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Oustanding Holstein Boy & Girl Features
2021 Wisconsin Outstanding Holstein Girl & Boy Features
The Outstanding Holstein Boy and Girl awards are the highest honor that the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association can bestow on members. The winners of these awards are chosen based on their Distinguished Junior Member applications and an interview. Our 2021 recipients were recognized at the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention at the end of December. Get to meet the winners, Hannah Hockerman and Brian “Mac” McCullough.
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Hannah Hockerman
Being named the Outstanding Holstein Girl is an honor that I have dreamed of since my first junior convention. I have always looked up to those who have received this prestigious award in the past. Being able to receive the award would not have been possible without the help of my family encouraging me every step of the way. I am honored to be recognized as this year’s 2021 Outstanding Holstein girl.
I live on my family dairy farm in central Wisconsin. We milk 700 cow with an additional 1,000 head of young stock divided over three different farms. Each farm houses a different age animal. I am very lucky to have an opportunity to work with and care for animals every day.
I graduated from Westfield Area High School in 2020, where I was involved in several different clubs. I was a four year officer in my FFA Chapter, serving as President my senior year. I also had to opportunity to advocate for the dairy industry through forensics. I was an active member of our school’s forensics team during my junior and senior years of high school.
Having been raised on a family farm, I have realized my passion of teaching agriculture. My ventures in the Wisconsin Holstein Association, local FFA chapter, and involvement in 4-H have helped develop that passion and put me on the path to becoming an agricultural teacher. I am currently a student athlete at Rock Valley College, a two-year technical school in Rockford, Illinois. I plan to graduate from Rock Valley in the spring with an Associates Degree in science and then transfer to a four-year school to finish my degree. I love working in the dairy industry, doing daily promotional activities, and hands-on learning. I especially enjoy helping youth learn about where their food comes from. By combining all the things I enjoy doing, becoming an agriculture teacher seems like a good fit for me, as I can teach youth and advocate for the dairy industry every day.
From 2020-2021 I served the Wisconsin Holstein Association as the Southwest District Junior Activities Committee representative. Having this experience as a Junior Activities Committee member has really shown me the passion of youth members in our state. It was a great experience and I cannot wait to implement these learning experiences into the Wisconsin Holstein Association as an adult member.
I currently am an active member of the District 5 Junior Holsteins Breeders. This past year, I decided to take leadership and start a quiz bowl team for our group. My goal was for the younger members to have fun and experience the activities, friendships, and leadership opportunities that I experienced through the Wisconsin Holstein Association and District 5 group. My three Dairy Bowl teams had a blast at the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention.
Through District 5 Junior Holsteins, I have also had the opportunity to attend the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention. I have received many accolades through the years including 12 and Under Recognition, Young Distinguished Junior Member awards, and Distinguished Junior Member awards. In 2018 I was selected to represent Wisconsin in Michigan at the National Holstein Convention as a National YDJM finalist. This year I am representing the state of Wisconsin as a National DJM representative.
I would like to thank my family and friends as I would not have been able to accomplish many things without their guidance. Mom, thank you for teaching me everything I know about showing cattle. I am also very thankful for your guidance this past year with the start of coaching the District 5 quiz bowl teams. Dad, thank you for always encouraging me to try new things. From softball activities to running heard health, you have always believed in me. I am also very thankful for your patience over the years as you helped me take on responsibilities on the farm. To my family, I am very grateful for your support over the years. From athletics to dairy related activities, you have covered chores and home farm responsibilities to allow me to follow my dreams and for that I am very thankful.
I want to encourage members of the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association to find something they enjoy and run
with it. The Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association allows youth members to try new things and push their comfort zones. I was once in your shoes. With hard work and big dreams you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to.
Brian “Mac” McCullough
I’m Brian McCullough, but my friends in the dairy world know me as Mac. I live on Rock-N-HillII Registered Holsteins with my parents Chris and Kathie, and sister Rachel. Our farm consists of 170 acres where we milk about 50 head and raise another 15 dry cows and 60 youngstock. Needless to say, my parents truly laid the foundation for my entire Holstein career.
I’ve watched my Dad develop his herd of Holsteins from a group of “stall fillers” to one of the finest homebred herds in the state. This wasn’t achieved over night, but through the careful analyzation of individuals to create the perfect mating. He’s bred over 100 Excellent cows, and our current BAA stands at 113.2, ranking us 23rd in the nation. My dad, sister and I work together and very carefully select sires for our herd. My dad taught me how to read a stud’s linear, what to look for in a pedigree, and how to improve the next generation by mating. My dad allows me to create my own matings on my personal cows, which I take a lot of pride in. I love mating cows, and my ultimate goal is to breed a special one that could be nominated, or better yet, named AllAmerican.
Showing has always been a staple of my summer and fall months with the highlight being World Dairy Expo. My family and I frequently exhibit at the District 6 Holstein Show, Wisconsin Championship Show, and World Dairy Expo. Wisconsin Junior State Fair has been my favorite show growing up. State Fair allowed me to connect with other Junior Holstein members and showcase the skills that I’ve developed. The past few state fairs have allowed me to showcase my leadership skills, as younger county youth have turned to me when looking for advice on how to prepare their animals for the show.
