WHA Distinguished Holstein Breeder Award Goes to the Rickert Family - Cowsmo

WHA Distinguished Holstein Breeder Award Goes to the Rickert Family

The Rickert Family of Eldorado was named the Distinguished Breeder at the 2023 Wisconsin Holstein Convention.

The Wisconsin Holstein Convention wrapped up on February 25 with the announcement of the Distinguished Holstein Breeder, the Rickert Family of Eldorado.

Rickland Holsteins is currently operated by three generations of the Rickert family. Don and his late wife Lila, Greg and his wife Laura as well as sons Andy and Aaron, and Jim and his wife Kelly and their son Andrew. Don’s parents, Eldor and Edna, began their farming career in 1936. Don joined the operation after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC) in 1952. Jim and Andrew are also FISC alumni and Greg returned home after college as well. Don has always been progressive and incorporated the operation in 1981 after Jim returned home to give the next generation an opportunity to work into the operation, setting the foundation for the expansion and progression of the operation to what it is today as Rickert Bros LLC. At 88, Don still does the books and is still active in the operation.

Through thoughtful matings, the Rickerts have bred or developed over 110 EX cows, 37 GMD, 38 DOM, one Gold Medal Sire, received the PBR herd 10 years and have received the Progressive Genetics Herd Award for 27 years. This herd has sent 97 bulls to AI in their career and marketed genetics worldwide. The Rickerts also received the Master Agriculturist Award in 2017.

Notable cows from Rickland Holsteins include Horse-Pen Hill Leonette EX-5E and Rickland Ned Boy Pixiesue, VG-86 GMD-DOM, who brought the world to the farm, placed four sons in AI and embryos marketed internationally. Rickland Bell Perfect VG-87 was the dam of 7HO4161 Rickland Laban Projector-ET at Select Sires and shows up in many influential pedigrees. Later, Rickalnd Mandel Debut went to ABS but was unfortunately lost early. He also shows up in many pedigrees particularly through 7HO10849 Shamrock with his dam being a Debut daughter. More recently, Rickland Montross 5321 VG-87 was an influential flush cow yielding 13 offspring including one who sold for $200,000 to PEAK genetics.

They have incrementally expanded over the years from 104 cows in the 1980s to their current level of 1000 cows and 2200 acres. This herd has been a leader in their county for production for many years and has a current RHA of 30,241 milk, 3.9% fat, 1191 pounds of fat, 3.1% protein and 944 pounds of protein.

The entire Rickert family has served the Wisconsin Holstein Association as well as the greater dairy industry and their local community for decades through servant leadership.

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