The Complete Image Galleries from the Royal Red & White Show 2018 are now available for you to view, share and purchase photos. Grand Champion – Antia Absolute Joline (Absolute), Milk Source LLC., WI Junior Champion- Rosedale Avala Lollipop Red (Avalanche), 1st Summer Yearling, London Dairy Farms & Clarkvalley Holsteins, ON watch the live feed, resuls & photos from Toronto, ON, during the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, with official judge Jack Lomeo, Jr., NY.
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Official Judge: Jack Lomeo, Jr.
Jack Lomeo Jr. is a Regional Sales Manager in New York State for ST Genetics. He breeds and owns approximately 50 Holsteins and Jerseys under the recognizable Purple Fever prefix. Jack has been honoured to own many All-American and All-Canadian nominated animals, mainly in ownership with partners who have housed his cattle throughout North America.
Jack was first introduced to the business through his father, who used to go to Canada and buy loads of registered bred heifers and fresh cows. Although his father was more of a commercial buyer, there was one heifer in a load of cattle his father brought back to the United States that really stood above the rest. Jack convinced his father to keep her and she was the first show animal Jack ever owned, creating a strong passion for the show business in him.
1. What has been your most memorable judging experience so far? My most memorable judging experience was evaluating the elite Milking Shorthorn animals at the World Dairy Expo last year. It was such an amazing honour to be on the big stage knowing that you were voted in by your peers and exhibitors that appreciate your opinion on their hard work. Additionally, I recently got back from a judging assignment in Brazil that I will never forget. It was amazing to judge cattle in a foreign country as the people were incredibly welcoming and respectful. Both judging assignments were a gigantic honour, without a doubt.
2. Who is your favorite cow of all time? One that you have judged and/or one that you admire. Brookview Tony Charity is my favourite cow of all time. The time Charity was at her climax was the same time that I was starting to really pay attention and get involved in the business. I was always amazed by the length of her and I still remember they would have to make the pack a foot longer where she stood. My favourite cow that I have ever judged was Pierstein Cicero Time Out, owned by Ferme Jacobs. I judged her last year at the Trois-Rivières show in Quebec and I fell in love with her from the moment she walked in the ring. She is my style- long, feminine, great feet and legs and an amazing udder.
3. What do you love the most about judging? The thought of your peers valuing your opinion enough to let you evaluate their hard work, breeding and purchases is a gigantic honour to me. Additionally, I love how there is a variety of showing. For example, there are experts who do an incredible job with their animals 365 days a year to exhibit at elite shows, and there are young members who are eager to learn and exhibit at 4-H shows. Last year I judged the Dutchess County Fair and made a young girl with a Brown Swiss calf first in her class and Reserve Junior Champion. When I went up to her to congratulate her, she was like “Me?! Really?! You don’t actually mean me?!” I loved seeing that innocence and it is why I find it an honour to judge all levels of shows. Lastly, I really enjoy the fact that I can describe what I see on the mic and explain my placings through my reasons. My hope is that when I am all done, if people didn’t even see the show, they have some vision of what the cows looked like.
4. Describe the feeling you had when you got the call to judge the Royal. Judging the Royal is one of the biggest honours a judge could have. When my dad would come to Canada to buy commercial animals, I would often travel with him and see all the small dairies in Canada with amazing quality. Since I grew up and spent so much time with the people in Canada, it is such an amazing feeling being chosen by them to evaluate their cattle.
5. What are you looking for in your winners? I am looking for a modern, feminine dairy cow that is functional. She has to be big enough, but not too big, and have balance and style. However, the most important part is she has to have a great set of feet and legs and a beautiful mammary system that will allow her to survive throughout many lactations.
6. What is your best piece of advice for upcoming judges or ones that aspire to judge big shows? The most important thing is to keep your eyes open to watch the shows and your ears open to listen to the reasons. Do more listening and watching than talking. Watch for what you like and if you see one that you like better than the judge does, listen to his/her reasons and see why they placed them the way that they did and learn from that. One thing that I pride myself on is throughout all the years of my judging, I have been extremely honest to myself and won with the cows that I love. I think it is important that a young, aspiring judge has to find a pattern and not pay attention to the owners, leadsmen and previous placings. Just go out there and make yourself the happiest!
