World Dairy Expo Judges: International Milking Shorthorn Show
For the 52nd year, World Dairy Expo will welcome North America’s finest dairy cattle and their breeders and owners to Madison, Wisconsin in October. Bringing a wealth of knowledge and international judging experience, sixteen individuals have been tasked with evaluating 2,500 cattle in five days.
Brian Behnke, Albany, Wis., Official Judge
Brian Behnke’s lifelong dairy career began on his family’s farm, Bur-Wall Holsteins, in Brooklyn, Wisconsin. Following graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Behnke worked for Landmark Genetics in sire procurement and as a herdsman for two prominent west coast Holstein herds, Roylane Registered Holsteins and Wilcox Farms Inc. As a herdsman, Behnke was responsible for breeding multiple bulls for A.I. stud companies in addition to five All-American Nominees. This was followed by 13 years with Semex before accepting his current role at ABS as the St. Jacobs Business Manager in 2016. Behnke’s judging career involves multiple appearances at World Dairy Expo, the Western Spring National, the Wisconsin State Fair, the Canadian Scotia 4-H Classic, National Guernsey shows and shows throughout the Netherlands, Dominican Republic, Colombia, South Korea, Japan and Australia. Behnke currently resides in Albany, Wisconsin with his wife, Tami, where he also assists on her family’s farm, Glenn-Ann Holsteins.
Carla Stetzer, Alma Center, Wis., Associate Judge
Carla Stetzer from Alma Center, Wisconsin grew up on a 40-cow Registered Milking Shorthorn farm in western Wisconsin and is now a Team Leader and Genetic Consultant at NorthStar Cooperative. While employed in the dairy industry, Stetzer, her husband, Dan, and their sons, Jay, Drew and Sean, still maintain a herd of 10 to 20 Registered Holsteins in Alma Center. A member of both the Milking Shorthorn and Holstein breed associations, she is currently serving on the type committee for the Milking Shorthorn breed. Stetzer has served as the official Milking Shorthorn judge at the Iowa State Fair and the Minnesota State Fair, as well as judging multiple shows during the Wisconsin State Junior Fair. Most recently, she traveled to Australia to officiate the 2017 Guernsey show at International Dairy Week.
