29th Annual Wisconsin Holstein Futurity

Eleven three-year-old Holstein cows paraded around the coliseum at the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis, Wisconsin on Saturday, August 15, 2015 to compete for the title of first place in the 29^th Annual Wisconsin Holstein Futurity. John Erbsen of Lanark, Illinois served as the official judge.

The Wisconsin Holstein Futurity is a non-traditional cattle show, where the exhibitors enter their animals three years prior to the show in hopes of raising a high-quality show cow. It is a prestigious show where only the best in Registered Holsteins compete.

Topping the class was Milksource Dty Tammy-Red-ET, owned by Grady and Lane Wendorf and Dawson and Kylie Nickels of Dodge County and shown by Ryan Krohlow of Poynette, Wis. They received a $1,500 check from Badgerland Financial, a major sponsor of the Wisconsin Holstein Futurity. Milksource Dty Tammy-Red-ET was also named the Best Udder of the show and the top fat and protein production winner.

In second place was Oeh-My Atwood Enso, owned by Chase and Willow Oehmichen of Abbotsford, Wis. and shown by Chad Ryan of Fond du Lac, Wis. She took home a check for $750 presented by International Protein Sires. Oeh-My Atwood Enso was also named the top milk production winner.

Miss Summer Song-ET, owned by Dawson and Kylie Nickels of Watertown, Wis., and shown by Dawson Nickels placed third. Agropur presented a check for $500 to the Nickels siblings. Miss Summer Song-ET was also the first place Junior and received an award sponsored by Angela Davis-Brown of Ma-Brown Holsteins and Jerseys and $50 sponsored by the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association

Even though the cows are the stars of the show, the WHA Futurity is a time for our exhibitors to exchange their blue jeans and boots for ball gowns and tuxedos. All the exhibitors dressed to impress, but only three best-dressed individuals were named. Each best-dressed individual received a trophy with a photo frame and a cash award. Frisle-Vu Holsteins, Indianhead Holsteins, and Scenic-Edge Holsteins were the sponsors for the Best Dressed awards. Best Dressed Junior went to Nicole Wright from Watertown, Wis., Joel Kietzman from Waunakee, Wis., was awarded Best Dressed Male, and Best Dressed Female went to Christa Wendorf from Ixonia, Wis.

The WHA Futurity show is not only a fun and formal event for the exhibitors, it’s also a great way to promote the dairy industry. The main purpose of the show is to promote the dairy industry to the general public and display the care and dedication that dairy producers have for their animals and the products they produce. The WHA Futurity was created to inform people that are not from an agriculture background about the Registered Holstein and the dairy industry.

2015 Futurity Final Placings

1st Place - Sponsored by Badgerland Financial     $1,500

Milksource Dty Tammy-Red-ET

Sire: Scientiric Destry-ET

Owner: G & L Wendorf and D & K Nickels, Ixonia

Exhibitor: Ryan Krohlow

Best Udder of Show sponsored by East Central Select Sires

Top Fat & Protein Production sponsored by Brian Greenman, Rural Mutual Insurance Agent

2^nd Place - Sponsored by International Protein Sires     $750

Oeh-My Atwood Enso

Sire: Maple-Downs-I G W Atwood-ET

Owner: Chase & Willow Oehmichen, Abbotsford

Exhibitor: Chad Ryan

Top Milk Production sponsored by Brian Greenman, Rural Mutual Insurance Agent

3^rd Place - Sponsored by Agropur     $500

Miss Summer Song-ET

Sire: Gillette Windbrook

Owner: Dawson & Kylie Nickels, Watertown

Exhibitor: Dawson Nickels

1^st Junior sponsored by Ma-Brown Holsteins & Jerseys and WI Jr. Holstein Association

