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Every article from TheBullvine.com — read aloud so you can keep up with dairy while you're milking, hauling, or driving fence. Daily dispatches on genetics, milk economics, herd management, policy, and the stories the trade press won't touch. No fluff, no PR, no filler — just our journalism in your ears. New articles go live in audio within hours of publication. Subscribe and the day's Bullvine comes with you.

  1. 11h ago

    E665 Hank Van Exel’s Parents Milked Grade Cows by Hand. He’s the 84th Klussendorf Winner

    Brenda Lee, the World Dairy Expo Holstein show announcer, began reading the citation before the crowd heard his name. But behind the applause and the silver Tiffany trophy waiting on the table was a reality most showmen never have to face: thirty-five years of forty-hour hauls across the desert, building a legacy from a grade herd his Dutch immigrant parents milked by hand in 1954, and loading the trailer this fall without the intermediate champion he lost just days before the trip. In the registered dairy business, greatness isn’t handed down—it is argued into existence, proven in the bulk tank, and paid for in sweat, highway lines, and heartbreak. This is the story of Hank Van Exel, the 84th Klussendorf winner, and it will fundamentally challenge how you view the sacrifices you make, the cattle in your barns, and the next generation standing beside you. The Story You'll Hear The phone call that ended college: How a sudden family medical crisis cut his Cal Poly days short and dropped him straight into a trial-by-fire herd takeover.One argument at a time: What it took to convince an old-school, progressive father that papered genetics were worth betting the farm on.The judge who bought the ring: Why he stunned exhibitors at a 1992 county show by buying the five Jerseys he had just finished placing—and the heat he took for milking a mixed herd long before component pricing made it standard.Four months on the blacktop: The physical and mental toll of 35 consecutive years making the grueling drive from Lodi to Madison, sharing the cab with fellow show-ring royalty.Supreme highs, quiet grief: The partnership behind Expo legend Rosiers Blexy Goldwyn-ET, and the devastating empty stall that every true cowman understands.Why "fair" is never "equal": The unvarnished, non-negotiable rule he gave his children about coming home, and why sentimentality ruins farm succession.The mentor's gift: A timeless piece of advice from Doug Maddox on what handing a calf to a kid actually does for the future of our industry.Hank Van Exel represents the rare, vital bridge between relentless commercial reality and the romance of the registered cow. He didn't inherit an empire; his parents arrived with empty hands and milked cows into buckets. Over five decades, Hank built Exels Holsteins and Jerseys into a powerhouse recognized across 15 countries. Yet this conversation isn’t a victory lap of ribbons and credentials. It is a masterclass in human longevity, resilience, and operational discipline. Hank speaks with startling candor about the friction of generational transfer, the grueling depression of the post-show load-out, and the courage it takes to pursue breeding choices before the market catches up. Whether you are milking 50 cows in a tie-stall barn or managing thousands on a Western commercial dairy, Hank’s story strikes at the universal heart of why we stay in agriculture: the pursuit of excellence, the pride of doing things right, and the profound responsibility of lifting up the young people who come after us. Read the complete written feature on Hank Van Exel—featuring archival photos of the early Lodi dairy, complete production records, and his five core business lessons for breeders—at https://www.thebullvine.com/people-legacy/hank-van-exel-klussendorf-award/ Subscribe to The Bullvine Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform to ensure you never miss an industry-defining story.

    E665 Hank Van Exel’s Parents Milked Grade Cows by Hand. He’s the 84th Klussendorf Winner

  2. 1d ago

    E664 Peter Vail, 87, Earns the Honorary Klussendorf and Still Tells Kids to Pick a Calf

