Jersey cow takes it all at The Royal

TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2015 /CNW/ - Minutes after winning Grand Champion in the National Jersey Show at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Musqie Iatola Martha-ET was named Supreme Dairy Champion at the 93rd fair. Owned by Milksource Genetics of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Martha was competing against her barn-mate Charwill Attic Marcy, the Grand Champion Black and White Holstein. With two cows in the Supreme Dairy Champion class, Milksource has a fifty per cent chance to win the $1000 prize donated by Quality Seeds Ltd.

"It's amazing," said Annette Ostrom, who helped lead Martha to her win in the championship Jersey class over Reserve Champion Crossbrook HG Dixie owned by Kueffner Holsteins and Jerseys of Boonsboro, Maryland, and then brought her back for the Supreme class. "It's such an honour to be here."

Milksource co-owner Jim Ostrom echoed the sentiment after Martha took the top prize. "This is unbelievable; I'm speechless!" To have two cows in the Supreme Championship is a feat and Ostrom could not contain his excitement. "To have two chances in this competition is a once in a lifetime experience. But there's only one cow standing out there and that's Martha."

It was a star-studded field for the Supreme championship with Red and White Holstein Calli-Red owned by Budjon Farms of Lomira, Wisconsin, and Ayrshire Vieux Village C. Diamond owned by Vieux Village of Piopolis, Quebec.

Ostrom says half of the success he is experiencing is due to the individual cow and the other half is the people who work with the animals from the time they are born until they enter the ring. "There are hundreds of breeders in the barn who come here for a chance and that makes this win a humbling experience," he admits.

The Royal is supported in part by the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world's largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. This year, the 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 6-15, 2015 at Exhibition Place, Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.

SOURCE Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

Image with caption: "2015 Dairy Royal Champion at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. (CNW Group/Royal Agricultural Winter Fair)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151115_C8593_PHOTO_EN_545147.jpg

Karen Poncelet, Marketing Communications and Community Relations Mgr, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, 39 Manitoba Drive, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3, Direct: 416-263-3411 Fax: [phone]