NEWS

Feldman wins Sheboygan County Futurity

VERLA PEICHL

Special Contributor

Handler Sara Feldmann (second from right) and Ron Roskopf, owner of winning entry Cow-Palace Fever So Real, and judge Molly Sloan (second from left) are joined with royalty (from left) Ann O’Leary 69th Alice in Dairyland, 2016 Sheboygan County Fairest of the Fair Makayla Klumpyan and Kati Kindschuh Wisconsin Holstein Association Princess.

PLYMOUTH

Sara Feldman and her entry Cow-Palace Fever So Real was the winner of the 17th Annual Sheboygan County Holstein Futurity held Sept. 4, 2016, at the Sheboygan County Fair park in Plymouth.

Twenty-nine of Sheboygan County's finest 3-year-old Holsteins circled the ring with their handlers under the watchful eye of judge Molly Sloan of Columbus, WI. Sloan works for Alta Genetics and is currently serving as Global Training program manager where she travels abroad to speak about dairy genetic programs.

Feldmann says she was surprised to take top honors with Cow-Palace Fever So Real, owned by Ron and Sandy Roskopf of San-Ron Holsteins of Howards Grove.

“I never expected to win this!” exclaimed Feldmann. “I just can’t hardly believe it!”

Roskopf had a hunch that the odds were in Feldmann's favor when she entered the ring.

“This is really a nice show and all of the animals are very nice cows,” said Roskopf, “but I just knew that Sara had a good chance of winning.”

Sara Feldmann showed the winning 3-year-old Cow-Palace Fever So Real at the 2016 Sheboygan County Holstein Futurity. The cow is owned by Ron and Sandy Roskopf of San-Ron Holsteins of Howards Grove.

Sloan who has judged cows in over 100 shows in 14 states including the 2014 International Junior Holstein Show at World Dairy Expo, the National Red & White Convention Show, and the Southern National Holstein Show - as well as international shows - was impressed with the quality of animals at this year's Futurity.

“All of these animals were beautiful,” said Sloan, “but this last group of five was an exceptionally beautiful group."

Sloan says the reason she picked the top animal over the second animal was because of the balance and dairyness.

“She has an exceptional black silky frame and just overwhelmed the second cow," Sloan said.

Sara Feldmann (left) and Ava Booth showed the top two cows at the Sheboygan County Holstein Futurity on Sept. 4. Cow-Palace Fever So Real (left) was the top winner while Booth's animal, Lyn-Vale Goldsun Glaze-ET was runner up.

The runner-up animal shown by Ava Booth was Lyn-Vale Goldsun Glaze-ET owned by William Schulz III. Taking third place was Paige Vossekuil with her entry Krullcrest Barb Baby-Red- ET owned by Hanke Farms. Bryan Mauk of Mauk-E-Way Farm showed the fourth place finisher Mauk-E-Way Dempsey Amora- ET. Rounding out the Top Five was Katie Ulezelski with her entry Lyn-Vale Solo Cup-Red owned by William Schulz III.

The Sheboygan County Holstein Futurity began in 2000 with the purpose being to stimulate interest in breeding and exhibiting outstanding officially identified Holsteins.

Holstein breeders choose calves they believe will grow and develop into cows that will be productive on the farm and competitive in the show ring. The cows exhibited for this year's show were entered as calves before January 2014 and were born between Sept. 1, 2012 and Aug. 31, 2013. Th The cows returned to the show this season as 3-year-olds.