The Breeder’s Touch

Hosted by The Masheks Hilltop Acres, Iowa

at the Winneshiek Co.  Fairgrounds, Decorah, IA | May 3, 2025

87 lots averaged $6400 | 10 lots sold for over $10,000

DECORAH, IA -The third Breeders Touch Sale is now successfully in the history books. The high-quality offering featured consignments from Master Breeders as honored by the Brown Swiss Historical Society including Blessing Farms, Wind Mill Farm, Hilltop Acres, Kruse’s Swiss Farm, Peter Vail, Top Acres and Voegeli Farm. Additional selections were presented from other breed leaders featuring an emphasis on deep cow family pedigrees, type and genomics.

Sale activities started the afternoon prior to the sale with an open house and first-hand look at the phenomenal Hilltop Acres herd owned by the Mashek Family, hosts of the Breeders Touch event. Later in the evening a preview of the sale cattle and complimentary meal and beverages were enjoyed by all.

The sale started off with a bang as Lot 1, Hilltop Acres Pocahontas entered the ring. This extra-fancy December 2024 calf combines the best of all worlds with her high-type, high-genomics +116 PPR and special pedigree. She is a daughter of Princess 2E92, the dam of Prince, Perfection, Patriot, Playtime & Playmaker, and she is sired by Hilltop Acres Top Notch ET. When the bidding ended, John & Bonnie Ayars, Mechanicsburg, Ohio, were the successful buyers at $21,000.

The second-high for the day, Hilltop Acres CH Netflix ET, the #4 ranked PPR heifer of the breed, at +176 PPR was taken at $22,500 by ST Genetics, Navasota, TX. Netflix was another exceptional consignment from Hilltop Acres Farm, Decorah, Iowa, out of Nutella E91, the dam of Nashville, Navigate, P Netfilx, Nike & Nitro. She is sired by Crazy Horse.

The sale topper at $42,000 was Hilltop Acres H Damara ETV. An exceptional young VG-87 Huge daughter with 26,780M 1105F 964P in her first lactation, she was consigned by Doug & Jody Fairbanks of Anamosa, Iowa. With one son, Dark Horse, already in A.I. and strong contract interest, she was the talk of the sale. A daughter of Dixiland 3E93, she is backed by seven generations of Excellent dams. Bidding was spirited with Peter Vail of Englewood, Florida & Valatie, New York as her new owner.

Modern Associates managed the sale and made selections from across the country. Adam Fraley handled auctioneering duties with Wayne Sliker as boxman. Brian Garrison headed up the ringmen and sales force including Norman Magnussen, Lee Barber, Joe Sparrow, Dan Gilbert, Bryan Champluvier, Erica Davis, Kathi Brown-Meier and Becky Korth. Gina Fraley clerked the event and Tyler Endres headed up the preparation and presentation crew.

The sale enjoyed active participation with buyers from 16 states, as well as Canada, Italy and the Netherlands.

Additional High Sellers:

Bluegrass State = Brown Swiss State

Louisville, KY; The April 4, 2025 edition of the Kentucky National Brown Swiss Sale was advertised as the best ever, and for once, something lived up to the hype.

71 live lots averaged $3877. Cattle sold to 14 states.

Thanks go to so many. Thanks to the Juniors who showed and presented cattle all day; the sale crew:  Matthew Manery, Austin Knapp, William Sadler, Caleb Lipps, Jordan Stookey, Josh Jones, Chad Voelker, Preston Sheets, and Roger Sparrow; Lynn Lee for auctioneering; Wayne Sliker for reading pedigrees; and Jared Major and Terry Trowbridge for serving as ringmen.

L-R: Joe Sparrow, Kirby Sparrow, Chad Voelker, Lot 28 Archie Sparrow, Ben Sparrow, Matt Manery, Austin Knapp, William Sadler, Josh Jones with Wayne Sliker and Lynn Lee in the box.

New and re-invented Brown Swiss sale sets record in Maryland

L-R:: Karlie Supplee, Hannah Gingrich, Katie Shultz, Dylan Fry, Billie Jo Rhodes, Jenna Lenhart, Jeff Hubbard, Kylie Younkins, Rachel Van Buren on the halter of Lot 9, (Peach Kist C Tampa ETV), Jonathan Hubbard, Chris Hill, Jake Hushon, Ellie Widerman on the halter of Lot 31, (Clearview Daredevil Bonnie), Michael Bosley, Joy Widerman, Kyle Welk, Hannah Myers, Cole Nickerson and Ashlyn McDougan.

FREDERICK, Md. — The new and re-invented Maryland Brown Swiss Sale greeted Spring on Friday, March 21, at the Frederick Fairgrounds with a record-setting average for this sale series.

