A nely choreographed dance
Expo travels take Paulson a month to complete
By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
MADISON, Wis — Allyn “Spud” Paulson holds an unusual title in the arena of all things World Dairy Expo — he is the rst person to begin traveling to the Alliant Energy Center and the last one to make it back home.
“It gets a little hectic and sometimes trying to remember where I am, and where I need to be is a challenge,” Paulson said. “It’s just what I’ve done because I need to do it. In 2022, we hauled 102 head into Expo.”
In mid-September, while the show world is gearing up for the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Paulson begins the real-life game of Tetris that is his
Expo trip.
“I’ll run a load out to New York and stage the truck at Greg Evans’ or Anthony Crothers’ place,” Paulson said. “They’ll take care of getting it ready for their trip. I’ll y out to RuAnn Genetics in Riverdale, California. They have their own straight deck, so I’ll haul the cows and their crew will follow with their tack.”
In that trip, Paulson’s destination is his farmette near Rockford, Illinois, where the RuAnn Genetics cattle and crew spend a few days recovering from the three-day trip from California.
“It’s peaceful for them there, the cows are box-stalled and can get out on dirt,” Paulson said. “The RuAnn crew stays in my house and takes care of their cows until it’s time for them to head to Expo.”
While the California cows and crew settle in, Paulson will keep busy making preparations
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Changing practices for the better
Schoepp speaks about family, conservation ahead of virtual farm tour
By Meghan Kropp meghan.k@dairystar.com
LODI, Wis. — Early October will be busy for Ron Schoepp, one of the managing members of Schoepp Farms LLC, as he will be hosting a virtual and an onsite farm tour during this year’s World Dairy Expo.
The rst is the virtual farm tour at Expo, which will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
“It’s kind of cool to have this opportunity,” Schoepp said. “It’s a oncein-a-lifetime thing. You’ve got to do it when you get that chance.”
Schoepp said Expo offers something for everyone, ranging from products and tools to information on services to cattle shows.
He said the theme this year is “The Golden Age” and he hopes that tours like the ones he will be giving can help keep generational interest in farming.
“My dad has had the honor of working with almost all of his grand-
sons for a summer,” he said. “I think there was an 11-year span on our farm when at least one of his grandsons summered for him. My daughters worked with him, too.”
Schoepp said his goal for the virtual and onsite tours is to help people change their practices for the better by showing some of the many facets of Schoepp Farms.
“You have to be able to raise your family. You have to be able to make money doing it,” Schoepp said. “I know what we’re doing, you can make a living doing it.”
According to the Expo website, Schoepp Farms is a grazing and cash grain operation with more than 400 acres of corn, soybeans, winter wheat and alfalfa, as well as 110 acres of grass pasture. Schoepp and his family raise 200 dairy heifers and 30-50 dry cows while focusing on conservation.
“I really think Wisconsin is as good as anybody in conservation and conservation collaboration, being able to work with so many different groups,” he said. “I really think we are ahead of the game.”
Conservation for his farm includes clean water, clean air and caring about the soil, Schoepp said.
“I know a lot of people still aren’t really concerned about that,” he said.
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Arturo Perez (front, from le ), Allyn “Spud” Paulson, Gerardo Ochoa and Luis Roa; (back) Dennis Rowan, gather in 2022 in Rockford, Illinois. Paulson hauls animals to and from World Dairy Expo.
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Ron Schoepp (from le ) sits on a corn planter with his dad, Dave, and his son, Noah near Lodi, Wisconsin. The Schoepps will be hos ng a virtual and an onsite farm tour during this year’s World Dairy Expo.
for his own Expo string, packing his tack trailer before he heads to the airport, ying to New York where his rig will be waiting for him.
“Last year there were almost 30 head on the load from New York — a lot of cows,” Paulson said. “We leave early in the morning and arrive in Madison Thursday evening.”
The trailer will be cleaned in preparation for his next trip — a run to Budjon Farms in Lomira, where he will pick up the farm’s heifers and Jersey cows rst thing Friday morning.
“Thursday night I’ll sleep in the truck so I can get on the road right away,” Paulson said. “Meanwhile, the RuAnn crew will bring their tack trailer up after morning chores and get their bedding ready and their tack up. Then they can be back to my place for chores that night.”
In past years, Paulson said the RuAnn Genetics crew has also brought his tack trailer up to the AEC, where his crew will meet them, ready to assemble his display as well.
The Tetris pieces start to fall faster for Paulson as the days tick away.
“My string starts trickling in,” Paulson said. “I have a great crew, they are like a well-oiled machine at this point, and Arturo and his crew have everything under control with the RuAnn cows. Everyone knows what needs to be done, and they just do it.”
Saturday morning is typically the nal push for Paulson’s choreographed intake of animals to the Expo grounds.
“A neighbor of mine who helps me drive will bring the RuAnn cows up from my place,” Paulson said. “Meanwhile I head back to Budjon with my gooseneck and bring in their Holstein cows. They like bringing them on gooseneck, less jumping up and down
than the potload.”
Once the Budjon Farms cows are delivered, Paulson begins to focus on his own string.
“For the most part, I’m managing and overseeing everything,” Paulson said. “I do what needs to be done, whether it’s washing, bedding, whatever. I focus on managing the cows, making sure everything is doing good.”
Paulson has turned a great deal of the clipping over to his son, Suton.
“Suton has really picked up my slack, and I’m proud of him,” Paulson said. “It’s easier for me to drive that truck, hauling those animals when I know he can handle the other stuff, working with the crew. I like being here, but sometimes I just can’t.”
Paulson has little time to breathe between crisscrossing the country and the shows beginning on Sunday. With cattle in his string heading to the ring every day, the week tends to be hectic, too.
As the Holstein show winds down on Friday, Paulson’s thoughts turn to more cross-country travel, running a reverse route to return the animals he brought to Madison to their respective homes.
The rst cattle that return home are the animals from Budjon Farms.
“Last year I had my buddy, Chad Deter, help me run the load to Budjon (Farms),” Paulson said. “He’ll take the cows in the gooseneck and I’ll take the load in the pot.”
Once Paulson returns to the Expo grounds, the New York exhibitors take charge preparing the trailer for their departure early Saturday morning, while Paulson sleeps in his truck.
