Ontario Spring Discovery 2026: A Deep, Dairy Show in Ancaster
Spring shows used to be the place where you forgave a heifer for looking a little green. Not in 2026. The cattle that walked into the ring at the Ontario Spring Discovery Show looked mid-summer ready — hair set, udders full, heads up, feet tracking clean. Judge Brent Howe (Howe’s Holsteins, Elmira, ON), assisted in the ring by Devin O’Hara of Dandelion Holsteins, got the Holstein assignment.
What followed was a full day of real dairy cows and heifers, hair-splitting line-ups, and two judges who delivered concise, specific reasons that anyone from a 4-H first-timer to a Madison veteran could follow.
Here’s how it broke down — class by class, champion by champion — plus the sires, families, and storylines worth watching as we head into the summer circuit.
🌟 Supreme Junior Champion Heifer: ECHO GLEN MASTER IRINA — Beckridge Holsteins — a “no-fault” heifer with width, sharp shoulder, hard top, open spring of rib and clean bone. She edged the Jersey on strength and power up front.
Reserve Supreme: LEECHLAND MINNIE MOUSE K (Jersey) — Colin & Karen Leach
Honourable Mention Supreme: BLONDIN ALPHA WHIPPET-RED — Ronald Grandy
Holstein Junior Champion: Echo Glen Master Irina | Reserve: Budjon Lcourage Boston-ET (Story Book) | HM: Marfloacres Major Marino (Clark Valley/Butlerview)
Red & White Junior Champion: Blondin Alpha Whippet-Red | Reserve: Ember-Lit Believe Lucky-Red (B & B Donnay/Lizzy Partnership) | HM: Royhaven Warrior Freedom (Mt. Elgin)
Holstein Premier Breeder & Exhibitor: Karnview Farms, Woodstock, ON (Junior Breeder Herd went to Echo Glen)
Jersey Premier Breeder & Exhibitor: Golden Jerseys, Mildmay, ON
The judges’ through-line: Howe rewarded open, angular rib, width through the rump, and correct, comfortable feet and legs — front and rear. The Supreme call came down to Irina’s extra power and front-end strength edging a very fancy Jersey.
Intermediate Champion
- 🏆 Intermediate Champion (& Best Udder): GLEANN LAMBDA QUALIFY — Andrew den Haan, Mount Kolb Farm & Plum Valley Holsteins, Fergus, ON
- 🥈 Reserve (& Best Udder of division): MAIFIELD LAMBDA MONIQUE — Blondin Sires & Ferme Blondin, Saint-Placide, QC
- 🎖️ Honourable Mention: KINGSWAY SIDEKICK AGGIE — Mt. Elgin Dairy Farms, Guelph, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “A great young-cow show — dairyness, mammary quality, and structure with real futures on every one of these. My Champion wins on more width and height at the top of the rear udder, more capacity through the fore udder with a smooth blend, and a silky-hided, true-dairy look that moves beautifully on her front legs. Reserve and Honourable Mention were tight — it came down to Reserve’s extra width through the rear udder over a cow that’s fuller, deeper in the rear flank with real vein on my Honourable Mention. Three cows with big runs ahead of them.”
Grand Championship
- Grand Champion (& Best Udder): Carleton Bad to the Bone — Hodglynn Holsteins
- Reserve Grand: Gleann Lambda Qualify — den Haan/Mount Kolb/Plum Valley
- Honourable Mention: Maifield Lambda Monique — Blondin/Ferme Blondin
- Grand Champion Red & White: Beauvair Baba Revere — Mt. Elgin Dairy Farms
Howe’s take: “Look at these three cows. My Grand Champion has had five calves and still walks out gracefully on balanced, true-type feet and legs. My Reserve — a three-year-old — you could split a teardrop on her shoulder.” Both Reserve and HM were three-year-olds Howe kept together for their whole run through the championship line-up.
Premier Awards & Herd Honours
Premier Breeder: Fraeland Farms (Fergus, ON) — a fitting win on a day when Fraeland names appeared in class after class, from the Energy Brie winner down to the Midnight Actress veteran.
Premier Exhibitor: Mt. Elgin Dairy Farms (Guelph, ON) — depth across both heifer and cow show.
Premier Sire: Farnear Delta-Lambda-ET — the common thread on many top udders.
Junior Premier Sire: Golden-Oaks Master-ET — dominant through the heifer classes, including Irina, Izzy, Winnie, Eloise, Alabama and more.
