Traveling 12+ countries yearly with less than 100 nights at home, Alberto Medina has turned cattle fitting into a global art form built on charm and excellence.

You know that rare person who walks into any room and somehow makes everyone feel like they’ve just met their new best friend? Alberto Medina is that guy—except his “rooms” happen to be cattle barns scattered across five continents, and his magnetic presence has turned him into something of a legend in the dairy world.

Less than 100 nights a year—that’s how often this Spanish-born cattle fitter actually sleeps in his own bed. The rest of the time? He’s somewhere between customs lines and show rings, navigating airports with the confidence of a seasoned diplomat and somehow managing to be the most genuinely admired professional in an industry not exactly known for its abundance of humble superstars.

Here’s what strikes everyone about Alberto—in a business where success can breed contempt and competition often gets ugly, Alberto has managed to achieve unprecedented global recognition while earning genuine respect from virtually everyone he encounters.

The Boy Who Never Lost His Wonder

The story begins at Argomota Holsteins, where young Alberto absorbed something special from his parents—not just their passion for showing cattle, but their fundamental approach to treating people well. “My parents always loved the shows, so I started showing at a very early age,” he tells me, and you can hear decades of genuine enthusiasm still bubbling under those words.

What’s remarkable about Alberto’s journey is how organically it unfolded. While others fought their way up through regional politics and industry hierarchies, Alberto simply continued to excel at his craft, maintaining the same authentic enthusiasm that had first drawn people to him as a teenager, when he would clip cattle for friends.

After a decade with Semex Spain providing customer support and fitting services, he made the leap that changed everything: he went full-time as an independent fitter. “After that, I became a full-time fitter, and that’s how the traveling started. I was looking to fulfill my working days,” he explains with characteristic modesty, as if describing a weekend hobby rather than embarking on what would become an unprecedented global career.

Living the Impossible Dream

Picture this: You land in Madrid after two weeks in Canada, rush home to change suitcases, maybe catch four hours of sleep, then hop on a 6 AM flight to New Zealand. Most people would be staggering zombies. Alberto steps off that plane looking refreshed and ready to tackle whatever challenges await.

“Sometimes I have to go home for a day, change luggage, sharpen my blades… and fly again the next day,” he says matter-of-factly. The logistics alone would break most people—navigating different electrical systems, language barriers, and cultural expectations that shift with every border crossing. But Alberto has mastered it all with an ease that borders on the supernatural.

Twelve to fifteen different countries annually. Thirty-plus shows a year. Only five of those shows are in his native Spain. That’s not just a career—that’s a lifestyle that would terrify most of us, yet Alberto has turned it into an art form.

The Stories That Reveal Character

Every conversation with Alberto eventually becomes storytelling time, and his tales reveal layers of humor and grace under pressure. Take the great goat invasion: “A goat running in the ring full of cows was priceless,” he recalls with obvious delight. You can picture the whole scene—some prestigious European show, everything formal and serious, then suddenly chaos as a goat careens through a ring full of Holstein cows.

Or the highway cow chase during a trip from Spain to Italy: “We stopped for milking, one of the cows escaped and was so close to jumping onto the highway.” The way he tells it, you can feel the adrenaline spike, the frantic teamwork, the collective relief when disaster was averted. These aren’t just amusing anecdotes—they’re windows into someone who finds adventure and humor even in moments that would traumatize others.

But perhaps the story that best captures Alberto’s character involves a cow whose breeder wanted to milk her out before the show because, “in their opinion, she didn’t look any good.” Alberto saw something others missed—and she ended up Supreme Champion. That’s not just professional expertise; that’s someone who believes in potential when others have given up hope. This moment perfectly illustrates his ability to see beyond surface appearances and trust his instincts, even when others doubt him.

The Professional Who Elevates Everyone

What distinguishes Alberto from other elite professionals is his collaborative philosophy. “Make a good team at every show because showing animals is not a one-person thing. Success is about teamwork,” he explains, and this isn’t just strategic thinking—it’s how he approaches every aspect of his career.

Rather than hoarding trade secrets or maintaining a competitive advantage through secrecy, Alberto freely shares knowledge and actively builds others up in the industry. When he talks about buying a cow with friends back in 2006 that became Grand Champion at the European Dairy Show in Italy in both 2008 and 2009, then Junior Champion at the Swiss Expo in 2020, you hear the joy of shared achievement. These weren’t solo victories—they were friendship triumphs that created lasting bonds across continents. His willingness to invest in partnerships and celebrate collective success has earned him respect that transcends mere professional accomplishment.

