm captured the 1987 All-Canadian Breeder’s Herd award for Best Three Females and was the first U.S. herd to claim that honor. In 1988 the Conards received the prestigious NYS Master Breeder Award and later received the same honor a second time with the next generation of Conards in 2019. The farm has enjoyed numerous cattle show winnings and he bred and developed multiple All-NY and All-American nominees and winners. Ridgedale’s cattle bloodlines attracted customers from across the globe with cattle being marketed to destinations such as: Canada, Chile, Brazil, Germany, Switzerland and Australia. Also under Wayne’s guidance, Ridgedale has, for decades, been one of the highest BAA Holstein herds in the U.S., currently at 112.3. He and his family have bred 449 Excellent cows over the years, including 41 at EX-94, 8 at EX-95 and 2 at EX-96. Together with Tararidge, Wayne also bred the world’s first EX-97 Red and White Holstein bull, Sir Ridgedale RustlerRED, impacting cattle breeding around the world. Wayne also was the first breeder to develop four consecutive generations of EX-95 cows, all bearing the Ridgedale prefix: Example/ Estelle/Estel/Elysian.
Together with his family, Wayne has also grown Ridgedale’s land base to 750 acres, purchasing 5 neighboring farms over the past 25 years to expand the business through crop
sales including corn, soybeans and hay. In 2020 and 2023 he received regional production awards from the NYS Corn and Soybean Growers Association.
Wayne has been a long-time member of the NYS Holstein Association and the OHM Holstein Club; a past NYHA Show Committee member, and a member of the planning board for the Town of Canajoharie. He also served as an advocate for the NY Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health NYCAMH after a roll-over bar saved his life while hauling grain.
Wayne is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jennifer K. Conard who he met at the NYS Fair and married on 2/25/1995; son Wayne Cyrus Conard (Morgan); son Isaac C. Conard; three grandchildren: Liam, Keaton and Raife; sister Amy Monk; nieces Hannah (Anthony) Sirianni, Rochelle (Chris) Bailey, Juli (Tim) Myers; nephew Bill (Lisa) Conard; grandnieces/nephews: Ivy and Sage Bailey, Canyon and Faith Myers, Avary and Edie Conard; father-in-law Paul Kelly; brother-in-law Matthew Kelly (Theresa); nephews Ethan and Seth Kelly. Wayne was predeceased by his parents, as well as his brother, Willis S. Conard, Jr.
For those wishing to make a contribution in Wayne’s memory, please make checks payable to the OHM Holstein Club.
KATHLEEN ‘KATIE’ M. COYNE
December 3, 1960 - May 1, 2025
Kathleen “Katie” Coyne, aged 64, died on May 1, 2025 at her home in Geneseo, NY. Born in Avon, NY to the late Thomas and Teresa Kingston Coyne.
She was a graduate of Avon Central School and the University of WisconsinRiver Falls.
Katie spent her life in the dairy cattle business, most recently traveling across the United States teaching youth how to prepare and exhibit cattle to their fullest potential through her Mill Wheel Show Clinic business.
A life-long teacher of details, she taught over thousands of youth and judges throughout her life. With her family, she has owned or developed numerous All-American nominations and was a member of the National Brown Swiss and Holstein judges list. Owning show cattle was her absolute joy from daily chores to sharing her knowledge. She fed her own small herd of registered Herefords and dairy show heifers right until the end of her life.
Katie held numerous leadership positions, being one of the first women to be elected to the World Dairy Expo Board of Directors and Dairy Cattle committee. She served as a volunteer at the World Dairy Expo for over 30 years, donating her time for 20 of those years as the Fitting and Showmanship superintendent. She served on the Wisconsin Holstein Board of Directors, the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion board and was a longtime 4-H leader. She was a 50 year member of Holstein USA and assisted in the writing of numerous workbooks
for the Holstein Foundation as well as a longtime volunteer for the national dairy bowl and dairy jeopardy contests. She was recognized four times as the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Outstanding Leader and received the prestigious Friend of Wisconsin Junior Holstein award in 2020.
Katie served the Catholic church as a pastoral associate and in children and youth ministry for many years in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Katie leaves her three children: Maureen Lee and her daughter Adelaide of Sheboygan Falls, WI, daughter Kelly (Tyler) Reynolds and their two children, Cannyn and Saylor of Corfu, NY and son, Wyatt Lee, who resides in Sheboygan Falls, WI. She further leaves her brothers Peter (Lisa) and John (Shannon) and sister Joan (Doug) Seidel. She leaves her beloved nieces and nephews; Brian, William, Rachel, Sara Kate, Elle and Edward. She leaves aunts, uncles and cousins, all of whom were dear to her. She was married to Grant
GILBERT ROBERT TEIXIERA
June 3, 1951 - May 23, 2025
September 1983 they welcomed their first child, Robert, with their daughter Lindsey born in April 1985.
