Wisconsin Holstein Association
District Shows
Thank you to all the show chairs and volunteers who helped make the 2024 District Shows a success. We had 1223 head exhibited at all of the shows.
Results from the shows are in the archives below and photos from each of the shows can be found on our Facebook page.
2025 District Show Dates
District 1 - Sunday, June 15 in Chippewa Falls
District 2 - Monday, June 16 in Black River Falls
District 3 - Wednesday, July 2 in Lancaster
District 4 - Tuesday, July 1 in Neillsville
District 5 - Sunday, June 22 in Portage
District 6 - Saturday, June 28 in Stoughton
District 7 - Saturday, June 21 in Shawano
District 8 - Wednesday, June 18 in West Bend
District 10 - Thursday, June 19 in Chilton
District Show Information
Any mailed entries coming to WHA office must be postmarked by May 31, 2025.
Any other deadlines are noted in the individual District’s information.
District 1
Date: Sunday, June 15
Chippewa County Fairgrounds, Chippewa Falls
Entries Due: Friday, May 30
Entry Fee: $30/head + credit card fee; (late fee of $40/head)
Mail Entries to: WHA, 902 8th Avenue, Baraboo, WI 53913 (by 5/30/25)
Checks Payable to: Chippewa County Holstein Breeders
District Chair: Jade Kruschke, 715-977-2579; jadejensen54@yahoo.com
Local Chair: Eric Wachtendonk, 715-933-2492; eric.wachtendonk@gmail.com
Grounds Open: Friday, June 13 at 8 a.m.
Check-In Deadline: Saturday, June 14 at 6 p.m.
Starting Time: 9:00 a.m.
Judge: Brooks Hendrickson
Veterinarian: Dr. Andrew Diestche, 715-933-2089
Showmanship: Saturday, June 14 at 5 p.m.
There will be a Summer Junior 2-Year-Old class, please enter as a Junior 2-Year-Old and classes will get sorted by birthdate for the show.
District 2
Date: Monday, June 16
Jackson County Fairgrounds, Black River Falls
Entries due: Sunday, June 1
Entry fee: $20/head + credit card fee; (late fee of $25/head)
Mail entries to: WHA, 902 8th Avenue, Baraboo, WI 53913 (by 5/31/25)
Checks payable to: Trempealeau County Holstein Breeders
District Chair: Joe Harbaugh, 608-632-0177
Local Chair: Trish Brown, 715-533-4402; trishj03@yahoo.com
Grounds open: Saturday, June 14 at 12 noon for bed down only; cattle may arrive on Sunday, June 15
Check-In deadline: Monday, June 16 at 8 a.m.
Starting time: following showmanship (approx. 10 a.m.)
Judge: Kyle Demmer
Veterinarian:
Showmanship: Monday, June 16 at 8:30 a.m.
Grounds will be open on Saturday, June 14 at 12 noon for bed down only - no cattle may be on the grounds until Sunday, June 15. Show is being held in conjunction with the Brown Swiss Canton show – classes will alternate breeds. There will be a Summer Junior 2-Year-Old class, please enter as a Junior 2-Year-Old and classes will get sorted by birthdate for the show. Beth Herges will be available show day for professional photos.
District 3
Date: Wednesday, July 2
Grant County Fairgrounds, Lancaster
Entries due: Friday, June 20
Entry fee: online fee - $10/head, mailed entry - $15/head; (late fee of $25/head)
Mail entries to: WHA, 902 8th Avenue, Baraboo, WI 53913 (by 5/31/25)
Checks payable to: District 3 Holstein Breeders
District Chair: Angela Davis Brown, 608-574-7756; arbrown81@hotmail.com
Local Chair: Jason Kearns, 608-306-2201; burtonriderkearns@gmail.com
Grounds open: Monday, June 30 at 8 a.m. (no early bed down)
Check-In deadline: Tuesday, July 1 at 4 p.m.
Starting time: 9 a.m.
Judge: Kurt Wolf
Veterinarian: Lancaster Vet Clinic, 608-723-6366
Showmanship: Tuesday, July 1 at 6:00 p.m.
No early bed down or tie-off before 8 a.m. on Monday, June 30. Camping available for $25. Exhibitor meeting and pizza at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1. There will be a Summer Junior 2-Year-Old class, please enter as a Junior 2-Year-Old and classes will get sorted by birthdate for the show.
District 4
Date: Tuesday, July 1
Clark County Fairgrounds, Neillsville
Entries due: Friday, June 6
Entry fee: online fee - $15/head + credit card fee, mailed entry - $20/head; (late fee of $50/head)
Mail entries to: WHA, 902 8th Avenue, Baraboo, WI 53913 (by 5/31/25)
Checks payable to: Clark County Holstein Association
District Chair: Scott Pralle, 715-533-0901; spralle@centurylink.net
Local Chair: Joe Meyer, 715-223-5918; joseph_p_meyer@hotmail.com
Grounds open: Monday, June 30 at 6 a.m.
