16 minute read
A VISIT WITH IL MILKING SHORTHORN BREEDERS
from Late Spring 2022
A Visit with Illinois Milking Shorthorn Breeders
Illinois 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! 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 AllAmerican 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
are housed. In their inaugural show year, they exhibited 4 All-Americans, 3 Reserve All-Americans, 1 HM All-American with 9 nominations total. Since 2019, they’ve had 2 Junior Champions (including in 2021), 1 Reserve Junior Champion and 1 HM Junior Champion at World Dairy Expo and Grand Champion at NAILE in 2020. They also bred and still own the top Proven PPR bull (+111), Mikes-Dar Titan ET, who has sired several All-American nominated daughters. He also ranks #1 for Milk and Protein and #2 for Fat. His dam is Vinra CD Trilium (4E-92), who made over 150,000 lbs. milk in 9 lactations and was a 2x Reserve Junior All-American.
Between both farms, they currently have cow families that hold bloodlines going back to Stars, Palm Pixie, Cabernet, Rubens Roxy, Trilium, Christina, Clarification, Mix-P, Peri, Lady Luck, Zues Lala, Oakleigh, Caliente, O’Royce, O’Raely, Lime, Sahara, Stella 905, and many many more! Most importantly, they would like to dedicate this and everything to Dave & Betty Gregory. The next generations are living out their dreams and continue to build on solid cow families.
They would also like to thank Jerry King, Kingsdale Farm, and all of their partners for trusting them and trusting the process.
NEV’R IDLE FARM
George Isom Baxter moved to a farm in south-central Illinois near Newman in 1908. His son Stanley started the current milking shorthorn herd in 1935. Continuing the herd was Stanley’s son, George, and in the 1950s milked up to 25 head . Today, the next two generations manage the farm: George’s son Mark, and Mark’s son, Matt, and Matt’s wife, Kristen. They have a cow-calf operation and milk their top show animals during show season. “Our breeding philosophy is to raise the best show quality animals and also excellent meat quality when processed with our feeder calves,” said Matt. The Baxter’s favorite cow family is the Fairy’s Maid family. “My grandpa had almost a 100 animals from that family before he retired and we have continued with many more,” commented Matt. For the last 20 years since Matt has been involved, he has aimed for the best framed animals to continue building and breeding high quality show animals. And this philosophy has paid dividends. Numerous animals from the Fairy’s Maid family have been show winners at the state and national level. In 2017, B&B Fairy’s Magic, sired by Rockstar, was named Reserve All-American Winter Yearling. The following year, she was Intermediate and Reserve Grand Champion at the Illinois State Fair, and placed second at World Dairy Expo, earning her another Reserve All-American title. In 2019, she earned yet another All-American Nomination after placing 4th at Expo and winning the Illinois State Fair. After an abbreviated show season in 2020, Magic still came away with an HM All-American title as well as a max score.
One of Magic’s most promising daughters is Nevr Idle TikTok, sired by Triple Crown. She was HM Junior Champion at Louisville in and was Nominated All-American Winter Yearling in 2021. There are two other daughters and one granddaughter of Magic as well on the farm.
TRIPLE S GENETICS
Triple S Genetics started in 2001 as a 4-H project for Samantha, Savannah, Sadie, and Darren Ropp of Strawn. Originally, they started with Jerseys and in 2006, they branched out into the Milking Shorthorn breed with the help of George and Mike Halpin. When Samantha was in college and dating Josh Fairbanks, they also become involved with Holsteins and Red & Whites. In 2016, Samantha and Josh were married and the Fairholm prefix was created. In May 2021, Josh and Samantha welcomed their first child, Knox. In total, there are 25 cows in the milking herd. The cows are milked in Iowa at Josh's aunt and uncle’s, Doug and Jody Fairbanks, Wapsi-Ana Dairy. There are currently four Milking Shorthorns consisting of 3 VG 2-year-olds and one max score 4-year-old Triple S Lad Laidbacknlazy-EXP. “Our goal with the Milking Shorthorns is showing, so we try to select bulls from cow families that have been successful in the show ring. This is also true for the Jersey, Holstein, and Red & Whites, however we also use genomics to help make those breeding decisions as well,” commented Samantha.
Halpins America was Triple S’s very first taste of success in the show ring. In 2006, she was Junior Champion of the Illinois State Fair Junior Show and went on to be 4th in the Open Show and 1st Junior at Madison. Since then, they have had numerous All-American nominations with 2021 being a highlight: 6 total nominations including 2 Reserve All-Americans, and the Unanimous All-American Junior Best 3 Females.
