Hello everyone, and welcome to the Bullvine Podcast.
I'm your host, Bella, and today we're diving
into an incredible story of resilience, passion,
and Holstein excellence. And I'm Douglas, joining
Bella to explore the remarkable journey of Nico
Bonds. a breeder who transformed a commercial
herd into one of the world's most respected Holstein
operations. This is truly a story of overcoming
tragedy to achieve triumph in the dairy world.
That's right, Douglas. Today we'll cover how
Nico went from telling his father he had no interest
in farming to judging in 17 countries and winning
championships across Europe. We'll explore the
personal tragedy that shaped him, his transformative
experience in Canada, and how his family plays
a crucial role in their success. It's a story
that really resonates with anyone pursuing excellence
in breeding. So let's get started. Let's begin
with something we don't often talk about in the
dairy industry. The personal struggles behind
the success stories. For Nico Bonds, his journey
took a devastating turn in 1999 when he was in
his early 20s. What happened was truly heartbreaking.
Nico had just reconciled with his girlfriend
Leanne when his father died by suicide. The circumstances
make it even more tragic. Nico's brother had
fallen from the barn roof while fixing a frozen
water pipe. After days in a coma and a year of
rehabilitation, his brother was never the same
again. Nico has shared that his father never
forgave himself for that accident, and that guilt
eventually became too much to bear. You can hear
the raw emotion when Nico talks about it. He
said, quote, losing your dad from the evening
before it happens that you talk about everything
and have discussions. And then the next day he's
not there anymore. It's unbelievable hard. That
kind of sudden loss is something many can't imagine.
What I find particularly moving is how this loss
continues to echo through even his greatest achievements.
Nico has said that whenever he wins a championship
with one of his cows, the first thing he thinks
is what his dad would think about this. He's
also talked about all the milestones his father
missed. His wedding, the birth of his children,
and his first champion cow at a show. That's
something no amount of success can replace. The
aftermath of this tragedy wasn't just emotional.
It forced Nico to make some major decisions about
his future. His brother had been designated to
take over the farm, but after the accident, that
wasn't possible. Meanwhile, Nico had been eyeing
opportunities in Canada, not planning to stay
in the Netherlands. Amid this grief and uncertainty,
Nico found unexpected clarity through an experience
that had planted seeds years earlier, a three
-month adventure in Canada that would ultimately
redefine his entire approach to dairy farming.
So Bella, Want to know where the spark for Nico's
breeding philosophy really began? Just three
months in Canada, when he was 18 years old, completely
changed his trajectory. That's fascinating. And
this wasn't some fancy exchange program, right?
I understand it happened because of distant family
connections. Exactly. It was the kind of connection
where relatives visit every few years. Uncle
Boss and Aunt Simon, Ed Boss's parents. would
occasionally visit the Netherlands. And through
that connection, Nico arranged his training period
at Bosdale Farms. I love how Nico describes this
time in his life. He said, quote, The three months
working for Bosdale were probably one of the
best three months in my life till now, to be
honest. He talks about it being pure learning
without responsibilities. And what's incredible
is that Bosdale wasn't just any farm. It would
later be recognized for breeding some of the
most excellent cows in Canadian history. That's
quite the training ground. The differences between
Dutch and Canadian approaches to showing cattle
apparently floored him. In the Netherlands at
that time, shows were quick, one -day affairs.
Drive to the show at 5 a .m., show your cows
at 9 a .m., and head home by 4 p .m. But in Canada,
days of meticulous preparation, attention to
top lines, belly hair, details Nico had never
even considered before. It completely changed
his perspective on what was possible with show
cattle. Beyond the technical aspects, Ed Boss
taught him something that would define his career.
Independence of thought. Nico has said the most
important thing he learned was how Ed always
followed his own instincts. He had such a good
eye for a cow and knew exactly what he wanted.
Canada got under his skin so deeply that he almost
didn't come home. He admits, I had something
like my future could be here. His father insisted
he return to the Netherlands first, creating
what would become a lifelong tension between
Nico's Canadian dreams and Dutch reality. It's
amazing how those three months set the foundation
for everything that followed. So Douglas, when
Nico returned from Canada, you can imagine he
was full of new ideas and excitement about applying
what he'd learned, right? And like so many young
people returning with new ideas, he hit a brick
wall of resistance at home. His father was focused
on milk production and components, the traditional
Dutch approach. Canadian genetics? Not interested.
