Holstein Association USA’s Board of Directors has approved several updates for the 2026 National Holstein Shows, following recommendations presented during the Association’s Board Meeting held November 19–20 in Louisville, Kentucky.
As part of the Show Committee Report, the Board approved a newly developed Holstein Association USA Judges List Code of Conduct. This document provides guidance for all judges who are on the Holstein Association USA Judges Lists and establishes a clear process for addressing ethical matters should they arise. It will be distributed to all judges currently listed on the lists and is available online at holsteinusa.com/shows/judges.
National Shows are encouraged to utilize an associate judge, though it remains optional. Any associate judge selected for a National Holstein Show must be selected from either the National or Approved Holstein Association USA Judges Lists.
Also approved were updates to the Uniform Class List, following robust discussion by the Show Committee on class timing, structure, and industry trends. Key factors included animal welfare, concerns about over-bagging, appropriate timing for younger cows, balancing championship contenders across age groups, and aligning show practices with the industry’s move toward calving cows at younger ages. As a result, the following recommendations will be implemented for the 2026 Uniform Class List:
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It is recommended that National Holstein Shows move Intermediate Champion after the Junior Three-Year-Old Cow class and before the Senior Three-Year-Old Cow class.
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Remove the Unfresh Junior Two-Year-Old Cow class.
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Make the Summer Junior Two-Year-Old Cow class a required class.
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Add an optional “Milking Winter Yearlings” class and rename the “Milking Yearling” class to “Milking Fall Yearling.”
To support transparency and consistency, National Shows are encouraged to publish lactation numbers and fresh dates in their show catalogs.
In 2025, twelve shows were recognized with National Show status. The Board approved recognizing the same slate of National Holstein Shows and Junior Holstein Shows again for 2026. In addition, the Wisconsin Holstein Association’s application for National status for the 2026 Wisconsin Dairy Showcase was approved. The show will be held on August 26, 2026.
“The updates approved for 2026 reflect the continued evolution of our National Shows and our commitment to strong and fair competition,” said Tim Ziemba, Holstein Association USA National Show Coordinator. “Modernizing class structures ensures our shows keep pace with today’s industry trends, while the new Code of Conduct strengthens trust in the judging process. Together, these steps reinforce the vitality and credibility of our National Holstein Shows.”
The 2026 Holstein Association USA Judges Conference will be held in California during the spring of 2026. Additional details will be shared as they become available. For more information on any of these updates, contact Tim Ziemba at tziemba@holstein.com.
