Holstein Association Awards

Star of the Breed
gradient line

The Star of the Breed award will recognize one cow annually that has excelled in the show ring and the milking barn.

To be eligible for the Star of the Breed award, a cow must place in the top five in her class at a National Holstein Show, have completed a lactation in the last year, be in a herd enrolled in the TriStar program and have an official classification score.

Once the eligible cows are determined, the following calculation
is used to decide the recipient:

Combined ME Fat and Protein
+
Age Adjusted Classification Score
x
(Breed Average ME CFP/Breed Average Age Adjusted Score)

2022 Star of the Breed
gradient line

Show-Mar Crush Everyone
EX-92
3-02 3X 365D 60,240M 4.1%F 2,470F 3.1%P 1,866P

Sire: Maverick Crush

Owned by: Wesley Brantner,
Saegertown, Pennsylvania

Read more about Everyone

Previous Award Winners
gradient line

2021 Star of the Breed
gradient line

Blondin Goldwyn Subliminal-ETS
EX-97 4E
11-01 2X 365D 44,740M 4.3%F 1,921F 3.1%P 1,366P

Sire: Braedale Goldwyn

Owned by: Peter & Lyn Vail and Budjon Farms,
Lomira, Wisconsin

Read more about Subliminal

2020 Star of the Breed
gradient line

Eastriver Goldwyn Deb 176
EX-94 2E
5-09 2X 296D 39,060M 3.5%F 1,353F 3.2%P 1,241P

Sire: Braedale Goldwyn

Owned by: Corey M. Feltmann, Norwood Young America, Minnesota and Andrew D. Stuewe, Hamburg, Minnesota

Read more about Deb

2019 Star of the Breed
gradient line

Ocean-View Sterling Silver
EX-94 2E
5-07 2X 365D 58,330M 4.1%F 2,419F 2.8%P 1,640P

Sire: Regancrest S Braxton-ET

Bred & Owned by: Ocean View Genetics,
Deerfield, Wis.

Read more about Silver

2018 Star of the Breed T-Triple-T Platinum-ET EX-94 2E 7-04 2X 365D 46,830M 6.5%F 3,049F 3.1%P 1,471P Sire: Braedale Goldwyn Owned by: Triple-T Holsteins, North Lewisburg, Ohio; Aaron R. Eaton, Syracuse, N.Y.; Bradley R. Murphy, Parish, N.Y. Read more about Platinum
2017 Star of the Breed Smith-Crest-TW SH Virgie-ET EX-95 2E 6-04 2X 305D 44,710M 4.0%F 1,784F 2.9%P 1,296P Sire: Picston Shottle-ET Bred by: Matt and Travis Smith, Watertown, Wis., and Anthony W. Whitehead, Conway, Mo. Owned by: Paul Grulke, Mayville, Wis. Read more about Virgie
2016 Star of the Breed Miss Hot Mama-Red-ET EX-92 1-11 2X 274d 33,520M 5.8%F 1,940F 3.5%P 1,162P Sire: Mr Apples Armani-ET Bred by: Nathan Thomas, Michael Heath and Will Iager Owned by: Smith-Crest Holsteins, Watertown, Wis.; Majestic View Genetics LLC, Sun Prairie, Wis.; Rhonda Shore, Sun Prairie, Wis.; Randy Connery, Sun Prairie, Wis. and Crailoo Dairy Farm LLC, Brownsville, Wis. Read more about Hot Mama
2015 Star of the Breed Air-Osa Redbull 12417 EX-95 2E 6-03 3X 305d 61,020M 4.1%F 2,491F 3.2%P 1,975P Sire: KHW Redbull Bred & Owned by: Joe Airoso, Tipton, Calif. Read more about Redbull 12417
2014 Star of the Breed Pineylawn Jasper Bethany EX-94 4-04 2X 365d 46,920M 4.5%F 2,130F 2.9%P 1,366P Sire: Wilcoxview Jasper-ET Bred by: Pineylawn Acres, Fond du lac, Wis. Owned by: Heatherstone Enterprises, Baraboo, Wis. Read more about Bethany
2013 Stars of the Breed Bur-Wall Buckeye Gigi 2E-94 5-09 2X 365d 52,190M 3.9%F 2,040F 2.9%P 1,532P Sire: R-E-W Buckeye-ET Bred & Owned by: Bur-Wall Holsteins, Brooklyn, Wis. Read more about Gigi
Idee Shottle Lalia 2E-94 5-03 2X 365d 48,240M 4.5%F 2,191F 3.1%P 1,484P Sire: Picston Shottle-ET Bred by: Idee Holsteins of Hunter River, Prince Edward Island, Canada Owned by: Milk Source LLC, Kaukauna, Wis. Read more about Lalia
2012 Star of the Breed Siemers Alisha Gold Ava-ETS 2E-95 5-03 2X 365d 56,330M 4.1%F 2,301F 3.3%P 1,865P Sire: Braedale Goldwyn Bred & Owned by: Crystal Siemers-Peterman, Newton, Wis.
2011 Star of the Breed Hazel-Bush Flap Flower EX-92 (EEEEE) 4-05 2X 305d 49,810M 4.1%F 2,042F 2.9%P 1,436P Sire: My-John Free Flap-ET Owned by: Beth Nelson, Blair, Wis. Bred by: Hazel Bush Farms, Inc., Rice Lake, Wis.
2010 Star of the Breed Scarlet-Summer RB Gwendelyn Excellent-94 2E (EEEEE) 5-00 2X 365d 58,270M 5.2%F 3,004F 2.9%P 1,677P Sire: STBVQ Rubens-ET Owned by: Scarlet Summer Holsteins, Muncy, Pa. Bred by: Scarlet Summer Holsteins, Muncy, Pa.
2009 Star of the Breed Eskdale Dundee Marcia Mona Excellent-92 (VEEEE) 3-00 2X 365d 46,490M 3.8%F 1760F 3.3%P 1519 Sire: Regancrest Dundee-ET Owned by: Siemers Holstein Farms, Inc., WI Bred by: Eskdale Dairy, UT