But here's where we see that determination that
defines Nico. He wanted to use Browndale Stardust
so badly after seeing his amazing daughters at
Bosdale that he did something quite creative.
Creative is one way to put it. He's admitted
that he changed the minus signs for production
and protein from Stardust's genetic evaluation
into plus signs when showing them to his father.
That little deception was enough to get his dad
to change his mind. When Nico took over the farm
in 1999 after his father's passing, the herd
classification average was 80 .2. For our listeners,
who might not be familiar with classification
scores, that's a solidly commercial herd. but
nowhere near elite show quality. Industry experts
told him it would take 30 to 40 years to win
a national championship without buying into established
cow families. Most people would have been completely
discouraged by that timeline. But by 2002, just
three years later, Nico built an entirely new
barn specifically designed for show cattle. It
featured wider cubicles placed away from walls
to give cows more space. design choices that
were considered radical in Dutch farming at that
time. What's remarkable is how completely devoted
he became to his vision. Every decision was filtered
through the question, will this help me create
winning show cows? As Nico puts it, it's almost
tattooed on my head. I want to have a show cow,
a winning show cow. That kind of single minded
devotion isn't just talk, it burns from within.
and it would soon lead to results that nobody
expected. In 2003, just four years after taking
over the farm, Nico entered the Holland Holstein
show. This wasn't an impulsive decision. Harry
Shiling, who was then the director of Semex Netherlands,
had seen something special in Nico's two -year
-olds and encouraged him to enter. What were
Nico's expectations going into this show? In
Nico's own words, Nobody was thinking before
that we should have any cow who could be winner
from the class or maybe fifth in the class or
anything like that. Even me was not thinking
about that. He had zero expectations. And Bosdale
Farms hadn't forgotten him. They sent fitting
expert Curtis McNeil to help Nico prepare his
cattle, a gesture that speaks volumes about the
impression this young Dutchman had made during
his time in Canada. The results were absolutely
mind -blowing. They won champion two -year -old,
reserve champion two -year -old, champion intermediate
cow and the best breeder herd. For a first -time
entrant with a homebred herd, this was unprecedented.
When the judge tapped his two -year -old as champion,
Nico stood frozen at the halter, completely stunned.
His hands trembled as he accepted the ribbon,
his mind racing to understand what had just happened.
All those years of work, barn modifications and
careful breeding decisions had paid off far sooner
than anyone predicted. Back in the cattle barn
after the class, he called Leanne with his voice
cracking with emotion. We did it. I can't believe
we actually did it. Then he paused before adding
quietly. I wish dad could have seen this. That
early success sparked an even bigger ambition.
Nico immediately set his sights on winning the
European show, a goal that would take him 19
years to achieve. He finally accomplished it
in 2022 in Cremona, Italy with a champion young
cow. Reserve Grand Champion, Best Breeder, and
Best Exhibitor titles. What makes this achievement
truly remarkable is that Bonds Holsteins has
been 100 % homebred since 1945. While other prominent
herds advanced through strategic acquisitions,
Nico built his program entirely through selective
breeding. King. It's like taking a local pick
-up basketball team and turning them into NBA
champions without ever signing a free agent.
Going from an 80 .2 herd to today's 89 .7 average
through breeding alone is almost unheard of in
the Holstein world. But this kind of success
doesn't come without sacrifices. The level of
perfectionism and dedication Nico brings to his
program has its own costs. Douglas, here's something
that surprised me about Nico. Despite all his
championships, he actually hates show days. Physically
hates them. That does seem contradictory. For
someone who's achieved so much in the show ring,
you'd think he'd love the competition. He's confessed.
Honestly, I never enjoy show day at all. The
stress and the pressure I put on myself is probably
very difficult for me. Instead, he finds joy
in the preparation, getting the cows ready in
his barn at home. It's the journey, not the destination,
that brings him satisfaction. And it goes far
beyond normal pre -show nerves. In his first
10 years of showing, Nico couldn't eat on show
days and would throw up seven or eight times.
Can you imagine being so passionate about something
that your body physically rebels against the
pressure you're putting on yourself? If you've
ever run into Nico at a show and found him a
bit standoffish, there's a reason for that. He's
explained that it's not because he doesn't like
people, but because he's so intensely focused.