“I’ll park the truck up by their barn and tell them to wake me up when they’re loaded,” Paulson said. “We head
to New York Saturday morning and get back there late that night. Sunday morning, I y back to Chicago, leaving my truck in New York. Arturo picks me up at the airport. I try to be home for 24 hours before we head to California.”
Paulson said Monday is spent preparing the RuAnn Genetics trucks for the trip west, which commences early Tuesday morning.
“We’ll nd truck stops to milk and chore at, generally three and sometimes four times each trip,” Paulson said. “We’ve done both routes — north and south — depending on weather. We
generally go through Cheyenne, then head on (Interstate 80) towards Utah. We usually milk just south of Salt Lake City and then we don’t have to milk again until we get home.”
Paulson said they typically arrive at RuAnn Genetics on Friday, a full week after the closing ceremonies at Expo.
“Saturday or Sunday, I’ll y back to New York to get my rig,” Paulson said. “By that time, I’ll usually have a few to haul back to the Midwest. Expo pretty much lasts a full month for me.”
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Allyn “Spud” Paulson (le ) and Arturo Perez celebrate a World Dairy Expo herdsmanship award for RuAnn Gene cs in 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. Paulson travels across the country to haul ca le to World Dairy Expo.
Virtual
tour offers
remote look at McCarty Family Farms
By Meghan Kropp meghan.k@dairystar.com
REXFORD, Kan. — People attending the McCarty Family Farms virtual tour at this year’s World Dairy Expo will be transported over hundreds of miles without leaving the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
Ken McCarty, one of the owners of McCarty Family Farms, will be joining the tour remotely to give a look at the farm located in western Kansas.
“It’s not the easiest place for people to come and travel to,” McCarty said. “Our hope is that this virtual tour allows people to see and learn more about our farm who may not otherwise be able to.”
The McCarty Family Farms virtual farm tour, sponsored by DeLaval, is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
McCarty said the tour will focus on what the family does on the farm, why they do some of their practices and take a look at different technologies deployed at the farm.
“As all dairy farmers are, we’re extremely proud of what we do,” he said. “We’re proud of our farm, proud of our cows,
Behind the scenes
proud of our team members. We hope we can give people a behind-the-scenes look at why we are proud of those things, and answer any questions people may have.”
According to the WDE website, McCarty Family Farms began over 100 years ago in a small barn with no electricity. Today it encompasses six locations where the family milks 19,000 cows. They use DeLaval carousel parlors at their newest location.
“Being able to talk about our farm to other like-minded individuals around the world is something I think is near and dear to almost every dairyman’s heart,” McCarty said. “We love to talk about our farms, we love to talk about the dairy industry, we love to talk about cows, we love to talk about the future. All those things get rolled up into a virtual tour and we’re just excited to be able to do that.”
McCarty said Expo is one of the premier dairy cattle shows in the country, bringing together farmers and industry professionals from around the world. Attendees can network, view and participate in competitions, and learn about emerging technologies.
McCarty said sustainability is a foundational element for McCarty Family Farms.
“Our denition of sustainability would include (not just) on-farm economic sustainability,” McCarty said. “(It is) making sure that as a business we can survive to the next year and
Ken (from le ), Mike, Tom, Dave and Clay McCarty stand together at one of their six loca
the next generation — but also the communities we live in and that support us can survive and prosper.”
The family has been in the dairy industry for more than 100 years and McCarty said he would like to continue for more than another hundred years. As part of this vision, they use less water, maintain soil, manage nutrient ows and enhance animal
Kansas. McCarty Family Farms will host one of the four virtual tours at this year’s World Dairy Expo. welfare among other sustainable practices.
“All of the things that feed into a healthy ecosystem and a healthy farm, we try to encapsulate in our efforts toward sustainability,” he said. “We try to not just talk about it, but actually do it.”
Projects toward sustainability range in size and complexity, McCarty said, offering other
farmers a chance to follow McCarty Family Farms’ lead.
“We hope that what we do on our farms can serve as an inspiration to other farms,” he said. “We hope people can take some learnings away from our virtual tour, and if nothing else, we hope that they enjoy learning about our farm and learning what we do.”
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ons in
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The Schoepp family Kami Dellinger holding her daughter (front from le ), Lylia Schoepp, Bethany Johnson, Nancy Schoepp, Dave Schoepp, and Ron Schoepp; (back from le ) Joe Dellinger, Daven Sabatke and Noah Schoepp gather on their farm near Lodi, Wisconsin. Schoepp and his family raise 200 dairy heifers and 30-50 dry cows while focusing on conserva on.
“I think keeping the soil where it is and the nutrients where they are is very important.”
Schoepp said keeping nutrients in soil, and soil in place, has been something his family has been doing for the past 30 years through different methods like notill and rotational grazing.
“Our rst eld day at our farm was in 1996,” he said. “We are talking about a lot of the same things we were doing back then, minus the grazing. We started rotational grazing a couple of years after that eld day and really bumped it up in 2008. We started implementing animals back onto row crop land during the winter in 2005.”
shed groups and nonprots.
“We work with all these different organizations,” he said. “We’ve collaborated with them all through the years and (are) just trying to get more people to do good things is basically what it is about.”
“I think being able to hopefully inuence change for the better around the world is maybe what I’m most excited about. I hope someone sees this and thinks maybe this will work on their farm.”
RON SCHOEPP
The Schoepp Farms All Good Things booth, located near the entrance of WDE, will give attendees a chance to talk with employees of some of the organizations Schoepp and his family have worked with over the years. Organizations represented at the booth include state and county governments, local farmer-led water-
Schoepp has a second tour planned that week, though it will not be sponsored by WDE.
“We are doing the virtual tour, but also are having an in-person tour Oct. 3 at our farm that is tied with the Match Made in Heaven project,” he said.
Match Made in Heaven: Livestock + Crops is a project hosted by Green Lands Blue Waters as a collaboration between multiple different groups to share interests, challenges and needs in support of farmers, according to the organization’s website.
“I think being able to hopefully inuence change for the better around the world is maybe what I’m most excited about,” Schoepp said. “I hope someone sees this and thinks maybe this will work on their farm.”
