Illinois Holstein Championship Showmanship
Junior Girls Showmanship Left to right: Ashytn Martin, Rachel Busker, 1st place Brooke Kasberben, 2nd place Magen Busker, 3rd place Olivia Corson, IHA Dutchess Morgan Bollech
Intermediate Girls Showmanship Left to right: 1st place Sarah Irwin, 2nd place Emily Irwin, 3rd place Olivia Telgmann
Senior Girls Showmanship Left to right: 1st place Macy Wendling, 2nd place Jessica Telgmann, 3rd place Bailey Hart, Judge Ethan Heinzmann
Junior Boys Showmanship Left to right: Rachel Busker, Morgan Bollech, Little Miss Delana Erbsen, 1st place Lane Heinzmann, 2nd place Miles Price, 3rd place Garret Kasbergen
Intermediate Boys Showmanship Left to right: Magen Busker, Morgan Bollech, Little Miss Delana Erbsen, 1st place Payton Erben, 2nd place Patrick Tegeler, 3rd place Blake Meyer
Senior Boys Showmanship Left to right: 1st place Carson Kasbergen, 2nd place Brett Woker, 3rd place Stephen Mitchell
Illinois Holstein Championship Show Dedication The 2013 Illinois Championship Holstein Show is dedicated to the Kunkel family, of Blukel Holstein Farm in Granville. They would like to personally thank the association for this honor with the following: “It is an Honor to have the 2013 State Holstein Show dedicated to us. We want to congratulate all the exhibitors who work so hard to present their cattle at the show this year. If you are showing an animal today that is the offspring of a cow that carries your prefix, know that you have two admirers. That’s how we did it.” Almost all the animals shown by the Kunkel families were backed by multiple generations of Blukel prefix, starting with their first registered animal in 1943. They enjoyed presenting their cows at the area county fairs and 25 years later, their homebred Holsteins produced the 1968 Illinois State Fair Grand Champion. Their success at the state level continued though the 1970s and 1980s. Highlights included winning Grand Champions, Premier Breeder and Exhibitor awards, Best Three Females, and many times standing towards the top of the class; including many of the junior show classes. During that time they also had numerous cows sell to dairymen in other states, including one that graced the cover the Holstein World. Also with the help from some friends here in Page 12
Illinois they were able to export a good number of animals. Their most successful export was a homebred bull that was Reserve All-American back in the days when bulls were shown. He had a successful career in Japan including a Grand Champion daughter at the National Show. Besides showing, they also became a state leader in the milk production awards and topping the list for the highest BAA. There have been 92 Excellent and 261 Very Good Blukel Holsteins. Their greatest enjoyment from showing was the involvement of their families. From having their wives watching at the show ring, to their combined 9 children (all boys) showing in the junior shows and being around and helping during the open shows. Of the nine, Kevin remained with the Dairy and took over the operation and continued the tradition of breeding excellent cows. This allowed them to dedicate more time to the crops and spending more time with family as they became adults. Today they enjoy the privilege of being full-time grandpas and great grandpas while still overseeing their fields. As for the Holsteins, we have down-sized to a group
of heifers as Kevin begins to enjoy life being a grandpa. The Mitchell family of Winnebago purchased the Kunkel’s milking herd of 28 cows in January of 2011. Of these cows, 9 have classified Excellent, 17 Very Good, and 2 Good Plus. “We are extremely grateful to be honored by the Illinois Holstein Association and are humbled to join the list of names that have received this recognition in the past. We are also eternally grateful to those who have had a leadership role in the Junior Association and 4-H. Whether helping with the show ring or judging team, or just spending time with our children, you have truly enriched the lives of our families,” Kevin & Eugene Kunkel.
Fall 2013