A feature article in our 2021 Spring issue written by Doug Urban.
The Holstein All-American Selections were started in 1922 by W. S. Moscrip, the breeder of North Star Holsteins in Minnesota. Moscrip made the selections the first year of the contest as he had judged the 1922 National, the Pacific International, Eastern States and Wisconsin State Fair. The winners were designated All-Americans similar to the top college football players of the day. The All-American contest was so popular that it was continued in 1923 with selections being made by a panel consisting of judges who had judged the National, Waterloo, the Pacific International and Eastern States. Maurice Prescott of the Holstein-Friesian World oversaw the contest for many years.
The Holstein All-American contest has seen many changes, additions and subtractions over the years. Changes occurred over the years due to such events as the Great Depression, World War II, the widespread use of artificial insemination (AI) and decreased use of herd bulls on farms, and closed borders between Canada and the United States due to the mad cow disease crisis. In 2020 many shows were not held due to the Covid pandemic, but the All-American contest continued by Cowsmopolitan magazine who took over the contest in 2019.
Old-timers reminisce about the days when the Aged Bull class was important with many entries. It was quite a spectacle to see the huge bulls lead by sometimes two persons. Many bulls were marketed domestically and also overseas and to Latin America. The class of bulls 2 years old and older was discontinued in 1987 due to safety concerns and lessened interest due to AI. Another class that was very popular was the Get of Sire class. This class consisted of four individuals sired by the same bull. Again, this class once was important and declined as shows got longer, use of herd bulls declined and exhibitors were anxious to milk out and take the pressure off the udders of their valuable show cows. The Holstein Get of Sire class was recognized from 1922 through 1995. There were no All-Americans recognized in 1943-1945 due to World War II. Canada discontinued the class 20 years earlier when the Get of Bond Haven Nugget EX was recognized in 1975.
The Get of Sire class was very important to breeders before the advent of AI. It helped identify bulls that were siring good type and was useful in promoting the breeding programs of successful herds. Before 1950 it was not uncommon to see one or two Aged bulls as members of the Get of Sire. In fact a bull named Agro Acres Marquis Boy EX was a member of the All-Canadian Get of Sire by Romandale Reflection Marquis EX in 1968. Marquis Boy’s name was changed to Prestige of Lakehurst EX-95 when he was sold to Henry “Sonny” Bartel and David Bachmann of Lakehurst Farms, Inc of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Prestige was likely the last bull to be a member of a Get that was nominated All-American. Prestige was the Grand Champion bull at both the 1967 and 1968 Central National in Madison. After 1968 most Get of Sires at major shows consisted of cows.
SIRES WITH THE MOST ALL-AMERICAN GET OF SIRES:
| A B C Reflection Sovereign | 5 |
| Ideal Fury Reflector EX-94 GM | 5 |
| Man-O-War | 4 |
| Hanoverhill Starbuck EX | 4 |
| King Pietertje Ormsby Piebe | 3 |
| Rosafe Magician EX GM | 3 |
| Pinehurst Copyright EX | 3 |
| Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation EX-96 GM | 3 |
| Bridon Astro Jet-ET EX | 3 |
Another outstanding Get of Sire that included bulls was the Get of Sire by Man-O-War. He was a son of the influential Sir Pietertje Ormsby Mercedes 37th. This Get was All-American in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934. The 1933 Man-O-War Get was selected All-Time All-American in the 1943 contest conducted by the Holstein-Friesian World. The members of that Get included bulls Man-O-War 30th, Man-O-War 62nd and cows Empire Ormsby Man-O-War Esther and Empire Lassie Ormsby Maid. Man-O-War Farms was owned by William Schmidt’s Sons at St. Peter, Minnesota.
A.B.C. Reflection Sovereign EX is considered Canada’s most important sire and leads the list of All-American Get of Sires with five. He was born in 1946, on A.B.C. Farms owned by Armstrong Bros. Corporation, Brampton, Ontario. He was sired by Montvic Rag Apple Sovereign and his dam was All-Canadian 4-year old in 1947, was A.B.C. Inka May EX a daughter of Lonelm Texal Alcartra VG. His Gets were All-American (AA) in 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957 and 1962. The 1962 Get was named All-Time All-American Get in 1966 and Reserve All-Time AA in 1984. The 1962 Get included Thornlea Reflection Belle EX, Westmount Ruth Reflection EX, Jewel Texal Diane VG and Romandale Cora EX. They were shown by Romandale Farms, Unionvile, Ontario and William Hayssen, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Rosafe Magician EX-GM a son of A B C sired three All-American Gets in 1963, 1964, and 1965. His dam Glenvue Nettie Jemima EX-13* was All-Canadian Aged Cow in 1954. The 1965 Get was Reserve All-Time AA Get of Sire in 1966. Members of that Get included Vinedale Rosafe De Kol EX-95, Magician Ideal Ormsby Linda EX-92, Miller Farm Magic Ruth EX-91 and Arlosy Magic Ginger EX-93. Magician’s full brother, the great Rosafe Citation R EX was the sire of the 1966 AA Get of Sire. He also sired four All-Canadian Gets. Rosafe Farm was owned by Hector I. Astengo, a native of Argentina who purchased A.B.C. Farm, Brampton, Ontario in 1948.