A dairy industry legend
Passion, dedication laid foundation for Heath’s career
By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
WESTMINSTER, Md. — A passionate and loyal encourager, giving of time and treasure, determined, dedicated, and above all, honest — simply, a legend.
That was the late Michael Heath.
Michael passed away March 23, 2023, from injuries sustained in an accident on his family’s Westminister farm.
Michael rose among dairy cattle breeders, for his knowledge of pedigrees, air for matings and his eye for nding the next great one.
“Michael was passionate about everything he did,” said Kelly Barbee, close friend and business partner from Concord, North Carolina. “He didn’t realize the impact — the almost iconic status — he had in the industry. He looked at himself as just another Jersey breeder.”
Michael’s passion will be celebrated at World Dairy Expo with the Michael Heath Overall Fitter Award presented to the winner of the Youth Fitting Contest. Michael’s legacy to the Jersey breed will be honored with rosettes presented to the International Jersey Show’s best bred and owned entries.
His dairy passion began early. Michael’s father, Billy Heath, described his son as cow crazy, recalling pictures
of cows the little boy would draw on the church bulletins each Sunday.
“Michael was a very giving and caring person,” said his mother, Betty Heath. “He always wanted to help the person that was down. His faith had a lot to do with that. … He was very loyal to his friends.”
Raised on his family’s Carroll County farm the foundation was laid for Michael. He had an afnity for helping young people get a start.
Ricky Allyn of Canaan, Connecticut, Michael’s long-time friend and business partner, recalled working with Michael and Billy for a Jersey string at the Eastern States Exposition in 1985.
“I probably learned more (there) … than I might have through the rest of my career,” Ricky said. “They took a kid who hardly knew anything — they included me … and treated me like I had been with them forever. I will be forever indebted and grateful to them for helping me at that point in my life when I was trying to learn.”
When Michael set his mind to doing something, he attacked it head-on, his mother said.
“When he was old enough to show at Louisville, he kept going to spend time in the Canadian aisle,” Betty said. “He told us they were always winning, and he wanted to see what they were doing to win.”
His competitiveness carried through to his judging career. Michael earned a spot on the Maryland 4-H dairy judging team in 1980, his rst year as a senior competitor. He placed
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PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH GONZALES PHOTOGRAPHY
Michael Heath waits for a class at the Jersey Event in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Heath passed away March 23, 2023, as the result of injuries sustained in an accident on his family’s farm.
11th as an individual and second in the Brown Swiss breed that his team won at the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at WDE.
Bonnie Remsberg of Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, coached Michael on the Maryland judging team.
“He was beyond his years with his enthusiasm, discipline and perseverance,” Remsberg said. “He would give reasons with such conviction, such a strong voice. His parents had asked me if I thought he was ready, and I said yes, absolutely he was ready. The rest is history.”
After judging in the national contest, Michael’s 4-H dairy judging career ended at the 15. Not one to sit on the sidelines, Michael moved on to the world of livestock judging, earning a spot on the Maryland 4-H livestock judging team. He went on to compete on the livestock judging team at Hawkeye Technical College, in Waterloo, Iowa, where he won a national barrow judging title.
Looking at cows with his uncle, Wayne Stiles, Michael developed a passion for what he called ‘roading’ — traveling around North America, visiting farms and looking at cows.
“A lot of guys can go to a show and nd a nice heifer, tted up,” said Michael’s uncle, Allen Stiles. “Michael could go out into the pasture and nd one in her work clothes.”
One of his early nds was a heifer purchased from a Canadian farm — Glenyle Jodys Eleanor, the 1986 National Junior Champion. Michael later returned to the same farm, purchasing a cow named Glenyle SJ Hetty, who would become the dam of Heaths Imperial Helen and the granddam of Pleasant Valley Primetime Heather. That family proved impactful in Michael’s career as a breeder and marketer.
“When Michael sold Helen to Piedmont Jerseys in Canada, that gave him the opportunity to start … (in) marketing,” Stiles said. “Michael was a top-ight
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The late Michael Heath (le ) and his parents, Betty and Bill Heath, display an award at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium, Maryland. Michael Heath’s family and friends are sponsoring the Michael Heath Overall Fi er Award at the World Dairy Expo Youth Fi ng Contest and rose es for the best bred and owned entries at the Interna onal Jersey Show in his memory.
tter, but he didn’t want to be a tter his entire life. Marketing cattle became the next step.”
During those roading trips, Michael’s personality shone.
Callum McKinven was another long-time friend and associate from Canton de Hatley, Quebec, Canada.
“A lot of good memories, we’d go roading everywhere,” McKinven said. “The farmers would love him. He’d tell them what bulls he thought they should be using. He knew the pedigrees of a lot of their cows, and they’d be shocked. I never knew a guy that knew pedigrees like Michael. It was amazing — not just Jerseys. He knew about everything.”
Michael’s genuine interest in the cows he saw made him welcome in many barns.
“The positivity of his comments, you’d see these people light right up,” Ricky said. “He made them feel really good about what they had accomplished. … Michael was in and out of more barns than anyone I’ve ever known, and people looked forward to his visits.”
Out of Michael’s enjoyment for searching out the next great one was born his career as a sale manager. For over 30 years, Michael used his expertise to put together consignment sales. These included a 10-year run of the Best of Triple-T and Heath sales series, hosted with friends and business partners, Nathan and Jenny Thomas, of North Lewisburg, Ohio.
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Michael Heath (le ) and Kelly Barbee take a break during a ca le show. Heath and Barbee were longme friends and business associates.
Max Gordon Award by Josh Gordon (le ) and Phil Gordon, during the Na onal Jersey Jug Futurity Nov. 6, 2022, in Louisville, Kentucky. Heath was a lifelong Jersey breeder and enthusiast.
“We had always owned cattle together and went on the road together, even before the sales,” Nathan said. “We always wanted to sell them. They all have to have a price and be marketable. That’s the goal — market your animals, take that money and invest in something else to make more money. That’s why we got along. We had the same goal.”
While marketing cattle became Michael’s occupation, judging allowed his enthusiasm and appreciation of good cows to effervesce.
“100%, he loved to judge,” Nathan said. “It didn’t matter if it was a county fair or Expo — he loved to judge.”