The Master Who Wears Success Lightly

Alberto’s technical mastery is undeniable—he’s adapted to feeding systems ranging from TMR to pasture to full hay programs, stayed current with equipment that’s “changed completely in the past 30 years,” and somehow manages mental transitions between regional showing standards that would challenge seasoned diplomats.

Take his relationship with Llinde Ariel Jordan, a cow he first encountered as a “small, narrow, straight-legged, soft-pastured” two-year-old. Most professionals would have written her off as unpromising. Alberto saw potential and patiently watched her develop “into one of the best show cows in the world.” At 14 years old, she continues to compete and improve her skills. The pride in his voice when discussing her isn’t just professional satisfaction—it’s genuine affection for watching someone (even four-legged someones) exceed expectations.

Even challenging animals earn his respect. Kingboy Birdy is “one of the hardest cows I ever walked into the ring with,” yet he speaks of her with bemused fondness rather than frustration. He appreciates strong personalities even when they complicate his job.

The Gentle Revolutionary

Here’s something most people don’t realize about operating at Alberto’s level—sometimes excellence itself becomes controversial. “People tried to ban me from going to do my job at a show because they think I’m too good at it. Yes, this happened,” he admits with characteristic understatement.

Think about that scenario: being so consistently successful that competitors attempt to exclude you from events. It’s the kind of situation that could make anyone defensive or bitter. Alberto tells the story with the same bemused calm he brings to everything else, seemingly genuinely puzzled by such reactions to professional excellence. His grace under this kind of pressure reveals the depth of his character and professional maturity.

The Philosophy of Authentic Excellence

Alberto’s approach to both life and work reveals someone who’s found genuine fulfillment in an unconventional path. His downtime activities perfectly capture his character: “Hanging out with friends, good restaurants, more traveling, and getting my heifers ready for the next show.” Even relaxation centers on the things he values most—relationships, experiences, and continued engagement with his passion.

When I ask about maintaining personal connections with such an intense travel schedule, he’s refreshingly honest: “It’s truly difficult.” But there’s no self-pity, just acceptance of choices made in pursuit of something he genuinely loves. That emotional honesty extends to his professional relationships as well.

The Visionary with Feet on the Ground

Alberto’s insights about the industry come from an unmatched global perspective. His philosophy about cattle evaluation challenges conventional wisdom: “Wideness is the true type of cow. Modern cows have to have a wide chest, wide open rib, wide rumps, much more than being long and tall.” But he presents these views as contributions to ongoing conversation rather than final pronouncements, inviting discussion rather than demanding agreement.

The technical challenges of transitioning between different regional standards reveal the complexity of his work. “Still hard to adapt when you have 2 months in North America and go back straight to a show in Italy. Not so easy to change your mind that quick on… getting the udders too full,” he notes. This kind of cultural and technical switching demonstrates the mental agility required to succeed at his level.

His advice for aspiring professionals reflects both extensive experience and fundamental optimism: “Travel and see other ways of showing because every country is different and there are so many ways to do the same thing.” It’s counsel about embracing the world with curiosity and openness—life philosophy disguised as career guidance.

The Honest Realist

When I ask about his reputation for being universally liked, Alberto cuts through diplomatic nonsense with refreshing candor: “I don’t think so! Some people love me, but also many on the other side.”

That honesty is quintessentially Alberto. He’s not trying to convince anyone he’s perfect—just being genuine about the realities of high-level success. Yes, most people genuinely enjoy working with him. Yes, his consistent achievements have created some resentment. Both things can be true, and Alberto’s comfortable with that complexity in ways that reveal deep emotional maturity.

Dreams Still Dancing

Even after achieving global recognition that most professionals can only imagine, Alberto maintains specific ambitions that keep him energized. “I’ve been in the middle of the ring at the end of the day at almost every show I’ve been in the world but Expo,” he admits with a smile. World Dairy Expo—the crown jewel of North American dairy shows—remains unconquered territory.

This perspective—always having meaningful goals ahead—might explain how someone maintains enthusiasm across decades of demanding travel and competition. The moment you think you’ve achieved everything is probably when excellence starts to fade. Alberto’s far too fascinated by what’s around the next corner to let that happen.

The Living Proof

What strikes me most about Alberto Medina isn’t his unprecedented travel statistics or technical expertise, though both are extraordinary. It’s how he’s demonstrated that success and kindness aren’t mutually exclusive—that you can achieve global recognition while maintaining the values that make you genuinely likable.