In 2017, Chad Ryan and Lynn Harbaugh were looking for someone to help their main fitter, Jason Danhof, at the Wisconsin Championship Show. My dad put in a recommendation for me, and I was hired. For those that may not know, Jason has a renowned reputation around the world for his fitting abilities. Knowing that I would be working with one the best fitters ever, I spent the week asking question after question, and watching with amazement to his precision and expertise. I took that experience gained from that show and soaked it all in like a sponge. Later that year, Chad and Lynn once again hired me to help Jason at World Dairy Expo. There, we not only fitted the show strings of Bella-Ridge, Ryan-Vu, and notable tie-ins, we also managed the World Classic sale cattle. Since 2017, Chad and Lynn have trusted me to continue help fitting their animals at many major shows. I’ve fitted for many respected breeders around the state, but I undoubtedly consider the Bella-Ridge and RyanVu string to be my “show-home”.
Aside from giving me the opportunity to clip, Chad and Lynn have taught me incredible elite heifer raising skills. They know what it takes to develop the quality individuals that I strive to work with. I’ve asked what they do to improve feet and legs, what show diets to feed, hair growing advice, and how to present an animal to its best ability in the showring. Chad and Lynn have always given me honest and helpful answers that I could apply to my own animals.
I’ve learned that in order to have an elite show cow, it takes an elite genetic family. I’ve always wanted a special show cow, so in 2019 I jumped at the opportunity to buy into an elite maternal line. A flashy mid-March speckled Doorman spring yearling caught my eye at our local sale. With approval from my dad, I purchased Budjon-Vail Doorman Harvest-ET. She went on to be Nominated Junior All-American for me, gave me a heifer calf, and put on a super udder. She won her class at our competitive District 6 show as a Junior 2-year-old, scored VG-88, and garnered a lot of attention at the 2020 Wisconsin Championship Show. Her heifer calf is also a standout individual, placing third at the Wisconsin State Fair this past summer. This fall, Harvest calved in with yet another heifer calf, an Addison, and scored EX-92 at 3-6. I look forward to continuing to work with elite genetic pools like “Harv’s” and potentially investing again if the right individual comes along.
My ultimate goal is to build, own, and manage an elite show heifer raising facility that allows me to develop my own show prospects, while also raising the top 10 percent heifers from the home farm. I believe the more one-on-one attention I can give heifers, the more likely they can reach their full potential. I’ve been taught by so many talented people, and I can’t wait to showcase all that I’ve learned by doing it entirely by myself.
I am truly honored to be named this year’s Outstanding Holstein Boy. Thank you to everyone who has helped me throughout the years, this would not have been possible with your support and generosity in sharing your knowledge.
Dairy Science Major
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES
Signature Student Experiences
College signature experiences encourage students to build community and professional networks; gain global experience; and apply what they learn.
LEARN THROUGH HANDS-ON, REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES
Students have access to on-campus dairy cattle during lab sessions. 100% of students complete an internship or field experience.
BUILD COMMUNITY AND NETWORKS
With a 10:1 student faculty ratio in the department, dairy science students not only learn from experts — they also work with them.
In the heart of America’s Dairyland, Madison is home to many dairy businesses and farms, and, of course, World Dairy Expo!
CUSTOMIZE A PATH OF STUDY
The major is flexible and prepares students for a wide range of careers, including veterinary medicine, dairy herd management and professional consulting.
Many students complete a second major or certificate.
MAKE A STRONG START
An introductory seminar provides a survey of dairy science and tools for career development.
GAIN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
A special program in central Mexico focuses on global agricultural and rural development. Connect with other dairy science students through the Badger Dairy Club.
Scholarship opportunities are available for students to study abroad. Advance dairy production through the study of animal biology and the use of innovation and technology. Students learn to promote animal welfare, improve human health and protect the environment.
Dairy science majors graduate prepared for veterinary, medical or graduate school and careers in agribusiness, dairy farm management, research, teaching and more.
FOOD & AGRICULTURE
cals areas of study
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
55+
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
$100K
AWARDED IN ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS
21
DAIRY-SPECIFIC COURSES
84
COWS ON CAMPUS
80
MEMBERS OF BADGER DAIRY CLUB STUDENT ORG
CALS believes diversity is a source of strength, creativity and innovation for campus, and we value and respect what each person brings to the table, including alumni, faculty, staff and students from historically underrepresented groups.
Dairy Science Alumni are Growing the Future
100% of Dairy Science respondents agree/strongly agree that UW–Madison prepared them for the next step in their career path.*
CONNOR WILLEMS Dairy Science BS’18
Dairy Focus Consultant, Cargill Animal Nutrition
RYAN HORSENS Dairy Science BS’15
Manager, Horsens Homestead Farms
DR. ELIZABETH ENDRES, DVM Dairy Science BS’17
Associate Livestock Veterinarian, Lodi Veterinary Care
SYDNEY BROOKS Dairy Science BS’19
Executive Client Manager, Filament Marketing
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