In his words, We put so much time in these cows
that we have to be sure that everything is 100
% ready and spot on. And I cannot make one little
fault. I should not forgive myself. And the perfectionism
doesn't end when the show does. His post -show
routine is intense. He milks the cows just before
they go on the truck to the show. Again, four
hours after they return home. and then gets out
of bed in the middle of the night to check them
one more time for any signs of mastitis or health
issues. That's next level dedication. Most people
would be celebrating or sleeping after a big
show, but Nico's out there in the middle of the
night, checking udders. This isn't just a business
for him. It's an all -consuming passion that
demands nothing less than perfection. This intense
focus has been balanced by another aspect of
Nico's career. his extensive experience judging
cattle around the world, which has given him
a unique perspective on breeding. Nico has judged
cattle in 17 different countries. That's not
just frequent flyer miles, it's a master class
in global Holstein genetics. How has all this
judging experience influenced his breeding program
back home? It's given him a three -dimensional
preview of how different bulls perform in various
environments and management systems. As Nico
explains it, when you judge shows, at the end
of the day, you try to find out what the champion
was and what the first one in the class was,
you want to find out what the father was. It
really helps you to get an idea how a bull is
breeding. That global perspective becomes absolutely
crucial when you're running a 100 % homebred
operation like Bonds Holstein's has been since
1945. There's zero room for error when you're
not buying in genetics. As Nico puts it, with
milking 60 cows and not buying any calf or any
heifer, if you make one mistake with buying a
bull 15 doses of semen, then you are in big trouble
in three years. I love how Nico doesn't just
follow trends. He's developed his own true type
ideal based on what he's seen work around the
world. And he's not afraid to question the establishment
either. He's quite direct about it. He said,
sometimes I see judges doing a job that I think,
what the heck is going on? Are these people milking
cows by themselves? You can just picture him
watching a show, shaking his head in disbelief
when the placings don't match his vision. What
really shows Nico's independent thinking is his
approach to bulls like alligator. While others
might have dismissed alligator daughters because
they weren't winning heifer classes, Nico saw
something different. He observed that they were
not narrow -chested. They had de -bodied. They
were maybe not the strongest on the top line.
But even when I saw the first two -year -olds,
I saw the fantastic udders down under them. That's
the benefit of his judging experience. He can
look past current show trends and see long -term
potential. This wealth of global experience is
something Nico is now passing down to the next
generation, particularly his daughters who are
following in his footsteps. One of the most heartwarming
aspects of Nico's story is seeing how his children,
especially his oldest daughter Anuke, are continuing
the family legacy. Absolutely. At 19, Anuke is
following a path that's almost eerily similar
to her father's early journey. Nico beams with
pride when he talks about how she's starting
to clip the cows for him at shows. She's still
learning, but already showing tremendous promise.
What's fascinating is that just like Nico did
at Bosdale, Anouk spent three months training
at Rosedale in America last summer. The parallels
are striking. Nico says she had a great time
with Nikki and Mark, and they gave her the opportunity
to start with clipping the heifers and washing
the show animals and train them. And she did
go with them to Madison. That was something I
think she had the same time what I had at Bosdale.
And she's caught the Canadian bug too. She's
talking about going back to North America for
a longer period to gain more experience. When
asked how he'd feel if a nuke wanted to stay
in North America permanently, essentially fulfilling
the dream he had to abandon, Nico's answer reveals
how parenthood has changed his perspective. He
said, I understood my dad now. If my daughter
should say when she was leaving. Maybe this summer
for four or five months to North America, she
could call me and say, hey, dad, I'm not coming
back. I stay here. I should say exactly the same
thing. You come back first and we talk about
it. The same conversation he had with his own
father decades ago is now playing out with his
daughter. Only now he's on the other side. But
a nuke isn't the only Bond's daughter making
waves in the Holstein world. Her sister Tessa,
just 16, is already showing the same passion
and drive that defines the Bonds family. What's
remarkable about Tessa is her incredible work
ethic. Even Nico, with his legendary dedication,
seems amazed by her commitment. Last year she
achieved something that took her father years
to accomplish, winning reserve champion at the
national show. Detailed. Like her older sister,
Tessa is already making plans to follow the family
tradition with a work term in North America,
further cementing the Bonds family's connection
to the continent that so profoundly shaped their
breeding philosophy. With two daughters this
passionate and skilled, Nico's legacy seems secure
for another generation. It's truly a family affair
at Bonds Holsteins. When you visit Bonds Holsteins,
you quickly realize it's not just Nico's show.
