Rosabella’s winning ways

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This year will go down as one that Mia Smith will never forget as the 12-year-old experienced show ring thrills that most never will.

Smith’s Jersey aged cow, Miss Ronde Rosabella-ET, hit the fall shows running, collecting a bevy of ribbons and banners, including big wins at the All-American Jersey Shows, held last month in Louisville, in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition.

Smith lives with her parents, Matt and Kate, brother, Moxon, and sister, Letty, on the family’s farm near Elroy, Wisconsin, where they milk a small herd, raise show heifers, and are developing a fledgling direct-to-consumer beef market.

Rosabella kicked off Smith’s inaugural foray onto the green shavings of Freedom Hall at the All-American Junior Jersey Show Nov. 8, by being named the Junior All-American Aged Cow before being tapped for the honors of senior and reserve grand champion.

“When she got pulled in first, I was really excited,” Smith said.
“I knew I had to make her look good so that she didn’t get moved down.”

Smith accomplished her mission, as judge Trent Kilgus sent the cow out to the top of the final line-up, where she collected her Junior All-American accolades.

“What a beautiful cow leading out this class,” Kilgus said. “As a breeder this is the kind of cow we breed for. When she’s out on the move, you can’t pick her apart — a beautiful mammary system, so much width throughout, just a cow that doesn’t have a hole in her.”

The butterflies in her stomach came out in full force as she took her cow back in the ring for the selection of senior champion, Smith said. When she received the handshake that named Rosabella the senior champion she said she did not know what to think.

“I was so happy, I was shocked,” Smith said. “The judge told me he really liked my cow.”

As the show progressed, Rosabella was chosen as the reserve grand champion, something way beyond her dreams, Smith said.

As the show wound down, the cow’s winning ways were not complete.

Rosabella was named the overall premier performance cow of the show, an award that is determined by the American Jersey Cattle Association using a formula that considers the animal’s actual performance combined with genetic potential and in-class ranking. Two qualifying cows from each class are selected, and those cows are ranked to determine the top cow.

“We didn’t know anything about that — what it was all about or that she was even eligible,” Smith said. “But she won it and got a big check for $500 and another banner. She got a turbo fan for being reserve grand, too.”

Rosabella teamed up with four other animals exhibited by youth from Wisconsin to claim a share of the winning state herd banner as well.

Rosabella spent the next two days relaxing in the pack, preparing for her next long walk to Freedom Hall, this time for the All-American Jersey Show, where she would continue her winning ways, being crowned the Reserve All-American Aged Cow, behind the show’s eventual champion.

“I was hoping I could get second in my class; I didn’t think I could beat Stony Point Joel Bailey,” Smith said. “I was nervous being out there, but when she got pulled in second, I was happy to be second to Bailey again.”

Smith said Rosabella had also placed second to Bailey at World Dairy Expo in October.

“Being second to the cow that was the supreme champion at Expo, not just once but twice — that’s pretty exciting,” Smith said.

To top off an incredible All-American weekend for Smith, Rosabella was again a powerhouse in the premier performance class, being named the reserve champion premier performance cow, taking home another $500 prize check.

The bond that Smith has with Rosabella is deep and has been forged over time.

“I’ve always shown Rosabella; she was my first calf,” Smith said. “I received her as a gift, as an embryo — so I’ve owned her since before she was born.”

While the many banners Rosabella has collected this year will hang on her family’s walls for years to come, Smith already has next year in her sights.

“Rosabella is bred back to calve in June next year,” Smith said. “She has a March calf from this year that I’m excited to show, too.”

Smith has grown up with Rosabella, working with and showing the animal for over half her life.

“I love showing — but what I really love is being a part of everything, doing the work, taking care of the animals and getting them ready to show,” Smith said. “I like missing school to go to the shows.”

In the off-season, Smith and her family have plans to in vitro fertilize Rosabella. Smith hopes to have a few calves to market and a couple to keep for herself, continuing to grow her herd.

“This year feels like a dream,” Smith said. “From her winning at the state show in August to Expo to Louisville. It’ll be hard to have another year as good as this one, but it will be fun trying to do it.”