1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,280 Welcome, dairy enthusiasts, to another exciting episode of the Bull Vine Podcast. 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:11,920 I'm your host, Bella, and today we have an incredible story that's going to milk your emotions dry. 3 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,440 And I'm Douglas, ready to steer you through this tale of courage, 4 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:20,960 innovation, and utter determination. We're diving into the extraordinary journey of the 5 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:27,040 Eckstein and Lowith families, from fleeing Nazi Europe to revolutionizing Canadian dairy farming. 6 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:32,560 Douglas, I've got to say, this story sounds like it's straight out of a Hollywood movie. 7 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:39,040 But it's all true, isn't it? Absolutely, Bella. It's a testament to the human spirit and the power 8 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:46,720 of new beginnings. Let's start at the beginning, shall we? Yeah, let's do it. Take us back to 1938, 9 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:53,520 Douglas. Picture this. It's 1938 in Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. The Eckstein, Lowith, 10 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:58,400 and Abel's families are living peaceful lives, tending their farms in the rolling Bohemian 11 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:04,720 countryside. But storm clouds are gathering over Europe. I can only imagine how terrifying that 12 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:12,800 must have been. What happened next? In March 1938, Hitler annexed the Sudetenland. Suddenly, 13 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:17,280 these Jewish families, who had considered themselves Czech for generations, found themselves 14 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:24,400 branded as outcasts. The wave of anti-Semitism that followed was devastating. It's hard to fathom how 15 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:31,040 quickly their lives changed. How did they manage to escape? It all started with a fateful discovery. 16 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:36,080 Joe Lowith, a Czech army serviceman, was translating documents at the local police 17 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:41,200 station when he stumbled upon a list for Nazi roundups. At the top of that list was a name he 18 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:48,480 recognized, Carl Abel's. Oh my goodness, what did Joe do? In a moment of incredible bravery, 19 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:53,520 Joe made a decision that would echo through generations. At three o'clock in the morning, 20 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:58,480 he stood beneath Carl Abel's window, throwing pebbles to warn him of the impending danger. 21 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:03,920 Talk about a high-stakes game of ding-dong ditch. That must have been terrifying. 22 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:11,040 It was incredibly risky. But that act of courage ultimately led 39 souls to safety 23 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:16,320 and remarkable success in Canada. It's amazing how one small act can have such far-reaching 24 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:23,120 consequences. So, how did they end up in Canada? Well, Carl and Hugo Abel's made the wrenching 25 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:28,320 decision to leave their homeland. They purchased a farm near Mount Hope, Ontario, and then made the 26 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:34,640 perilous journey back to Czechoslovakia to convince others to join them. They went back? That must have 27 00:02:34,640 --> 00:02:41,200 been so dangerous. It was, but their words must have been convincing because 39 people, including 28 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:48,320 members of the Eckstein, Lowith, and Abel's families, chose to follow their lead. That's quite a group. 29 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:55,280 How did they manage to get to Canada? It was a harrowing journey. In the autumn of 1938, 30 00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:00,560 they flew from Czechoslovakia to Liverpool, England. They chose to fly rather than take 31 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:07,040 the train through Nazi Germany out of desperate necessity. Yes. I bet that was their first time 32 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:12,800 on a plane for many of them. Likely so, Bella. From Liverpool, they boarded a ship called the 33 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:18,560 Duchess of Athol bound for Canada. But their challenges weren't over yet. What do you mean? 34 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:24,400 Fortunately, no. Whether through divine providence, bureaucratic oversight, or a moment of human 35 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:30,160 compassion, they were allowed entry. Some speculate it was because officials didn't realize they were 36 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:37,600 Jewish. So they made it to Canada. What happened next? They were admitted with a condition, a five 37 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:43,760 year commitment to farming, a profession most had never practiced. They arrived at a brick farmhouse 38 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:50,080 on highway number six near Mount Hope, Ontario in November 1938. That must have been quite a 39 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:57,520 culture shock. How did they adapt? Remarkably well, actually. The local Jewish community rallied 40 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:04,320 around them with incredible speed and generosity. The Canadian Jewish Congress even offered $1,000 41 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:10,960 loans to each family to help them get started. Now, that's wonderful. Community support can make 42 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:16,800 such a difference. Absolutely. And these families made the most of their opportunity. Over the 43 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:23,360 following decades, they transformed from desperate survivors into pioneering farmers. I can't wait to 44 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:29,520 hear about their success in the dairy industry. Can you tell us more about that? Of course. 45 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:36,160 Let's start with the Lowith family and their Summit Home Farm. Joe Lowith, the same man who 46 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:42,000 warned Carl Abels back in Czechoslovakia, established this farm. Tried from window dresser 47 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:48,080 to dairy farmer. That's quite a career change. Indeed it is, Bella. Joe started by purchasing 48 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:55,840 his first cows from Carl Abels. By 1951, his herd had grown to 30 head and he bought 30 more females 49 00:04:55,840 --> 00:05:02,160 before moving to a 100 acre property south of Copetown. That's significant growth in just a few 50 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:09,520 years. Absolutely. And Joe's success in breeding was evident early on. His first herd sire, 51 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:15,040 Trout Creek Finner Pontiac, came from a respected herd and had a pedigree rich with high producing 52 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:22,160 bloodlines. How did the farm progress from there? Well, Joe's sons, Harry, Carl, and David, later 53 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:27,760 took over the operation, expanding it into one of Canada's most respected Holstein breeding programs. 54 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,160 Under Carl and David's management, Summit Home Farm became synonymous with high producing, 55 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:39,040 long lasting cows. That sounds like a successful strategy. How has it paid off? Tremendously. 