WEBVTT 00:00:10.829 --> 00:00:13.949 Hello everyone, and welcome to the Bullvine Podcast. 00:00:14.150 --> 00:00:16.570 I'm your host, Bella, and today we're diving 00:00:16.570 --> 00:00:20.190 into an incredible story of resilience, passion, 00:00:20.649 --> 00:00:23.410 and Holstein excellence. And I'm Douglas, joining 00:00:23.410 --> 00:00:25.890 Bella to explore the remarkable journey of Nico 00:00:25.890 --> 00:00:28.519 Bonds. a breeder who transformed a commercial 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:31.260 herd into one of the world's most respected Holstein 00:00:31.260 --> 00:00:34.719 operations. This is truly a story of overcoming 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:37.979 tragedy to achieve triumph in the dairy world. 00:00:39.380 --> 00:00:42.359 That's right, Douglas. Today we'll cover how 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:44.880 Nico went from telling his father he had no interest 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:47.979 in farming to judging in 17 countries and winning 00:00:47.979 --> 00:00:51.259 championships across Europe. We'll explore the 00:00:51.259 --> 00:00:54.359 personal tragedy that shaped him, his transformative 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:57.170 experience in Canada, and how his family plays 00:00:57.170 --> 00:01:00.530 a crucial role in their success. It's a story 00:01:00.530 --> 00:01:03.130 that really resonates with anyone pursuing excellence 00:01:03.130 --> 00:01:07.069 in breeding. So let's get started. Let's begin 00:01:07.069 --> 00:01:09.569 with something we don't often talk about in the 00:01:09.569 --> 00:01:12.810 dairy industry. The personal struggles behind 00:01:12.810 --> 00:01:16.569 the success stories. For Nico Bonds, his journey 00:01:16.569 --> 00:01:20.010 took a devastating turn in 1999 when he was in 00:01:20.010 --> 00:01:24.150 his early 20s. What happened was truly heartbreaking. 00:01:24.590 --> 00:01:26.950 Nico had just reconciled with his girlfriend 00:01:26.950 --> 00:01:30.950 Leanne when his father died by suicide. The circumstances 00:01:30.950 --> 00:01:33.969 make it even more tragic. Nico's brother had 00:01:33.969 --> 00:01:36.390 fallen from the barn roof while fixing a frozen 00:01:36.390 --> 00:01:40.230 water pipe. After days in a coma and a year of 00:01:40.230 --> 00:01:42.870 rehabilitation, his brother was never the same 00:01:42.870 --> 00:01:46.209 again. Nico has shared that his father never 00:01:46.209 --> 00:01:48.950 forgave himself for that accident, and that guilt 00:01:48.950 --> 00:01:52.260 eventually became too much to bear. You can hear 00:01:52.260 --> 00:01:55.280 the raw emotion when Nico talks about it. He 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:58.060 said, quote, losing your dad from the evening 00:01:58.060 --> 00:02:00.799 before it happens that you talk about everything 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:03.900 and have discussions. And then the next day he's 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:08.000 not there anymore. It's unbelievable hard. That 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:10.740 kind of sudden loss is something many can't imagine. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:14.479 What I find particularly moving is how this loss 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:17.500 continues to echo through even his greatest achievements. 00:02:18.460 --> 00:02:21.419 Nico has said that whenever he wins a championship 00:02:21.419 --> 00:02:24.240 with one of his cows, the first thing he thinks 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:27.300 is what his dad would think about this. He's 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:29.580 also talked about all the milestones his father 00:02:29.580 --> 00:02:32.340 missed. His wedding, the birth of his children, 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:36.120 and his first champion cow at a show. That's 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:39.280 something no amount of success can replace. The 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:41.800 aftermath of this tragedy wasn't just emotional. 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:44.860 It forced Nico to make some major decisions about 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:47.770 his future. His brother had been designated to 00:02:47.770 --> 00:02:50.590 take over the farm, but after the accident, that 00:02:50.590 --> 00:02:53.930 wasn't possible. Meanwhile, Nico had been eyeing 00:02:53.930 --> 00:02:56.569 opportunities in Canada, not planning to stay 00:02:56.569 --> 00:03:00.270 in the Netherlands. Amid this grief and uncertainty, 00:03:00.729 --> 00:03:03.770 Nico found unexpected clarity through an experience 00:03:03.770 --> 00:03:06.949 that had planted seeds years earlier, a three 00:03:06.949 --> 00:03:09.409 -month adventure in Canada that would ultimately 00:03:09.409 --> 00:03:12.169 redefine his entire approach to dairy farming. 00:03:13.349 --> 00:03:16.699 So Bella, Want to know where the spark for Nico's 00:03:16.699 --> 00:03:19.539 breeding philosophy really began? Just three 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:22.780 months in Canada, when he was 18 years old, completely 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:27.259 changed his trajectory. That's fascinating. And 00:03:27.259 --> 00:03:29.400 this wasn't some fancy exchange program, right? 