The Complete Image Gallery from the International Brown Swiss show 2018 is now available for you to view, share and purchase photos. Cowsmo was on hand providing live results and photos.
Biography
Steve Wagner, a former partner of Bo-Joy and Graystone Farm, is the current manager of Tim and Sharyn Abbott’s Borderview Genetics herd in Richford, Vermont. While at Bo-Joy and Graystone, Wagner and his family bred 97 Excellent cows and received 49 All-American Nominations in the Brown Swiss and Red & White contests. Most well-known for the Emory Gretchen family, the Bo-Joy and Graystone herd was dispersed in March 2017 at which time Wagner moved from Pennsylvania to Vermont and the newly established herd at Borderview Genetics. Wagner has judged more than 150 shows throughout the east coast in addition to the Southeastern National Brown Swiss Show, All-American Brown Swiss Show and state fairs in Maryland, New York, Kentucky and Wisconsin.
Christopher “Chip” Savage resides in Union Bridge, Maryland where he and his wife, Isha, and their sons, Connor and Chase, own and manage a dairy cattle boarding facility. Savage’s passion for registered dairy cattle began during his childhood at Savage-Leigh in Knoxville, Maryland. There his knowledge grew as he helped the farm find worldwide success with the Bellwood Linda family which boasts 19 generations of Savage-Leigh breeding. Savage has judged a multitude of state and national shows, and in 2015, he was the associate Jersey judge at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. In the showring, he has exhibited many grand champion and supreme champion cows in Maryland and at the All-American Dairy Show. Most recently, Savage’s sons exhibited the 2017 Grand Champion of the International Red & White Junior Show who also went on to be the Red & White Grand Champion of the open and junior shows at the North American International Livestock Exposition.
Q&A with Steve Wagner
What has been your most memorable judging experience so far?
I was the first guy to make Brown Heaven Glenn Fantasy Grand Champion! She was a Junior 3-year-old at the time at the New York Spring Show in 2013. I’d seen her has a 2-year-old at Madison the year before and she looked alright, but at New York the next year there was some buzz around the barn that she’d changed a lot. There’s been a lot of great moments, but that one was exciting – she’s an impressive cow.
Who is your favorite cow of all time? One that you’ve judged and/or one that you admire?
There have been so many cows I’ve admired it’s hard to pick just one! I’d say Brookview Tony Charity when I saw her for the first time at Harrisburg. She might be considered ‘old school’ but man was she ever good. I’ve definitely admired Huronia Centurion Veronica and what her daughters have gone on to do. For Swiss, our homebred cow Bo-Joy Ensign Glee is my favourite. I raised her up from a baby calf, she didn’t look like a Swiss really but she was a great cow.
What do you love most about judging?
I think it brings a new perspective. I’ve fitted cattle and bred some great cattle, but it’s a different view when you’re in the centre of the ring, shows you a new way to look at the cows in front of you. I really like judging youth shows, there’s so many great kids coming up in the industry, and it’s also neat to be able to earn respect from the people I looked up to when I was younger when I’m judging.
What are you looking for in your winners?
I like a clean leg, a long dairy head and neck and a beautiful mammary system. I like cows that are balanced, with a slight uphill run, who have lots of dairy strength and good feet and legs.
Describe the feeling of being asked to judge at Madison?
This will be my first time ever judging a show at Madison and it’s a bit overwhelming. It was very exciting to get on the ballot for last year’s show and then to be selected this year is exciting as well. The first person I called was my boss, Tim Abbott.
How did you select your Associate Judge?
Chip Savage and I have been friends for a long time and we see cows the same way. I know he’ll step up and give his opinion and not just agree with me. We’ve grown up together as competitors and this will give him a great opportunity too to get out there and judge.