Check-In deadline: Tuesday, July 1 at 8 a.m.
Starting time: 9 a.m.
Judge: Brian Coyne
Veterinarian: John Borzillo, 715-937-5660
Showmanship: Monday, June 30 at 7 p.m.
There will be a Summer Junior 2-Year-Old class, please enter as a Junior 2-Year-Old and classes will get sorted by birthdate for the show.
District 5
Date: Sunday, June 22
Columbia County Fairgrounds, Portage
Entries due: Monday, June 2
Entry fee: online fee - $20/head, mailed entry - $25/head; (late fee of $50/head)
Mail entries to: WHA, 902 8th Avenue, Baraboo, WI 53913 (by 5/31/25)
Checks payable to: District 5 Holstein Association
District & Local Chair: Colt Voegeli, cvoegeli@aol.com; 608-692-0225
Grounds open: Friday, June 20 at 8 a.m. for bed down only; cattle may arrive starting Saturday, June 21 at 8 a.m.
Check-In deadline: Sunday, June 22 at 7 a.m.
Starting time: Immediately following peewee showmanship (approx. 9:30 a.m.)
Judge: Jay Jauquet
Veterinarian: Lodi Veterinary Care, 608-592-7755
Showmanship: Sunday, June 22 at 8 a.m. (starting with seniors)
Camping sites available.
District 6
Date: Saturday, June 28
Stoughton Fairgrounds, Stoughton
Entries Due: Sunday, June 15
Entry Fee: $30/head; (late fee - $60/head)
Mail Entries to: Joe Sarbacker, 1485 Range Trail, Verona, WI 54593
Checks Payable to: Dane County Holstein Breeders
District Chair: Kristen Metcalf, 608-289-5373; broege.k@gmail.com
Local Chair: Joe Sarbacker, 608-444-8905; joesarbacker@gmail.com
Grounds Open: Thursday, June 26 for bed down only; cattle may arrive starting at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 27
Check-In Deadline: Saturday, June 28 at 7 a.m.
Starting Time: 8:30 a.m.
Judge: Josh Fairbanks
Veterinarian: State Line Vet, 262-882-3466
Showmanship: Friday, June 27 at 6 pm *updated time from what was published in the News
There will be a Summer Junior 2-Year-Old class, please enter as a Junior 2-Year-Old and classes will get sorted by birthdate for the show.
District 7
Date: Saturday, June 21
Shawano County Fairgrounds, Shawano
Entries due: Saturday, May 31
Entry fee: online fee - $21/head, mailed entry - $25/head; (late fee of $50/head)
Mail entries to: WHA, 902 8th Avenue, Baraboo, WI 53913 (by 5/31/25)
Checks payable to: Shawano County Holstein Breeders
District Chair: Willis Gunst, 920-858-9367; willisgunst@gmail.com
Local Chair: Brandon Smith, 715-509-0025; smitty.nor.rich@gmail.com
Grounds open: Thursday, June 19
Check-In Deadline: Saturday, June 21 at 8 a.m.
Starting Time: 9:30 a.m.
Judge: Ben Wallace
Veterinarian: Valley Vet Clinic, 920-833-6833
Showmanship: Friday, June 20 at 6 pm
There will be a Summer Junior 2-Year-Old class, please enter as a Junior 2-Year-Old and classes will get sorted by birthdate for the show.
District 8
Date: Wednesday, June 18
Washington County Fairgrounds, West Bend
Entries due: Sunday, June 1
Entry fee: $15/head; (late fee of $30/head)
Mail entries to: Joe DiGangi, N166W21290 Glen Brooke Dr, Jackson, WI 53037
Checks payable to: Washington County Dairy
District Chair: Mandy Sell-Stanford, 920-253-8773; sellcrestfarm@yahoo.com
Local Chair: Joe DiGangi, 262-208-6020; digangijoe@hotmail.com
Grounds open: Tuesday, June 17 at 10 a.m.
Check-In deadline: Wednesday, June 18 at 8 a.m.
Starting time: 10 a.m.
Judge: Trent Styczynski
Veterinarian: Tille Lake - Becky Schultz, 262-677-3406
Showmanship: Wednesday, June 18 at 8 a.m.
Shavings bedding pack preferred. Camping available for a fee – contact the fairgrounds for reservations (https://www.wcfairpark.com/camping-facilities/).
