District Show Premier Breeder & Exhibitor Features

It’s often heard at shows from announcers on what an honor it is to receive Premier Breeder or Exhibitor of a show. These awards are a testament to the time and devotion put into breeding and developing a herd of cows and being able to reap those successes at shows. Each farm or breeder who received this honor this year was asked to share their breeding goals and information about their herd. Check out these mini-profiles on these outstanding breeders and exhibitors.

Family Members: Jake, Jade & Brantley Kruschke Location: New Richmond, Wis. Number of cows: 95 RHA: 25,389 BAA: 113.4 (69 EX, 32 VG) Number Shown: 8 with 7 homebred Sires used: Doorman, Doc, Tatoo, Crushabull, Sidekick, Gold Chip, Warrior, Lambda, Unix, Hancock, Thunderstorm, and Showtime Breeding philosophy: We try to breed for balanced framed cows with wide square rumps, a strong front end, high wide rear udders and walk on a functional set of feet and legs. We have put less emphasis on stature recently and more emphasis on breeding medium sized cows with fewer faults that are more functional. Comment on cows: Crisdhome Atw Doctorcherry is a cow we have shown in the past with success as she was Senior and Reserve Grand Champion at the District 1 Show in 2019. Crisdhome Dback Ruby-Red is a young cow we’re excited about. She’s a Junior 3-Year-Old that was just three weeks fresh at the show. Additionally Crisdhome Midnight Metallica is a Senior 3-Year-Old that has been a class winner for us back to back years in milking form.

Family Members: Don and Billie Dittrich, Jordon, Korlen, Barbara, Donniejo, Cecelia, Eddie, and William Dittrich Location: Alma, Wis. Number of cows: 100 Number Shown: 7 with 4 homebred Sires used: Alleyoop, Lambeau, Revere-Red, Doc, Warrior and Hanans Breeding philosophy: Breeding for body composite and rear udder height and legs. Goals are to keep improving genetics and to have that champion cow. The herd started out 40 years ago as a grade herd and now the herd is over 90% registered. Comment on cows: Dittrich Dempsey Pepsey was 2nd and 1st junior aged cow. JKB-Dittrich Airlift Breeze was 4th in the 5-year-old class and 2nd junior. She was also Reserve Champion Cow at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair this year. Willows Edge Add Massager placed fourth in the Junior 2-year-old class. Kurthhaven Barcardi Undenied placed 5th in the Senior 2-year-old class. Our kids take great pride in showing animals that they have ownership in. They work very hard with the animals year-round. Our herd has had numerous champions at the county fair. We take pride in showing animals as a project from calf to cow. Pepsi, the aged cow, our son showed at the Buffalo County Fair as a Farm Bureau Calf Grant project and now, nine years later, he still takes pride in showing her. Along with showing at the District 2 Show we have shown at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair and the Central Wisconsin State Fair along with the Buffalo County Fair. Our goal is to have our children show at the State Fair.

Family Members: Reggie, Krysty, Demi, Elliot, & Alayah Kamps Location: Darlington, Wis. Number of cows: 30 RHA: 24,500 BAA: 112 Number Shown: 19 with 16 homebred Sires used: Delta Lambda, Tattoo, Altitude, Cheerful, Luxor, Moovin, Thunderstorm, Summerfest, & Showtime Management Goals: We breed for high type and red calves as everyone seems to want a red calf around spring time for sale selections. Each animal is mated individually based on her strengths and weaknesses. We are also putting in embryos from Apple B and putting her daughters on IVF where we’ve had interest. Our goal is to breed for heifers with great eye appeal but also longevity and milk production. We are always keeping our eye open for heifers in spring sales that have a promising pedigree and look like something that our program could help develop. We focus on making show calves but at the end of the day they have to make great cows. We look forward to developing our young herd as our oldest Apple B daughter just showed as a young 4 year old this year -Defiant x Apple B. Comments on Animals Exhibited at the Show: Kamps-Rx Appleb Abercrombie-ET VG-86, Denver x Apple B (2nd); Kamps-Rx Appleb Alivu-Red-ET VG-88, Ammo x Apple B (1st, Grand of JR Show, Reserve Intermediate Champ); Kamps-Rx Appleb Allison-ET VG-88, Undenied x Apple B (4th); Kamps-Rx Appleb Almond-ET EX-90, Raptor x Apple B (4th); Kamps-Rx Appleb Adele-ET EX-90, Diamondback x Apple B (5th); Kamps-Rx Appleb Ali-Red-ET EX-90, Defiant x Apple B (6th). We also had Junior Champ, Reserve Junior Champion & Honorable Mention of the heifer show.