    In 1964, a young Cornell graduate sold off his small herd of quality Brown Swiss. For most aspiring cattlemen, that dispersal would have been the quiet end of a short-lived dream. But for Peter Vail, walking away was actually the first step in a sixty-year build. He didn't just come back to the industry—he returned to rewrite the rules of modern show ring genetics, ultimately putting his name on 75 official placings across six breeds in a single week at World Dairy Expo. Yet, as he stood on the colored shavings to receive the highest honor in the dairy show ring, he didn't want to talk about the millions he invested or the record-breaking sales. He wanted to talk about a kid from Vermont who walked up to him and asked to lease a calf. This story will completely change how you measure a lifetime of success in the barn. The Story You'll Hear: The 1964 dispersal that could have ended it all, and the three-generation fertilizer business that fueled his massive return to the industryWhy he paid for an IVF session on a cow seven years after selling her for a $210,000 breed recordThe undeniable "coincidence" connecting all five owners of the 2017 Supreme ChampionThe exact standard he uses to choose his partners—and why October polish means nothing without February gritThe true return on investment of a leased calf, and why saying "yes" to a young exhibitor became his defining trademarkWe all chase the banners, the high classification scores, and the lucrative dispersals. But Peter Vail’s journey proves that the true value of a cow family isn't found at the gavel—it's found in the daughters, the partners, and the people who come after you. Vail, recently named the 19th Honorary Klussendorf recipient at 87 years old, is a living legend who has owned or bred champions across five different breeds. But behind the staggering statistics is a fiercely loyal cattleman who prizes 365-day caretakers over show-week fitters. His perspective forces us to look past the glitz of Madison and examine the human infrastructure of our own operations. You’ll leave this episode feeling reminded of why you fell in love with this industry in the first place, and inspired to hold the door open for the next generation. Don't miss a beat of this incredible journey—hit subscribe to The Bullvine Podcast wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Want to dive deeper into the data and the 75-placing Expo run? Visit https://www.thebullvine.com/breeder-profiles/peter-vail-klussendorf-legacy/ to read the full feature profile on Peter Vail, complete with the exclusive Klussendorf network breakdown. We want to hear from you: who was the cattleman who first opened a door for you? Share your story with us on social media and connect with a community that knows the true value of a good cow and a great caretaker.

    E664 Peter Vail, 87, Earns the Honorary Klussendorf and Still Tells Kids to Pick a Calf

  3. 2d ago

    E663 Joe Price Wins the 2026 Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award: Butlerview’s Manager Gets Called to the Shavings

    Imagine being 13 years old, standing in the barnyard, and watching the trucks load up everything your family has built. For Joe Price, the dispersal of his childhood dairy herd wasn't just a heartbreak—it was the moment that forced a quiet kid to figure out if he actually loved the cows, or just the life. Fast forward through a devastating farming accident, the heart-wrenching sale of his own elite 112.1 BAA herd, and a high-stakes leap of faith to manage a string of million-dollar show cattle for someone else. This isn't just an episode about winning the prestigious 2026 Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award or breeding a Supreme Champion Heifer. It’s a raw, honest look at what it takes to rebuild from scratch, survive the pressure of the wash rack, and stay grounded when the whole world is watching your cattle. This story will change how you look at the people quietly working the pitchforks in the shadows of the show ring. The Story You'll Hear The day the trucks came for his childhood herd—and the moment he realized he had to step up.The tragic farming accident that forced him to walk away from his own elite herd.The life-changing phone call that suddenly put nearly a million dollars of cattle in his care.The heartbreak of losing a legendary cow at the peak of her career.The unseen, daily grind required to turn an 11th-place calf into a Supreme Champion Heifer in just 12 months.Why the true secret to his decades of success is simply never being afraid to ask a question.We spend a lot of time in this industry talking about genomics, feed efficiency, and component markets. But at its core, dairy farming is a human endeavor fueled by grit, heartbreak, and resilience. Joe Price's journey matters because it strips away the glamour of the colored shavings to reveal the relentless, unglamorous grind required to achieve greatness. He didn't win the Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award because he stood at the halter of the world's most famous cows; he won it because he spent 16 years sweeping the aisles, tracking feed intakes, and making the invisible, daily decisions that turn good cattle into legends. His story is a testament to the fact that you don't have to be the loudest voice in the room to leave a lasting legacy. It's a reminder that behind every Grand Champion banner is a team of people who have sacrificed sleep, navigated profound personal loss, and chosen to keep going because they simply feel "comfortable and safe" around the cows. You'll walk away from this episode with a renewed respect for the quiet leaders in our industry, the vital importance of mentorship, and the true cost of greatness. Don't miss the full, in-depth profile on Joe Price's incredible career and his staggering show ring stats. Visit https://www.thebullvine.com/show-reports/world-dairy-expo/joe-price-klussendorf-mackenzie/ to read the complete article and explore our archive of resources, from genetic insights to farm economics. If this story struck a chord with you, hit subscribe on Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode of The Bullvine Podcast. We want to hear about the mentors who shaped your own dairy journey—reach out, share your story with us on Facebook or LinkedIn, and join the conversation with a community of producers who get it.

