Grand champion at Ontario Spring Discovery Show (Barn Girls Photography)
By Brandy Harrison
ANCASTER — Bosdale Gold Luster came primed for the ring, casting off any doubt that a cow milking almost 10 months could come out on top.
“She was in excellent form. When they’ve been milking that long, it’s always more challenging when competing against cows that are in their wedding clothes, so to speak,” says Woodbridge dairy farmer Ari Ekstein, who co-owns Luster, the grand champion Holstein cow tapped by judge Jamie Black of Constable, N.Y. at the Ontario Spring Discovery Show on April 23 in Ancaster.
Extremely balanced and dairy with a fantastic udder at first calving, Luster caught Ekstein’s eye on a visit to Bosdale Farms Inc. in Cambridge. Worth a second look, he bought the nearly faultless cow last September with partners Glen Beckett of Beckridge Holsteins in Keswick, Oscar and Eric Dupasquier of Dupasquier Holsteins in Guelph, and Francesco Bertola of Agriber Societa Agricola SRL in Italy.
Since then, Luster has put together a string of wins, including reserve grand champion at Autumn Opportunity and honourable mention intermediate champion at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
Repeating last year’s one-two finish, Ekstein also showed the reserve champion and earned premier exhibitor honours along with the rest of the team at Quality Farms Inc., his father Paul, farm manager Don Schwartz, and Manuel Gutierrez, who looks after the show cows.
“It’s about passion, drive to succeed, and hard work,” he says.
RESULTS: HOLSTEIN
Grand champion: Bosdale Gold Luster, bred by Ed, Gerald, John, and Pete Bos of Bosdale Farms Inc., Cambridge, Ont. and John Hunyady, Kitchener, Ont.; owned by Ari Ekstein of Quality Farms Inc., Woodbridge, Ont., Glen Beckett of Beckridge Holsteins, Keswick, Ont., Oscar and Eric Dupasquier of Dupasquier Holsteins, Guelph, Ont., and Francesco Bertola of Agriber Societa Agricola SRL, Piacenza, Italy
Reserve: Marfloacres Damion Lulu, bred by Floyd L. Martin, Mount Forest, Ont.; owned by Quality Farms Inc.
Honourable mention: Howard-View Razzmataz, bred by Jamie and Jason Howard of Howard-View Holsteins, Flemingsburg, Ky.; owned by Donald Doan of Doanlea Holsteins, Norwich, Ont. and Kloepfer Holdings Ltd., Ingersoll, Ont.
Premier breeder: John, Cynthia, Justin, and Ryan Crowley of Crovalley Holsteins, Hastings, Ont.
Premier exhibitor: Quality Farms Inc.
Breeder’s herd: Jim, George, and Nathan Thompson of Cavanaleck Holsteins, Belmont, Ont.
Junior champion: Farrow S Victorias Secret, bred and owned by Far-Row Holsteins, Woodville, Ont., and Rob Heffernan
Reserve: MS Duckett Dyment Coral, bred by David Dyment of Dymentholm Genetics, Dundas, Ont., and Michael and Julie Duckett of Duckett Holsteins, Rudolph, Wis.; owned by Brad Eggink of Gracehaven Holsteins, Grimsby, Ont., and Christine Armstrong of Royal Lynn Holsteins, Cayuga, Ont.
Honourable mention: Echo Glen GD Macy, owned by Jeff Stephens, Troy, Ont. and Pierre Boulet of Ferme Pierre Boulet, Montmagny, Que.
Junior herd: Aleah Farms, Beaverton, Ont.
RESULTS: JERSEY
Grand champion: Pleasant Nook Candy Cane, bred and owned by Rob and Julie Eby of Pleasant Nook Holsteins & Jerseys, Ayr, Ont.
Reserve: Pleasant Nook Sultan Jetta, bred and owned by Pleasant Nook Holsteins & Jerseys
Honourable mention: Kentville Candy Tequila, bred and owned by Kevin and Becky McGriskin of Kentville Holsteins & Jerseys, Shelburne, Ont.
Premier breeder and exhibitor: Brian, Donna, Jeff, Julie, Bruce, and Carolyn Sayles of Bridon Farms, Paris, Ont.
Junior champion: Lorivale Tequila Hopalong, bred by Dave and Lori Chamberlain of Lorivale Farms, Mamora, Ont.; owned by Emily Henderson and Cameron Stockdale, Millbrook, Ont.; sold to Jeff Stephens, Troy, Ont.
Reserve: Willow Creek Reagan Marissa, bred and owned by Richard and Teresa Osborne of Willow Creek Jerseys, New Hamburg, Ont. and Scott and Sandra Honey
Honourable mention: Willow Creek Giller Sherry, bred and owned by Willow Creek Jerseys
Junior herd: Willow Creek Jerseys