Featuring a new sale committee, sale force, date, time, and logo, this continues a long tradition as the 51st annual sale.

After many years under the outstanding leadership of Cindy Warner, the torch was passed to the new sale committee consisting of Joy Widerman of Gettysburg, PA; Jenna Lenhart from Thurmont, MD, Billie Jo Rhodes of Churchville, VA, and Dylan Fry of Chestertown, MD. The sale also featured Jake Hushon’s pedigree debut, and was auctioned by Chris Hill of MD-Hillbrook Sales.

A sizeable crowd was on hand to appreciate the high-quality offerings, which featured a special line-up of heifers of all ages. The crisp March day was filled with enthusiasm and energy from the crowd, as well as fervent on-line bidding via Cowbuyer.com.

The ignition of spirit from quality consigners and satisfied buyers led to the in-demand heifers commanding a final average of $3243 on 34 live lots; the highest in sale history. There were also six embryo packages offered from breed-leading cows across the country, with an average of $495per embryo or $2008 per package. A diverse group of buyers hailed from nine states, Canada, and Italy.

This popular Spring sale continues to produce high-quality show animals, with numerous sale alumni earning honors in the Bell Ringer and All-American contests. Among the many highlights, the top three individuals were:

High seller: $9000 – Peach Kist C Tampa ETV, a December ’24 Collaps daughter from the famed family that produced Peach Kist Total Tango (3E-95). Consignor:  Jenna Lenhart of Maryland; purchased by Kyle Johnson of Pennsylvania.

Second high seller: $7800 – Cripple Creek Diego Wicked, a September ’24 Doboy daughter of Top Acres Diego Wizer (EX-91), Reserve All-American ’23, hailing from the Wizard family. Consignor:  Lukas Foote, NY; purchased by Paige Knott of West Virginia.

Third high seller: $7300 – Clearview Daredevil Bonnie, a springing senior 2-year old sired by Daredevil from generations of Clearview breeding that is sure to be one to watch at the shows this year. Consignor:  Kyle Kucas of Pennsylvania; purchased by Ashlyn McDougal, West Virginia.

Additional consignments selling for over $5000 were:

Blessing Garbro K Pasadena (Kickstart x All-Glo Carter Popsicle (3E- 94) selling for $5800 to John Schilling of Louisiana and Empire HT Lexi (Harts Thunder x Empire DD Lexy (VG-88) selling for $5600 to Peter Vail of New York.

 

Iowa State Sale 2025… An Event

Saturday, March 8, 2025 - Cresco, IA: The 81st edition of the Iowa Brown Swiss Association’s State Sale was one of the most successful in the series, with a large crowd, over 100 registered bidders on Cowbuyer.com and a $3151.00 average on 53 live lots. Buyers hailed from 9 states.

The top seller at $9500 was Lot 14, Knapp Freedom Lilly 12/24, a fancy winter calf consigned by Austin Knapp, Epworth, IA. Her V88 Woody dam has 20,680m at 2-02. Her GD is E90 33,960m. L-R: Neal Laneville, Auctioneer – Randy Franck, ringman – Randy Knapp, consignor - Lee Barber, ringman – Norman Magnussen, pedigrees and representing buyer Allen Davenport, Sharon, WI.

2nd high seller was Lot 4, a choice of 2 Diego December calves out of Jo-Dee Denmark Nookie ET 2E92 “SBC” in turn out of Valligrove Jetway Nora 3E94 “SBC”. Consigned by Woodwind Farm, Kelly & Katie Wood, Lot 4 was purchased for $5800 by Susan Brugger, Rib Lake, WI.

The next high sellers were a pair of animals that sold for $5200 each. Lot 3, HF American Dream 6241 ET 5/24 a +167 PPR Hilltop Acres P Prince from V87/88ms Jonmar from the Chasing Dreams family. She was consigned by Hendel Farms, Caledonia, MN and purchased by Caleb and Cole Schulte, Norway, IA.

Lot 52, Knapp Woody Banshee ETV V88/87ms was consigned by Landen Knapp, Epworth, IA and purchased by Doug Fairbanks, Anamosa, IA. Selling just fresh after her record of 1,098 fat, at 2-03. This Woody is from a E94 Bosephus Nominated All American Component Cow 2020.

The sale is managed by the Iowa Brown Swiss Association Eric Zumbach, President, Wil Manweiler, VP and clerked by Sec/Treasurer Luanne Barber. Garrett Pfeiler managed the prepping crew. Iowa Junior members presented the consignments. Lee Barber, Sale Chairman, made the selections for the sale.