Billy recollected taking young Michael with him when he judged shows.
“On the way home, he’d tell me
which ones I’d placed wrong,” Billy said. “He’d say if he agreed, but he’d let me know if he didn’t. He learned from watching, and he had a good eye.”
Later, Billy would swap roles with this son.
“He always placed them the way he saw them — it didn’t matter who was leading the cow or what she’d done before,” Billy said. “People would get mad at him sometimes, but it didn’t bother him — he had the guts to do it.”
Michael’s inuence is missed among Jersey breeders, his friends said.
“He was the guy everyone went to for advice — including me — especially on breeding cows and cow families,” Nathan said. “But he was more than that. He was one-of-a-kind, and there will never be another like him.”
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Michael Heath (center) is presented with the
World Dairy Expo is his bread and butter
Rueth enjoys cows, competition, camaraderie
By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
OXFORD, Wis. — If Mark Rueth could talk to his 10-year-old self, the young boy might be surprised to learn of the accomplishments and experiences that would come his way.
As a youngster, Rueth grew up on his family’s farm with grade Holsteins — much different from the cows he has owned as an adult.
His family was not familiar with showing, and he placed at the bottom of the class his rst year showing in 4-H — a long way from the spotlight he stood under, escorting cows during the supreme champion ceremony at World Dairy Expo.
Rueth disliked attending dairy judging practices, particularly giving reasons — another long way from the list of shows he has judged around the globe.
“All it takes is for one person to reach out and steer someone in the right direction, to help out a little bit,” Rueth said. “For me, that person was our extension agent, Gil Salm.”
Rueth said he can only imagine what Salm saw in him all those years ago, but he is grateful for Salm’s insistence that
he step outside his comfort zone. Salm took him to dairy judging and assisted his family with the purchase of the rst registered calf that would ignite the ame of his passion.
“Gil left our extension ofce in 1982 to start farming,” Rueth said. “Over the years I thought a lot about him, and the impact he had on me, but I didn’t see him or speak to him in nearly 42 years.”
With his wife, Nicky, and their daughter, Paradise, Rueth owns and operates Rosedale Genetics Ltd and Rosedale’s Boarding in Paradise, in Oxford, where they milk 40 cows. Their focus is on one week of the year, every year.
“Expo is always what we’re working for with the cows,” Rueth said. “Our whole year revolves around that week in October — whether you’re clipping them or breeding them — Expo is your bread and butter.”
Rueth has experienced many feats of WDE success. He has achieved: supreme and reserve supreme champion banners; donning a tuxedo to place cows on the colored shavings; recognition as a Klussendorf and Klussendorf-MacKenzie recipient; and three championships in the World Forage Analysis Superbowl’s grass hay division.
Rueth became introduced to Expo when he started clipping animals professionally as a college student in the mid1980s.
“I started working for Tom Morris, clipping at sales,” Rueth said. “That is how I met Joel Kietzman, and I started doing more sales and then show clipping
Mark Rueth parades Lavender Ruby Redrose-Red
champion Oct. 8, 2005, at World Dairy Expo in Madison,
the only Red & White cow to be named
with him. I started helping farms like Indianhead, Pamtom and Elmvue, and the western Canadian string. I started thinking I can do this myself — have my own string.”
After his earliest Expo experiences, Rueth said owning an Expo winner quickly rose to the top of his list of goals. He took opportunities to purchase animals he thought could get him there and
beyond. Rueth joined with a variety of partners, purchasing cows like Westlynn Tom Dee, a four-time champion of the Central National Guernsey Show and the 1995 reserve supreme champion; Expo class winner Stookey Elm Park Blackrose-ET; two-time WDE supreme champion Van-
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a er she is named supreme
Wisconsin. Redrose is
supreme champion.
dyk-K Integrity Paradise, who took the banners in 2000 and 2002; and Kinyon Linjet Ideal, the 2006 reserve supreme champion.
“My dad always told me if I was going to spend the money to buy one, I might as well spend a little more and buy a good one,” Rueth said.
He took that advice to heart. Blackrose, in particular, proved to be a pivotal purchase for Rueth.
While she never rang the WDE championship bell herself, as a brood cow, Blackrose laid a foundation for Rueth’s Rosedale breeding program.
Descendants of Blackrose included show-winning cows like Lavender Ruby Redrose-Red, a two-time champion of the International Red & White Show and the only Red & White cow to claim a supreme champion title, in 2005; Expo class winners Rosedale Lexington and Ladyrose Caught Your Eye; Expo junior champion Rosedale Catch A Glimpse-ET; and the seven-time nominated All-American Rosedale Lucky Rose-Red, who established herself as an outstanding brood cow.
The Rueths established their farm in 2001, renting a farm in Deereld before purchasing their current farm several years later.
“That rst year we went to the district and state shows with quite a group — three WDE champions and two supreme champions,” Rueth said. “Redrose was a junior two-year-old, Ideal was a junior three-year-old and Paradise was a four-year-old. The rst year going into farming — the impact that group of cows had is kind of crazy.”
Never one to back down from the challenge of nding a solution for a problem, Rueth took a keen interest in cropping — particularly making grass hay.
“We started out buying our feed, but nding good grass hay can be hard,” Rueth said. “I wanted to start utilizing the value in our manure, too. So, I started learning about cropping. In college I never took any crop classes — I just wasn’t a crop guy — so I had to learn by doing.”
Rueth became interested in Byron Seeds and began attending workshops and meetings hosted by the company. It was there he was introduced to the World Forage Analysis Superbowl. A competitive person by nature, Rueth decided to put his hay up against the best in the nation, earning him high rankings — including three championships in the grass hay division in 2013, 2016 and 2018.
That determination to succeed, along with his abilities in the barn and in the show ring, earned him respect from his fellow exhibitors and showmen. He was selected as the winner of the Klussendorf-MacKenzie award in 1995 and the Klussendorf trophy in 2008. His fellow Expo exhibitors voted for him to judge the 2009 International Holstein Show and the 2012 International Jersey Show.
In spite of many Expo achievements, Rueth keeps heading toward the Alliant Energy Center each fall.
