2024 Herds of Excellence Announced
May 13 2025

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Fustead Holsteins in Wausau, Wisconsin is a first-time Herds of Excellence in 2024.

Each year, Holstein Association USA’s Herds of Excellence award celebrates Registered Holstein® herds meeting the highest standards for production and conformation, with homebred cattle. The four herds being honored have met rigorous qualifying criteria with their 2024 records.

“The 2024 Herds of Excellence are wonderful examples of all that is possible with the Registered Holstein cow,” says Holstein Association USA CEO Lindsey Worden. “From intentional breeding programs to carefully managed cow comfort, the recipients work hard each day to maximize the potential of their herds. Congratulations to this year’s recipients on their well-deserved honor!

The award is broken down into three divisions based on herd size, including the Large Herd Division (500+ cows), Medium Herd Division (100-499 cows), and Small Herd Division (10-99 cows).

This year’s honorees are:

Large Herd Size Division (500+ Cows)

  • Fustead Holsteins — The Fust Family, Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 72.4% homebred; AACS — 83.2 points
  • ME Production Averages — 32,829 M 1,489F 1,071P
  • First Year Honoree

Medium Herd Size Division (100-499 Cows)

  • Koepke Farms Inc. — The Koepke Family, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
  • 100.0% homebred; AACS — 84.1 points
  • ME Production Averages — 35,516M 1,508F 1,098M
  • Seven Year Honoree

Small Herd Size Division (10-99 Cows)

  • Ever-Green-View Holsteins, LLC — The Kestell Family, Waldo, Wisconsin
  • 99.1% homebred; AACS — 87.5 points
  • ME Production Averages — 39,695M 1,716F 1,246P
  • Fifteen Year Honoree

  • Kal-side Holsteins — The Oberholtzer Family, Hillsboro, Wisconsin
  • 97.1% homebred; AACS — 86.2 points
  • ME Production Averages — 35,570M 1,531F 1,151P
  • Two Year Honoree

The awards will be presented during Holstein Association USA’s 139th Annual Meeting in Saint Louis, Missouri. To register for National Holstein Convention or learn more, visit www.holsteinconvention.com.

Read more about the 2024 Herds of Excellence in the Spring 2025 issue of The Pulse. Select pages of The Pulse are available at www.holsteinusa.com under the Latest News tab.

About the Award

The Herd of Excellence designation honors Registered Holstein breeders who have developed Holsteins herds excelling in both production and classification scores. To be recognized with this accolade, herds must have classified within the last year and have an age-adjusted classification score (AACS) of 83 points or higher; have at least 70 percent of the herd homebred; and be enrolled in Holstein Association USA’s TriStarSM production records program.

Additionally, qualifying herds must meet the following production criteria:

  • Large Herd Division: 15 percent above breed average for ME for milk, fat and protein
  • Medium Herd Division: 20 percent above breed average ME for milk, fat and protein
  • Small Herd Division: 25 percent above breed average ME for milk, fat and protein

Congratulations to the 2024 Herds of Excellence!

Holstein Association USA, Inc., provides programs, products and services to dairy producers to enhance genetics and improve profitability — including animal identification and ear tags, genomic testing, mating programs, dairy records processing, classification, communication, consulting services, and Holstein semen.

The Association, headquartered in Brattleboro, VT., represents approximately 25,000 members throughout the United States. To learn more about Registered Holsteins® and the other exciting programs offered by the Holstein Association, visit www.holsteinusa.com, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.