TUCSON, Ariz. — I purchased my first Red & White females in 1963, as a University of Minnesota freshman. During high school, I spent my summers working with show cattle at Mor-Ayr Farm owned by Dr. R.B. Graves, a physician in Red Wing, Minnesota. He purchased and bred some of North America’s finest Ayrshires. One of Dr. Graves’ animals was Mor-Ayr Bell Belidina, who at Excellent-97.2 is still the highest classified Ayrshire of all time.

Jerry Strandlund, then a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota, became manager of Mor-Ayr in 1964. He worked at Mor-Ayr several years before becoming herd manager for Larry Moore in Suamico, Wisconsin in 1965-66.

In 1962, Dr. Graves donated several Ayrshire heifers to the University of Minnesota with the understanding that a purebred Ayrshire herd would be developed. Dr. Clarence L. Cole, Dairy Department head, graciously accepted the gift and promptly bred each of the heifers to Red Holstein bulls, Larry Moore Pioneer and Larry Moore Nobile, then on loan to the University from Larry Moore. From those matings, four heifer calves were born.

At the time, Dr. Cole was my college advisor and one day I asked him what his plans were for the Red & White calves. His response was: “I’ll sell them to you and cheap.” I negotiated a deal and as a university freshman at 18 years of age, I owned my first Red & Whites.

In those days there was limited domestic demand for Red & Whites. While still a student at the University of Minnesota, I was able to purchase some well-bred calves at very reasonable prices including daughters of SRD Advancer Three, Arlinda Ace, Pineyhill Majority, Center Field Ivanhoe Trustee, Walkway Monitor Joel and Citation R. Maple, as well as a son of Reflection Brauns Ace. Many of these animals found a new home in Brazil. The proceeds helped pay my college tuition and living expenses.

My passion for Red & Whites raised a few eyebrows. Some of the prominent Holstein breeders in Minnesota and elsewhere were not happy to see these red-and-white outcasts legitimized. State Holsteins associations placed paid advertising in the Holstein-Friesian World declaring strong opposition to any by-law changes that would accept Red & Whites into the Holstein herdbook. The U.S. and Canadian Holstein Associations were considering by-law changes that would allow red-and-white offspring of purebred black-and-white parents to enter the Holstein herdbook. Efforts at national conventions failed several times before the membership decided it was time to open the Holstein herd book to Red & Whites.

There were many who were openly hostile to the Red & Whites. One state Holstein president took me aside one day for some fatherly advice and said: “Ronnie, you have a good future ahead of you, but if you keep on with those Red & Whites, you might ruin your reputation.” I politely thanked him and completely ignored his advice.

During the next few years, I became acquainted with nearly all the early Red & White cattle breeders. Several times I was invited to be a guest in their homes, and I traveled with some of them, most notably Elmer Carpenter, from farm to farm to select consignments for the National Red & White Sale held at Waterloo, Iowa in 1969. I served on the RWDCA Bboard from 1979 until 1982.

In 1965, I purchased a purebred Red & White heifer from Harriet and Wayne Brown, Apple Acres Farm, Hastings, Minnesota. This SRD Advancer Three daughter named, Color Crest Miss Scarlet-Red (VG-87) was named reserve grand champion at the first National Red & White Show in 1968 at World Dairy Expo. Later in the week, she topped the National Sale at World Dairy Expo. Scarlet-Red was purchased by Cliff and Claudine Boatright of Wellington, Kansas and gave birth to six daughters. A head shot of Scarlet appeared on the cover of Farm Journal magazine along with an article titled “Red & White Holsteins: The Bright New Breed.” American Breeders Service was pleased that an ABS-sired cow was winning purple ribbons and featured this photo three different times on the cover of the American Breeder’s Service Red & White sire directory.

During my career with Carnation Genetics and American Breeders Service, I traveled overseas and was witness to the interest and strong demand in acquiring North American Red & White genetics to improve conformation and milk production in their native breeds, most of which were various red-colored breeds.

I have continued to be involved in cattle activities during the past 60 years and have thoroughly enjoyed watching Red & Whites gain worldwide acceptance and popularity.

Who in 1964 could imagine that KHW Regiment Apple-Red, a descendant of animals that narrowly missed the butcher block would sell at public auction for a million dollars? Who could imagine that there would be almost as many animals exhibited and spectators watching the International Red & White Show as there were at the black-and -white shows? No one could imagine that a Red & White, Lavender Ruby Redrose-Red would be named supreme champion at World Dairy Expo in 2005 and in 2025, Golden-Oaks Temptres-Red-ET, would repeat that honor. And in 2013, KHW Regiment Apple 3-Red-ETN, became the first and only cloned dairy cow to be named grand champion at the International Red & White Show.

Red & Whites have not only added color to the dairy industry, but they have also added worldwide excitement and value. Indeed, as Farm Journal predicted more than a half century ago, they have become the “Bright New Breed.”