Senior Breeder Herd: Fraeland (Steven Fraser, Fergus, ON).
Junior Breeder: Karnview Farms Inc (Woodstock), Echo Glen Farm (Dorchester), Ferme Jean-Paul Petitclerc & Fils Inc.
Junior Exhibitor: Karnview Farms Inc, Butlerview/Clarkvalley, Echo Glen Farm.
A final nod: Howe used a significant chunk of his Grand Champion microphone time to thank the Spring Discovery show committee, sponsors, volunteers, ring man Doug Green, his associate Devin O’Hara, the fitters in the barns, and the 4-H kids working alongside seasoned veterans. “It’s been in my blood a long time. It’s an honour to be here.”
Hard to say it better than that.
Junior Champion Placings:
- 🏆 Junior Champion (& Supreme Champion Heifer): ECHO GLEN MASTER IRINA — Beckridge Holsteins, Keswick, ON
- 🥈 Reserve Junior Champion: BUDJON LCOURAGE BOSTON-ET — Story Book Holsteins, Owen Sound, ON
- 🎖️ Honourable Mention: MARFLOACRES MAJOR MARINO — Butlerview Farm & Clarkvalley Holsteins, Chebanse, IL
Judge Brent Howe: “You’ve got to admire the correctness of my top two — both balanced, both open and deep through the midsection, and both tracking beautifully on their feet and legs. I kept them together right down to the wire. My Junior Champion gets the nod on that extra length of body we talked about in class. Reserve edges the Honourable Mention on strength through the front end, a crisper top line, and a straighter, cleaner walk on her rear legs. A great group of efforts — a great show all the way through.”
And IRINA didn’t stop there — tapped Supreme Champion Heifer to cap the day. 🌟
Winter Heifer Calf
- BESLEA LAMBDA CAPONE — Clarkvalley Holsteins, Woodville, ON
- KARNVIEW MAJOR ABYSS — Karnview Farms Inc, Woodstock, ON
- ALLARWAY REALISTS RODRIGUEZ — Allarway & Sunny Terrace Holsteins, Brantford, ON
- REDCARPET SOLO DANCER-ET — Joel Phoenix / Red Carpet / Unique Holsteins, Cannington, ON
- SILVERDREAM MASTER MIDNITE — Jeff Stephens, Troy, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “My winner puts it all together — balance from end to end, feminine through the head, strong over the shoulder, and tracking correctly on her feet and legs. She takes it handily over second on crop strength, body length, and fullness through the middle. Third is a pretty, feminine red calf with length and spring of rib, but second wins on body depth. Fourth gives up length of neck and rump, while fifth is an open, deeper-ribbed calf that can’t match fourth’s rear leg quality or tail-head setting. Beautiful class to start the day.”
Fall Heifer Calf
- DUHIBOU UNIX PERSAN — Butlerview Farm & Clarkvalley Holsteins, Chebanse, IL
- SAUDER HOLME MAJOR ALABAMA (B&O) — Chomper Cattle Co., Ebybrook Holsteins & Murrel & Martha Sauder, Listowel, ON
- KARNVIEW SALUTE ABODE — Emily Vaughan, Harvdale Holsteins, Stayner, ON
- PETITCLERC AMBROSE BURITTO — Butlerview Farm & Clarkvalley Holsteins, Chebanse, IL
- FRAELAND LADY GLITTER SPARKLES — Beckridge Holsteins, Keswick, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “My top pair are both balanced efforts, but the winner takes it on a feminine head, a hard top, and real width through the rump, hooks, and pins — plus more drop and spring to her midsection. Second beats third on length from nose to tail, a sharper head and neck, and correct feet and legs. Third comes forward on balance, openness of rib, and a more comfortable set to her front and rear legs with stronger pasterns than fourth. Fourth wins on added body mass and length over a refined, clean-boned fifth-place calf.”
Summer Yearling
- ECHO GLEN MASTER IRINA — Beckridge Holsteins, Keswick, ON
- BUDJON LCOURAGE BOSTON-ET — Story Book Holsteins, Owen Sound, ON
- BLONDIN ALPHA WHIPPET-RED — Ronald Grandy, Oshawa, ON
- PETITCLERC ANEESH PAULA — Butlerview Farm, Clarkvalley Holsteins & Pierre Boulet, Chebanse, IL
- ECHO GLEN MASTER MARISSA — Beckridge Holsteins & Quality Holsteins, Keswick, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “My winner — the July heifer — puts it all together: high style, extra length, a beautiful open turn of rib, and width from end to end. She captivates the eye anywhere in the ring and edges second on midsection length and a cleaner set to the hock. Second over third on width of chest, more comfortable front legs, and deeper rear flank with more spring of rib, over a very long-bodied third. Third wins on rump width and length from hooks to pins and nose to tail. Fourth takes fifth on bone quality through the hock and a more comfortable stride, over another dairy heifer with a big open rib.”