“I’m looking forward to watching the next generation — to seeing (my daughter) Paradise show on the colored shavings in the junior Holstein show,” Rueth said. “She denitely loves the cows, she inherited that passion from us, so we will just continue to focus on the fall.”
and Mark Rueth enjoy a moment with World Dairy Expo supreme champion Lavender Ruby Redrose-Red at their Rosedale Gene cs farm in Oxford, Wisconsin. Rueth has owned two cows that have been named WDE supreme champions — Redrose and Vandyk-K Integrity Paradise, a two- me supreme champion.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CYBIL FISHER PHOTOGRAPHY
Nicky Reape-Rueth
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
Mark Rueth and his daughter, Paradise Rueth, watch a class during the Interna onal Holstein Show Oct. 6, 2023, at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. Rueth is looking forward to watching Paradise show on the colored shavings in the future.
Making hay the Western way
Hinman to share experience, knowledge at World Dairy Expo
“(One topic will be) the pH of the soil and how it affects the crop,” Hinman said.
Hinman will also explain how weather patterns impact soil conditions.
By Emily Breth emily.b@star-pub.com
WHEATLAND, Wyo. — Forages are the main crop found on David Hinman’s farm, Hardrock Farms, and the topic of his presentation at World Dairy Expo.
“This is the rst big presentation I am giving,” Hinman said. “My rst one was a short 15-minute one in Nebraska mainly about markets and how we get good quality hay.”
Through his presentation, Hinman will encourage growers to plant more forages because they are benecial for soil microbes and can improve carbon retention.
“There is a big difference in how much carbon stays in the soil with forages versus yearly crops,” Hinman said. “It is a harder crop (to grow) because you have to constantly be out in the eld, but it is really good for the soil.”
“I want to mention the difference in the weather and how it changes the hay-making process,” Hinman said. “I even want to go into how altitude affects it.”
Next on Hinman’s list are forage varieties and the benets of them.
After talking about the ranges of forages to plant, Hinman plans to discuss harvest practices.
“Rather than waiting for a stretch of time with no rain, we have to wait for the dew and humidity to clear before we can make dry hay,” Hinman said.
Hinman and his wife, Teri, make both big and small square hay bales so they can provide hay for people in both markets. He will explain the differences between the markets and how he found his customers, who are primarily located in Oklahoma or Iowa.
Hinman has attended many meetings to learn about soil health through different groups. One of them focused on forage genetics at a meeting of the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance.
Hinman is dedicated to researching all aspects of forage and how different variables affect hay harvest and soil health.
“We do a variety of tests like using different rakes to see how much dirt ends up in the hay or how well they pick it up,” Hinman said. “We also do a lot of sampling between the varieties of alfalfa to see how the growing time, ligament levels and more affect it.”
Hinman has been a part of different organizations for around 12 years. He was introduced to many of these groups through the alfalfa seed markets.
Now, Hinman will be heading to WDE to share a presentation focusing on all aspects of hay making in the West. Hinman plans to start his presentation on how irrigation is run.
“I want to talk about where we get our water, how we apply it and how much we apply,” Hinman said. “Unlike in other areas where they are too wet (this year), we are too dry and have to irrigate everything.”
Hinman will also discuss soil types and conditions that can be found in his area and how they alter the results of the forages.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
An irrigator works its way through an alfalfa eld Aug. 28 at David Hinman’s farm, Hardrock Farms, near Wheatland, Wyoming. Hinman is planning on talking about how he obtains his water and how much they apply to their forages.
“We send about 50 semi loads to Kalona, Iowa, for dairy goat farms,” Hinman said. “Teri and I make a couple of trips to meet with our customers a year. They ask a lot of questions about the hay and quality.”
Throughout his presentation, Hinman plans on sharing photos for visual learners and to drive home his message of growing forages.
“I switched to all forages because I decided I didn’t want to do sugar beets anymore,” Hinman said. “We haven’t looked back.”
Hinman’s farming journey started when he was a kid farming with his dad and brother in Nebraska.
“I started renting the farm in 1984 because I couldn’t buy enough land in Nebraska,” Hinman said. “I started growing sugar beets, dry beans, corn, alfalfa and barley.”
About 20 years ago Hinman switched to growing primarily forages. Corn is used as a rotational crop after forage acres are plowed down every few years.
“Our farm that we own is 700 acres,” Hinman said. “We also run a 100-beef cow herd with one of our daughters, Kellie.”
Hinman has entered his forages in the World Forage Analysis Superbowl held during WDE for many years. In addition to presenting, Hinman plans to again enter the contest with hopes of doing well like he has in past years.
David Hinman Hardrock Farms
Looking to the future
Vandoske to speak on diversifying practices during virtual tour
By Meghan Kropp meghan.k@dairystar.com
CLEVELAND, Wis. — Diversifying practices for the future will be a focus of one of the virtual farm tours at this year’s World Dairy Expo.
Bob Vandoske, owner of Vandoske Dairy Farms LLC, said he is honored to be nominated and sponsored by Compeer Financial to host one of the
virtual tours. His tour will be held Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
“Expo is the biggest dairy show in the world,” he said. “This tour showcases our farm and our accomplishments. It’s a way to get people to see what it’s all about for us.”
According to the WDE website, Vandoske Dairy Farms started in 1945 with just 18 cows, but has grown since.
“We are a fourth-generation farm,” Vandoske said. “We milk more than 600 cows, we manage over 1,000 acres, we have 12 full-time employees and we do all our own eld work.”
Vandoske said he’s proud to be part of the generational legacy of the Vandoske Dairy Farms and to be able to raise his three children on the farm.
“This tour lets everyone know what we are all about,” he said. “For us, it’s about diversifying and starting something different — bringing the next generation into the farm. Our objective would be to educate people that there are other ways than adding more cows to the farm. It’s about making sure the next generation is sustainable.”
One of the ways the family has diversied to sustain the farm for future generations is a new barn and farm store.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Vandoske family Reid (from le ), Bob, Tara, Brooklyn and Brianne — stands together at their farm near Cleveland, Wisconsin. Vandoske Dairy Farms will host one of the virtual farm tours at this year’s World Dairy Expo. Turn
In the store, customers can nd milk, cheese and ice cream and see what is happening inside the barn through a viewing window. Vandoske said this barn houses show cows that are being boarded for other farmers.
