Judge Mike Duckett of Rudolph, Wis., alongside his associate Kevin McGriskin, of Ontario, Canada, awarded the pair of Aged Cows with top honors in the International Jersey Show. Stoney Point Joel Bailey, owned by Vierra Dairy Farms of Hilmar, Calif., was Senior Champion and Grand Champion. River Valley Colton Juliette-ET, shown by Vierra Dairy Farms of Hilmar, Calif., followed, being named Reserve Senior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. Vierra Dairy rounded out the trio of champions with Bri-Lin Valson Spritz, the lifetime production cow with a history of success on the shavings, receiving the title of Honorable Mention Senior and Grand Champion.
OEH-My Victrous Parade exhibited by Vierra Dairy Farms, of Hilmar, Calif., was named Intermediate Champion. Reserve Intermediate Champion was Lone Pine Touchdown Booster, owned by Pierre Boulet and Mike Berry, of Montmagny, Quebec.
Similar to the Open Show, judges Duckett and McGriskin kept the senior champions together for Grand and Reserve Champion in the Junior Show. Rolling Spring Premier Lucille-ET, shown by Evan Jauquet, of Pulaski, Wis., was named Senior Champion and Grand Champion of the Junior Show. To follow this, Lone Pine Nighttrain Lula, shown by Mason Ziemba and Amy Hippen, of Durhamville, N.Y., was honored with the title of Reserve Senior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion.
Among the young cows of the Junior Show, Nor-Bert Andreas Dime, owned by Dalton, Dillon and Breanne Freeman of Bremen, Ind., was Intermediate Champion. Arethusa Gentry Chevelle-ET, owned by Megan Moede, of Algoma, Wis., was named Reserve Intermediate Champion.
The Jersey heifers graced the shavings on Monday morning, and two junior-owned yearlings caught the judges’ eyes. “I’m betting this heifer is going to be special,” said Duckett as he selected his champion. Miss Gayles Grace-ET, shown by Kendall Thomas, of North Lewisburg, Ohio, was named Junior Champion of the Junior and Open Shows. Likewise, DKG Gentry Cream, owned by Blake Greiwe, of Quincy, Ohio, was named Reserve Junior Champion of the Junior and Open Shows.
After more than 400 head were placed, the results showed Misty Meadow Dairy of Tillamook, Ore., taking home Premier Breeder and Vierra Dairy Farm of Hilmar, Calif., the Premier Exhibitor. Vierra Dairy also took home Premier Exhibitor of the Heifer Show. Madison Fisher of Frostburg, Md., was awarded Premier Breeder of the Heifer Show.
Madison Sifford was the 2023 Hoard’s Dairyman Editorial Intern. She is a student at Virginia Tech majoring in dairy science and communications. Madison grew up in North Carolina before moving with her parents and sisters to Goldvein, Va. Her family raises Holsteins on their Plessed-Rose Dairy, and they also have a small Hereford cow-calf operation.
