For six days, thousands of North America’s finest dairy animals filed into the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and circled the colored shavings, their handlers showing the beautiful bovines to their best advantage, eager to catch the discerning eye of the judges.
By late Friday afternoon, the Grand and Reserve Grand Champions of the seven international breed shows at World Dairy Expo 2025 had been chosen in both the open and junior classes. All that was left was the grand finale and the question on everyone’s mind: would the last year’s Supreme Champion Stoney Point Joel Bailey, the stunning Jersey from California hold on to her title?
During the Parade of Champions, each grand champion from the open and junior show was led into the darkened arena, illuminated by a single spotlight. Wisconsin was well-represented, having three Supreme Champion contenders in both the open and junior shows.
Competing for Supreme Grand Champion honors in the open show
Competing for Supreme Grand Champion honors in the open show
And the winner is….
Standing in the darkness, waiting for the announcement of the Supreme Champion of the Junior Show, Tessa Schmocker held her breath, would her cow Asalia named Grand Champion at the Midwest National Spring Show in both 2024 and 2025, as well as Supreme Champion at the 2023 Wisconsin Junior State Fair take top honors on dairy’s biggest stage? She had little time to wonder and burst into tears as the announcer called out Asalia’s name. Soon her sister, Stella, was hugging her as well.
Standing in Reserve was the Ayrshire, Toppglen Wishful Thinking-ET, exhibited by Tanner, Brennan, Marissa, and Logan Topp of West Salem, Ohio.
Standing beside last year’s defending 2024 World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion—Stoney Point Joel Bailey, Jim Ostrom, co-owner of the statuesque Golden-Oaks Temptres-Red-ET, may have been weighing the Red & White’s chances against the Jersey superstar who had racked up her third consecutive Grand Champion Jersey title earlier in the week.
Over the past two years, since Temptres was named Intermediate Champion and Honorable Mention Grand Champion in 2023, the five-year-old has matured into a top cow. She was even awarded the distinction of having the Best Udder.
Then there was the Holstein, Lovhill Sidekick Kandy Cane, the New York cow that had won the competitive class that had finished only hours ago. Besides, a Red & White hasn’t won Supreme Champion honors since Lavender Ruby Redrose – Red of Rosedale Farm Oxford, Wisconsin won the title 20 years ago. Was the breed due?
The judges thought so as the 5-year-old made her way to the winner’s circle and Ostrom beamed a big smile to his partners. Lovhill Sidekick Kandy Cane stood in Reserve.
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: Red & White Temptres beats out competition to win Supreme Champion honors at World Dairy Expo
Reporting by Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State Farmer / Wisconsin State Farmer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
