Late bloomer

LANCASTER, Wis. — Winning on the colored shavings at World Dairy Expo takes an exceptional cow and an exceptional team to get her ready to shine in the ring. That is exactly what Nobland Delta-Lambda Book EX-94 had behind her when she won the aged cow class in the 2026 International Junior Holstein Show.

Book lives at Nobland Farms near Lancaster, a sixth-generation family farm. Troy and Jamie, with their three children, Drew, Ainsley and Macie, farm alongside Troy’s parents, Dennis and Rita Noble. The Nobles milk 450 cows in a double-12 parallel parlor. 

Showing has always been a part of the Nobles’ life, and Drew and Ainsley have since aged out of the junior division. Macie, the youngest, was on the halter of Book for wins this show season. In addition to her Expo title, she was grand champion at the Midwest Summer National Junior Holstein show, grand champion of the junior show at the Wisconsin District 3 Holstein Show and reserve grand champion of the district open show.

Despite her recent success in the show ring, Book was not always destined for the spotlight. She was a 4-year-old before the Nobles began showing her.

“After her fourth calving, she widened out,” Troy said. “Her rump and front end changed, and she needed more time to get her power and strength. She’s just kept maturing and getting a little better every year. She’s a different cow now than she was even last year. It has been a massive jump.”

The recent changes have improved her results in the ring, but the cow had always shown the potential to earn accolades on the shavings.

“Book is part of a really good cow family,” Troy said. “Her mother was an Excellent cow and Book had a really good udder. When she was 4, we decided to halter break her and lead her for our district show, and she was successful. We always loved her, but she needed time to develop.”

Since Book’s first calving, she has lived in the freestall barn as a member of the general population. But with her fourth calf, her body changed to the point where Troy, who has shown cattle for decades, could see she had the potential to be successful in the ring. Despite this, she has remained in freestall housing. 

At Expo, Nobland ties in with Lazy M Farm from nearby Stitzer so they can help each other with their strings. Macie and Ainsley Noble, Laylaa Schuler, Brittany Taylor, Matthew Winch and Memphis Mossner work together throughout the show season to fit and care for cattle. 

“We’ve all been really good friends with each other since we were young,” Macie said. “We’re all the same age, with the exception of Memphis, who is younger. It’s been good to keep working together like this and help each other succeed.”

Troy echoed the importance of the group in setting them up for success this year.

“It can be hard to find fitters, and it just so happens that some of Macie’s best friends are some of the best there are,” Troy said. “We’re very fortunate to have them in our corner.”

After the team prepared Book for the show ring, Macie took hold of the halter and walked into Veterans Memorial Coliseum on the Expo grounds in Madison. After a few laps, Macie and Troy were not sure they would find success.

“At Expo, they’re all good cows,” Troy said. “We knew if Book looked good at state show we’d have a shot. Whether a shot means top five, or in contention for grand champion, all you can do is get them out there looking their best and hope for the best after that.”

Macie recalled being in the ring and catching the eye of the judge once.

“I wasn’t sure what to think,” Macie said. “After the first time he looked at her, he didn’t really look towards me again, so that could be good or bad. I wasn’t sure what would happen.”

As the judge began to separate the class, he started walking away from Macie and Book before turning around and pointing directly at her, awarding Nobland first place.

Book has been a consistent cow for Nobland Farms, calving in at a year and nine months and being scored Very Good as a 2-year-old at 22 months. Since then, Book has calved five times and is due this spring as a 6-year-old.

Nothing has changed since her Expo win; Book is back home, doing what she does best, producing milk and living her life like every other cow at Nobland Farms. The Nobles have been showing for decades and the highlight for them has been watching Book step out of the free stalls to have her turn in the spotlight.