2008 Star of the Breed Stuewes FB Giddy-ET Excellent-94 (EEEEE) 3-03 2x 365d 42,270M 5.6%F 2369F 3.3%P 1407P Sire: Boulet Charles-ET Owned by: Andrew D. Stuewe, MN Bred by: David Stuewe, MN
2007 Star of the Breed MS Crockettacres Monique-ET Very Good-88 (VEEVV) 2-05 2x 305d 32,900M 4.5%F 1491F 3.6%P 1169P Sire: Braedale Freelance-ET Owned by: Allison Stammen, OH Bred by: Ferme Lesperron & Crockett Farms Holsteins, Inc., Quebec, Can.

Click here to search the
Gold Medal Dam list.

Gold Medal DamSM
gradient line

In order to be recognized as a Gold Medal Dam (GMD), a cow must qualify under the
following criteria:

		A cow and at least three of her daughters must have been classified.
		The cow herself must be milking in a herd participating in TriStarSM service option. TriStar published records are used in the evaluation.
		Equal emphasis is placed on production and type. In addition, there is equal emphasis on progeny and dam performance. Dam's age adjusted final score Dam's average 2X 305 day ME production records Average of daughters' age adjusted scores Average of daughters' ME production records.
		Separate cutoffs are determined by birth year of the dam. ME production will only be calculated on actual records of 270 days in length or greater for the cow and her progeny.
		If the cow, herself, does not qualify on a mature equivalent basis, she may qualify on either one of the following lifetime credits: 200,000 pounds of milk, or 7,200 pounds of fat, or 6,400 pounds of protein
		Automatic evaluation is done twice a year for all cows 87% RHA or higher that were born in the past 25 years. The GMD award is permanent recognition.
Read more about the Gold Medal Dam in this article from the Holstein Pulse.