“With the store and the window to the new barn, the cows are cleaned every day,” he said. “They are well bedded. Public perception is a big deal because we are inviting the public to the farm.” Vandoske said boarding the cows
and transporting them to different shows in the area, gives his children something different from their daily chores. It also allows them to be involved with Vandoske Dairy Farms in new ways.
He hopes some of these practices can help inspire ideas for others about sustaining farms into the future.
“There are different avenues for dairy, different aspects of farming other than just milking thousands of cows,” he said.
“For us, it’s about diversifying and starting something different — bringing the next generation into the farm. Our objective would be to educate people that there are other ways than adding more cows to the farm. It’s about making sure the next generation is sustainable.”
BOB VANDOSKE, VANDOSKE DAIRY FARMS LLC
Krohlow prepares to place the Jersey show at World
Dairy Expo
By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
POYNETTE, Wis. — When the rst Jersey calves step onto the colored shavings while the “Star-Spangled Banner” reverberates throughout the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center the morning of Sept. 30, Ryan Krohlow will be living out a dream.
Krohlow was selected by World Dairy Expo exhibitors to ofciate this year’s International Jersey Show.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the best Jerseys there are — the greatest young cows, the best heifers of the breed, the ones that are up and coming,” Krohlow said. “I follow the breed closely and really admire it.”
With his wife, Haley, and four children — Callie, Conway, Cooper and Case — Krohlow operates HammerTime Auctioneering/Holsteins in Poynette, where they focus on raising show heifers and managing and assisting in cattle sales. He previously worked as a professional dairy cattle tter for over 20 years.
While this is Krohlow’s rst time as an ofcial judge at Expo, it is not his rst experience on the colored shavings. He served as Lynn Harbaugh’s associate in the 2017 International Junior Holstein Show and as Keith
Living out a dream
Topp’s associate in the 2022 International Jersey Show.
“Both times as an associate, when that rst class started coming in, the feeling was a little overwhelming being out there on the oor of the coliseum,” Krohlow said. “But after you look at the rst 10 head or so, you settle in and get comfortable. And from there, it’s just all business.”
The 2024 ballot was not the rst time Krohlow’s name was proffered to Jersey exhibitors as a potential judge, but this time he was hopeful his fellow Expo exhibitors would place their trust in him, he said.
“It’s not that you expect to win, but when your name is on the ballot, you get really hopeful — you just really want to do it,” Krohlow said. “This time I was hopeful. I had been judging a lot of Jersey shows.”
Krohlow said he was sorting heifers for in vitro fertilization last fall when his phone rang with an unfamiliar Madison-area number.
“I knew it was about the right time, I was pretty excited when that number showed up and it was Laura (Herschleb),” Krohlow said.
As the show gets underway, Krohlow wants to establish his pattern quickly.
“I know what I’m looking for, and judging these bigger shows, I think it’s easier to (establish) the pattern of what you like and follow that,” Krohlow said. “I like a lot of style, beautiful udders.”
When it came to selecting his associate, Krohlow turned to his friend,
Jean Philippe Charest, of Saint-Alexandre, Quebec, Canada.
Krohlow rst met Charest while clipping in Europe.
“We were working for different people, but we became very good friends,” Krohlow said. “He’s very sharp. He notices the little things. At shows, we’d walk around and look at things and J.P. would pick out the small stuff right away.”
Krohlow said he knows Charest
will give him honest feedback when evaluating the animals parading the colored shavings.
“I’m really looking forward to working with J.P.,” Krohlow said. “He is a very funny guy and a very smart cow guy. He’s someone I felt like I can just be myself with, just talk with. We’ve got a lot in common.”
Turn
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSEPH OPSAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Ryan Krohlow (le ), and his family, Conway, Cooper, Callie, Case and Haley, operate HammerTime Auc oneering/Holsteins on their farm near Poyne e, Wisconsin. Krohlow will be judging the Interna onal Jersey Show at World Dairy Expo.
Ryan Krohlow (right) congratulates Sophie Leach as he names her cow, LC Success Abilene, the reserve senior champion of the Interna�onal Jersey Show Oct. 4, 2022, at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. Krohlow served as the show’s associate judge in 2022 and will take on the role of official judge at this year’s Expo.
While he is mentally preparing to view some of the best Jersey cattle North America has to offer, Krohlow said he draws upon his own experiences as an exhibitor to put the job in perspective.
“I understand what goes into showing anywhere — but especially at Expo, on the international stage,” Krohlow said. “I know it doesn’t always go as you might hope. I always tell my wife, when we’re showing, we’ve got 30 minutes to be disappointed if it doesn’t turn out like we thought it should. Then we just move on and show them again.”
By the same measure, when he approaches judging, Krohlow said he has no fear of what his friends and business associates might think at the end of the show.
“Not one time judging, have I ever gone in thinking I might lose a friend, nor have I ever lost a friend,” Krohlow said. “At the end of the day, the guy in the middle of the ring — no matter who that is — is just telling us what he thought at that moment in time.”
Krohlow is looking forward to seeing how the Jersey breed has evolved in the two years since he served as Topp’s associate.
“The way things evolve, the way the cattle change, it’s exciting,” Kro-
hlow said. “After the show is over, it would be cool to go back and compare the placings from 2022, to see if any of those animals came back, if I remember them, and how they developed and changed.”
The march towards Expo is not all without apprehension Krohlow said.
“I hope my tux ts this time,” he said. “Last time it was a tad too small.”
On a more serious note, Krohlow said the highly pathogenic avian inuenza outbreak the U.S. has been dealing with since the spring concerns him.
“I try not to think about it, I just want every one of the best cows all there, that they all get ready and they all come out looking their best,” Krohlow said. “That played into picking J.P., as my associate — I didn’t want to pick anyone that would potentially take animals away from the show.”
When the youngest spring calves come through the doorway, Krohlow said the enormity will hit him.
“When you’re selected by your peers, it’s a pretty big deal,” Krohlow said. “We all just love great animals. I’m looking forward to sorting through them and nding the ones that speak to me that day, telling me they are ready to win.”
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Capturing the moments
Hart enters 15th year as Expo show ring photographer
By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
NORTH ADAMS, Mich. — For Melissa Hart, the editor of the website Dairy Agenda Today, capturing the moments that happen in the show ring has become a way of life — one that has changed and evolved throughout her 15-year career providing show ring coverage.