4^th Place          Miss Atwood Darcy

                        Sire: Maple-Downs-I G W Atwood

                        Owner & Exhibitor: Joel Kietzman, Waunakee

                        Best Dressed Male sponsored by Indianhead Holsteins

5^th Place          Mar-Linda-K Damion Harmony

                        Sire: Erbacres Damion

                        Owner & Exhibitor: Nicole Wright, Watertown

                        Best Dressed Junior sponsored by Frisle-Vu Holsteins

                        Best Bred & Owned sponsored by Lirr Farms

6^th Place          Miss Guthrie Lacey

                        Sire: Fustead Goldwyn Guthrie-ET

                        Owner: Chase & Willow Oehmichen, Abbotsford

                        Exhibitor: Krista Luedtke

7^th Place          Bleck Brady Hvezda Jingles

                        Sire: Orbe-View S Strm Hvezda-ET

                        Owner: Brady Bleck, Glenbeulah

                        Exhibitor: Elise Bleck

8^th Place          Jamsar Atwood Petunia-ET

                        Sire: Maple-Downs-I G W Atwood

                        Owner: James & Sarah Neuser, Reedsville

                        Exhibitor: James Neuser

9^th Place          Crescentmead DRMFX Cherish

                        Sire: Maple-Downs-I G W Atwood

                        Owner & Exhibitor: Kylie Nickels, Watertown

10^th Place        Miss Summer Serenade-ET

                        Sire: Gillette Windbrook

                        Owner: Summer Breeze Syndicate

                        Exhibitor: Christa Wendorf, Ixonia

                        Best Dressed Female sponsored by Scenic-Edge Holsteins

11^th Place        Jimdandy BW Glimmer-Red

                        Sire: Hylite Barbwire-Red-ET

                        Owner: McKenna & Coltin Coffeen, DePere

                        Exhibitor: McKenna Coffeen

                        Best Junior Bred and Owned sponsored by Lirr Farms

10th Featured Futurity Entry

Featured Futurity Exhibitor:  Crescentmead Holsteins, Christa Wendorf

Christa and her husband Todd reside in Dodge County along with their two children Landon and Mylie. Over the last eight years Todd and Christa have cared for 7 All-American or Junior All-American Nominations. Their favorite being Crescentmead Summer Breeze in 2006, All American Summer Yearling and the dam of Miss Summer Serenade, who Christa will be showing in the Holstein Futurity. Christa and Todd have both been very active in the Dodge County Holstein Association, having served as Dodge County Junior Holstein Leaders for over 18 years. They also have both helped to coach the 2005 National 4-H Judging team. Todd has also judged at district, state, and national levels. Most recently in November of 2014 he judged the National Holstein and Brown Swiss Show in Lima Peru in South America. Christa will be showing at the 2015 Holstein Futurity in memory of her mother, Carol Sachse. Carol sparked Christa's involvement in the dairy industry and passed away this past May. We look forward to seeing Miss Summer Serenade and Christa in Milwaukee!

9th Featured Futurity Entry

Featured Futurity Entry:  Nicole Wright

Nicole Wright and her older sister Kayla grew up in Jefferson County on their family farm Mar-Linda-K Holsteins. The farm was established in 1989 when Nicole's parents, Mark and Linda, took over the Klug-View Dairy Farm. Today, they operate a 300 acre farm and manage a herd of 90 homebred registered Holsteins. They have earned many prestigious awards over the years such as progressive breeder, production and quality milk awards, as well as winning the 2014 Holstein Futurity. Nicole is a member of 4-H, FFA, Junior Holstein Association, and Brown Swiss Association. She has also won many awards in her various organizations including distinguished junior member, national youth achievement, junior progressive breeder, and production awards. In 2014 Nicole was a national FFA finalist in dairy entrepreneurship proficiency and a state star farmer. Nicole will be in her second year at University of Wisconsin - Madison Farm and Industry Short Course this fall where she is a student ambassador. Upon graduation she plans to continue to develop her herd of registered Holsteins and Brown Swiss on her family's farm. Nicole will be exhibiting Mar-Linda-K Damion Harmony in this years Futurity.