    E663 Joe Price Wins the 2026 Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award: Butlerview’s Manager Gets Called to the Shavings

  4. 3d ago

    E662 Winners Work: What Elizabeth Hall’s Expo Speech Means for Kids Who Didn’t Get Pulled

    You know the walk. Your whites are spotless. Your heifer is set up square. The judge looks your way twice, maybe three times, but the pulls stop one kid short of you. At the World Dairy Expo, 294 out of 339 youth showmanship competitors made that long, quiet walk back to the tack box without a neck ribbon. That is 87% of the ring. But when the contest closed, senior judge Elizabeth Hall took the microphone and delivered a message that brought the Coliseum to a standstill. What she said in those few minutes didn't just redefine what it means to lose a class—it redefined what it takes to survive in the dairy industry. This is a story that will permanently change how you view a tough day on the shavings, and a hard year on the farm. The Story You'll Hear: The moment the microphone went live and a judge chose to speak the hard, necessary truth to 300 broken hearts.Why the youth exhibitors specifically asked for a farm kid from Minnesota to be the one to judge them.The hardest walk in the barn: swallowing your pride to ask for feedback while your eyes are still red.How the crushing disappointment of a bad show fill prepares you for the brutal reality of a crashing milk price.Why the word "loser" is a choice, and how a champion who stops working loses everything.The profound ripple effect of kneeling in the straw to help a nervous nine-year-old at their first show.Every dairy farmer knows the feeling of doing everything right and still coming up short. The weather turns, a prized fresh cow drops in milk, the monthly check won't cover the feed bill. Elizabeth Hall understands this intimately. Before she was judging across North America, working as a senior sales rep, and coaching the Vermont 4-H dairy judging team, she was just a kid learning the ropes at county fairs. In this episode, we unpack why her viral "Winners Work" speech struck such a deep nerve across the global dairy community. This isn't just an episode about youth programs; it's about the grit required to operate a 200-cow dairy or breed a 2800 TPI genomic giant. It strips away the glamour of the colored shavings to remind us that the true purpose of the ring isn't to build a trophy case—it's to build the resilient, humble, and hungry people this industry will rely on in 20 years. Read the full, hard-hitting editorial—"Winners Work: What Elizabeth Hall's Expo Speech Means for Kids Who Didn't Get Pulled"—right now at https://www.thebullvine.com/show-reports/world-dairy-expo/world-dairy-expo-showmanship-speech/. While you're there, explore our extensive showmanship archives, breeder profiles, and industry-leading genetic analysis. If this episode moved you, please subscribe to The Bullvine Podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating. We want to hear from you: Did a mentor or judge ever pull you aside after a tough day in the ring? What was the hardest lesson the barn ever taught you? Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram and share your story. Keep doing the work, and we'll see you on the next episode.

    E662 Winners Work: What Elizabeth Hall’s Expo Speech Means for Kids Who Didn’t Get Pulled

  5. 4d ago

    E661 Seven Breeds, One Read: Every World Dairy Expo 2026 Champion and What They Told Breeders

    Under the blinding halogen lights of the Coliseum on Friday afternoon, the arithmetic of the modern show ring looked impossible. On one side stood operations with multi-breed strings, seven-figure investments, and teams that move like pit crews. On the other stood an 18-cow tie-stall barn tucked away in the hills of New Hampshire—milking cows before sunrise, loading a handful of head, and daring to step onto the colored shavings. When the dust settled, that tiny herd walked away with Grand Champion honors, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with living legends. It was the kind of moment that sends a chill down the spine of anyone who has ever stood in a cold barn at 4:00 AM wondering if a small breeder can still survive. This conversation will challenge everything you’ve been told about what it takes to breed a great cow today. The Story You'll Hear The quiet conviction to keep milking 18 cows when every economic voice says get big or get outWhy the modern show ring almost crushed the independent breeder—and how a few refused to be crowded outThe blueprint behind Stoney Point Joel Bailey EX-97: how patience and functional longevity built a two-time Supreme ChampionWhat happened when small-herd passion went toe-to-toe with corporate-scale power—and wonThe indelible fingerprints of Peter Vail: what an 87-year-old master breeder’s presence across five breeds teaches us about staying powerThe forgotten art of cow families: why one dominant sire line in the Ayrshire ring reminded every breeder that pedigree depth still beats raw luckWhy This Story Matters World Dairy Expo is often dismissed as a millionaire’s playground—an arena dominated by scale, capital, and professional fitting crews. But Madison 2026 told a radically different, deeply human story. It wasn't just about banners; it was about the resilience of breeders who bet their entire livelihoods on cow sense over capital. Whether you run 40 cows in an old bank barn or manage 2,000 cows in freestalls, this episode speaks to the quiet pride and stubborn endurance required to stay in this business. You will hear how Peter Vail, at 87 years old, continues to shape pedigrees across five distinct breeds not by chasing ephemeral trends, but through an unwavering eye for true breeding value. You’ll see that the true masters of cattle breeding aren't merely surviving industry consolidation; they are proving that dedication, cow family foundation, and generational grit still hold the ultimate trump card. Read the full ringside breakdown, complete pedigree analyses, and full seven-breed champion tables online at https://www.thebullvine.com/show-reports/world-dairy-expo/world-dairy-expo-2026-champions/. Subscribe to The Bullvine Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform so you never miss an episode. Got a breeding story or a quiet triumph from your own barn? Connect with us on social media or reach out through the website—we want to hear what’s happening in your herd.