Family Members: Jay, Heather, Mason, Carter & Evan Jauquet Location: Pulaski, Wis. Number of cows: 666 RHA: 32,942 BAA: 107.9 Average Classification Score: 86.6 (Age Adjusted) Number Shown: 8 Sires being used: Delta Lambda, Doral-Red, Rompen-Red, AltitudeRed, Parker, On Duty, Hancock Breeding philosphies: We breed for good udders, functional feet & legs, more strength than stature, low SCS, high DPR and as much high component milk as we can get. Comments on cows: Synergy Anaheim Magnolia - EX-94 2E, 186,550 LTD, Anaheim x Fustead McCutchen Margo EX-91 x Fustead Goldwyn Mission EX-91 2E; Magnolia was 1st place Production Cow, Grand Champion of the Junior Show and Res Grand Champion of the Open Show. She has been Reserve Grand Champion at District 7 3 times. Synergy Ballisto Swirl - EX-92, 195,700 LTD, Ballisto x Synergy Mogul Salma EX-94 2Ex Synergy Domain Sally VG-86; Swirl was 2nd place Production Cow. Synergy Armani Smolder - EX-91, Armani x Synergy Always Smokin-Red EX-90 2E x Synergy Absolute Salute-Red VG-88; Smolder was 2nd place Aged Cow and HM Senior Champion of the Junior Show. Synergy Smitten-Red - VG-87 Unstopabull x Synergy Always Smokin-Red EX-90 2E x Synergy Absolute Salute-Red VG-88; Smitten was 1st place Junior 3-year-old and HM Intermediate Champion of the Junior Show.

Family Members: Mike and Valerie Holschbach Family, Herdsperson - Jessica Wigand and Summer Intern - Sarah Hagenow Location: Baraboo, Wis. Number of cows: 30 RHA: 28,893 Number Shown: 10 with 8 homebred Sires being used: Thunderstorm, Summerfest, Chief, AnalystRed, Journey-Red Breeding philosphies: Since our herd dispersal, we have focused on our IVF and live calf programs, therefore working with only a handful of homebred cows. Our philosophy remains the same - Breeding our best better. Comments on cows: Heatherstone Regal-Red EX-91, Senior & Reserve Grand, 2X AA nominee; her dam, Rhinestone-Red EX-94, is a 4X AA nominee. Heatherstone Go For Gold VG 88 at 2Y, Reserve Senior Champion; from 4 Generations of EX & GMDs with 40,000 lbs. of milk and all nominated AA. Heatherstone Golden Touch, 1st Senior 2-Year-Old, HM Intermediate Champion, 3rd Senior 2-Year-Old at Midwest Spring Show 2022; Artist sister to Go For Gold.

Family Members: Kevin & Heidi Endres with the help on the farm from Tyler and Mikayla Location: Reedsburg, Wis. Number of cows: 46 RHA: 22,500 BAA: 110.8 Average Score: 89.5 points Number Shown: 11 head with 9 homebred Sires being used: Ropen Red, Show Time, Artist and Doorman Breeding philosphies: Type has always been our breeding philosophy. Our herd goal is to produce quality show animals for all levels of competitions. Comments on cows: KnH Endres Jacobo Oh Yeah, VG-88 3Y, 3rd in class; she is a 6th generation homebred in the “O family”. KnH Endres Artist Onyx (daughter of Oh Yeah), 5th fall calf. KnH Endres Defiant Oakley, EX-91, 2nd aged cow; she is a 5th generation homebred from the “O family”. KnH Endres Awesome Frany, EX-90, 2nd 5-Year-Old. KnH Endres Absolute Pharaoh-Red, VG-88, 3rd aged cow; she is a 3rd generation homebred.

