Lorne Ella of Hornby, Ontario, Canada, was named the 74th winner of the Klussendorf Trophy, the highest recognition given to a dairy cattle showman in the United States.
The award is in memory of Arthur B. Klussendorf, considered the outstanding showman of his time and a model for all those who have followed him. Ella’s selection was made by members of the Klussendorf Memorial Association, formed in 1937, at its annual meeting held earlier this week in Madison, Wis. He received the silver trophy designed by Tiffany Jewelers of New York City.
When thinking about a person who is an all-around contributor to an industry, the name of Lorne Ella of Rock Ella Jerseys quickly jumps to mind.
Ella is no stranger to World Dairy Expo, as he was one of the early breeders to cross the border and show at the event . . . with great success. Twice, Ella exhibited Grand Champions on the colored shavings: Golden Lori in 1989 and Jersey breed matriarch Duncan Belle in 1991. Of course, one cannot leave Rock Ella BSV Natasha off the list as she was bred by this year’s award winner and earned Grand Champion honors one year before World Dairy Expo laid the colored shavings for the first time in 1984.
Of these three champions, Duncan Belle has earned her crown as an undisputed game changer. She was a supremely successful show cow that produced with the best of them, and went on to become an iconic breeding cow. Trying to find an intriguing Jersey bull that does not carry genes from Duncan Belle’s son, Rock Ella Paramount, or her grandson, Lester Sambo, is like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack.
Lorne Ella is a respected dairy cattle judge, but more importantly a mentor and “second father” to young dairy people. Quite frankly, it’s hard to imagine how anyone could find greater pleasure than Lorne has to see his adopted “children” succeed in the dairy industry.
WDE, recognized as the meeting place for the global dairy industry, attracts more than 70,000 attendees from more than 90 countries each year. Visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@WDExpoor #WDE15) for more information.
