Charlie McEvoy, Marathon, N.Y, was named the 68th winner of the Klussendorf Trophy, the highest recognition given to a dairy cattle showman in the United States. The award is made in memory of Arthur B. Klussendorf, considered the outstanding showman of his time and a model for all those who have followed him.
McEvoy’s selection was made by members of the Klussendorf Memorial Association, formed in 1937, at its annual meeting held earlier this week in Madison, Wis. He received the silver trophy designed by Tiffany Jewelers of New York City from the 2008 winner and this year’s Holstein judge of the International Holstein Show, Mark Rueth, Oxford, Wis.
This year’s Klussendorf winner has a long and distinguished history with the dairy cow. McEvoy was born into a farm family who raised registered Holsteins and began showing at a very young age, and has since been part of the show-ring for every season of his 74 years. At age 16, he moved to Marathon, New York with his mother and father, and for nearly 60 years has resided at the same farm which he now owns in partnership with his youngest son.
It was in the early 1950s when McEvoy met Henry Thomas, a nationally known cattleman who served as his mentor for the coming years. Thomas worked with the McDonald Farm Guernsey herd and was the 1951 Klussendorf Award winner. During those days, the newest Klussendorf winner traveled across the country by railway to shows in Columbus, Chicago, Waterloo, and points farther west. During the ensuing years, our 2009 honoree worked with many Klussendorf winners and even helped Harry Strohmeyer, one of the three original members of the Klussendorf Committee, take several cattle pictures.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he continued to worked with great herds such as McJunkins, McDonalds Properties Guernsey’s, working with Denny Ferguson and High Meadow Guernseys, again teaming up with Henry Thomas. In the 1980s and 1990s, McEvoy worked at World Dairy Expo for great breeding establishments such as Lylehaven, Mansion Valley, Ladyholm, Pamton Farms, Dreamstreet Holsteins, Sycamore Hill Jerseys, and Areuthusa. At the same time, he has found time to show his very own MacMara herd.
A very generous man, McEvoy is very active in his county and state, helping out at numerous dairy shows. In 2006, he was honored for his dedication to the Cortland Classic show, and, in 2007, was honored for his outstanding fellowship and sportsmanship at the New York State Fair. Just this past year, this Marathon, New York native was named the 2009 Master Breeder Award at the New York All Breeds Convention. With all this said, perhaps his finest attribute comes from the fact he and his wife, Caroline, have raised and educated eight children who are professionally employed as engineers, lab techs, extension educator, and dairy producers.
THOMAS “MOSS” McCAULEY WINS KLUSSENDORF-MACKENZIE AWARD
Thomas “Moss” McCauley, Lowell, Mich., won the coveted Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award presented during the 43rd World Dairy Expo, in memory of Duncan McKenzie, 1961 Klussendorf winner. The combination of genetics and environment is what makes a good cow . . . great. The same can be said of making a good cowman a great one. This year’s MacKenzie winner grew up under the keen eye of his father who was a pioneer in embryo transfer. Additionally, this year’s winner had the unique opportunity to be mentored by Dr. David Hagen. With their home farm on the outskirts of Harrisburg, Pa., McCauley would spend days at the All-American learning from Dr. Hagen, who was the show’s official veterinarian.
Even at the young age of 10, McCauley had a keen eye. After being disappointed with his first year in 4-H, his father let him pick a calf at the All-American Elite Sale. There was only one calf that he wanted, and she developed into an EX-94 GMD, DOM that eventually went on to be named Grand Champion of the Junior National Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
Later on, this Pennsylvania native worked at EmTram where he had the opportunity to be around many prominent cows and breeders. When he entered college, he stayed involved at EmTram and his own New Direction herd. At Penn State, he earned a degree in dairy science and some questioned why he didn’t take his 3.9 GPA to vet school. But, his passion was solely working with dairy cows.
Since then, he was worked with cattle from coast to coast. The time and dedication he has spent with his animals at the show fostered many friendships that have developed into strong partnerships. He has worked with such herds as Brigeen, MD-Hillbrook, Waverly, Rosedale, Exel, Nabholz, Oakvale, and Airosa, not to mention his own family’s herds of New Direction, Nugentdale, and now Tumbleweed Holsteins and Jerseys.
Labels: Klussendorf, McKenzie
