Dairy Cattle: Ayrshire

Homestead Dairy Exhibitor Claims Champion Titles in Ayrshire Show

Abbie Gahring of Homestead won Grand Champion Female in the Ayrshire Dairy Cattle show judged Friday, August 9, at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

Rachel Hefel and Mark Fisher of Epworth were named Premier Exhibitor, and Collin Costello of Long Grove was named Premier Breeder.

The Premier Exhibitor Award is given to the exhibitor who accumulates the most points based upon the day’s placings. The Premier Breeder Award is given to the competitor who earns the most points for animals bred and exhibited by the entrant or others during the day’s show.

Complete results below:

Ayrshire

Spring Heifer Calf -- March 1 - May 31, 2024

1) Jesse Muse, Dyersville

2) Kylie Oakland, Elgin

3) Mueterthies Dairy, Lawler

4) Aaron And Melissa Lovstuen And Fami, Decorah

5) Donna Mertz, Blair, NE

6) Collin Costello, Long Grove

7) Cassie Sawyer, Marshalltown

8) Dane Lang, Brooklyn

9) Dane Lang, Brooklyn

Winter Heifer Calf -- Dec. 1, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024

1) Kcck Genetics Tom, Sara, Kaleb, Cole, Carter Kruse, Dyersville

2) Gabe Holthaus, West Union

3) Mackenna Fisher, Elkader

4) Kcck Genetics Tom, Sara, Kaleb, Cole, Carter Kruse, Dyersville

5) Brad Arthur, Sumner

6) Abbie Gahring, Homestead

7) Kylie Oakland, Elgin

8) Matt Zuercher, Postville

9) Collin Costello, Long Grove

10) Donna Mertz, Blair, NE

11) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

12) Collin Costello, Long Grove

13) Aaron And Melissa Lovstuen And Fami, Decorah

14) Hanna Vagts, West Union

Fall Heifer Calf -- Sept. 1 - Nov. 30, 2023

1) Tyler Marotz, Wahoo, NE

2) Joe Gibbs, Epworth

3) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

4) Abbie Gahring, Homestead

5) Mueterthies Dairy, Lawler

6) Donna Mertz, Blair, NE

7) Brad Arthur, Sumner

8) Collin Costello, Long Grove

9) Aaron And Melissa Lovstuen And Fami, Decorah

10) Collin Costello, Long Grove

11) Eric Richards, Maynard

Summer Yearling Heifer -- June 1 - Aug. 31, 2023

1) Abbie Gahring, Homestead

2) Seth Racicky, Mason City, NE

3) Alanna Schatz, Cresco

4) Brad Arthur, Sumner

5) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

6) Irish Hill, Dewitt

7) Megan Manweiler, Sumner

8) Cody Zidlicky, Decorah

Spring Yearling Heifer -- March 1 - May 31, 2023

1) Stillmore Cattle Company Steve Searles, Pine Island, MN

2) Abbie Gahring, Homestead

3) Abbie Gahring, Homestead

4) Meyer Dairy Farms, West Union

5) Adrianna Kruse, St. Ansgar

6) Cassie Sawyer, Marshalltown

7) Collin Costello, Long Grove

Winter Yearling Heifer -- Dec.1, 2022 - Feb. 28, 2023

1) Kcck Genetics Tom, Sara, Kaleb, Cole, Carter Kruse, Dyersville

2) Brad Arthur, Sumner

3) Abbie Gahring, Homestead

4) Mueterthies Dairy, Lawler

5) Collin Costello, Long Grove

6) Randy Wedo, Monona

Fall Yrlg. Heifer (not in milk) -- Sept. 1 - Nov. 30, 2022

1) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

2) Meyer Dairy Farms, West Union

Junior Best Three Females

1) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

2) Donna Mertz, Blair, NE

3) Collin Costello, Long Grove

Summer Junior Two Year Old Cow -- June 1 - Aug. 31, 2022

1) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

2) Aaron And Melissa Lovstuen And Fami, Decorah

3) Jeff Holtz, Maquoketa

Junior Two Year Old Cow -- March 1 - May 31, 2022

1) Abbie Gahring, Homestead

2) Collin Costello, Long Grove

3) Aaron And Melissa Lovstuen And Fami, Decorah

Senior Two Year Old Cow -- Sept. 1, 2021 - Feb. 28, 2022

1) Chad Sickles, Marengo

2) Abbie Gahring, Homestead

3) Cody Zidlicky, Decorah

4) Collin Costello, Long Grove

5) Gene Rathjen, Wilton

Senior Three Year Old Cow -- Sept. 1, 2020 - Feb. 28, 2021

1) Meyer Dairy Farms, West Union

Cow Four Years Old -- Sept. 1, 2019 - Aug. 31, 2020

1) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

Cow Five Years Old -- Sept. 1, 2018 - Aug. 31, 2019

1) Chad Sickles, Marengo

Aged Cow -- Before Sept. 1, 2018

1) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

2) Collin Costello, Long Grove

Lifetime Production

1) Jeff Holtz, Maquoketa

Best Three Head

1) Collin Costello, Long Grove

Best Four Head

1) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

2) Collin Costello, Long Grove

Junior Champion Female & Reserve

1) Abbie Gahring, Homestead

2) Kcck Genetics Tom, Sara, Kaleb, Cole, Carter Kruse, Dyersville

3) Tyler Marotz, Wahoo, NE

Intermediate Champion Female & Reserve

1) Abbie Gahring, Homestead

2) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

3) Chad Sickles, Marengo

Senior Champion Female & Reserve

1) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

2) Chad Sickles, Marengo

3) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

Grand Champion Female & Reserve

1) Abbie Gahring, Homestead

2) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

3) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

Premier Exhibitor

1) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth

2) Collin Costello, Long Grove

Premier Breeder

1) Collin Costello, Long Grove

2) Rachel Hefel And Mark Fisher, Epworth