Meet The Judges

Since 2012 and re-locating to Wisconsin, USA Roger Turner has been the Global Sales and Genetic Manager for Jetstream Genetics Inc. Previously he was employed by Alta Genetics Inc. as a Regional Sire Analyst and also an International Sales Manager for just over 18 years.

Roger was raised at Railhaven Holsteins, a registered Holstein farm in Ontario, Canada. Turner was a self-employed, professional dairy cattle fitter for 12 years before joining the AI industry. This work took him across North America and to many foreign countries where he prepared, showed and owned numerous All-Canadians, All-Americans and grand champions.

Roger’s judging career has included assignments to more than 22 countries, and over 20 US states and numerous Canadian provinces. Roger has judged at The Royal Winter Fair in Canada, Swiss Expo in Lausanne, Switzterland, European Holstein Show in Verona, Italy, International Dairy Week in Australia, UK Dairy Expo Carisle, England as well as four occasions at World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI.

Additionally, he has served as a member of both the All-American & All-Canadian selection committees for various breeds and has officiated at numerous US National Shows. Roger in the past has held postions on the Holstein Canada Type & Classification Advisory Board and Past President of the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association. Roger was recently awarded a 20 year service award from NAAB for outstanding service and commitment to the improvement of the livestock industry.

A proud supporter of youth programs, Roger is also a volunteer at the USA Inter-collegaite Judging Competition at WDE as well as a Canadian Classic volunteer at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Roger finds his spare time to be occupied as a First Responder & Fire Fighter with the Sun Prairie Fire Department.

Roger lives in Sun Prairie, WI, USA

Australian dairy farmer Daniel Bacon, milks 320 high-production Jerseys under the well-known prefix, Brookbora Jerseys.

 

Brookbora Jerseys – located on 283 hectares in Tennyson, Victoria – is Australia’s highest production herd, the reigning Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor herd at International Dairy Week (IDW), and the No. 2 Australian Jersey herd in BPI [Balanced Performance Index]. Brookbora also has the distinction of breeding more than 350 EX cows. 

 

Daniel spent eight years working as a nutritionist studying animal science at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga (New South Wales). He returned to the family farm in a part-time role in 2017 – balancing it with his nutritionist work – before joining the Brookbora partnership full time with his parents, Robert and Sandra.

 

Their Jersey herd averaged 668kg milk solids in 305 days last season (with an average bodyweight of 430kg).  Brookbora also bred two popular sires, which are being used across the globe, Brookbora Valentino Askn, and Brookbora Bushfield-P (in addition to co-breeding Pannoo Abe Vanahlem). 

 

Daniel is also part of the three-way partnership on one of Australia’s famous Illawarras, Wallumlands Sunstorm 8 EX95. Sunstorm 8 was shown four times at IDW for four Grand Champions and two Supreme Champions (of all breeds) between 2015 and 2019. 

 

Daniel has travelled extensively courtesy of the Jersey cow through the United States, New Zealand and throughout Australia. He has judged shows and on-farm competitions in every state of Australia, and in 2022 judged the Holstein’s at the New Zealand Agricultural Show followed by the Jerseys at the New Zealand Dairy Event in 2023

 

Ben Govett, of Tandara Genetics, has had to switch up his farm’s name from Tandara Brown Swiss, to cover off on the multiple breeds now residing on his 600-hectare operation at Dingee, in northern Victoria (two hours north of Melbourne).

 

Tandara has been Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor in the Brown Swiss at International Dairy Week (IDW) in Australia every year for the last decade. That has usually included Tandara names on the Champion, Reserve and Honourable Mention – and every other broad ribbon on offer for the breed.  Tandara has bred and owned the last eight IDW Brown Swiss Grand Champions.

 

Ben is also part of the three-way partnership on one of Australia’s famous Illawarras, Wallumlands Sunstorm 8 EX95. Sunstorm 8 was shown four times at IDW for four Grand Champions and two Supreme Champions (of all breeds) between 2015 and 2019. The partnership included good friends, Daniel Bacon (Brookbora Jerseys) and Glen Gordon (Gorbro Holsteins). Notably, at IDW this year Ben, Daniel, and Glen all won Premier Exhibitor in their respective breeds. Ben has also owned broad ribbon winners at IDW in Holstein and Ayrshires.

 

Ben’s 300-head herd is an even split between Brown Swiss and Holsteins with some Jerseys and whatever other breed Ben may have on-board as a favour to someone. The Holsteins average 10,500 litres (625kg Milk Solids) and while the top two dozen Brown Swiss are marginally behind the Holstein in litres, Ben confirms the top tier of Brown Swiss hold the power in Milk Solids. He supplies processor, Lactalis.

 

Ben’s judging resume is just as diverse as his breed choices. He has judged at every Royal Show in Australia – Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide. He has also judged the popular Toowoomba Show. He travelled to New Zealand Waikato Holstein On-Farm competition & was Judge of the combined breeds at 2023 New Zealand Dairy Event.  He judged the Holsteins at the Victorian Winter Fair in Bendigo & more recently was the over Judge for the Victorian OFC picking Overall winners from over 1000 Holstein cows. He has officiated numerous times at International dairy week including being the 2023 youth show judge.

 

Ben works hard at home, but he is also well travelled, and he is a regular visitor to the World Dairy Expo (WDE) in the United States. Ben graduated from the University of Melbourne with a degree in Animal Science, and he has used it as a vital base to run a profitable operation in one of the most challenging areas to dairy in Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

The Howcommon Herd was Honourable Mention in Holstein UK Premeir Herd competition and received Master Breeder status as few years ago.

 

John has been on the UK judging panel and the European judging panel for many years and has judged extensively in the UK.   As well as judging many shows John has been the official judge for regional and National Herd Competitions all over the UK and the Rep of Ireland.

 

Some of John’s most notable judging assignments have been the Dairy Farming Event, Royal Highland Show, Royal Welsh Show, Agri Scot and the Great Yorkshire show.

 

John has extensive International judging experience as well having judged national Holstein shows in Denmark, Sweden, Poland, the Azores, Germany, France, Isle of Man and the Rep. of Ireland.  One of the major highlights in John’s judging career was being selected to represent Great Britian at the European Holstein Show in Colmar, France where he judged the county groups.