A Visit with Illinois Milking Shorthorn Breeders
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llinois will host the National Milking Shorthorn Convention this coming month and we took the opportunity to visit with several breeders throughout the state to learn more about their individual operations and breeding programs. HALPIN FARMS Four generations of the Halpin family own and operate the farm, located in Cullom. William and Julia were married in 1938 and received two bred heifers as a wedding present, starting the Milking Shorthorn tradition on the farm. Today, George, along with his children Mike and Amy, and grandkids (the 4th generation) operate the farm. The operation consists of 100 head milked at two local dairies - Mackinson Dairy and Erdman Dairy - with the calves, heifers and dry cows housed at the home farm. Halpins also crop an extensive amount of acres, keeping the family busy year-round. The breeding philosophy is straightforward - breed for type and longevity while emphasizing quality feet and legs and superior udders. There are a few main cow families that have excelled over the years. Halpins Mona-EXP (EX-91) is an Othello daughter
2019 was just one of many banner years for the Halpin family at the Illinois State Fair!
Halpins Mona II (2E-92), Reserve Grand Champion at World Dairy Expo in 2013. 40 « COWSMOPOLITAN Late Spring 2022
that was All-American Senior 2-YearOld and Reserve Grand Champion of the International Junior Show in 2002, and Reserve All-American and Reserve Intermediate Champion of the Open Show in 2003. Mona also was Grand Champion at Harrisburg and Louisville during those years. Numerous generations of “Monas” have gone on to compete in the showring, including her daughter Melody (EX-93) who was Reserve Grand Champion at Harrisburg and All-American 4-YearOld in 2008. Her daughter, Mona II (2E92), followed in her dam and grandam’s steps, earning banners at Harrisburg and Louisville and Reserve Grand Champion honors at Expo in 2013. Mona II is owned with Matt Mackinson. Another winning family is that of Halpins Ruthanne (2E-94). Ruthanne was Reserve Grand Champion at Louisville in 2014 and named Best Udder of the International Milking Shorthorn Show that year. She was also All-American 4-Year-Old in 2013 after winning Madison and named HM Grand Champion behind Mona II. Her son by Mudslinger, Halpins Muddy Rockstar, has been a very popular type sire over the last five years and was named Premier Sire of the Heifer Show at Madison in 2021. With the impressive families they are working with, it’s no surprise the Halpins have exhibited a Grand Champion four times both at Harrisburg and Louisville and have four Reserve Grand Champion banners from Madison, and countless championships from Illinois State Fair. They have earned over 50 All-American titles and 20 Reserve All-Americans. In 2021, they had the HM All-American Junior Best 3 group along with 4 Junior All-
Mikes-Dar exhibited the Junior and Reserve Junior Champion at the 2019 International Milking Shorthorn Show.
American Nominations including Junior All-American Junior 2-Year-Old, Halpins Lapdog Misfit, owned by Mike’s sons Colt and Owen. MIKES-DAR FARM & DREAM CHASER GENETICS Dave and Betty Gregory bought their current farm in Harvard in 1986. The farm now has three generations involved - Dave & Betty, their sons Mike & Darrin, and Mike’s children, Colton & Danielle. The farm milks 65 cows. The farm started out being primarily registered Red & White Holsteins. Tim Baumgartner was their key mentor (and still is to this current day) on getting involved with type and showing competitively. The farm has had Red & White All-Americans in all classes. In 2005, Dave sent Mike to purchase their first Milking Shorthorn. Mike and Dave bought a just fresh 2-year-old and her polled calf, who they thought had potential down the road. That cow was North Star Now You See Stars (2E-95), who produced over 115,000 lbs milk, 4,856 lbs fat, and 3,406 lbs protein. She became the foundation cow and helped grow the herd to what it is today. The breeding philosophy is strongly based around type and strong milking components. Darrin married Katie Agnew of Mapleton Valley Farm, in 2018, and will move to Wisconsin to be apart of their herd. Mike Gregory and his significant other, Michelle Upchurch, started their own farm in 2021, Dream Chaser Genetics. Mike bought a 15 acre farm in Hebron, 15 minutes from the home farm. Here, MikeDar Farm’s and Dream Chaser Genetic’s show cows, heifers and marketable bulls
Dream Chaser Genetics has followed suit, claiming Junior Champion honors at Expo in 2021.
