WILLARD, Wis. — A simple slip of paper, drawn from a box among hundreds of others, gave 14-year-old Clara Williams a Christmas gift that will keep on giving for a long time — her very first registered animal.
“I didn’t believe my mom when she told me,” Clara said. “It took me a while to believe her; she just kept telling me I won.”
Clara’s name was drawn as the winner of the grand prize in the Dairy Star’s annual Great Christmas Giveaway, after her mother entered her and her siblings at Chippewa Valley Dairy Supply in Stanley.
“Last year, while we were building our barn, it seemed like we were everywhere,” said Clara’s mother Emily. “I put their names in boxes all over. This year, I only entered them once. I was pretty shocked when I got the phone call that Clara’s name had been drawn.”
Clara lives with her parents, Adam and Emily, and siblings Jack, Gus and Sonja, on their 225-cow dairy farm near the town of Willard.
Clara helps with milking after school and on weekends.
“I just like being around the cows,” Clara said. “When you’re milking, you get to spend time with them.”
Clara’s new calf is Ms. Albedarn Admire Bella,
a September-born daughter of Mystique Admire.
The upcoming year will be Clara’s second year showing a calf at the Clark County Fair.
“I showed a calf this year, a Jersey named Sunset,” Clara said. “I was only able to show her in open class because she wasn’t mine. I’m excited I will be able to show Bella twice at the fair since I own her.”
Bella is bred by the Achterhof, Grulke and Gunderson families of Albedarned Dairy LLC near Baldwin. Her 2-year-old dam is a Good Plus 83 daughter of Brenland Domino out of a Very Good 88 daughter of Dymentholm Mr Apples Avalanche.
Bella’s third dam, Probert C Bree-Ella-Red EX-94, is a three-time Red & White Dairy Cattle Association All-American nominee and was named the All-American Red & White Junior Three-Year-Old in 2014. She received honorable mention honors in the 125,000-pound cow class in 2017.
Probert D Babette-Red EX-91, Bella’s fourth dam, was nominated All-American Red & White Junior Three-Year-Old in 2012 while her fifth dam, Reedale Devil Bonita-Red VG-86, was nominated Junior All-American Red & White Winter Calf in 2007.
Clara, an eighth grader at Greenwood Middle & High School, said she has enjoyed becoming active in FFA. She is preparing to compete in a Career Leadership Development Event this spring and has been involved in the chapter’s fruit sale and several trips, including one to World Dairy Expo.
“It was really neat to go to Expo and see everything there,” Clara said. “It’s really cool to think I own a calf who comes from a cow that won in the show there. That is really awesome.”
The prospect of helping a young dairy enthusiast grow and build their own herd led the owners of Albedarned Dairy to provide the calf for the Christmas giveaway.
“My sister, Jenna, and I always showed all grade animals; we never got to be a part of the show world,” said Vanessa Gunderson of Albedarned Dairy. “That dream of being able to grow your own herd, have your own animals and build your own pedigrees — that’s why we try the best we can to give back.”
Gunderson’s brother-in-law, Paul Grulke, said the experiences of his youth propelled him to a career in the dairy industry.
“I had lots of mentors that took time to teach and help me out,” Grulke said. “That is how you build the future leaders in our industry, by putting that time and effort in. Providing this calf, and an interested youngster like Clara winning — if we can help light that fire in her, that is something great we can do for our industry.”
While it is hard to top the excitement of winning a calf, Ivan Weaver of Stetsonville was the recipient of a special Christmas gift, too — winning the top adult cash prize of $500 in the Great Christmas Giveaway, after registering at Northern Lakes Veterinary Supply in Abbotsford.
Weaver milks 110 cows with his family on his first-generation Taylor County dairy farm, and speculates he will spend his winnings on the farm.
“I’ve milked cows for 25 years already, so I just keep on paying bills,” Weaver said.
Weaver was raised on a Pennsylvania dairy farm. He worked in construction for two years after finishing school before he struck off on his own, renting a barn at the age of 20. With the desire to purchase a farm on which he could pursue his dairy dream, Weaver found himself drawn to America’s Dairyland, where he realized that dream in central Wisconsin in 2009.
Winning a drawing such as this is a first for Weaver.
“You just never know,” Weaver said. “I put my name in how many boxes over the years and have never won anything.”
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