The entire Triple-S Milking Shorthorn herd except for the one purchased animal goes back to Halpins Angel. She had four daughters, three of which they owned or showed.
One of the current favorites is Triple S Lad Laidbacknlazy-EXP (EX-92 93-MS), who was their very first Grand Champion at Illinois State Fair and is a 2x All-American Nominee who is just fresh again with her 4th calf.
As for the other breeds they are working with, cow families include: Silvermaple Damion Camomile (EX-95); All-American Ms-Aol Cntndr Revive-Red (EX-94); Big Guns Jamacia Vanilla (EX-95); and, Lochdale Shaquille Missy-Red (EX-93).
Sam, Darren, Josh and Knox with their first Illinois State Fair Grand Champion, Triple S Lad Laidbacknlazy-EXP.
HALPINS RUTHANNE 4E-94 95-MS
Res Grand Champ, Winter Nat’l ‘14 & Best Udder, WDE ‘14 Granddaughter by Petrone sells
ELRON MEGADEATH WAVELAND-EXP EX-94
Reserve Grand Champion, WDE ‘17 Her daughter by De-Man-P sells
TRILOW ZEUS LALA 2E-94
Una. All-American 4-Year-Old ‘19 Choice of 2 dtrs by Bentley & MD Justice & Cyride embryos INNISFAIL-WO MEGA LADY LUCK EX-90
Granddaughters and great-granddaughters sell by Petrone, Marshas Money and Bender
HENKESEEN ROYALTY REASON VG-88
Unanimous All-American Junior 2-Year-Old ‘21 Selling a Choice by Wildside & Fall Calf Mat Sister by CyRide
CORSTAR DEUCE MIX P-EXP-TW 3E-94
All-American Junior 3-Year-Old ‘16 Selling her Wildside daughter GIN-VAL LOGIC LAURETTA EX-90 90-MS
Una. All-American & Intermediate Champ, WDE ‘21 Embryos sell by Presto
LYNMARK OUTLAW FLEECE 5E-94
Grand Champ, Canadian Nat’l ‘12 & Reserves Grand ‘13 Granddaughter by Bling sells
HEAVENLY BADGERS LIME EX-91
Una. All-American ‘19 & Res. All-American Sr 3-Year-Old ‘21 Potential 6th Gen All-American Transformation dtr sells
NATIONAL CONVENTION SALE COMMITTEE
Chair: Darren Ropp 815-848-3424 Co-Chair: Mike Halpin 815-228-0777 Dakota Arthur 405-238-4318 Matt Borchardt 815-703-7638 Greg Clark 814-602-7101 Keith Fisher 814-932-3524 George Halpin 815-228-2631 Michelle Upchurch 530-720-2441
NATIONAL CONVENTION SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 Baxter Farm Tour THURSDAY, JUNE 23 National Junior Show FRIDAY, JUNE 24 National Junior & Adult Meetings Banquet SATURDAY, JUNE 25 National Convention Sale
SPECIAL DONATION
John & Kristin Anderson are donating a January ‘21 Triple Crown heifer backed by 2 Excellent dams and Innisfail breeding to the American Milking Shorthorn Society!
Follow along on Facebook and the AMSS website for more Convention Details!