“Before Dairy Agenda Today was launched in 2009, I had never really done any show coverage,” Hart said. “Any show-related coverage I did was for print media. I might take a couple of photos and use press releases that were provided.”
Show ring coverage has grown for Hart, from the earliest days of only covering maybe 40 shows a year, taking a few photos of each class to covering over 80 shows a year and taking thousands of photos.
“In a typical year at World Dairy Expo, I take over 14,000 photos throughout the week,” Hart said. “That’s just me, not any of the other photographers we hire to take photos for DAT.”
Hart said the early days were denitely a learning experience.
“When we rst started covering WDE, we had a very small team, just a couple of us and our laptops,” Hart said. “We didn’t have a ringside place to
work. We were working in the stands, in a corner of the make-up ring or back in our booth on the arena level of the coliseum. We’d take pictures and then have to ght through the crowds to get to the booth to post them, which was especially difcult on Holstein day.”
After several years of make-shift working environments, Hart said the staff of DAT was granted a seat at the ringside media table.
“(That) was a game-changer,” Hart said. “It made all the difference, and you felt like it legitimized you. They were willing to give us a place to work in return for the photos.”
With the improved conditions, the number of photos Hart and the DAT staff took began to increase. Today she employs a staff of approximately eight people to work with show ring coverage for the website.
“When we rst started, it was just broad pictures of the group — the nal line, the rst pull — a few of the winner, a few candids, an udder shot,” Hart said. “Then people began to want more pictures. That’s grown. Now we try to take a photo of every single animal in the ring if we can.”
Hart said a feeling of camaraderie and empathy, particularly with the moms she encountered, factored into that.
“Someone would say to me, ‘Oh, I didn’t get a picture of Johnny, did you happen to get any?’” Hart said. “Then you realize, it doesn’t matter what the animal is, or where they placed — some people don’t have that option to get those photos. It’s important to me that everyone has a picture from the colored shavings; so that is what I try to do.”
Turn to HART | Page 21
Melissa Hart looks for her next shot as a ring photographer during the Interna onal Junior Holstein Show Oct. 1, 2023, at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. As the editor of Dairy Agenda Today, Hart has been providing show ring coverage since 2009.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
As the number of photos she takes has increased, Hart has worked to perfect her craft.
“When we started, we weren’t photographers — we were just media covering the show, providing placings and a few pictures that told that story,” Hart said. “The quality of the camera wasn’t as big of a deal. Now to be competitive, and because you’re going to a lot of work to do this, you might as well have nice pictures.”
Hart said she began her show ring coverage career with a simple pointand-shoot camera. Now, she uses better cameras and lenses to produce a better-quality image.
“It takes the same amount of time, energy and muscles to squat down and take pictures with a good camera as it does a bad camera, so you might as well have a good one,” Hart said. “I use a Nikon D750, and it’s been my workhorse ever since. I only have one lens
right now. I need another one — a short, wide-angle lens.”
Hart said the difference was noticeable to her peers, and that validated the expenditure.
“After I got the new lens and camera, a fellow photographer immediately texted me and said, ‘You got a new lens, didn’t you?’ He said he could absolutely tell,” Hart said. “He solidied that buying that new camera and lens was really important.”
How Hart processes her photos has changed, too.
“We’ve begun using a different program that allows you to do a lot more with the photos,” Hart said. “It’s faster, more streamlined, and, the more you learn, the better it gets.”
Hart processes her photos during the show to post as quickly as possible.
“We batch edit during the show,” Hart said. “People expect those photos to be online quickly. I just try to take the
best photo I can, batch edit everything and get them posted as soon as possible.”
Working in show ring coverage is far from glamorous, Hart said.
“We go so many places, but the only thing we ever see is the show,” Hart said. “At Expo, we’re in the show ring by 6 a.m. to prepare for the day ahead. We’ve been there … after 11 p.m. It’s long days, lots of miles walked on those shavings. It’s hard to eat decently. I have no idea how many grilled cheese sandwiches we eat every year.”
Despite the long hours, Hart said being witness to some amazing events in the show ring keeps her capturing those moments.
“People show more emotion in the ring than they used to,” Hart said. “The emphasis has changed to capturing more of that — it’s not just about the cows, now, it’s about the people, too.”
One of Hart’s favorite Expo mo-
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ments was watching Cutting Edge T Delilah being led to the make-up ring after being named senior champion, preparing to return for the Brown Swiss parade of champions.
“It was a break in the action, there was no music, no announcer,” Hart said. “Suddenly the crowd broke out in applause — it was just their love and appreciation for that cow. It made me cry.”
Another moment that struck Hart was when Strans-Jen-D Tequila-Red-ET was awarded the grand champion banner in the International Red & White Show.
“I was standing near the rail, not far from where her breeder, Reid Stransky, was standing,” Hart said. “I got a quick shot, just as Callum (McKinven) was about to tap her, then I quickly swung and got a series of photos with Reid’s reaction. Those are some of my favorite photos, and they sum up why I love being a show ring photographer.”
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Working toward the future
Dellait brings 3D cameras to World Dairy Expo
By Sarah Middendorf sarah.m@star-pub.com
MADISON, Wis. — Dellait has used cutting-edge technology to develop a 3D camera that measures features of dairy cattle.
“This advanced technology empowers dairy producers and nutritionists by providing precise and reliable body condition scores, weight measurements and early detection of lameness in cows,” Abbi Goldenberg said.
Goldenberg is a business development manager at Dellait LLC. She holds a master’s in agriculture in internation-
al agriculture from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor’s in applied science in agriculture service and development from Tarleton State University. She will speak about the technology Oct. 1 at a Knowledge Nook session that begins at 2:30 p.m. “Using 3D Camera to Accurately Measure Body Reserves, Growth and Locomotion in Dairy Cattle” will explain how the technology can measure animals to help dairy farms more effectively manage their herd and improve animal welfare.
BCS is measured by evaluating fat accumulation in three dimensions.
Turn to DELLAIT | Page 25
DESIGNER, MANUFACTURER AND REPAIRER
of electronic equipment for livestock & agriculture
A diagram of the 3D camera system is displayed. The 3D camera can measure body condi on scores and weight and give early detec on of lameness in cows.