Gil’s journey with the black and white cow was a successful one with outstanding accomplishments inside and outside of the show ring. His career took a huge leap on December 1, 1984, when he purchased Queen-N-Rosa Line G V Tidy. This cow was by far the single most influential cow that has ever called Gil-Tex Holsteins home. Gilbert dedicated his time and knowledge to the registered associations on local and state levels for 40+ years with the Stanislaus and Merced County Holstein Clubs, as well as the California Holstein Association, holding officer positions, including President for multiple years. Driven by hard work and a passion for the Holstein cow, Gilbert built a herd of 1,400 Holsteins from the single calf purchased as a 9-year-old boy. Throughout the years he has bred or developed over 200 excellent scored cows, seven EX-95 or EX-96 cows (one of the most west of the Mississippi), and had 6 Grand Champions at the California State Holstein Show, which is the second most of all time. With the success in the show ring and being an excellent cow man, Gilbert had the opportunity to judge Holstein shows throughout the United States at the local, state, and national levels, as well as international in Canada, Brazil, and Portugal. He was widely recognized as one of the best at reading cow pedigrees at purebred sales across California and served as a mentor not only to his own children but also to countless 4-H and FFA students.
Gilbert Robert Teixeira, 73, passed away on Friday, May 23, 2025, with his family by his side. Gilbert was born on June 3, 1951, in Tracy, California to George and Rose Teixeira. By 1953, they moved to Newman, California where he resided for the years to come. Gilberts love for the Holstein cow began at a very young age working alongside his mother and father on the family farm. At the age of 8, the family dairy was sold. Without a farm to house his animals, he would milk and feed for neighbors in exchange for housing his growing herd. He was very active in 4-H and FFA showing at many local and county fairs with his registered animals and was a member of the Orestimba Football Team throughout his school days, graduating from Orestimba High in 1969. His herd grew and Gil-Tex Holsteins was established. He went into partnership for 5 years, which then dissolved in 1977 when Gilbert moved to Modesto to start his own dairy. It was shortly after at the Merced County Fair where Gilbert met his future wife, Linda Giannone of Los Banos. The two got married on September 27, 1980, and were soon off on their honeymoon to Madison, Wisconsin for the World Dairy Expo. This was Gil’s first trip and certainly not his last, attending the World Dairy Expo for 40+ years.
In May 1981, Gil and Linda moved to Turlock, where the real roots of Gil-Tex Holsteins were planted and still remain. In
In 1977, Gilbert won the A.J. Quist Young Breeder Award, one of the youngest individuals ever to receive it. In 1998 he won the coveted Al Hay Award, and in 2005 the California Holstein Senior Breeder Award. In 2014 he joined the most exclusive club in American Dairy, receiving the highest recognition given to a dairy cattle showman in the United States, and was recognized as the 73rd winner of the Arthur B. Klussendorf award at the World Dairy Expo.
Gilbert was an example that with determination, hard work, and passion you can achieve greatness. He was a true legend in the dairy industry, leaving lasting impacts on so many, and built long lasting cherished friendships along the way. But the biggest legacy he leaves behind is the one he built with his family. Gilbert and Linda created a life of a true family owned and operated dairy. Up until the last days, you could find the whole family working alongside Gil at Gil-Tex Holsteins. Gilbert Teixeira, a name forever engraved on some of the most prestigious awards but etched on the hearts of all who knew him.
Gilbert is preceded in death by his parents, George and Rose Teixeira and brother, Norman Teixeira. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Linda; his brother Don (Brenda) Teixeira; son, Robert (Kate) Teixeira; daughter, Lindsey (Tom) Nunes; and 5 grandchildren, his pride and joy, Jon and Chloe Chapman, Alexis and Nichole Teixeira, and Manuel Nunes.
BASE CHANGES IN CALVING TRAITS COMING ON AUGUST 2025 EVALUATIONS
Provided by CDCB ~ Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding
On August 12, 2025, calving traits calculated by CDCB for Holstein and Brown Swiss will undergo both a phenotypic and genetic base change. This comes after the routine five-year base change was delayed for the April 2025 evaluations following unanticipated results. Further investigation has validated the initial calculations.