8th Featured Futurity Exhibitor

Featured Futurity Exhibitor:  Troy and Sarah Wendorf

Troy and Sarah Wendorf own and operate Troy's Transport which is a diary cattle hauling company having been in operation since 1998. Their company runs 180,000 head of dairy cattle annually. This spring Troy and Sarah and their children  Grady (age 12) and Lane (age 7) purchased Crescentmead Farms to keep the family farm going. Troy and Niles work together to crop 900 acres of food grade soybeans, corn, alpha, and wheat. Sarah is very involved in the dairy industry serving as the secretary on the Red and White Dairy Cattle Board of Directors, general leader of the local 4-H, a coach for the Dodge County dairy bowl team, and is serving as the vice president of the Wisconsin Red and White Dairy Cattle Association. Troy and Sarah are excited to see their children having a passion for the dairy industry. They are both very helpful with the daily activities on the farm and in the Dodge County Holsteins. Troy and Sarah would like to give a special shout out to Niles and Carolyn, Troy's parents, on their upcoming 50th wedding anniversary! Ryan Krohlow will be leading the Wendorf's entry, Milksource Dty Tammy-Red-ET. Ryan and his wife Haley live in Poynette and have a daughter, Callie, and are expecting another child in December!

6th Featured Futurity Exhibitor

Featured Futurity Exhibitor:  Elise Bleck

Elise Bleck is from Sheboygan County and very excited to be showing in the Futurity Show this year! She is the daughter of Jeff and LeaAnn Bleck and has a younger brother, Brady. Elise stays very busy with the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association and the Sheboygan County 4-H. In 2014 she was named a Younger Distinguished Junior Holstein Member. Elise was also a member of the first place Wisconsin 4-H Junior Dairy Quiz Bowl Team and most recently was a member of the second place Wisconsin 4-H Junior Dairy Judging Team. While not with her dairy cattle she enjoys playing basketball and volleyball. On August 15th Elise will be exhibiting Bleck Brady Hvezda Jingles at the Futurity Show!

7th Featured Futurity Exhibitor

Featured Futurity Exhibitor:  Kylie Nickels

Kylie is the 14 year old daughter of Tom and Penni Nickels and helps run Dreamfix Holsteins along with her brother Dawson. She has a passion for the dairy industry and stays very active with dairy bowl, dairy jeopardy, and dairy judging. Kylie was a member of the first place Junior Dairy Bowl team at the Wisconsin Holstein Convention in January. Also at the convention she was awarded with the Wisconsin Holstein Association Younger Member Recognition. Most recently Kylie won the Junior Division of the State Dairy Judging contest held in Marshfield. Throughout the year you will find her exhibiting her Registered Holsteins at district, state, and national shows. At the 2015 Midwest Spring Show she was first in Junior Showmanship. Kylie will be a freshman this fall at Watertown High School. After high school she plans to attend the University of Wisconsin - Madison to major in Dairy Science.

5th Featured Futurity Exhibitor

Featured Futurity Exhibitor:  Heatherstone Enterprises Inc., Chelsea Holschbach

Mike and Valerie Holschbach family own and operate Heatherstone Enterprises Inc. Heatherstone is currently milking 130 cows and runs 320 acres of land in Baraboo. They have a RHA of 30,288. Heatherstone Holsteins has had many accomplishments over the past few years, in 2014 they were a  Holstein USA Star of the Breed Award winner. They hosted the 2008 National Convention Sale at their farm. In 2014 they won the Reserve All-American milking Fall Yearling, they also won first place spring calf at the International Red & White Show held at World Dairy Expo. The past three years Heatherstone has taken home the Premier Exhibitor banner from the District 5 Holstein Show. Dr. Chelsea currently works at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary medicine as a large animal medicine resident. Chelsea's father, Mike Holschbach is the immediate past president of World Dairy Expo. This year Chelsea will be parading Heatherstone Melania-ET around the ring at the 29th Annual Futurity Show!