SUPREME at WORLD DAIRY EXPO

MADISON, Wis. — The moment was electric when the supreme champion was named at the World Dairy Expo on Oct. 3, ending a 20-year drought for the Red & Whites. At the halter stood Jim Ostrom of MilkSource Genetics, honored to represent family and team in that moment, along with thousands of Red Holstein fans watching in person and via livestream around the world.

“It’s a complete thrill,” Ostrom said about the moment and his “luck” in being the one to lead Golden Oaks Temptres-Red-ET, sired by Unstopabull. “We have an unwritten rule that if you lead an animal early on and she does well, you stay with her. That’s how it ended up. I got lucky.”

MilkSource Genetics is part of Milk Source LLC, founded in 1999 by the Ostrom and Vosters families near Kaukauna, Wisconsin. From the start, they developed two distinct businesses.

“Both take commitment, but in different ways,” Ostrum said of the commercial dairies focused on competitive efficiency in milk production and the showcase genetics herd that reflects their deep admiration for elite cows and enjoyment of showring competition.

Twenty-six years later, family and team remain at the heart. When Temptres rose to supreme, it was an achievement Ostrom credits to the MilkSource team and to Eddie and Mandi Bue, who manage the genetics herd of 40 milk cows, along with donor and dry cows plus a strong youngstock program.

“What they share is passion for cows, for people, for improving every day,” saids Ostrom during a Farmshine interview after the show. “Every one of us takes it personally. When she won, there was just this wave of joy. It’s difficult to get an animal that far, and their care has been exceptional.”

In the 5-year-old class, before being selected for senior and grand, Judge Adam Hodgins set the tone. “Another great class of cows here today,” he began. “But one cow stands out as exceptional — balanced, strong, and deep all the way through, with a beautiful udder. She really did it for us.”

On the rigors of preparation for the breed show one day and supreme the next, Ostrom was resolute. “Temptress looked incredible. She’s that rare cow that can show two days in a row and look even better the next day. That’s exactly what she did.”

Temptres got a strong endorsement from the judges on the supreme ballot.

“It wasn’t lost on us, the gravity of having something considered among the best in the world,” Ostrom reflected. “It’s a fleeting moment, but an unforgettable one — a thrill for our team and for our families.”

Ending the Red & White supreme drought added another benchmark to the list of MilkSource milestones. A decade earlier, they achieved the first and only trifecta in Expo history, sweeping three breed grand champions in 2015: Holstein, Jersey, and Red & White. That year, the Holstein, Katrysha, was supreme and the Jersey, Martha, reserve.

This year’s win stirred memories of his late wife Annette, a driving force in shaping MilkSource’s success. “She loved to show cattle,” he recalled. Expo fans remember her leading Martha effortlessly to 2016 supreme honors. Martha was grand champion Jersey three times. “For a moment,” he added quietly, “it felt very similar.”

Asked how the various Expo years compare, Ostrom was thoughtful: “This one is special too, but we don’t really try to compare them because every year is different, every animal is different. We just try to enjoy the moment and the animal we’re happy to be leading.”

Temptres, purchased three years ago from Butlerview Farms, “just keeps evolving and improving,” he added, again crediting the team. “It sounds cliché, but elite programs start nine months before the calf is born. If you make a misstep, she doesn’t get to be great. It isn’t luck. It’s the team’s management and passion, all the little things they do 24/7/365.”

MilkSource showed six breeds this year at Expo — Holstein, Red & White, Jersey, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss and Guernsey — with every breed earning second or better. Their string included 34 head, 27 owned by MilkSource and several from close partners.

Asked his favorite breed, Ostrom wouldn’t choose. “We just admire great individuals — Red & White, Black & White, Jersey, Ayrshire, or Swiss. We love the challenge of developing them.”

In addition to past champions, MilkSource has earned banners as Red & White Premier Breeder, most recently last year, and Premier Exhibitor in prior shows. This year, they were also breeder-owner of the spring yearling named junior champion.

Looking ahead, Temptres is confirmed pregnant and heads to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. They expect her to be back next year and even better.

The string is loaded with additional promise: a reserve grand Jersey, an Ayrshire partnership cow that was honorable-mention grand, a first-place young Brown Swiss, and two elite Holsteins, Unix Sally and Power Up, the latter claiming first-place 4-year-old.

Management at the show runs on teamwork, with 15 to 20 people working day and night washing, clipping, feeding, bedding, and others back home keeping everything running.

Among them is Ostrom’s son Tristen, a high-school senior who “is probably the most passionate about showing of all of us,” his father says. “He knows every pedigree, every sire, every farm of origin. He works in the show barn during summers and weekends; loves it completely.”

Ostrom smiles, recalling his recent fatherly advice: “I told him he’s got to try other things someday, but he loves it, and I think he always will.”

Why do this, with large commercial dairies already under their management? “For us, like so many other dairymen, we admire great cows,” Ostrom says simply. “To be part of these elite animals and share in those moments, to be in the competition and stand among the best, even knowing we’ll lose next week or next year, that’s all part of it.”

Also making it enjoyable is the family involvement between Ostrom and Vosters family members. “It’s a fun family function, and everyone there from our families and team to the crowd shares the same passion for great cows and the friendships that grow around them.”