Abbi Goldenberg Dellait LLC
Dellait is using a patented proprietary algorithm when measuring the animals. When estimating body weight, they can account for all other linear measurements. Goldenberg said it also takes into account the breed, sex and age of the cow.
“These insights are crucial for optimizing herd health, enhancing productivity and reducing costs associated with health-related issues,” Goldenberg said.
During the evaluation of the locomotion score the camera will use different techniques depending on how it is installed. It can be installed in a static evaluation or a dynamic evaluation. Goldenberg said in both cases the system monitors the evolution over time to exclude transient issues.
“We’ll demonstrate how this system enables proactive management decisions, improving overall animal welfare and farm efciency,” Goldenberg said. “Additionally, we’ll explore the system’s integration with existing dairy management practices and its potential impact on the future of dairy farming.”
There can be changes in BCS during different times in an animal’s lifespan such as during transition periods.
Lameness is also a costly problem on farms. Goldenberg wants to show how 3D cameras can provide cost-effective insight.
“It is no secret that a cow’s longevity is the key to protability, particularly today with a low number of replacements (available),” Goldenberg said. “Lameness is a huge factor in
culling decisions. We can mitigate risk by catching potential issues quickly and accurately, keeping dollars in the pockets of producers.”
This technology allows producers to have more in-depth insight into their livestock.
“Technology is ever evolving and will never replace the necessity of being a good cow person, but rather it’s a tool to take your herd to the next level,” Goldenberg said.
Some may be able to anticipate what might happen to a cow with the data that is collected through the 3D camera.
“There are so many aspects of production agriculture we don’t have control over,” Goldenberg said. “Making the factors we can have some level of control over even more impactful, not just in herd health, but also to our bottom line (is critical).”
This will be Dellait’s rst year as a vendor at World Dairy Expo.
“It’s such a distinct opportunity to see all the newest innovations in the industry in one place, surrounded by the best cattle in the world,” Goldenberg said.
Goldenberg said their mission is to build meaningful partnerships to support producers throughout the lifetime of their cows.
“It’s a privilege to be part of this ongoing conversation about how to make farming better,” Goldenberg said.
“I hope to continue being a valuable resource for those who are working so hard to feed the world.”
Why is the tradition of WDE worth you taking the time away from
your
farm to attend?
“The chance to get away from the farm for a day and to meet up with my friends while I’m there makes it all worthwhile.”
John, Evie and Charlie Hamilton Cuba City, Wisconsin Grant County 125 cows
How many years have you attended World Dairy Expo?
John and Evie: John has been attending WDE for as long as he can remember, and Evie’s rst year was in 1982. Since then, we have attended as many years as it has been feasible to get away for a day. We have not been able to make it the last few years due to health-related restrictions and the lack of available help. Charlie: My rst Expo was when I was 10 months old, and I attended every year that my parents went until I reached high school. Then I went with my FFA chapter early in the week and usually went back later in the week for the Holstein show. I am also an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and virtually lived at WDE for four years as a member of the Badger Dairy Club. I have also been able to make it for a day all but one year since graduating from Madison in 2018.
What is your best memory from WDE? John and Evie: Our fondest memory was in 2012 when Charlie showed a junior bred and owned Holstein cow in the junior Holstein show. Charlie: My fondest memories are the years I was a member of the Badger Dairy Club and had the opportunity to work at WDE from 2014 to 2017. I also had the honor of being the show ring co-chair for two years (2015 and 2016), which allowed
me to have hands-on experience building the set and working the ring during the shows. This has been an absolutely amazing experience, especially in 2016, which was the 50th anniversary of WDE.
Why is it important for you to take time away from your dairy farm to visit WDE?
John and Evie: With World Dairy Expo being only an hour away from our farm, it’s a great getaway for a day to refuel and recharge.
Charlie: The chance to get away from the farm for a day and to meet up with my friends while I’m there makes it all worthwhile. It also is a pleasure to see the greatest cows on the show circuit.
What are three must-see things when you go to WDE?
John and Evie: Any part of the Holstein and the Red & White shows, a visit to the grilled cheese tent, and, if time allows, a walk through the barns and exhibits.
Charlie: The supreme champion selection, the Holstein cow show and a trip to the barns to catch up with friends and colleagues.
Why do you think WDE is so important for the dairy industry? John and Evie: As its name implies, it brings dairy enthusiasts from all over the world together to celebrate the dairy industry. It is a remarkable chance to learn what opportunities others have to offer, and also to share some of the struggles that we all have to
deal with. It gives us all a sense of belonging, and to be a part of something that is so vibrant and of such importance is remarkable. The compassion for all who share the passion for the awesome dairy cow is unsurpassed.
Charlie: The World Dairy Expo gives dairy breeders and enthusiasts a chance to network and share ideas.
Have you implemented anything on your farm from WDE? If so, what was it?
John and Evie: It’s been a few years, but when we were looking to replace our calf hutches, we looked at several styles and were able to choose what we thought would work best for our operation. We did the same
when we were looking for headlock systems for our heifer shed and freestall barn.
Charlie: I enjoy talking with representatives from A.I. companies, learning about new bulls that are being released, and what kind of WDE deals they have to offer.
Tell us about your farm and any upcoming plans for your dairy. Together, we own and operate Hill-Ton Holsteins, a 125-cow registered Holstein dairy operation. We raise our own replacements on site, while selling all bull calves at 1 week of age. We crop 150 acres of mostly corn (for shredlage) and alfalfa while using oats and winter rye as cover crops. We either
bag or bale/wrap all crops, buy our straw from neighbors and purchase dry corn and protein from our feed mill. We house the milking cows in both tiestall and freestall barns, while the dry cows are either on pasture or in a pack shed. Our rolling herd average is 29,400 pounds of milk, 1,159 pounds of fat and 909 pounds of protein, with tests of 3.94% fat and 3.09% protein. Our current BAA is 110.1, with 34 Excellent and 59 Very Good out of 114 cows scored. We also have had/have the chance to work with students from area high schools and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville as parttime employees. Working with and alongside these students denitely keeps us young (at heart anyway).
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