56 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:46,480 As of 2025, Summit Home Farm has over 119 cows with a lifetime production exceeding 100,000 57 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:52,160 kilograms. They've consistently ranked first in DHI management scores, winning the highest 58 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:58,320 score in Canada for nine out of 10 years. Those are impressive numbers. It seems like they've 59 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:05,920 really focused on efficiency and longevity. Exactly right, Bella. Ben Lowith, who now shares 60 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:11,280 management responsibilities with his father Carl and Uncle Dave, emphasizes their systematic 61 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:17,120 approach to everything from calf care to milking procedures. How has their breeding strategy 62 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:25,200 evolved over time? Great question. As of 2025, all heifers are bred to sexed genomic semen. 63 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:31,360 80% of the mature cows are bred to Angus and the remaining 20% are bred to sexed genomic sires. 64 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:36,400 This balance allows them to benefit from the latest genetic advancements while relying on 65 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:42,240 proven performance. It's fascinating to see how they've adapted to new technologies and breeding 66 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:49,520 strategies. Now, what about the Eckstein family? I'm curious to hear their story. Ah, the Ecksteins. 67 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:55,920 Their story is equally impressive. Paul Eckstein, born in 1934 in Czechoslovakia, 68 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:00,480 developed an early interest in Holstein cattle through visits to his uncle's Mount Hope dairy 69 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:08,160 farm. So he had a passion for dairy from a young age. Absolutely. After graduating from Ontario 70 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:13,360 Agricultural College in 1954, Eckstein worked as a herdsman before starting his own business, 71 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:21,680 Quality Seeds. He began assembling his herd in the late 1960s. And how has the farm progressed 72 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:28,880 since then? Well, Paul's son Ari Eckstein took over the reins of Quality Holstein's about 20 years 73 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:34,560 ago. Under Ari's management, the farm has maintained its status as a powerhouse in the industry. 74 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:42,480 Winning their fourth Master Breeder Shield in 2025. Four Master Breeder Shields? That's incredible. 75 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:48,160 It's amazing to see how these families have built such lasting legacies from such difficult 76 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:54,640 beginnings. What do you think we can learn from their story, Douglas? I think their story teaches 77 00:07:54,640 --> 00:08:00,400 us so much about resilience, adaptability, and the power of determination. These families didn't just 78 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:06,240 survive, they thrived. They took a five-year farming commitment and turned it into a multi-generational 79 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:12,560 legacy that has influenced Holstein breeding for decades. Absolutely. It's a powerful reminder 80 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:18,640 that even in the darkest times, there's hope for a brighter future. And speaking of the future, 81 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:23,760 Bella, did you know that the Lowith family has recently branched out into direct-to-consumer 82 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:30,720 products? No, I didn't. Tell me more about that. Well, they've established Summit Station Dairy and 83 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:38,000 Creamery. Ben Lowith now oversees the farm operation at Summit Home, and his wife Jen has joined the 84 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:43,280 business as General Manager of Summit Station Dairy. Their son Will is the fourth generation of the 85 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:50,560 family to be working at the farm. That's fantastic. It's great to see them adapting to changes in the 86 00:08:50,560 --> 00:08:55,840 consumer trends. Absolutely. And it's not just these two families pushing for excellence. 87 00:08:56,560 --> 00:09:02,480 The Canadian dairy industry as a whole continues to strive for improvement. In fact, Holstein Canada 88 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:10,080 just announced the 2024 Master Breeder Awards. Oh, tell me more about that. Well, 19 breeders from 89 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:15,280 across the country were honored this year. It's a real testament to the strength of Canadian dairy 90 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:21,440 farming. Since the awards inception in 1929, more than 1,100 Master Breeder Shields have been 91 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:27,920 awarded. And I believe Lac-Tenet just made a big announcement as well. Summit Home was just ranked 92 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:34,560 ninth in Canada and third in Ontario for their performance awards. That's incredible. It really 93 00:09:34,560 --> 00:09:41,040 shows the depth of talent in our industry. Indeed it does, Bella. As we see the world's 94 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:48,240 biggest dairy farm in the world, we see the legacy of those 39 souls who fled Nazi Europe 95 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:53,680 continue to flourish in ways they could never have imagined. From Joe Lowith transforming from a 96 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:59,680 window dresser into a master dairyman to Paul Eckstein devouring Holstein literature as a 97 00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:05,680 17-year-old refugee and his family going on to earn four Master Breeder Shields, their story stands 98 00:10:05,680 --> 00:10:12,000 as a testament to the extraordinary heights that human determination can reach. It's truly inspiring. 99 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:17,920 These families didn't just survive, they revolutionized Canadian dairy farming. From the 100 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:24,480 ashes of their lost homes in Czechoslovakia, they built not just farms, but dynasties. Exactly, 101 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:30,080 Bella. Their achievements, from the Lowith's world record number of lifetime producers to Eckstein's 102 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:36,640 breed-defining cow families, stand as monuments to the power of human resilience and the opportunities 103 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:43,200 Canada provided to those seeking refuge. It just goes to show that excellence can rise from despair. 104 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:49,200 Achievement can emerge from persecution and the human spirit, when nurtured, knows no bounds. 105 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:54,640 That's right, Bella. And on that note, we'll wrap up this episode of the Bull Vine podcast. 106 00:10:54,640 --> 00:11:00,320 We hope this story has inspired you as much as it has us. Thanks for listening, everyone. 107 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:06,320 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Until next time, 108 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:12,240 keep those udders swinging. And remember, in the world of dairy farming, the cream always rises to 109 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:25,120 the top.