District 10
Date: Thursday, June 19
Calumet County Fairgrounds, Chilton
Entries Due: Sunday, June 1
Entry Fee: online fee - $25/head + credit card fee, mailed entry - $30/head; (late fee of $50/head)
Mail Entries to: Shianne Ferry, W2650 Harvestore Rd, Hilbert, WI 54129
Checks Payable to: Calumet County Holstein Breeders
District Chair: Sara Feldmann, 920-980-9704; sfeldmann23@gmail.com
Local Chair: Brandon & Shianne Ferry, 608-335-8861; smlurvey@gmail.com
Grounds Open: Tuesday, June 17 from 12-5 pm for bed down only; cattle may start arriving Wednesday, June 18 at 6 a.m.
Check-In Deadline: Thursday, June 19 at 7:30 a.m.
Starting Time: 9 a.m.
Judge: Josh Fairbanks
Veterinarian: Dairy Doctors (Chris Booth), 920-980-9659
Showmanship: Wednesday, June 18 at 5 p.m.
Food stand available Wednesday night and all day Thursday. Camping is also available - exhibitors are encouraged to bring generators if they have them but they will need to be outside the barns. There will be a Summer Junior 2-Year-Old class, please enter as a Junior 2-Year-Old and classes will get sorted by birthdate for the show.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a WHA member to exhibit at a District Show?
Yes. Anyone exhibiting an animal at a WHA District Show needs to be a current member of the Wisconsin Holstein Association. This includes any owner of an animal, even if another individual is showing that animal for the owner. If a junior is exhibiting a managerial project, they do not need to be a member but the owner of the animal does need to be a member. Out-of-state members will also need to pay a $50 out-of-state fee.
Do I need a registration paper to be able to show?
Yes. All animals exhibited at District Shows require papers in order to be checked in. If you have questions about the status of your registration, you can reach out to info@holstein.com and a customer service rep will help you out. They can email you a copy of the registration paper if you have not received it in the mail. BUT DON’T DELAY– we will make our best effort to allow everyone to show, but we also expect exhibitors to do their best to get registration papers or a copy of the paper ahead of time. If you have a check-in day that takes place on a weekend, you need to get in touch with Holstein USA during their weekday business hours. No Holstein USA rep will be able to be reached on the weekends.
Do I need a health paper, and do all animals need to be tested for bird flu?
No intrastate movement of heifers or cows requires a health paper from their veterinarian. HOWEVER, any cow being shown needs to adhere to the current guidelines for avian flu testing. Information on testing can be found here.
Can my animal show with just a button tag?
If your heifer or cow is identified with photos on the registration paper, then they do not need eartags. If an animal is identified with Holstein USA eartags, two official eartags must be in the animal’s ears for entry to be accepted and allowed in the showring. In addition, all animals must be Holstein Registered or Qualified by Holstein USA or registered with Holstein Canada with 87% or greater purity.
Which District Show should I show at? When do I need to enter?
You may show in either the district where you live or where your animals are housed (if housed elsewhere). We have 9 districts in the state of Wisconsin. If you have any questions about which district you should show in, please contact us at the office. Each District Show has a local and district chair and most are hosted in different locations each year. All of the information for show location, entry fees and deadlines is printed in the Wisconsin Holstein News and on our website.
Do I have to show at a District Show to be eligible for the Summer Championship Show?
No. The Summer Championship Show will now be open to all exhibitors in Wisconsin and beyond. We still encourage you to show at your local district show, however it is not necessary to show at the summer show in August.
My child is just starting to show. Can they just walk with me and the animal in the showring?
For the safety of all exhibitors and to limit liability, no additional leadspeople will be allowed on any animal that enters the ring for all classes. If a youth is leading an animal, they must be able to control the animal on their own and without an adult or older youth’s assistance. For young exhibitors, we offer a Spring Calf class for only exhibitors that are age 10 and under. However, each child needs to be able to handle the animal on their own.
When do I need to have my junior animals transferred?
Junior animals must be transferred by July 15 for junior-owned animals. Transfers will be accepted at any District Show and submitted to Holstein USA representatives.
Can a junior show an animal not registered in their name?
Yes, they can, however these juniors will not be eligible for junior awards. All animals (open and junior show) are shown together at WHA shows, but junior members are eligible for additional recognition as junior owners. We recommend that if your junior wants to show in the junior show, the animal must be transferred into their name. If the junior is just showing a managerial animal, this animal will be eligible for open show recognition and the animal’s owner will be listed in any show catalogs. No animals owned by adult/junior partnerships will be eligible for junior recognition.
What happens if a junior isn’t around to show their animal?
As stated in the Wisconsin Holstein show rules, the junior listed on the registration paper must exhibit the animal to earn junior recognition. If another junior (not listed on the paper in partnership with the junior) or adult shows the animal, they no longer qualify for junior awards. Junior animals may be shown in the open show at District Show and still be eligible to be shown by the junior at the Wisconsin Championship Show.
For those juniors starting to show, the Holstein Foundation has excellent resources regarding fitting, showmanship and show animal care. These include downloadable resources and videos. http://www.holsteinfoundation.org