Sask. dairy show highlights industry’s future
More than 225 Holstein and Jersey cattle from the four western provinces vied for ribbons at the Western Dairy Expo in Saskatoon late last month.
Previous dairy expos had been held in Saskatoon from the 1980s to 2013, but with the exception of a National Holstein Convention Show in 2022, no spring show had been held in the city for more than a decade.
With the growing demise of spring shows in other provinces, Bryce Fisher of R & F Livestock Inc. from Cudworth, Sask., established Western Dairy Expo in 2024 with the help of fellow dairy producers in Saskatchewan and the financial support of sponsors.
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“Last year was our first year back,” said Fisher, who chaired this year’s show.
“We had some stumbles, but we picked ourselves up and pushed forward. We are a registered, non-profit organization. We have to pay for everything, so the only way we can pay for this show is through sponsorship.”
He said the goal of the show is to “differentiate ourselves from every other show in Canada, make it a drawing card and good for young people.”
Fisher’s first idea was a Hall of Fame for cows, which resulted last year in a display of banners featuring pictures of former Dairy Expo champions and prominent Saskatchewan cows.
This year, the expo established the first annual Legends of the Industry award honouring “Saskatchewan people who have built our dairy industry and paved the way for us,” Fisher said.
More than 300 people attended the Social Night at the Western Development Museum where four “legends” were recognized — Lorne and Glenna Loveridge, Elaine Donald, the late Richard Dyck and the late Harry Martens.
The program also included remarks from Dan Wong, president of the Western Dairy Council, and Dr. Carl Nienhuis, a professor at the University of the Fraser Valley and a certified mental performance consultant.
Olortine Avenger Design was declared grand champion during the closing ceremony of the 164-head Holstein show.
Shown by R & F Livestock Inc. of Cudworth and Walker Dairy Inc. of Aylmer, Ont., this senior three-year-old was purchased during the show by Blondin Sires of Saint-Placide, Que., and Butlerview Farms of Chebanse, Illinois.
Sixty-two head were shown in the Jersey show, with the grand champion rosette going to four-year-old Lone Pine Victorious Donny, owned by Robella, Prospect Valley and Austin Kopecky of Balgonie, Sask. Lining up the quality classes was judge Paul Trapp of Wisconsin.
The future of the dairy industry was on display during the junior show, judged by Casey Morey of Alberta.
RF Sidekick Charlie was tabbed grand champion of the conformation classes for Bart Verkuijlen of Dugald, Man., while Adyson Wildeboer of Lacombe, Alta., was grand champion in showmanship.
There were 23 participants in the peewee showmanship class.
Lee and Melissa Morey, who milk 400 Jerseys at Unique Valleystream Genetics near Rochester, Alta., were at the expo to showcase their genetics and show that high type and high production and genomics can exist in the same animal.
“We have three AI bull mothers in our string,” they said.
The Moreys also brought one-year-old daughter Avery because “we want to pass our passion for cattle shows on to the next generation.”
Ryan Friesen of Kenbert Acres near Drake, Sask., who “loves cows, the industry and the friends I’ve made at shows,” said the main reason he showed is “family.”
“We do this as a family,” said the father of five, “because the relationship aspect makes it worthwhile.”
Mark Sweetnam of Sweetridge Farms from Stanley, Man., brought three cows and had six tie-ins in his string.
He said he attended because he “loves shows, the competition and interaction with people.”
For the Kooyman family of Westcoast Holsteins, who milk 7,500 cows between their farms in British Columbia and four dairies in Saskatchewan, it took 16 hours to transport their seven entries from Chilliwack, B.C., to Saskatoon.
However, as Jeff Kooyman said, “Bryce Fisher does a phenomenal job of catering to the far west exhibitors. This is a big spring show and we want to support it. We need to attend.”
Source: www.producer.com