Judge Keith Topp of Botkins, Ohio, emotionally stated this about his picks for Grand and Reserve Grand and Senior Champions: “I don’t know how you wouldn’t want to get out of bed and milk these two cows tomorrow.” In reference to the Grand Champion, Topp explained, “This five-year-old puts it all together for us today. She has a little more quality to her rear udder.”
Topp and his associate judge, Clark Morgan (also from Ohio), proudly chose Eichlers Md Blanche-ET to edge out the competition for Grand Champion. Blanche was exhibited by Peter Vail and Hillpoint Partners of Englewood, Fla. The winning Four-Year-Old Cow, Trilow Zeus Lala-ET, followed Blanche and took home Reserve Grand and Senior Champion honors. She is owned by Triston and Willow Upchurch and Susan Lee of Oxford, Wis.
Intermediate Champion honors went to Lazy M Greek Leda-EXP-ET, the winning Junior Two-Year-Old, exhibited by Lazy M Farm LLC – Michael and Herman Maier of Stitzer, Wis. Reserve Intermediate Champion was awarded to Lazy M Jekyll Arizona exhibited by Trent Wingert Jr. of Kent, Ill. Arizona placed second in the Junior Two-Year-Old class behind Leda.
Taking home Junior Champion was Hard Core Md Justice Rozly-EXP exhibited by Mike Gregory of Harvard, Ill. The Summer Yearling Heifer was followed by the Winter Heifer Calf for reserve. Reserve Junior Champion went to Heavenly Badger Lime owned by Mike Gregory of Anamosa, Iowa.
Junior Show highlights
Grand Champion of the Junior Show was awarded to the Senior Champion, Mar-Leigh Presto Juliet-EXP, exhibited by Mary Sweeney of Bergen, N.Y. Juliet followed behind the Open Show Reserve Grand Champion as the second-place four-year-old. The Intermediate Champion was also named Reserve Grand Champion. She is the winning Senior Three-Year-Old, Valley View Oakleigh 2390-EXP, owned by Brittany Crawley of Gravette, Ark.
Reserve Senior Champion went to a four-year-old, Heavenly Berry-ET, exhibited by Brett Ritschard of Heavenly Show Cattle of Monroe, Wis. Hard Core Premium Sprinkle-EXP claimed Reserve Intermediate Champion. She is a senior three-year-old exhibited by M. Alexander, M. Elliot, and J. Baynes of Bloomington, Ind.
Junior Champion of the Junior Show went to the winning Fall Yearling Heifer, Heavenly Applecrunch, exhibited by Jazmin Wingert of Kent, Ill. Reserve Junior Champion was Maunesha Creek Made In Mexico. She is a spring yearling heifer exhibited and shown by Mena Schmitt of Sun Prairie, Wis.
Premier Breeder of the show was Hard Core. Peter Vail and Mike and Linda Hellenbrand took home the banner for Premier Exhibitor. Premier Sire was Purple Idalee RR Zeuz-EXP-ET. Heavenly Show Cattle was Premier Breeder of the Heifer Show and Lazy M Farm, LLC – Michael and Herman Maier earned the title of Premier Exhibitor of the Heifer Show.
Sarah Thomas grew up in Pittsboro, N.C., showing and raising dairy heifers. Thomas attends Virginia Tech, majoring in dairy science with minors in agricultural economics, communication, and Spanish. On campus, she’s involved with Dairy Club, Sigma Alpha, and has been a member of the Virginia Tech dairy judging team. Thomas was the 2019 Hoard’s Dairyman summer editorial intern.