    E661 Seven Breeds, One Read: Every World Dairy Expo 2026 Champion and What They Told Breeders

  6. Sep 25

    E660 A Mentor, Six Names and a Board: What Three 2026 Expo Honors Actually Have in Common

    Imagine being handed a farm checking account the summer before eighth grade and being told that the genetic future of the herd is entirely in your hands. Or sitting in a diner in 1979, staring at a one-month-old bull calf, and risking your career on a pedigree that half the industry would have walked away from. This episode steps out of the bright lights of the show ring to examine the quiet, terrifying, and deeply human moments where the future of the dairy industry is actually decided. By tracking the untold histories of three 2026 World Dairy Expo honorees, we uncover a truth that will permanently change how you view the legacy you are building on your own farm. The Story You'll Hear The boy who memorized Holstein pedigrees from a magazine he couldn't even readThe eighth-grade checking account that accidentally launched a legendary dairy economistWhy a 10,000-cow dairy explicitly divides its commercial herd and show string (and why confusing the two is a financial disaster)The chance diner encounter that led to a massive, controversial gamble on Hanoverhill StarbuckThe invisible, dirt-level agronomy work that outlasts any championship bannerHow an unbroken, 56-year chain of mentors quietly orchestrated the highest awards in the industryIt is easy to look at World Dairy Expo honorees—Corey Geiger, Robert Chicoine, and the Lamb family at Oakfield Corners—and see only the polished end results of their success. But their journeys illuminate a universal challenge every producer faces: how do you balance the hard, unforgiving math of farming with the gut instinct required to breed a great cow? This episode strips away the executive titles and the championship prefixes. You'll meet a kid who was told his early writing was terrible but worth fixing, a young sire analyst who had to beg breeders to trust data over a pretty picture, and a family navigating the humbling, relentless reality of the Madison show ring. Their collective experience proves that true success isn't just about feed efficiency or genetic indexes. It’s about the willingness to hand real responsibility to the next generation. You will walk away understanding that the most valuable asset on your farm isn't in the semen tank—it's the people you are teaching to replace you. Don't miss the full written profile, The Work That Lasts, featuring deep dives into the historical pedigrees and the cross-referenced mentor chains discussed today. Visit https://www.thebullvine.com/show-reports/world-dairy-expo/world-dairy-expo-honorees-2026/ to read the complete article and explore our extensive archives on dairy markets, genetics, and management. If this episode sparked a memory of the mentor who handed you your first real responsibility, we want to hear about it—tag us on social media or send us a message with your story. Make sure to subscribe to The Bullvine Podcast on Apple Podcasts so you never miss a deep dive, and please leave us a review if today's story resonated with you.

    E660 A Mentor, Six Names and a Board: What Three 2026 Expo Honors Actually Have in Common

  7. Sep 24

    E659 Five Roads to Madison: The Cows, Families and Decisions Behind Five Elite Programs