SHOWS
Jun 2-4 Alberta Dairy Congress, Rimbey, AB, Cowsmo
Coverage
Jun 18 Maryland Jersey Field Day, Frederick, MD,
Cowsmo Coverage
Jun 16-18 Minnesota State Shows, Perham, MN, Cowsmo
Coverage
Jun 25 Maryland Brown Swiss Invitational Show, Frederick, MD, Cowsmo Coverage Jul 8 Illinois Holstein Championship Show, Lincoln, IL,
Cowsmo Coverage
Jul 9 Wisconsin State Brown Swiss Show, Seymour, WI Jul 10-13 New England Holstein Summer Show, Hopkinton, NH Jul 16 CT/RI Holstein State Show, Goshen, CT Jul 21-22 Ontario Summer Show, Lindsay, ON, Cowsmo
Coverage
Jul 23 Tennessee State Holstein Show, Lebanon, TN,
Cowsmo Coverage
Jul 23 Western PA Championship Show, Meadville, PA Jul 24 NY Summer Ayrshire Spectacular, Syracuse, NY Jul 26 Midwest Showcase Holstein Show, Decorah, IA,
Cowsmo Coverage
Jul 27 Eastern NY Summer Jersey Show, Greenwich, NY,
Cowsmo Coverage
Jul 28 Tri-County Holstein Show, Greenwich, NY,
Cowsmo Coverage
Jul 29-30 Mid-East Summer National Holstein Show, Columbus, OH, Mike Duckett, WI, Cowsmo
Coverage
Aug 4-6 Virginia Summer Showdown, Harrisonburg, VA,
Cowsmo Coverage
Aug 10-14 The Guernsey Gold Showcase, Cortland, NY Aug 12-13 Iowa State Junior & Open Holstein Shows, Des Moines, IA, Cowsmo Coverage Aug 17 NJ State Holstein Show, Lambertville, NJ,
Cowsmo Coverage
Aug 18 Eastern Ontario Invitational Show, Spencerville, ON; Judge Glenn Barkey, ON Aug 25-26 Wisconsin Championship Shows, Madison, WI,
Cowsmo Coverage
Aug 23-27 Western Canadian Classic, Brandon, MB, Cowsmo
Coverage
Aug 24-25 Supreme Dairy Show, St. Hyacinthe, QC, Cowsmo
Coverage
Aug 31 Midwest Fall National Holstein Show, St. Paul, MN, Cowsmo Coverage Sep 14 Northeast Fall National Holstein Show, West Springfield, MN, Cowsmo Coverage Sep 20-21 Eastern Fall National Holstein Show, Harrisburg, PA, Cowsmo Coverage Oct 2-7 World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI, Cowsmo
Coverage
Oct 13 Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec Championship Show; Judge Steve Fraser, ON Oct 20-22 Westerner Dairy Showcase, Red Deer, AB,
Cowsmo Coverage
Oct 28-29 Southwestern National Brown Swiss Show, Stillwater, OK Nov 4-13 100th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto, ON,
Cowsmo Coverage
Nov 8 Mid-East Fall National Holstein Show, Louisville, KY, Cowsmo Coverage
SALES
Jun 2 Legacy of Legends Sale, Tulare, CA Jun 11 Summer Selections II, Duckett Holsteins, Rudolph, WI, Managed by The Alliance of Hill & Abbott Jun 18 NY Summer Sale, Cortland, NY, Managed by The Alliance of Hill & Abbott Jun 23 Summer Spectacular Online Sale, Parallel Genetics, East Garafraxa, ON, Managed by Walker Dairy Sales Jun 25 National Jersey Sale, Portland, OR, Managed by MD Hillbrook Sales & Service Jun 30 Jolyvie Herd Sale, Saint-Janvier-de-Joly, QC, Managed by Encans Sélect Gène Jul 9 Generations of Excellence at Silver Spring, Syracuse, NY, Managed by Fraley Auction Service Jul 11 Maryland State Sale ‘A Virtual Experience’, Union Bridge, MD, Managed by MD-Hillbrook Aug 4 Bright Futures 6 Sale, Thurmont, MD, Managed by The Alliance of Hill & Abbott Sep 9 Showtime at Landis Sale, Leola, PA, Managed by MD-Hillbrook Sales & Service Aug 18 The Best of Jacobs, Cap Sante, QC, Managed by Encans Boulet Inc. Oct 6 World Classic Holstein Sale, Madison, WI
EVENTS & MEETINGS
Jun 7-10 National Brown Swiss Convention, Loveland, CO Jun 21-24 American Guernsey Association National Convention, Wooster, OH Jun 21-25 American Milking Shorthorn Society National Convention, Champaign, IL Jun 22-23 Holstein Ontario’s 40th Anniversary, Celebration Wellington County, ON Jun 22-25 American Jersey Cattle Club Annual Meeting, Portland, OR Jun 27-Jul 1 Holstein Association USA National Convention, Sioux Falls, SD Jun 28-Jul 2 National Ayrshire Convention, Murfreesboro, TN Jul 14 Alberta Holstein Branch Picnic, Rimbey, AB Jul 16 Holstein Quebec Branch Picnic, Hosted by Ferme Valrick, Saint-Louis sur Richelieu, QC Aug 9 Genetic Evaluation Release Oct 2-7 World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI Nov 4-13 100th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto, ON Dec 6 Genetic Evaluation Release