All three kids are deeply involved. We've talked
about Anouk and Tessa, but there's also Reuben,
who's 13 and already contributing to the family
operation. What strikes me is how Nico marvels
at his kids' work ethic. He said, I think I didn't
work that hard when I was on their age, to be
honest, especially when I was 15 or 16. I think
many parents can relate to that feeling. There's
zero pretense when Nico admits how essential
his family's contribution is. If my kids doesn't
help us with the normal day jobs anymore, then
we couldn't be that successful in the show ring
anymore. That's not just humility. It's honesty.
But you know who's really the cornerstone of
it all? Leanne, his wife. When Nico talks about
her, his priorities couldn't be clearer. Bonds
Holsteins is definitely my wife, Leanne. I always
tell my best friends if she's walking away from
me then I'm gonna follow her and not gonna stay
on the farm by myself alone. This family first
philosophy permeates everything about how they
operate. Nico has said, if we win a show then
we all know, all five of us, we know we did it
as a family and there's nobody more important
than somebody else. In an industry that often
celebrates individual breeders, this team approach
feels refreshing and real. It's clear that for
all his dedication to breeding, Nico's first
loyalty is to his family. This family foundation,
combined with Nico's relentless pursuit of excellence,
has transformed Bonds Holsteens into a global
success story. What truly sets Nico's story apart
is the transformation he's achieved. A farm that
once averaged 80 .2 points, has become a globally
recognized breeding operation, with a current
classification average of 89 .7 points. For listeners
who might not be familiar with the classification
system, that's an extraordinary improvement.
The farm has become so successful that embryos
from Bonds Holsteins now sell worldwide, with
partnerships established with premier operations
like West Coast Holsteins. Yet, despite this
success, Nico maintains a surprising humility
about his achievements. He's confessed, This
down -to -earth attitude extends to his advice
for young people aspiring to similar success.
If you have nothing at home on your farm, what
is special for bringing to the show, that you
want to win the show, it is possible. You don't
always need a lot of money or a good start with
good cows to be successful. According to Nico,
the key ingredients are hard work, trusted mentors
and unwavering focus. He emphasizes that young
breeders shouldn't think they can only be successful
if they start with advantages like a herd of
really good cows or a lot of money. His success
with cows like Coba 219, the lethority daughter
who was Reserve Grand Champion at Swiss Expo
and sold in a 50 % partnership to a major North
American operation, Coba 245, the remarkable
2022 Reserve Grand Champion at Cremona, and Coba
191, the unbelievable Jasper Donner, has opened
doors that once seemed firmly closed to someone
starting with a commercial herd. Perhaps this
grounding explains Nico's enduring success. Behind
the championships and the international recognition
is simply a family united in purpose with a father
who, despite missing his own, has built a legacy
that honors both his Canadian dreams and his
Dutch roots. As we wrap up our exploration of
Nico Banz's remarkable journey, what stands out
to me is the power of unwavering vision. From
transforming an 80 -point commercial herd into
an internationally respected breeding program
to maintaining 100 % homebred status since 1945,
the Bonds -Holstein story is truly inspirational.
What moves me most is how Nico has balanced his
relentless pursuit of excellence with his dedication
to family. After experiencing the profound loss
of his father at a pivotal moment in his life,
he's created not just a successful business,
but a family legacy that will continue through
his children. For our listeners who might be
interested in bringing some of that Bonds Holstein's
excellence into their own herds, there's an exciting
opportunity coming up. This isn't just a sale.
It's a chance to invest in genetics forged by
one of Europe's most dedicated breeders. The
star of the offering, Coba 291, is a special
two -year -old who dominated the 2024 HHH show
with what's been described as her international
allure. She's backed by a maternal line that
produced Cremona's 2022 Reserve Grand Champion.
These animals aren't just cattle. They're living
proof of Nico's 22 -year quest for Holstein perfection.
With 100 % homebred genetics since 1945 and partnerships
spanning from North America to Japan's elite
breeders, this sale isn't about buying cows.
It's about securing a legacy. Whether you're
chasing show ring glory or building a herd with
solid foundations, this is your chance to incorporate
the bonds breeding philosophy into your own program.
To learn more about these opportunities, visit
thebullvine .com for all the details. Whether
you're chasing show ring glory or building a
herd with solid foundations, this is your chance
to incorporate the bonds breeding philosophy
into your own program. To learn more about these
opportunities, visit thebullvine .com for all
the details. Thank you for joining us today on
the Bull Vine Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode,
please subscribe, leave a review, and share with
fellow dairy enthusiasts. Until next time, I'm
Bella. And I'm Douglas, wishing you all the best
with your breeding program.