Spring Yearling
- MARFLOACRES MAJOR MARINO — Butlerview Farm & Clarkvalley Holsteins, Chebanse, IL
- KARNVIEW EYE CANDY BEDAZZLE (B&O) — Karnview Farms Inc, Woodstock, ON
- ECHO GLEN MASTER ELOISE — Echo Glen Farm, Dorchester, ON
- FRAELAND BECKRIDGE EN BEATRIX — Beckridge Holsteins & Fraeland Farms, Keswick, ON
- EMBER-LIT BELIEVE LUCKY-RED — B & B Donnay & The Lizzy Partnership
Judge Brent Howe: “My top pair are similar-made, balanced, dairy heifers — but the winner takes it on a smoother blend of head and neck into the shoulder, a more level rump from hooks to pins, and a big open turn of rib. She’s high style and tracks correctly on her feet and legs. Second beats third on a stronger pastern and cleaner rear leg — she doesn’t knuckle over — plus more refined bone overall. Third comes forward on length of body and greater openness, depth, and capacity through the midsection viewed from behind. Fourth wins on dairyness, bone quality, a cleaner flank, and wider chest over a red heifer in fifth with real ring presence and a wide muzzle.”
Winter Yearling
- WEEKSDALE HAPPY HOUR — Beckridge Holsteins & Quality Holsteins, Keswick, ON
- PETITCLERC JERRY ADINE — Ronald Grandy, Oshawa, ON
- CENTURY STAR JERRY LEWIS GIFT — Mt. Elgin Dairy Farms, Guelph, ON
- CHARBEND MASTER DESIREE (B&O) — Charbend Farm, Brantford, ON
- WCG UNIX COPYCAT — Willowcreek Genetics, Hagersville, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “Not the biggest class, but quality from top to bottom. My winner fits the style we’ve rewarded all day — more feminine through the head, longer in the neck, thinner-thighed and cleaner all the way through, and most importantly walking straighter and more comfortably on her rear feet and legs than second. Second earns her spot on a wider muzzle and chest, more drop to the fore rib, and real openness and spring over third. Third beats fourth on length of body against a longer-necked calf. Fourth takes fifth on cleaner bone in the leg and a more correct set to the front feet, over a nice open-ribbed heifer in fifth.”
Fall Yearling
- BENRISE MASTER BAD HABIT — Coxlyn Farms Ltd & Frankhaven Holsteins, Uxbridge, ON
- ECHO GLEN MASTER IZZY (B&O) — Echo Glen Farm, Dorchester, ON
- INTENSE ALPHA GALLY — Story Book Holsteins, Owen Sound, ON
- JOREN HNF WIGGLE — Joren Holsteins & Tarten Inn Holsteins, Wilmont, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “Small class, real quality. My winner takes it on length of body, a neater-set tail head, a wider chest, and more drop to the fore rib — opening into a capacious midsection second can’t match. Second beats third on overall length from nose to tail and a more refined bone quality. Third — our red heifer — steps up on a harder top line, more open spring of rib, and straighter tracking on her rear feet over a very open-ribbed fourth-place calf. A really nice group to work with.”
Summer 2-Year-Old
- 🥇 FRAELAND BECKRIDGE ENERGY BRIE — Best Udder (Bred & Owned) — Beckridge Holsteins & Fraeland Farms, Keswick, ON
- SARMAR ALLIGATOR PAULA — Mt. Elgin Dairy Farms, Guelph, ON
- BECKHOLM CHIEF RAVEN — Beckholm Holsteins, Sunderland, ON
- EXTRAMILE AMBROSE WRATH RED — 1st Red & White — Mt. Elgin Dairy Farms, Guelph, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “My winner rises to the top handily — feminine, long-necked, dairy, wearing the best udder in the class. She stands square and wide through the chest, carries a hard top, and blends smoother into the forearm than second, with more openness and drop of rib. Second beats third on a stronger pastern and a more comfortable walk around the ring. Third is a real dairy individual, winning on dairyness and mammary volume over a fresh red-and-white fourth — nicely attached udder, veins coming, just needs a month on her to develop and compete higher.”