Brown Heaven Farm Budjon Farms Duckett Holsteins Dymentholm Genetics Fairmont Farm Inc. Ferme Blondin Ferme Jacobs Ferme Petitclerc Ferme Rolandale Golden Oaks Farm Goldenflo Holsteins Great Northern Land & Cattle Kozak Holsteins Lone Pine Jerseys Ltd. Lovholm Holsteins Maple-Leigh Futures MD-Hillbrook Milksource Genetics LLC Mosnang Holsteins Musquie Valley Farms Oakfield Corners Olmar Farms Palmyra Farm Pappys Farms Pineland Farms Pine-Tree Dairy Quality Holsteins Ltd. Rietveld Dairies Ltd. Robella Holsteins Siemers Holsteins Skycrest Holsteins Tiger Lily Holsteins Triple-T Holsteins Trent Valley Unique Valleystream Genetics Valiant Dairy Genetics Wadeland Dairy Westcoast Holsteins
COWSMO DESIGNED WEBSITES
Denier Genetics - deniergenetics.com Lenkaitis Holsteins - lenkaitisholsteins.com Oakfield Corners - oakfieldcornersdairy.com Palmyra Farm - palmyrafarm.net Revolution Genetics - revolutiongen.com
SALE MANAGERS
Encans Boulet Inc. - encansboulet.com Unique Designs & Marketing - uniquedesignsandmarketing.com Walker Dairy Sales - walkerdairysales.com
WEBSITES
Brigeen Farms - brigeenfarms.com Budjon Farms - budjon.com Fairmont Farm - fairmontfarminc.com Ferme Blondin - fermeblondin.com Great Northern - greatnorthernsalesarena.com Milk Source Genetics - milksource.com Mosnang Holsteins - mosnang.com Peter Vail & Partners - petervailandpartners.com
AG3 ...........................IFC, 19 Andew Hetke Photography .......... 39 Atlantic Dairy Promotions ........... 30 Balchem ........................... 4 Bos Genetics ....................... 35 CLF .............................. 31 Cybil Fisher Photography ............ 21 Duckett Holsteins .................. 12 Ella Wright Photography ............ 47 Generations of Excellence at Silver Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Genervations ...................... 27 Golden Link ....................... 15 Hays Genetics ...................... 21 Henkeseen Milking Shorthorns ....... 45 Kings Ransom ..................... 18 Kueffner Holsteins & Jerseys ......... 22 Lawtons .......................... 17 Misty Meadow ...................... 2 National Holstein Convention Sale ..... 1 National Milking Shorthorn Convention Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Patty Jones ........................ 16 Pietersma .........................IBC Queens-Manor ..................... 23 Select Sires ......................... 5 Semex ............................ 11 Vicky Fletcher ...................... 47 Waverly Farm Jerseys ............... 48 Woodcrest ........................ 44
OFFICIAL RING PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE ROYAL DAIRY SHOWS Ella Wright Photography LIVESTOCK & COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO & GRAPHIC DESIGN
Traditional side portraits plus social media photos or videos, pasture shots and natural images
facebook.com/ellawrightphotography instagram:@ellawrightphotography Ella Wright: [t] 403.507.1330 [e] photos@ellawright.com [w] ellawright.com
Advertiser Rates & Deadlines
2022 ADVERTISING DEADLINES: SUMMER 2022 JUN 1 Space Reservation // JUN 8 Camera-Ready Deadline 2022 BREEDER ADVERTISING RATES: FULL PAGE:
1x $1400 USD // 1x $1800 CDN BUSINESS CARD:
$300 USD Yearly // $390 CDN Yearly *Contact us for Commercial & Sale Manager Advertising Rates!
2022 DIGITAL RATES:
Premium digital banner spots are offered to contract advertisers on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Artwork for monthly banners can be changed 1X/month LARGE SQUARE BANNER:
$150 / week · $250 / 2 weeks · $750 / 3 months $1250 / 6 months · $1800 / 12 months Multi-week banner advertisers will be included in the Digital Weekly Newsletter, depending on length of contract. Sponsored Facebook posts negotiated on an individual basis. Contact us for more details. Call us to discuss a personalized Digital & Print Marketing Plan!
Logo, flyer and ad design always available for all of your marketing needs! Now offering show signs as well! Contact us for rates and specials.
MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR PORTFOLIO OF WORK ON OUR WEBSITE & FACEBOOK PAGE!
