REFLECTIONS OF HOLSTEIN WORLD ALL-AMERICAN CONTESTS

Recollections of the All-American Contests

This first issue of 2022 kicks off our year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the All-American Holstein contest. In 1921, the Holstein-Friesian World featured a Show Cow of the Year selection after the show season completed. This proved so popular that Maurice Prescott, HWF editor, decided to put together a contest to name the top animal in each age class compiled from all the shows that year. In 1922, there was a nominating and selection committee of one – W. S. Moscrip, who had judged a number of the big shows that year. These post-season awards were a big hit with the breeders, and the scope of the contest was expanded the next year with four judges and the HWF Editor making up the committee. In 1939, the structure was established that looks remarkably similar today – a smaller nominating committee of judges that have officiated at prominent shows from coast-to-coast. Those class nominations are then sent out to a larger group of judges who votes on their top choices for each class. The Holstein World – and now Cowsmopolitan – tabulates the results and announces the winners.

Certainly, there have been changes and tweaks along the way. In looking back at the breed history books and old issues of the Holstein World, it’s stunning to see how important and fiercely competitive the bull classes were, including the Get of Sire class. We’ve seen an ebb and flow in the popularity of the current group classes – once highly popular, then discontinued for a time before returning in the 2000s. And, of course, the addition of several more classes for various female age groups over the past few decades. No doubt, the competition will continue to evolve, but the enthusiasm with which it is received by the breeders each year has continued unabated since 1922! As we look forward to publishing highlights of the past century in each issue this year, we thought there was no better place to start than by asking Joel Hastings for some reflections. His family owned and operated the Holstein World, and the aforementioned founder of the All-American contest, Maurice Prescott, was his grandfather and Editor of the World for sixty years. Joel continued the family tradition in his decades at the helm of the Holstein World, both as Editor and Publisher. We will always consider Joel a good friend and mentor, and we’re delighted to share his thoughts here!

When Kathleen O’Keefe asked me to reflect a bit on my experiences with the All-American Contests, I first asked her if she had access to the 1960 edition of Holstein-Friesian History. served on the most nominating committees. In an earlier era, Wisconsin’s Harvey Swartz was on 27 committees. That book, written primarily Why six animals in each class? That by my grandfather, Maurice was the number of mid-size photos S. Prescott, recounts the that could fit on each page of the beginnings of the contest, World magazine! As Dick Keene scaled back on his active judging, the three National Shows had emerged and so for several years, the committee was composed of those which now is celebrating its 100th year. Kathleen said she would hit a few of those historic highlights, so I’ll not recount those details here. By Joel Hastings My strongest impressions are being able judges, whoever and wherever they might to observe and then participate in the All- be, putting additional emphasis on the American Committee meetings held in late need to win at a National. In more recent November or early December. For years, years, with the preeminence of the show three of the most active top judges were at World Dairy Expo and the proliferation invited to meet in Syracuse, N.Y., not too of spring and fall nationals, the question far from the World offices then in Sandy has become what animals besides the top Creek. Their work was to select the six six at Madison will successfully compete nominees in each class from 5 X 7 photos for recognition. and prepared captions that included the complete show record for each entrant. Initial selections were made on day one, with an adult beverage and dinner together at the end of the day. The next morning, classes would be reviewed, with an occasional switch on an animal being nominated. The phrase we used with a disappointed exhibitor, often accurately, “She was the last one out.” Even in the years when MSP was still with us, Jim Hill had become the unofficial “go to” guy making sure that the contest was ready for presentation to the committee and that results were prepared for publication in January. He also oversaw the selection of the larger judging panel who made the final selections. He prepared all the copy needed for the presentation of awards in the March issues, also, which for In my early years, World Editor Maurice S. several years included full pedigrees of the Prescott was the “chair” of the meetings class winners. joined by the World staff which included Dave Morrow, Bob McKown and Jim Hill. During the 1970’s and 1980’s, the late Holstein breeder Dick Keene of Keeneland Farm at Gilbertsville, N.Y., was a leading judge, tying the ribbons at shows all across the country. He became a fixture on the nominating committee, serving for two decades. In those years he had placed or at least seen most of the top animals in contention. Just as important was his almost uncanny ability to work with the two other judges to arrive at the strongest class of six, even when there might be Jim’s commitment to the process was unmatched. He followed each show season carefully so that he could be sure no contending animal was left out of the process. The same procedures were followed in the Junior All-American Contest because in those years the same committee made the selections. He helped each committee avoid inconsistencies between the two contests. But above all, he was insistent that every animal was represented by the right photo with absolutely accurate placings. disagreement about the final animals His love of the showring started growing getting nominated in a class. In my time, up on Moncony Farms at Spencerport, N.Y. Dick holds the record as the person who His father Warren and uncle Russell, twin

brothers, were leading breeders in New York. Jim went off to Cornell where as a freshman, under the tutelage of judging team coach Professor George Trimberger, he was high individual in the national intercollegiate dairy cattle judging contest. Jim joined the World staff after graduating in 1964. He stayed connected with his family on the farm, helping with sire selection and showing. No doubt the highlight of his career was the breeding and development of the 1970 All-American Senior Yearling, Moncony Ideal Trill. She was one of many All-Americans by her famed sire, Ideal Fury Reflector. From the New York spring show then held in Cortland through the N.Y. State Fair and the Eastern and Central Nationals, Trill was presented by noted showman R. Peter Heffering. Jim was excited to no end especially since she was from his favorite family at Moncony. Her dam, Moncony Aristocrat Tish (2E-90), was by a bull purchased as a calf in New York and developed by the Hills… Council Rock Worthy Aristocrat (EX-91-GM). Twenty-six Aristocrats were cataloged and this family provided the high sellers when Warren and Russell dispersed the herd successfully in the spring of 1971. With a location just west of the city of Rochester, the Hills converted the farm to a beautiful public golf course called, what else, Twin Hills, which is operated to this day by Jim’s brothers. As we’ve said, Jim was the driving force year after year making sure the All-American Contest lived up to the expectations of exhibitors and breeders. Happily for us, he continued with this work even when he left the staff to become the clubhouse and business manager at the golf course. The golf season ended with the onset of winter weather in Upstate N.Y., and he then spent much of the next four months on the AllAmerican, right up until his premature death from cancer at age 63 in 2005. He had devoted his final months to the 2004 All-Americans.

Another close connection in those years was with the staff at the Holstein Journal magazine in Canada. The All-American allowed participation by Canadian owned animals qualifying at U.S. shows. Getting all the details on those animals that showed on both sides of the border was helped immeasurably by Journal Editor Bonnie Cooper. Her commitment to the Jim had been assisted by World staffers like Carol Moyer who took on more responsibility with Jim’s passing. All of which brings us to our friend and former colleague Kathleen O’Keefe who willingly stepped in during her time on staff and still today brings her knowledge, dedication and enthusiasm for the All-American recognition program. There might be those who comment that I have not named any of the famous and fabulous All-American animals. For me, my recollections of the greats are from the showring itself, where it was my pleasure and privilege to see and report on top shows from coast to coast, watching at ringside and touring the barns. And I had opportunities to see some of these great winners at home back in the days when fitting was not a year around effort. Here I have tried to share a few recollections of how the contest itself was organized and I thank Kathleen for the invitation.

I’m also pleased to extend good wishes to all of the contenders in this year’s contest… the 100th in the series.