Spring 2-Year-Old
- 🥇 GENOSOURCE LIMELIGHT-ET — Best Udder — Blondin Sires, Blyth Farm, Fairbanks Cattle Co., Ferme Blondin, Fricosons Holsteins & Jean-Philippe Proulx, Saint-Placide, QC
- ECHO GLEN MASTER WINNIE (B&O) — Echo Glen Farm, Dorchester, ON
- BLONDIN EYE CANDY BETI — Blondin Sires & Ferme Blondin, Saint-Placide, QC
- MAGOLAIT LAMBDA CHARLIE — Joel Phoenix & T. & L. Cattle Ltd, Cannington, ON
- VALE-O-SKENE LAMBDA BELLINI — M & G Lintvedt, R Shore & B Verthein / Vale-O-Skene Holsteins, Woodville, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “My winner wears the best udder — feminine, thin-thighed, wide through the muzzle and chest, with the flattest udder floor, sharper median suspensory, and more width at the top of the rear udder. Second is a silky, angular two-year-old who beats third on sheer dairyness, openness of midsection, and correct feet and legs. Third earns the bump on udder volume, length of frame, and extra length from hooks to pins. Fourth takes fifth on a snugger fore udder, more vein, a cleaner cut and stronger loin, over a very dairy fifth with an admirable wide rear udder.”
Winter 2-Year-Old
- 🥇 MAIFIELD LAMBDA MONIQUE — Best Udder — Blondin Sires & Ferme Blondin, Saint-Placide, QC
- KINGSWAY SIDEKICK AGGIE — Mt. Elgin Dairy Farms, Guelph, ON
- BECKRIDGE QUALITY NRGY MEGAPIX (B&O) — Agriber Societa Agricola, Beckridge Holsteins & Quality Holsteins
- BLONDIN SALUTE SHATTER — Blondin Sires & Ferme Blondin, Saint-Placide, QC
- CADDEDALE MASTER AOK — Ethan Bloomfield, Ilderton, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “My winner is modern dairy with the best udder in the class — width from end to end, a big open spring of rib, smooth fore-udder blend, strong veination into the rear udder, and textbook median suspensory. Second is a powerful, feminine cow that gives up only overall dairyness. Second beats third on chest width, a more level udder floor, wider top of rear udder, smoother fore-udder attachment and stronger pasterns — even though third captivates you on length of neck and style. Fourth earns it over fifth on a snugger udder and cleaner bone, over a promising young cow with real muzzle, chest and a hard top.”
Fall 2-Year-Old
- 🥇 MARTIN-VIEW BULLSEYE CROSBY — Best Udder (Bred & Owned) — Breamont Holsteins & David Martin, Tavistock, ON
- BLONDIN DETECTIVE LAFFY TAFFY — Blondin Sires & Ferme Blondin, Saint-Placide, QC
- CYRMO LEGEND RAMONA — Clarkvalley Holsteins & Pierre Boulet, Woodville, ON
- WEBHAVEN EYECANDY ERMINA — Jeff Stephens, Troy, ON
- DANDYLAND HIA TARTAR SAUCE — Clarkvalley Holsteins, Woodville, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “Side profile is one thing — when you line them up shoulder to shoulder, it’s another. My winner steps up on a wider chest, carries her milk higher and wider at the top of the rear udder, and shows more width throughout over a high-style, feminine, clean-thighed second. Second beats third on a smoother fore-udder blend into the body wall and style over a very dairy third. Third earns the bump on balance, length from nose to tail and harder pasterns. Fourth takes fifth on more dairyness, thinner thigh and cleaner bone through the rear hock, over a fifth with real rump strength and a beautiful mammary that just needs a cleaner leg.”
Junior 3-Year-Old
- 🥇 GLEANN LAMBDA QUALIFY — Best Udder — Andrew den Haan, Mount Kolb Farm & Plum Valley Holsteins, Fergus, ON
- ALLEY DELIVERY CHARLY — Crackholm Holsteins & Hodglynn Holsteins, Richmond, QC
- BRENLAND AVENGER HAZEL (B&O) — Brenland Holsteins, Millbank, ON
- DUCKETT LAMBDA NOLA-ET — Royal Lynn Holsteins, Cayuga, ON
- HATCHLEY LEGEND DAIRY 396 — Talsma Farms Inc, Harley, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “My winner is a dairy machine — milked through, thin-hided, with all kinds of dairy strength. The call came down to the mammary: height and width at the very top of the rear udder put her above a beautiful side-profile second. Second beats third on fore-udder volume blending smoothly into a big open rib — just wants a little more lift at the top of the rear udder to challenge for the win. Third earns it over fourth on added vein, a smoother attachment and sharper median suspensory. Fourth takes fifth on added dairy strength, a lower udder floor and cleaner bone through the hock.”