    It’s the phone call every dairy farmer dreads, usually coming in the dead of night. A prized cow is down. For Tom and Kelli Cull, that agonizing moment arrived when one of the most valuable show cows in the world suffered a severe hip dislocation. The easy, purely financial decision would have been to walk away. The experts said her career was over; some warned her life was, too. But instead of accepting the end, they risked their reputation, their capital, and their hearts on a grueling, year-long recovery that would redefine their entire operation. This is a story about what happens when the cold business of elite genetics collides with the profound, exhausting duty of care—and it will fundamentally change how you look at the animals standing in your own barn. The Story You'll Hear The midnight realization that their most valuable cow might never walk againWhy they chose to ignore the conventional advice to cut their lossesThe brutal, exhausting months of slings, hobbles, and the creation of a specialized sand penThe emotional toll of watching a champion fight for her life—and the breakthrough moment she finally turned the cornerHow one cow's tragedy sparked a permanent transformation in their farm's facilities and management philosophyThe triumphant, impossible return to the national show ring and a 310,000-pound lifetime recordTom and Kelli Cull didn't build Budjon Farms into a breeding and boarding empire just by collecting banners. They built it on a foundation of uncompromising grit. While the dairy industry often focuses on genomic indices, auction averages, and Premier Breeder points, this episode peels back the curtain on the quiet, back-breaking labor that happens long after the show crowds go home. It’s a story for anyone who has ever stayed up all night in a freezing barn, fighting for an animal that couldn't fight for itself. We explore the heavy burden of managing elite genetics, the emotional weight of life-or-death decisions, and how true value isn't just bred—it is meticulously, painstakingly developed. You won't just learn about dairy management; you'll be reminded of exactly why you fell in love with these cows in the first place. Don’t miss a single story from the heart of the dairy industry—subscribe to The Bullvine Podcast on Apple Podcasts today. Want to dive deeper into the business models behind elite programs like Budjon? Visit https://www.thebullvine.com/show-reports/world-dairy-expo/world-dairy-expo-breeders-cow-families/ to read our full feature, "Five Roads to Madison," and explore our extensive archive of breeder profiles, economic analysis, and management resources. We want to hear from you: What was your hardest fight in the barn? Share your story with us on social media and join a community that understands the true grit of dairy farming.

    E659 Five Roads to Madison: The Cows, Families and Decisions Behind Five Elite Programs

  8. Sep 23

    E658 Lactanet Gave Murray Hunt Its Distinction Award. He Gave the Room a 3,500-Herd Problem

    Imagine standing in front of the most powerful people in Canadian dairy. They’ve just handed you a lifetime achievement award for building the very foundations of the industry's genetic evaluation systems. You’re 81 years old. The polite thing to do is say thank you, reminisce about the good old days, and step down. Instead, Murray Hunt gripped the podium, looked at the executives in the room, and told them the system they’re running is financially unsustainable. He told them the milk tank can't pay for their silos anymore. It was a mic-drop moment decades in the making, and this story will completely change how you view the future of your own farm's checkoffs. The Story You'll Hear The devastating teenage farm accident that forced a boy out of the barn and into the history booksHow a grounded winter flight and a chance encounter sparked an idea that revolutionized cattle classification worldwideThe brutal lesson a 25-year-old manager had to learn about leadership, loyalty, and letting people goWhy the man who championed the Canadian type system now admits we got chest width all wrongThe math behind the "3,500-herd problem"—and why surviving the next decade requires tearing down the walls we spent fifty years buildingIt’s easy to look at an industry titan and see only the resume: the 1970 master's thesis that drove young sire sampling, the birth of the profit-based index, and decades spent shaping Holstein Canada and the Canadian Dairy Network. But behind the policies and the podium is a story of profound human resilience. Murray Hunt wasn't supposed to be an executive; he just wanted to milk cows and breed great cattle on his family’s 25-acre farm. When physical tragedy took that dream away, he channeled his passion into fighting for the farmers he couldn't stand shoulder-to-shoulder with in the parlour. This episode strips away the boardrooms and the bureaucracy. It’s a raw, honest look at what happens when a visionary realizes the structures he helped build have outlived their purpose. Whether you're milking 50 cows in a tie-stall or 5,000 on a rotary, Murray's journey proves that the hardest part of true leadership isn't building something new—it’s having the courage to tear down what you love when it stops serving the farmer. You won’t just hear the history of dairy genetics; you’ll feel the weight of a lifetime devoted entirely to the dairy cow. If the organizations you pay your hard-earned dues to had to survive on half the herds tomorrow, what would they cut first—and are you brave enough to demand they start sharing resources today? Don't miss a single story from the heart of the dairy industry—hit subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. To dive deeper into the hard math behind the 3,500-herd problem, and to read the full, in-depth profile on Murray Hunt's incredible career, visit https://www.thebullvine.com/breeder-profiles/murray-hunt-lactanet-award/. Have you had a mentor who changed the trajectory of your farm, or faced a moment that forced you to rethink your entire operation? We want to hear about it. Share your story with us on social media and join the conversation.

    E658 Lactanet Gave Murray Hunt Its Distinction Award. He Gave the Room a 3,500-Herd Problem
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About

Every article from TheBullvine.com — read aloud so you can keep up with dairy while you're milking, hauling, or driving fence. Daily dispatches on genetics, milk economics, herd management, policy, and the stories the trade press won't touch. No fluff, no PR, no filler — just our journalism in your ears. New articles go live in audio within hours of publication. Subscribe and the day's Bullvine comes with you.

Information

  • Creator
    The Bullvine
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    661
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Bullvine 2024
  • Show Website
    The Bullvine Daily Brief

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