Family Members: Jeff and Kate Hendrickson, Brooks and Riley Hendrickson, & Emma Hendrickson Location: Belleville, Wis. RHA: 29,000 BAA:112.6 Number Shown: 10 Sires used: Luster P, Dark Lustrous, Hancock, Hanans, Showtime, Tattoo, Traffic, and Jeffrey-Way Sporty Breeding philosphies: We breed for high scoring, high producing cows that last a long time while emphasizing udders and feet and legs. Comments on cows: Anchoring the show string was Reserve Intermediate Champion Jeffrey-Way Tavor, last year‘s nomination for All-American Summer Yearling and Junior AllAmerican Summer Yearling, along with Jeffrey-Way Bradnick Tulla, EX-92, 2nd place aged cow. Jeffrey-Way Addison Travolta, VG-86, 2nd Senior 2-Year-Old, and third place 4-YearOld Jeffrey-Way Hypnotic Gracie, EX-92.

Family Members: Dave, Nina, Tessa, and Stella Schmocker Location: Whitewater, Wis. Number of cows: 6 RHA: 23,206 BAA: 114.1 Average Classification Score: 91.6 Number Shown: 10 Sires used: Chief, Thunderstorm, & Thunderstruck. Breeding philosphies: Breed for sound, well balanced cows with great udders. All heifers are bred and owned. Comments on cows: Rolling Stone EX-95 is always our homebred favorite, with six calves under her belt, she is always nice to have at the show or at home! Duckett Denver Olivia we purchased last year at the Duckett Sale, we love her wide balanced rear udder, straight lines, and her beautiful foot and leg - her pedigree packs a punch straight out of the Knoundale Jasmine EX-96 family. Milksource Goldwn Trance-ET is coming nicely into herself, she’s a VG-87 2Y Goldwyn from Strans-Jen-D Tequila EX-96. The fourth cow we brought to the show was CowPalace Furious 3595, aka Sunny, EX-92 who hails from the Roxy Family, a 4-year-old we acquired this spring. Family Members: Brandon, Shianne, Bryleigh, Ryker, Ledger and Corbin Ferry Location: Hilbert, Wis. Number of cows: 80 RHA: 25,500M BAA: 112.8 Number Shown: 10, 6 were homebred Sires being used: Croteau Lesperron Unix, Walnutlawn Sidekick, Bons-Holsteins Boost, Mr. Blondin Warrior-Red, TrentWay JS Ronald, OCD Thunderstruck, Black Silver Crush Stan Breeding Philosophies: We breed for type, selecting bulls with sire stacks that complement each other while focusing on big front-ended cows with dairy strength, high quality udders, and sound feet and legs. Comments on cows: Jo-Clar Outside Reese EX-94 (Outside), 1st & BU 150,000 lb. Cow; Fer-Crest Bradell Zara EX-92 (Bradell), 1st & BU 5-Year-Old, Senior Champion, Grand Champion, BU of Show, Champion B&O of Show; Fer-Crest Boomerang (Sidekick), 1st & BU Junior 2-Year-Old, Reserve Intermediate Champion; Fer-Crest Call the Police (Denver), 2nd Junior 3-Year-Old.

Family Members: Gene, Janet, Brandon, Shawn & Seth Nehls and Emma Buska Location: Hustisford, Wis. Number of cows: 200 (140 Holsteins) RHA: 26,627 BAA: 111.6 Number Shown: 6, all homebred Sires being used: Hancock, Lambda, Chief, Cadillac, Alpha, Alligator, Sidekick, Luster P Breeding Philosophies: We try to breed for easy care, trouble free, profitable cows that can excel in both the show ring and bulk tank. Comments on cows: Nehls-Valley Union Lookout, 1st 5-Year-Old; EX-94, 10th generation excellent from Valiant Lovella Family. Nehls-Valley Hancock Fidgit, 1st Junior 2-Year-Old, Reserve Intermediate Champion; VG-89 at 2-00, from Blackstar Raven Family. Nehls-Valley Lil Love-Red, 2nd Junior 3-Year-Old; EX-92 sired by Dopler x EX-93 Avalanche x EX-93 Redburst. Nehls-Valley Sidekick Sisco, 1st Junior 3-Year-Old; EX-91, Debutante Rae Family. Nehls-Valley Imac Secret , 3rd 4-Year-Old; EX-93.