GOLD MEDAL DAM CRITERIA
Year of Birth	Dam Milk Cutoff	Dam Fat Cutoff	Dam Protein Cutoff	Dam AASC Cutoff	Daughter Milk Cutoff	Daughter Fat Cutoff	Daughter Protein Cutoff	Daughter AASC Cutoff
1993	26,300	918	762	83	26,800	938	777	83
1994	26,400	922	765	83	26,900	942	780	83
1995	27,236	951	789	83	27,736	971	804	83
1996	27,472	959	796	83	27,972	979	811	83
1997	27,708	967	803	83	28,208	987	818	83
1998	27,944	976	810	83	28,444	996	825	83
1999	28,180	984	817	83	28,680	1,004	832	83
2000	28,416	992	824	83	28,916	1,012	839	83
2001	28,652	1,000	830	83	29,152	1,020	845	83
2002	28,888	1,009	837	83	29,388	1,029	852	83
2003	29,124	1,017	844	83	29,624	1,037	859	83
2004	29,360	1,025	851	83	29,860	1,045	866	83
2005	29,596	1,033	858	83	30,096	1,053	873	83
2006	29,832	1,042	865	83	30,332	1,062	880	83
2007	30,068	1,050	871	83	30,568	1,070	886	83
2008	30,304	1,058	878	83	30,804	1,078	893	83
2009	30,540	1,066	885	83	31,040	1,086	900	83
2010	30,776	1,075	892	83	31,276	1,095	907	83
2011	31,012	1,083	899	83	31,512	1,103	914	83
2012	31,248	1,091	906	83	31,748	1,111	921	83
2013	31,512	1,100	913	83	32,012	1,120	928	83
2014	31,776	1,110	921	83	32,276	1,130	936	83
2015	32,040	1,119	929	83	32,540	1,139	944	83
2016	32,305	1,128	936	83	32,805	1,148	951	83
2017	32,569	1,137	944	83	33,069	1,157	959	83

Click here to search the
Dam of Merit list.

Dam of MeritSM
gradient line

In order to be recognized as a Dam of Merit (DOM), a cow must have a GTPI® or CTPISM exceeding year of birth cutoff and at least three offspring with a PTA for production and type; the GTPI or CTPI must be calculated using a required classification score.

Automatic evaluation is done twice a year for all cows 87% RHA or higher that were born in the last 25 years and milking in a herd enrolled in one of the TriStarSM service options. The DOM award is permanent recognition.

DAM OF MERIT CRITERIA
Birth Year	Dam's TPI Cutoff	Birth Year	Dam's TPI Cutoff
1996	+1600	2008	+2032
1997	+1640	2009	+2071
1998	+1670	2010	+2124
1999	+1710	2011	+2177
2000	+1715	2012	+2294
2001	+1755	2013	+2412
2002	+1794	2014	+2529
2003	+1834	2015	+2647
2004	+1874	2016	+2764
2005	+1913	2017	+2882
2006	+1953	2018	+2999
2007	+1992	2019	+3117

Click here to search the
Gold Medal Sire list.

Gold Medal SireSM
gradient line

In order to be recognized as a Gold Medal Sire (GM), a bull must qualify under the following criteria:

Must meet the minimum TPI® level, which is updated semi-annually to recognize approximately 25
new bulls each year.

Minimum reliability of 90% for PTA Fat and PTA Type.

Must be free of undesirable recessive and enzyme deficiencies.

Automatic evaluation is done twice a year for all sires 87% RHA or higher. The Gold Medal Sire award is permanent recognition.

Elite PerformerTM
For a cow to qualify for the Elite PerformerTM award, she must meet the following criteria to be considered:
		complete at least three lactations in a herd participating in Holstein Association USA's TriStar program, completing the most recent lactation in the previous calendar year
		87% RHA or higher
		classified VG-85 or higher
Eligible cows across the country are ranked based on pounds of combined fat and protein per day in milk. The top one percent receive the National Elite Performer award. Those National Elite Performers are then removed from consideration and the top one percent of eligible cows from each of the nine regions are honored as Regional Elite Performers. All cows currently enrolled in TriStarSM are automatically evaluated annually. Elite Performer recognition is a lifetime award and is printed on a cow’s pedigree, found underneath her milk production records. Read more about the Elite Performer award in this article published in the Holstein Pulse.
2022 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2022 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2022 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2021 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2021 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2021 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2020 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2020 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2020 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2019 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2019 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2019 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2018 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2018 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2018 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2017 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2017 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2017 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2016 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2016 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2016 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2015 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2015 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2015 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2014 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2014 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2014 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file