Just 1o years after reintroducing Guernseys to their herd, Springhill of Big Prairie, OH, captured top honors at this year’s International Guernsey Show. Springhill Mentor Jazzy (EX-92) graced the colored shavings and led the way in the 4 Year Old Class and was eventually selected as Grand Champion.
We spoke with Jazzy’s breeder and owner Chris Lang and found out more about Jazzy’s road to Madison.
What other accomplishments does Jazzy have under her belt?
Jazzy has a storied show cow career to this point. As a fall calf, she was Unanimous All-American & Jr.All-American in 2013. That same year she was Jr. Champion at Harrisburg and winner of the coveted Triple Crown which is given to an animal that places first at Harrisburg, Madison and Louisville.
Jazzy returned to the winner’s circle again in 2014 as All-American Fall Yearling after winning her class and chosen Reserve Jr. Champion at Harrisburg and winning again at Madison and being named HM Jr. Champion.
In 2016, Jazzy returned to Madison as a Sr 3 Year Old with her 3rd victory at Madison. She was also named Intermediate Champion and HM Grand Champion. Furthermore, she was chosen once again Unanimous All-American and anchored our HM All-American Produce, Best Three Females and Exhibitors herd( All three groups were 2nd at Madison and ended up HM AA).
This year Jazzy not only won her Madison class for the 4th time but also was named Sr. Champion, Grand Champion, Best Udder of Show, Best Bred &Owned and Overall Nasco Type and Production Award Winner!
What is Jazzy’s personality like at home?
Jazzy can be best described as spirited. I often refer to her as an untamed horse that is itching to get into the starting gate at a race track. Just getting her to the ring or even the milking parlor at home can be tricky and challenging but once she enters her comfort zone …it’s lights out. She has showring style and presence and exhibits that daily at home. Her aggressive behavior is second to none and that’s what really makes her a cow!!
How confident were you that Jazzy would be in the hunt for Champion?
The stars were really aligned for Jazzy in 2017. She controlled her own destiny and was the reigning Intermediate Champion and 3X All-American and Madison winner due to calve as a third calf 4 Year Old in late April. She had always settled on first service and this year was no exception. Unfortunately (or looking back now maybe fortunately?) , Jazzy calved nearly a month early with dead twins after only having a 3 week dry period. In true “Jazzy style”, she never missed a beat. It was full throttle ahead and is still milking over 100 pounds a day seven months later. There was early talk that she would be a contender and in the hunt but our major goal all year was to get her ready to the best of our ability for Madison and let destiny take over from there.
Explain the feeling of winning Grand Champion at World Dairy Expo?
We have been fortunate to have two Madison Jr. Champions, two Madison Intermediate Champions and two Madison HM Grand Champions over the past few years but to finally win the BIG ONE left me speechless at first and full of emotion just moments later. Jazzy’s dam had been Grand Champion at Louisville in 2009 and that was a great feeling but this was special…..I mean really special. To have a homebred cow win Grand Champion at the Greatest Show on Earth just ten years after you reintroduce Guernseys to your herd is a once in a lifetime experience. I was trying hard to hold back the tears and I went over for the Champion photo in the ring corner and the entire Springhill crew and my family were all crying. The emotion was so high that it still sends chills down my spine and that feeling will always be timeless.
What offspring or family members do you have out of Jazzy?
We have three daughters of Jazzy. “Jeopardy,” her oldest by Copper, was the 2016 Reserve All-American Spring Calf and was part of the duo with her dam that was Nominated All-American Dam & Daughter in 2016. We also have a March calf by Python and a yearling by American Pie. Jazzy’s family is a huge part of our breeding program at Springhill.
She has a number of maternal and full sisters that are Excellent and they have done quite well in the showring. “Jerusha”was the 2014 Madison Jr. Champion and is out of a full sister to Jazzy that was EX92. “Jubilee” was Jr. Champion in 2015 at Madison and is out of an EX-90 Royal Oak sister to Jazzy. Ironically, the dams of both of these Jr. Champion heifers have All-American status as well. In 2015, we exhibited both the All-American and Reserve All-American Jr. Best three females that were all descendants of “Joke,” Jazzy’s dam. Jazzy has 6 maternal brothers that have sired daughters that have been Nominated All-American including the Premier Sire of the 2017 Madison heifer show….Springhill J Lonestar-ET!
Anyone you’d like to thank that helped with the success that Jazzy has seen through the years?
There are so many people that have helped Jazzy in one way or another through the years. I am sure I will forget someone along the way and I apologize. It all started with the Dixon family of Missouri that bred Jazzy’s dam “Joke.” I cannot thank them enough for letting a great one go and allowing Springhill to develop her family.
To my parents for giving me the okay to try this “crazy Guernsey experiment” that became our livelihood and future, I am forever indebted. Danny Pszenitzki of Springhill unloaded Jazzy’s dam “Joke” off the trailer when she arrived in 2007 and loaded Jazzy onto the Madison trailer in 2017 and has help take care of the farm not only when Marshall and I are at the shows , but also on a daily basis.
Our crew at Madison this year was sensational. Marshall Overholt, Ben Simpson, The Chupp Brothers, Amanda Campbell, Meagan & Billy Grammer and Kayla King were instrumental in preparing Jazzy to look her best. Marc Bolen was also extremely helpful on show days. Kyle Natzke has done a remarkable job in getting Jazzy ready, along with other Springhill cattle, numerous times over the years. He is as good as it gets and I am truly grateful for his dedication and expertise.
And finally to Marshall Overholt, his passion for Guernsey cattle is contagious and his desire to always work harder is often overlooked. There is no greater opportunity in the show world than to lead a Champion cow at Madison in for Supreme and Marshall earned that and so much more. His daily watch over Jazzy and the rest of the Springhill cattle has not gone unnoticed!