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Family, tradition, and love for the Ayrshire breed are pillars of Maple-Dell Farm of Woodbine, Md. The generational farm owned and operated by David Patrick and his wife Ann, along with their two sons Mike and Denny, and a grandson, Derek was selected by the Klussendorf Association as this year’s recipient of the Robert “Whitey” McKown Master Breeder Award. Exceptional dairy cattle breeders are awarded the title, and embody attributes associated with the Klussendorf award including character, ability, endeavor, and sportsmanship. The Patrick family is distinguished for their success in breeding excellent Ayrshires and the positive image they’ve established for their family farm.

The dairy farm’s beginnings date back to 1928. However, it wasn’t until 1941 that David Patrick’s father bought him two Ayrshire calves which sparked a passion and love for the breed. Just 14 years later, the two calves had developed into a herd of 45 registered Ayrshires. The family now farms 1,200 acres, milks 165 cows, and raises over 160 heifers in the same location where it all began. The herd has been production testing for over 60 years and classified for 40, with the ultimate goal of getting productive cows with solid feet and legs and high scoring udder traits. Maple-Dell Farm earned the title of the Ayrshire Association’s Master Breeder in 2010 and 14 constructive breeder awards for the herd’s outstanding production and type. It’s undeniable their breeding program is an indisputable success, with their pre-fix Md-Maple-Dell.

The Maple-Dell herd has proven instrumental to the Ayrshire breed, setting a high bar for quality cattle. Over 100 cows in their herd have been classified as Excellent, with one cow scored at 95 points. Several cows with the Maple-Dell prefix have been awarded prestigious titles, with 17 All-American, 18 Reserve All-Americans, and multiple cows ranking on the Cow Performance Index (CPI) with high lifetime milk production.

Maple-Dell farm is widely recognized for producing high-profile cattle, the most recent family line being the “D’s”, leading with Maple-Dell Zorro Dafourth. The iconic cow was selected as Grand Champion at the 2006 All-American Dairy show and World Dairy Expo (WDE) Reserve Grand Champion. Following four generations, cows produced from the family line have ranked at high levels on the CPI cow list. The breeding line has also produced accomplished bulls seeing that three bulls from the family, Maple-Dell Modem Drew, Maple-Dell Modem Diego, and Maple-Dell O Dixon, have all had active A.I. usage.

Other infamous cows of the Maple-Dell herd include Maple-Dell Hi-Kick Sweet Pea, which represented the Ayrshire breed on the Purina Mills “Dairy Breeds of North America” painting by Bonnie Mohr. The cow continued on as Grand Champion at the Eastern National show in 1988 and is the dam of popular A.I. sire, Maple-Dell Soldier.

Success for the Patrick family goes far beyond the breeding pen. Showing Ayrshire cattle for over 75 years, their pre-fix has traveled as far as international shows, demonstrating the quality and excellence of the family’s herd. Maple-Dell Farm has championed many winning cows at various shows, including the All-American Dairy show for over 50 consecutive years, and winning the show’s Obie Snider award in 2006. The accolades continued onto the Maryland State Fair with 12 grand champions, and WDE with back-to-back Grand Champions, Maple-Dell Luby in 1981 and Ardrossan Kellogg Soft Eye in 1982. The awards at WDE continued with two Junior Champions, Maple-Dell BBK Shea in 2006 and Maple-Dell Diligent Gift in 2007. One of Maple-Dell’s cows made Ayrshire breed history, with Maple-Dell I.R.S. Sweetnine who won at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Canada. This same cow was a junior champion Ayrshire at WDE.

The Patrick family is familiar with service and leadership, being active members of the U.S. Ayrshire Breeders’ Association for several decades. The Patrick family has supported a multitude of associations, including the Maryland Purebred Dairy Cattle Association, Wills Fair Association, Maryland/Delaware Ayrshire Association, and All-American Dairy Show Board. Being recognized for this leadership in 2007, Maple-Dell farm was inducted to and now holds a place in the Maryland Governor’s Agricultural Hall of Fame. In 2020, National Dairy Shrine awarded Maple-Dell its highest honor for a cattle breeder with its Distinguished Cattle Breeder Award.

Beyond their farmland, the Patrick family is actively involved in their surrounding community by providing opportunities for youth in agriculture. Whether hosting fitting and judging workshops or leasing over 20 head of dairy cattle each year to 4-H members for show, the Patrick’s have inspired positive agricultural experiences among the younger generations.

Maple-Dell farm has driven success in the Ayrshire breed, having proven influential to the dairy community around them. Their motivation for producing quality Ayrshire cattle has resulted in astounding achievements for their herd and their combined love for dairy and family has undoubtedly earned Maple-Dell Farms the title of the 2024 McKown Master Breeder Award.

Past winners of the Robert “Whitey” McKown Master Breeder Award include: Spring Valley and Heath Jerseys, Westminster, Md., 2023; Palmyra Farm, Hagerstown, Md., 2022; Cutting Edge Brown Swiss, Copake, N.Y., 2021; (no winner named in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) Woodsmansee Holsteins, Preston, Conn., 2019; Ovaltop Holsteins, Richfield Springs, N.Y., 2018; Wendon Holsteins, Innisfail, Alberta, 2017; Ferme Jacobs Inc., Cap-Santé, Quebec, 2016; Walk-Era, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., 2015; Pond View Farm, Danville, Vt., 2014; Quality Holsteins, Vaughan, Ontario, 2013; Windsor Manor Farms, New Windsor, Md., 2012; Moondale, Monona, Iowa, 2011; Snider Homestead, New Enterprise, Pa., 2010; and Windy Knoll View, Mercersburg, Pa., 2009. No award was given in the pandemic year of 2020.

The Robert “Whitey” McKown Breeder Award was made possible by the family and friends of the 1997 Honorary Klussendorf honoree after his passing in 2009. McKown joined the Holstein World staff in 1956 and became widely respected as he traveled nationally and internationally, reporting on shows, sales, meetings, and other Holstein events. The 1987 National Dairy Shrine president also developed McKown Holsteins at Belleville, N.Y. He had great admiration for the farmer breeder.

The Klussendorf Memorial Association, considered by many as the Hall of Fame for dairy cattle exhibitors, began in 1937 in memory of Arthur B. Klussendorf, considered the outstanding dairy cattle showman of his time. Each year, the Klussendorf Association votes to add a new dairy cattle exhibitor to its rolls with lifetime membership for their cumulative works.