Judge Keving Doeberenier of West Salem, Ohio, and his associate judge Adam Hodgins of Kincardine, Ontario, sorted through many impressive classes Wednesday and Thursday as they chose their Grand Champion.
Five-Year-Old Premium Apple Crisp Lilly-Red owned by Butlerview Farm of Chebanse, Ill., walked away with the Grand Champion title for the second year in a row. Following in close second and capturing the Reserve Champion title was the Aged Cow Glaustar Calif All Out-Red ET, owned by Jay Ackley and Donald E. Simpson, both of East Liberty, Ohio.
Intermediate Champion honors were awarded to Cherry-Lor Robin-P-Red, a yearling in milk, shown by Phillip McCormick of Millmont, Pa. Wildweed Warrior Maui-Red, a Senior Three-Year-Old captured the Reserve Champion title. Maui-Red is owned by Elmvue Farm of Johnstown, N.Y., who later won the Premier Exhibitor award.
McCormick’s Robin caught Doeberiener’s eye in the Junior Show and earned Intermediate and Grand Champion honors of that show. Following her in the Intermediate Champion drive and as Reserve Grand champion was the first Senior Three-Year-Old, Glaustar Roll A Dice-Red, owned by Delaney, Kalli, and Cooper Barber of Dewitt, Iowa.
A Fall Calf stole the Heifer Show, snatching the Junior Champion title. This year’s Junior Champion was awarded to Milksource A Tierney-Red owned by Clarkevalley, Jeff and Jim Butler, and Pierre Boulet of Woodville, Ontario. Standing next to her was the winning Winter Calf Red-Violet The North-Red, owned by Hailey Abraham and Ella Spiniolas of Harvard, Ill. She earned Junior Champion honors of the Junior Show, while the winning Summer Yearling, Ocean-View Sweeter In-Red, earned the Reserve banner for Kailey Guilette of Algoma, Wis.
Premier Sire of the show was awarded to Farnear Altitude-Red-ET, while Premier Sire honors of the Heifer Show were given to Mr Blondin Warrior-Red-ET. Taking home the Premier Breeder title was Milksource Genetics, LLC., of Kaukauna, Wis. Betley Family Farms of Pulaski, Wis., snagged the Premier Breeder title in the Heifer Show.
Jenna Byrne is an associate editor for Hoard’s Dairyman. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2022, majoring in agricultural business with an emphasis in communications and marketing. She grew up on her family’s dairy farm near Neillsville, Wis.