MAXVILLE — Ferme Blondin dominated a formidable field of 158 entries at the Maxville Holstein Spring Show on June 23, taking home both the Premier Breeder and the Premier Exhibitor banners.

"It was a strong show," said Ian Fraser, chairman of the Maxville Holstein Spring Show. "I think it was the strongest show we’ve ever had. The quality, from top to bottom, was unbelievable and it seems to be getting better every year."

Eastern Ontario continues to produce quality animals that are in demand and able to compete in the show ring according to Kris MacLeod, Kenyon Agricultural Society director and Eastern Ontario representative for Holstein Canada. 

 "We, in Eastern Ontario, did pretty well in the heifer wave," he said. "Some of the heifers we had there that were bred and owned in the area will be going to the Royal and do pretty well. The guys from Quebec didn’t bring any bad ones either, and I won’t say that we whupped them but we held our own."

The Holstein show and the 4-H showmanship ran at the same time with Julie McDonald of Winchester judging the showmanship.

"This way we can include the showmanship class during our lunch break," said Fraser. "The only thing now is that the show is getting bigger and it will get tougher to recognize the kids if we even get another 30 animals competing." 

Bloyce Thompson from Frenchfort, PEI, judged the open show with the top two 4-H entries returning for a 4-H champion.

Thompson, a third generation Holstein breeder, owns and operates the famed Eastside Farm. Eastside was awarded a Master Breeder shield in 2006, and has had several all-Canadian and all-American nominations over the years. His keen breeding abilities focus on creating exceptional mammary systems and strong feet and legs. He has bred several outstanding show cows including Eastside Lewisdale Gold Missy, Lheros Lady, S Twain, and others.

"A lot of the modern style judges focus on the udders, feet, and legs and how the cow moves on them," said MacLeod. "It used to be frame, and it still helps for the heifers to have a good frame. But cows that have a good udder and good legs will be placed higher in the class."

The Premier Exhibitor of the junior show was Gen-Con Holsteins of Quebec with Dubeau Holsteins taking home the Premier Breeder of the junior show banner.

The Grand Champion was Happydanny Jayz Sunday ET, a senior 3-year-old owned by J & P Black, D & H Meier, and M. Heath of New York. The Reserve Grand Champion was Cobequid Goldwyn Leno, a junior 3-year-old owned by Ferme Yvon Sicard of St. Justine, Que. Junior Champion was R-E-W Happy Go Lucky ET, a senior yearling heifer owned by Velthius Farms, Ardross Holsteins, and Sjendi Farms from Osgoode, Caledonia, and Grimsby. The Reserve Junior Champion was Gillette Sid Misteryday, an intermediate calf owned by Ferme Gillette, of Embrun.