Chad (left) and Herb Henderson (in white) pose with members of the Hendercroft team and the Grand Champion cow at Metcalfe. (Nelson Zandergen photo)
Herb Henderson does it again
But this year was even sweeter at the East-West Holstein show
Nelson Zandbergen
Farmers Forum
METCALFE — Herb Henderson and family have scored their share of wins in the Holstein ring over the years, but the 2024 Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec championship show was especially successful for the Hendercroft name on Oct. 17.
The Ashton-based farm had both the show’s Grand Champion — 4-year-old Hendercroft Unix Fussy — and the Junior Champion, one-year-old Hendercroft Lambda Bananasplit. In addition, the Hendercroft crew also returned home from Metcalfe with pennants for Premier Breeder, Premier Exhibitor and Junior Breeders’ Herd.
Herb Henderson was almost lost for words. “We didn’t expect this at all,” he told Farmers Forum. “It’s a team effort,” he said.
Said his son Chad: “To have junior champion, grand champion, premier exhibitor, we’ve never done that at this show.”
Unix Fussy’s top placing this year in Metcalfe, and winner of the 4-year-old class, follows her finish as reserve intermediate champion last year.
“She’s just complete,” Herb observed.
“She’s just got a beautiful udder,” Chad added.
They look forward to bringing her and other animals to the Royal Winter Fair this month.
The grand champion also exemplifies the outcome of the Hendercroft breeding philosophy, which Herb summarized as “correcting the faults.”
“We breed for cows that will live long and last, and that we like to show,” Chad said. “We like cows with lots of dairy strength and good udders.”
The Hendercroft prefix has been around for about 40 years now, and Herb has been showing for just as long, since his days in 4-H.
Over 165 cattle took part in the Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec championship show. Pat Lundy judged the show, assisted by associate judge Luke Getty. Both men are from New York state.
In other results, reserve grand champion went to the first-place mature cow, Kingsway Sidekick A Touchdown, owned by Cherry Crest Holsteins & Kingsway Farms. The intermediate grand champion was Mosnang Avenger Lippy, the first-place spring two-year-old, owned by Donnandale Farm, Cedarwal Farms, Kingsway Farms & William A Barnum. Lippy was also honourable mention in the grand champion class.
More than 165 animals were scrutinized in the ring at the Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec Championship show in Metcalfe on Oct. 17. (Nelson Zandbergen photo)
Hendercroft Farms employee Maddy Orr poses with Hendercroft Lambda Bananasplit, Junior Champion at the Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec Championship show. (Nelson Zandbergen photo)
Thse are some of the best udders in the game. Shown from behind are the top three animals at the show: The Grand Champion (right), Reserve Grand (middle) and Honourable Mention (at left). (Nelson Zandbergen photo).