In an industry that sometimes rewards sharp elbows over generous spirits, Alberto has built an international reputation on competence paired with character. Every airport conversation, every patient explanation of a technique, and every shared celebration of others’ achievements contribute to a legacy that transcends mere professional accomplishment.

Those fewer than 100 nights at home annually represent something profound: a commitment to relationships and excellence that has literally transformed an entire industry. Every clipping session becomes an opportunity to mentor. Every show becomes a chance to help someone else achieve dreams they might not have believed possible.

As young professionals watch Alberto work—whether in Auckland or Amsterdam—they see living proof that excellence doesn’t require ego. His patient teaching, infectious enthusiasm, and genuine investment in others’ success have redefined what global leadership can look like.

The next time you encounter perfectly prepared cattle in any show ring around the world, remember the man who’s probably logged more miles in service of our industry than anyone else, while somehow making the whole impossible journey look like the most natural thing in the world.

Alberto Medina’s greatest achievement isn’t any single championship or distance record. It’s proving that the most effective way to conquer the world is to help it succeed, one genuine relationship at a time. For aspiring professionals in any field, his example provides both inspiration and practical guidance: master your craft, treat everyone with respect, find joy in the journey, and remember that the best victories are always shared.

And somewhere tonight, Alberto is probably planning his next adventure, sharpening his clippers, and reminding everyone lucky enough to be around him that work stops being work when you love what you do and genuinely care about the people you do it with. That might be the most beautiful lesson of all.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace adaptability: Master working across diverse cultures, climates, and management systems rather than limiting yourself to one approach
• Build strong, collaborative teams: Success depends on teamwork—”showing animals is not a one-person thing”
• Practice genuine humility and kindness: Authentic relationships and respect open more doors than technical skill alone
• Commit to continuous learning: Stay current with evolving techniques and technology throughout your entire career
• Trust your professional intuition: Learn to identify potential that others might miss, even when conventional wisdom disagrees
• Develop resilience for challenges: Accept that pursuing excellence involves logistical difficulties and personal sacrifices
• Balance passion with realistic expectations: Understand the trade-offs required for global success, including limited time at home
• Prioritize long-term preparation: Focus on consistent, year-round excellence rather than relying on last-minute efforts

Executive Summary

Alberto Medina, the most traveled cattle fitter in the dairy industry, embodies a unique blend of technical mastery, humility, and genuine charm that has made him a beloved figure across five continents. Born at Argomota Holsteins in Spain, Alberto’s career spans over three decades, with annual travels to 12-15 countries and participation in more than 30 shows worldwide—sleeping fewer than 100 nights at home each year. Renowned for his ability to adapt effortlessly to diverse cultures, feeding systems, and show standards, he builds lasting relationships through authentic kindness and collaborative spirit, all while maintaining top-tier performance that has led to multiple championship wins, including his work with Llinde Ariel Jordan, who successfully competed at 14 years old. What sets Alberto apart isn’t just his unmatched global experience or technical expertise, but his rare combination of professional excellence and personal warmth—proving that in an industry where egos often clash, success and genuine likability can coexist beautifully, making him not just the most traveled fitter in the business, but quite possibly the most respected.

Learn More:

• 7 Things You Must Do To Win In The Show Ring – This article provides a tactical checklist for aspiring showmen. It breaks down the key preparations and mindset, offering practical strategies to translate the professional excellence demonstrated by Alberto Medina into your own repeatable success in the ring.
• The 21st Century Guide to Marketing Your Genetics – Moving from individual skill to business strategy, this piece explores how to build a powerful brand around your herd’s genetics. It reveals modern methods for capitalizing on show ring success to create long-term value and market influence.
• Is It Time To Rethink The Perfect Dairy Cow? – This forward-looking analysis challenges breeders to consider the future of dairy type. It complements Alberto’s story by examining the evolving standards and economic realities that will shape the champion cows of tomorrow, prompting readers to innovate their breeding strategies.

Join the Revolution!

Join over 30,000 successful dairy professionals who rely on Bullvine Weekly for their competitive edge. Delivered directly to your inbox each week, our exclusive industry insights help you make smarter decisions while saving precious hours every week. Never miss critical updates on milk production trends, breakthrough technologies, and profit-boosting strategies that top producers are already implementing. Subscribe now to transform your dairy operation’s efficiency and profitability—your future success is just one click away.