Sixteen years, 80-ish cows, and a 39,430-lb ME average with 1,707 fat – the Kestells just made the Herds of Excellence list again, alongside Fustead and Doorco. All three are Wisconsin.
Wisconsin swept Holstein Association USA’s 2025 Herds of Excellence list, with three Registered Holstein® operations — Fustead, Doorco, and Ever-Green-View — clearing the bar on both conformation and production. The headline? Ever-Green-View’s Kestell family just notched their 16th consecutive year on the honor roll, a run that’s starting to look less like a streak and more like a dynasty.
Who Made the Cut
The Fust family at Fustead Holsteins was recognized as a 2025 Herds of Excellence. Pictured are (back row) Shannon, Tyler, Wendy Brian, Aiden, Adam and (front row) Tanner, Savannah, Sarah, Darleen, Jennifer, Connor, and Bailey.
The Vandertie family at Doorco Holsteins has been named a 2025 Herds of Excellence. Pictured are Dan, Julie, Austin and Bridget.
The Kestell family at Ever-Green-View Holsteins, LLC has been named a 2025 Herds of Excellence for the sixteenth time. Pictured are (back row) Tom, Chris, Jennifer and Gin and (front row) Cole and Will.
Three herds, three stories, one state. Here’s how they stacked up:
| Herd | Family / Location | Division | Homebred % | AACS | ME Milk / Fat / Protein | Years Honored |
| Fustead Holsteins | Fust Family, Wausau, WI | Large (500+) | 73.4% | 83.3 | 32,630M / 1,524F / 1,076P | 2nd year |
| Doorco Holsteins | Vandertie Family, Brussels, WI | Small (10–99) | 100.0% | 90.5 | 37,225M / 1,557F / 1,154P | 8th year |
| Ever-Green-View | Kestell Family, Waldo, WI | Small (10–99) | 98.9% | 87.6 | 39,430M / 1,707F / 1,227P | 16th year |
Why the Small Herd Numbers Should Make You Blink
Look again at Doorco and Ever-Green-View. A 100% homebred herd classifying at 90.5 points isn’t luck — it’s decades of mating decisions paying compound interest. And Ever-Green-View’s 39,430-pound ME milk average with 1,707 pounds of fat is elite production territory, full stop. These aren’t boutique show herds coasting on type; they’re hitting production numbers that’d make a 2,000-cow commercial operation jealous.
What It Takes to Qualify
Holstein USA doesn’t hand these out. Herds need a recent classification, an age-adjusted classification score (AACS) of 83+, at least 70% homebred genetics, and enrollment in the TriStar℠ production records program. Then come the production hurdles, which get steeper as herd size shrinks:
- Large (500+): 15% above breed average ME for milk, fat, and protein
- Medium (100–499): 20% above breed average
- Small (10–99): 25% above breed average
The logic is straightforward — smaller herds have fewer cows to absorb variability, so the bar climbs.
CEO’s Take
“The Herds of Excellence award celebrates the families who work together, year after year, to build outstanding Registered Holstein herds,” said Holstein Association USA CEO Lindsey Worden, framing the honor around homebred genetics and cow family depth rather than splashy one-off scores.
What’s Next
The three families will be recognized at Holstein USA’s 140th Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, with full write-ups landing in the Spring 2026 issue of The Pulse. Registration details for National Holstein Convention are at holsteinconvention.com.
The Sunday Read Dairy Professionals Don’t Skip.
The Sunday Read Dairy Professionals Don’t Skip.Every week, thousands of producers, breeders, and industry insiders open Bullvine Weekly for genetics insights, market shifts, and profit strategies they won’t find anywhere else. One email. Five minutes. Smarter decisions all week.