In the calving ease and stillbirth evaluations a sire-maternal grandsire threshold model is used, where outputs are expressed in terms of probabilities or frequencies of difficult calvings (or stillbirth). In this model, the observed calving difficulty (or stillbirth) is understood as a combination of two factors: genetics (which we aim to improve through selection) and environment (management factors such as feeding and gestation practices). Environmental effects are incorporated into the final PTA because, for example, sires’ daughters calving in a “poor” environment will generally experience more difficult calvings, while daughters calving in a “good” environment will tend to have easier births.
In the Holstein breed, the average frequency of difficult calvings on first-parity cows from bulls born in 2020 (reported as Sire Calving Ease, SCE) is 1.36%, compared to 2.29% for bulls born in 2015. This is reflected as the phenotypic base for the trait. As this average approaches zero, PTA variability has decreased as a consequence. The low incidence of reported dystocic calvings naturally constrains PTAs since values below 0% are biologically impossible. Now is not the time to become lax in selection criteria for SCE, but producers should not be alarmed if minimal variability is seen across bulls in the population.
This difference in SCE is partly due to genetic progress and partly due to management improvements, such as better animal handling and increased use of sexed semen. The combined effect of the genetic and phenotypic base changes will result in a reduction in PTAs (indicating easier calvings) of approximately 0.8% in Holsteins. The opposite trend will be observed in Brown Swiss, where PTAs will reflect an increase in difficult calving of about 0.6%.
The calving traits differ from most other traits that CDCB evaluates because they are categorical and not continuous – a cow either experiences dystocia or not; there is nothing in between. To account for this, they are evaluated with sire/maternal grandsire (MGS) threshold models. The application of a breed-specific phenotypic base also makes these traits unique.
THE TRAITS
Sire calving ease (SCE) = Predicts the tendency of service sires to produce offspring that are delivered easily, expressed as the percentage of births of calves coded “difficult” for first calf (primiparous) heifers compared to other A.I. bulls born in the reference year. Beginning in August 2025, this is set to 2020.
Daughter calving ease (DCE) = Predicts the tendency of the daughters of sires to have offspring that are delivered easily, expressed as the percentage of births of calves that are “difficult” in first calf (primiparous) heifers compared to other A.I. bulls born in the reference year. Beginning in August 2025, this is set to 2015.
Sire stillbirth (SSB) = Predicts the tendency of service sires to produce offspring that are stillborn (dead at birth or within 48 hours of birth), expressed as percent compared to other A.I. bulls born in the reference period. Beginning in August 2025, this is set to 2020.
Daughter stillbirth (DSB) = Predicts the tendency of the daughters of sires to have offspring that are stillborn (dead at birth or within 48 hours of birth), expressed as percent compared to other A.I. bulls born in the reference period. Beginning in August 2025, this is set to 2015.
ANTICIPATED IMPACTS
Figure 1: All bulls average PTA (traditional) changes due to the combined effect of phenotypic and genetic base updates computed for calving ease and stillbirth.
Figure 2. A.I. bulls (NAAB status “A” and “G”) average PTA (traditional) changes due to the combined effect of phenotypic and genetic base updates computed for calving ease and stillbirth
THE DATA THAT SUPPORTS CALVING TRAITS
Calving traits are calculated using producer-recorded data stored in farm software, processed at a Dairy Records Processing Center, and shared with the National Cooperator Database. Traits that accurately reflect realities on farms are directly tied to consistent data recording across maternity teams on individual farms and recording on farms across the county. As a refresher, here is how the five-point calving ease scale is defined.
Calving Ease: Scale of 1 to 5 as reported by producers
1 = Quick, easy birth with no assistance
2 = Over two hours in labor, but no assistance
3 = Minimum assistance, but no calving difficulty
4 = Used obstetrical chains
5 = Extremely difficult birth that required a mechanical puller
For genetic evaluations, calving ease scores of 4 and 5 are combined as the measure of dystocia. It should be noted that herds only reporting calving ease scores of 1 are excluded from genetic evaluations. The consistent, across-time reporting of only one category is a sign of poor data quality in most cases.
Stillbirth PTAs rely on a scale of 1 to 3 that is applied to event categories. For genetic evaluations, scores of 2 and 3 are combined to account for categorically stillborn calves.
1 = Live calf
2 = Calf born dead
3 = Calf born alive, but died within 48 hours
For more information and to view the complete technical document, please visit the
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