STORY BY BONNIE COOPER
K X E E N S S E mall in Numbers, T S
BIG IN SPIRIT
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MARKING ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR IS THE ESSEX-KENT HOLSTEIN CLUB. NESTLED IN ONTARIO’S SOUTHWESTERN CORNER, BOTH COUNTIES HAD THEIR OWN HOLSTEIN CLUBS FOR MANY YEARS, WITH THE ESSEX CLUB ESTABLISHED IN 1923 AND KENT IN 1945. THEY AMALGAMATED IN 1980.
At one time in Essex County there were 1280 milk shippers and 11 processing plants, while the smaller Kent County had 59 milk shippers and six processing plants. In the years to come, Windsor’s automotive industry drew many away from milking cows. When the shift from milk cans to bulk tanks came, that caused others to turn to cash cropping. Today there are just eight dairy producers in each county. While small, the Essex-Kent Holstein Club is a close-knit, passionate club proud of its legacy and the outstanding breeders, industry leaders, show winners and cow families that originate here. Essex County’s Romuald J. Pinsonneault & Sons of Wonderland Holsteins, Stoney Point, were the region’s first Master Breeder in 1969. “Index” was just becoming a buzzword when the Pinsonneaults sold 5-year-old Wonderland Sheik Pam VG 26* for $18,500 in the 1985 National Convention Sale in London to Donnandale Farms, Stirling. One of Puget-Sound Sheik’s highest indexing daughters, Pam went on to have more than 18 sons in A.I., including the popular Donnandale Skychief ET EX-Extra and four Superior Type sons. Pam later sold privately to Alta Genetics Inc. and became one of the original donor cows for AGI’s embryo transfer program, with many of her embryos used in their early cloning research.
Master Breeder award with his Vera family contributing the bulk of the points. “I was the youngest person to ever get Master Breeder at the time,” recalls the now 86-year-old. Lee’s love of good cows and sound cow families made him a source of seedstock for others. He sold cattle to 13 foreign countries and had the top seller in the Shore Canadian Classic three times. He was a partner with Lowell Lindsay in Linafton Maple Lisa EX, 1968 All-Canadian senior yearling and 1969 Reserve All-Canadian 2-year-old. Lee was instrumental in starting the St. Clair Regional Show in Ridgetown in the mid-1970s that took in Kent, Essex and Lambton Counties. Just 5’4” tall, but strong as a bull and stubborn, Lee says, “I was proud of the herd of cows I put together.” When stray 1 voltage on the farm destroyed his life’s work in the 1980s, Montgomery became the “Little Man Who Took on Ontario Hydro” and for over four decades worked tirelessly on issues related to stray voltage. Growing up near Doverholm, and gaining his early farm training there, was Murray Reissner. Murray went on to have a rewarding 41-year career in the A.I. sector, including an 2 early stint as an A.I. technician in Essex-Kent.
John Trudgen was a teenager in the 1960s when his father Glen bought the first purebreds for their Trudgen Farms Ltd. herd at Blenheim. In 1980, this Kent farm achieved Master Breeder Another respected Essex herd, C.C. “Charlie” status. At the centre of their breeding program Morris & Sons of Morris Acres Holsteins, was the Stenhouse Muir Betty EX 5* family, a line Comber, earned a Master Breeder shield in 1971. which produced Betty’s son, Trudgen Centurion The Morrises were regular exhibitors at the Dominion EX-ST, and a grandson, Trudgen 3 shows. Charlie’s son, Jim, later established his Moch Four GP-ST, who was from Betty’s own Morriafton herd at Comber. daughter, Trudgen Rocket Betsy VG 12*. The Trudgens showed at the St. Clair Regional, London (Western Ontario) Championship R. Lee Montgomery, Dover Centre, was 15 when he took over the Show, Royal Winter Fair and Canadian National Exhibition. At the Doverholm herd from his father John. In 1971, Lee achieved a St. Clair and London shows many enjoyable times took place in the PHOTOS 1. One of Puget Sound Sheik’s highest indexing daughters, Wonderland Sheik Pam VG 26* was bred by R.J. Pinsonneault & Sons and went on to be the dam of many sons in A.I. including Donnandale Skychief ET EX-Extra, 2. Lee Montgomery of Doverholm Holsteins treasures the many banners, pictures and memorabilia he has in his home, including the Stetson hat that was worn by Bob Shore, noted auctioneer and sales manager, 3. Stenhouse Muir Betty EX 5* headed the most dominant cow family in the Master Breeder herd of Glen and John Trudgen of Trudgen Farms Ltd.
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