Senior 3-Year-Old
- 🥇 SICY UNIX ADRIENE — Best Udder — Ferme Yvon Sicard, Saint-Justin, QC
- FRAELAND LEGEND ESPIONAGE — Fraeland Farms, Fergus, ON
- JACOBS UNSTOPABULL LISA-RED — Fraeland Farms, Fergus, ON
- POPLARVALE SIDEKICK LILLIAN — Mt. Elgin Dairy Farms, Tavistock, ON
- ANDREANE LAMBDA BUBLY — Clarkvalley Holsteins & Pierre Boulet, Woodville, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “My winner wears the best udder in the class — body, dairy strength, a level udder floor and real width, height and carry through the rear udder. Second is high-style, feminine, thinner-thighed, longer in the neck and cleaner in the bone — just doesn’t match the winner’s udder volume. Third — and take nothing away from this red cow — has a gorgeous side profile, strength and width of chest, and edges fourth on openness and spring of rib through the rear flank. Fourth earns the bump on length of body and a quality fore udder over a fifth with a wide muzzle, wide chest and a big open rib that can milk.”
4-Year-Old
- 🥇 ALLEGRO THUNDER STRUCK CABELL — Best Udder — Frankhaven Holsteins, Ingersoll, ON
- BEAUVAIR BABA REVERE — 1st Red & White — Mt. Elgin Dairy Farms, Guelph, ON
- WEEKSDALE UNIX KHLOE — Bred & Owned — Beckridge, Quality & Weeksdale Holsteins Inc, Keswick, ON
- LILYKING R LAMBDA JAZLYN — Agriber, Beckridge, Bonnechere, Lilyking, Dupasquier, Quality & Ripplebrook
- BLONDIN LEGEND LARA — Blondin Sires & Ferme Blondin, Saint-Placide, QC
Judge Brent Howe: “More frame in this class — and the top pair separates on the mammary. My winner carries huge width through the rear udder, a textbook median suspensory top to bottom, and a capacious fore udder that blends smoothly into the body wall. Wide muzzle, wide rump, real dairy cow. Second beats third on more correct front feet, wider chest, stronger pasterns and sharper median suspensory in the rear udder. Third — feminine, dairy all the way through — wins on mammary quality over a fresh 5-week fourth that will really bloom in another 40–50 days. Fourth takes fifth on openness through the midsection and a more comfortable walk, over a fifth with a high, wide rear udder.”
Mature Cow
- 🥇 CARLETON BAD TO THE BONE — Best Udder — Hodglynn Holsteins, Kincardine, ON
- TOLAMIKA DIAMONDBACK BLAINE — Ronald Grandy, Oshawa, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “Wouldn’t you like to milk a pair of cows like this every day? My winner has had five calves and still shows a wide muzzle, a feminine, long body, and open-angular dairyness. She earns it on stronger loin, a better pin set, and a mammary system with more length into the fore udder, a more level floor and a sharp median suspensory. Second is a wide-muzzled, long-bodied cow in her own right — she just needs to tighten up in the loin and dairy up a touch more to push for top honours. A real nice pair.”
Longtime Production Cow (70,000 kg)
- 🥇 RUTI CHIEF NATALIA — Best Udder — Marthaven Holsteins & Skipwell Farms Inc, Woodstock, ON
- FRAELAND MIDNIGHT ACTRESS — Bred & Owned — Fraeland Farms, Fergus, ON
Judge Brent Howe: “Two six-calf veterans and a tough decision, but my winner takes it on dairyness — feminine through the head, thinner-hided, with plenty of width through the rump and cleaner bone through the hock. The mammary closes the deal: a more level udder floor and a fore udder that blends just a touch smoother into the body wall. Take absolutely nothing away from second — she’s a heck of a cow with real dairy strength, a wide flare muzzle, wide chest and big rear-udder width. First is simply a touch more refined in the bone and more feminine throughout. What a pair.”