MOST ALL-AMERICAN GET OUT OF SIRES:
| 1943 AA | Man-O-War (1933) |
| 1943 RAA | Johanna Rag Apple Pabst (1936) |
| 1943 HHM | Montvic Pathfinder (1941) |
| 1966 AA | A.B.C. Reflection Sovereign (1962) |
| 1966 RAA | Rosafe Magician (1965) |
| 1966 HHM | Wisconsin Admiral Burke Lad (1948) |
| 1984 AA | Ideal Fury Reflector (1972) |
| 1984 RAA | A.B.C. Reflection Sovereign (1962) |
| 1984 HHM | Osborndale Ivanhoe (1969) |
Tied with A. B. C. Reflection Sovereign EX with five Get of Sires is Ideal Fury Reflector EX-94 GM. Ideal Fury Reflector was bred by Irvin “Spud” McDowell of Salina, Kansas. Fury is a Woodbourne Inka Reflector VG, the A B C Reflection Sovereign son of the All-American Aged Cow Inka Pietje Veeman EX-95 GMD. His dam was Ideal Burke Bessie EX-90. She was sired by Burke Ideal Raven Nomad. Her dam Bess Ideal Burke EX-94-4E-GMD was a daughter of Wis Burke Ideal and was four times All-Kansas Aged Cow. Fury dominated the AA Get of Sire class in the 1970’s winning the class in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975. The 1984 All-Time All-American contest recognized the 1972 Get by Fury as the best until that year. Members of that Get were Easthaven Quintillion Fury Fury EX-93 who was Reserve All-American 3-year old in 1971. Rosemere Fury Iva EX-95 2E and was All-American 4-year old in 1974 and Reserve All-American Aged Cow in 1975. Gene-Acres Felicia May Fury EX-97-5E was Supreme Champion cow at the 1974 World Dairy Expo. Felicia May had also been Reserve All-American 4 times and was All-American Aged cow twice. She also was a member of the 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974 All-American Get of Sire. Dolvic Fury Bubaleah EX-97 was Reserve All-American Aged Cow in 1973 and a member of the All-American Get of Sire in 1972 and 1973. Bubaleah was also the dam of Pinehurst Copyright EX-GM the Prestige of Lakehurst EX-95 GM son who sired many All-Americans and nominees. Copyright was Premier Sire of the 1980 Central National Holstein Show and the sire of Pinehurst’s homebred All-American Gets of Sire in 1980, 1981 and 1982. Pinehurst Farms was owned by David Bachmann, Sheboygan Falls, Wisc.
Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation EX-96 GM may be the most influential bull of the 20th century. His influence was felt in the AI industry and the show ring alike. Elevation sired three AA Get of Sires in 1977, 1978 and 1983. His 1978 Get received all but one first place vote and included Fair-Hill ROE Dulsi EX-96 GMD, Mulder Elevation Mazie EX-92 GMD, the Reserve AA 2-year old Marlu Rag Apple Bertha EX-92 GMD and Reserve AA 3-year old Ray-Na Elevation Bessy EX-92 GMD. The Elevation get of Sire included in other years included Holstein breed favorites Northcroft Ella Elevation EX-97 GMD and Shadowcliff RA Gina EX-97 GMD who both were All-American several times. Elevation was also the sire of Hanoverhill Starbuck (EX-Extra) who sired the members of three AA Gets in 1992, 1993 and 1995 and dominated the show ring in the 1990’s. It was the 1995 Get of Sire by Hanoverhill Starbuck who received the final All-American recognition. The Get was anchored by Dupasquier Starb Winnie EX-3E 8* who had been Grand or Reserve Grand several times previously at the Royal Winter Fair and International Holstein Show for Oscar Dupasquier, Guelph, Ontario.
There were only two Get of Sires nominated in 1994. They were sired by Bridon Astro Jet-ET and Hanover-Hill Inspiration. The Starbuck Get was the only one nominated in 1995 so the class was discontinued in 1996 due to a decline in nominations. The once popular class had ended due to lack of interest. One can imagine judges and spectators lining up Get of Sire classes at shows held since 1995 sired by Boulet Charles, Donnandale Skychief, Duregal Starbuck Astre, Sunnylodge Linjet, Regancrest Elton Durham, Braedale Goldwyn, Val-Bisson Doorman-ET and others. However, those line-ups will probably remain in our dreams.