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:32.039 I understand it happened because of distant family 00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:36.580 connections. Exactly. It was the kind of connection 00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:39.280 where relatives visit every few years. Uncle 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:42.310 Boss and Aunt Simon, Ed Boss's parents. would 00:03:42.310 --> 00:03:44.409 occasionally visit the Netherlands. And through 00:03:44.409 --> 00:03:47.030 that connection, Nico arranged his training period 00:03:47.030 --> 00:03:51.610 at Bosdale Farms. I love how Nico describes this 00:03:51.610 --> 00:03:54.990 time in his life. He said, quote, The three months 00:03:54.990 --> 00:03:57.770 working for Bosdale were probably one of the 00:03:57.770 --> 00:03:59.949 best three months in my life till now, to be 00:03:59.949 --> 00:04:03.330 honest. He talks about it being pure learning 00:04:03.330 --> 00:04:06.550 without responsibilities. And what's incredible 00:04:06.550 --> 00:04:10.280 is that Bosdale wasn't just any farm. It would 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:12.099 later be recognized for breeding some of the 00:04:12.099 --> 00:04:15.979 most excellent cows in Canadian history. That's 00:04:15.979 --> 00:04:18.920 quite the training ground. The differences between 00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:21.279 Dutch and Canadian approaches to showing cattle 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:24.480 apparently floored him. In the Netherlands at 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:27.480 that time, shows were quick, one -day affairs. 00:04:28.459 --> 00:04:30.920 Drive to the show at 5 a .m., show your cows 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:34.819 at 9 a .m., and head home by 4 p .m. But in Canada, 00:04:35.420 --> 00:04:38.139 days of meticulous preparation, attention to 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:41.060 top lines, belly hair, details Nico had never 00:04:41.060 --> 00:04:43.860 even considered before. It completely changed 00:04:43.860 --> 00:04:46.019 his perspective on what was possible with show 00:04:46.019 --> 00:04:49.480 cattle. Beyond the technical aspects, Ed Boss 00:04:49.480 --> 00:04:51.779 taught him something that would define his career. 00:04:52.360 --> 00:04:55.300 Independence of thought. Nico has said the most 00:04:55.300 --> 00:04:57.519 important thing he learned was how Ed always 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:00.300 followed his own instincts. He had such a good 00:05:00.300 --> 00:05:03.379 eye for a cow and knew exactly what he wanted. 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:07.540 Canada got under his skin so deeply that he almost 00:05:07.540 --> 00:05:10.870 didn't come home. He admits, I had something 00:05:10.870 --> 00:05:14.410 like my future could be here. His father insisted 00:05:14.410 --> 00:05:17.350 he return to the Netherlands first, creating 00:05:17.350 --> 00:05:19.829 what would become a lifelong tension between 00:05:19.829 --> 00:05:23.689 Nico's Canadian dreams and Dutch reality. It's 00:05:23.689 --> 00:05:26.250 amazing how those three months set the foundation 00:05:26.250 --> 00:05:30.209 for everything that followed. So Douglas, when 00:05:30.209 --> 00:05:32.769 Nico returned from Canada, you can imagine he 00:05:32.769 --> 00:05:35.850 was full of new ideas and excitement about applying 00:05:35.850 --> 00:05:39.579 what he'd learned, right? And like so many young 00:05:39.579 --> 00:05:42.699 people returning with new ideas, he hit a brick 00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:45.639 wall of resistance at home. His father was focused 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:48.339 on milk production and components, the traditional 00:05:48.339 --> 00:05:52.259 Dutch approach. Canadian genetics? Not interested. 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:55.480 But here's where we see that determination that 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:59.199 defines Nico. He wanted to use Browndale Stardust 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:02.240 so badly after seeing his amazing daughters at 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:04.980 Bosdale that he did something quite creative. 00:06:05.579 --> 00:06:08.439 Creative is one way to put it. He's admitted 00:06:08.439 --> 00:06:10.939 that he changed the minus signs for production 00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:14.139 and protein from Stardust's genetic evaluation 00:06:14.139 --> 00:06:17.040 into plus signs when showing them to his father. 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:20.339 That little deception was enough to get his dad 00:06:20.339 --> 00:06:23.439 to change his mind. When Nico took over the farm 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:26.980 in 1999 after his father's passing, the herd 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:31.379 classification average was 80 .2. For our listeners, 00:06:31.540 --> 00:06:33.439 who might not be familiar with classification 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:36.699 scores, that's a solidly commercial herd. but 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:39.939 nowhere near elite show quality. Industry experts 00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:42.680 told him it would take 30 to 40 years to win 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:45.959 a national championship without buying into established 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:49.480 cow families. Most people would have been completely 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:54.259 discouraged by that timeline. But by 2002, just 00:06:54.259 --> 00:06:57.019 three years later, Nico built an entirely new 00:06:57.019 --> 00:07:00.060 barn specifically designed for show cattle. It 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:02.860 featured wider cubicles placed away from walls 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:05.790 to give cows more space. design choices that 00:07:05.790 --> 00:07:08.470 were considered radical in Dutch farming at that 00:07:08.470 --> 00:07:11.689 time. What's remarkable is how completely devoted 00:07:11.689 --> 00:07:14.769 he became to his vision. Every decision was filtered 00:07:14.769 --> 00:07:17.250 through the question, will this help me create 00:07:17.250 --> 00:07:21.170 winning show cows? As Nico puts it, it's almost 00:07:21.170 --> 00:07:23.730 tattooed on my head. I want to have a show cow, 00:07:24.129 --> 00:07:27.750 a winning show cow. That kind of single minded 00:07:27.750 --> 00:07:31.250 devotion isn't just talk, it burns from within. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:34.300 and it would soon lead to results that nobody 00:07:34.300 --> 00:07:38.480 expected. In 2003, just four years after taking 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:41.660 over the farm, Nico entered the Holland Holstein 00:07:41.660 --> 00:07:45.420 show. This wasn't an impulsive decision. Harry 00:07:45.420 --> 00:07:47.899 Shiling, who was then the director of Semex Netherlands, 00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:50.680 had seen something special in Nico's two -year 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:53.540 -olds and encouraged him to enter. What were 00:07:53.540 --> 00:07:57.079 Nico's expectations going into this show? In 00:07:57.079 --> 00:08:00.180 Nico's own words, Nobody was thinking before 00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:01.920 that we should have any cow who could be winner 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:04.519 from the class or maybe fifth in the class or 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:07.500 anything like that. Even me was not thinking 00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:12.000 about that. He had zero expectations. And Bosdale 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:15.439 Farms hadn't forgotten him. They sent fitting 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:18.360 expert Curtis McNeil to help Nico prepare his 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:21.480 cattle, a gesture that speaks volumes about the 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:23.980 impression this young Dutchman had made during 00:08:23.980 --> 00:08:27.279 his time in Canada. The results were absolutely 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:30.079 mind -blowing. They won champion two -year -old, 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:33.139 reserve champion two -year -old, champion intermediate 00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:36.279 cow and the best breeder herd. For a first -time 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:38.980 entrant with a homebred herd, this was unprecedented. 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:41.960 When the judge tapped his two -year -old as champion, 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:44.940 Nico stood frozen at the halter, completely stunned. 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:47.600 His hands trembled as he accepted the ribbon, 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:50.480 his mind racing to understand what had just happened. 00:08:51.299 --> 00:08:54.320 All those years of work, barn modifications and 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:56.779 careful breeding decisions had paid off far sooner 00:08:56.779 --> 00:08:59.629 than anyone predicted. Back in the cattle barn 00:08:59.629 --> 00:09:02.049 after the class, he called Leanne with his voice 00:09:02.049 --> 00:09:05.190 cracking with emotion. We did it. I can't believe 00:09:05.190 --> 00:09:07.750 we actually did it. Then he paused before adding 00:09:07.750 --> 00:09:11.250 quietly. I wish dad could have seen this. That 00:09:11.250 --> 00:09:14.389 early success sparked an even bigger ambition. 00:09:15.169 --> 00:09:17.490 Nico immediately set his sights on winning the 00:09:17.490 --> 00:09:20.330 European show, a goal that would take him 19 00:09:20.330 --> 00:09:23.350 years to achieve. He finally accomplished it 00:09:23.350 --> 00:09:27.470 in 2022 in Cremona, Italy with a champion young 00:09:27.470 --> 00:09:30.970 cow. Reserve Grand Champion, Best Breeder, and 00:09:30.970 --> 00:09:33.649 Best Exhibitor titles. What makes this achievement 00:09:33.649 --> 00:09:36.169 truly remarkable is that Bonds Holsteins has 00:09:36.169 --> 00:09:40.789 been 100 % homebred since 1945. While other prominent 00:09:40.789 --> 00:09:43.529 herds advanced through strategic acquisitions, 00:09:43.850 --> 00:09:46.470 Nico built his program entirely through selective 00:09:46.470 --> 00:09:50.690 breeding. King. It's like taking a local pick 00:09:50.690 --> 00:09:52.870 -up basketball team and turning them into NBA 00:09:52.870 --> 00:09:55.610 champions without ever signing a free agent. 00:09:56.330 --> 00:10:00.610 Going from an 80 .2 herd to today's 89 .7 average 00:10:00.610 --> 00:10:03.129 through breeding alone is almost unheard of in 00:10:03.129 --> 00:10:06.389 the Holstein world. But this kind of success 00:10:06.389 --> 00:10:09.669 doesn't come without sacrifices. The level of 00:10:09.669 --> 00:10:11.990 perfectionism and dedication Nico brings to his 00:10:11.990 --> 00:10:16.110 program has its own costs. Douglas, here's something 00:10:16.110 --> 00:10:18.789 that surprised me about Nico. Despite all his 00:10:18.789 --> 00:10:22.710 championships, he actually hates show days. Physically 00:10:22.710 --> 00:10:25.950 hates them. That does seem contradictory. For 00:10:25.950 --> 00:10:27.970 someone who's achieved so much in the show ring, 00:10:28.490 --> 00:10:31.750 you'd think he'd love the competition. He's confessed. 00:10:32.450 --> 00:10:35.409 Honestly, I never enjoy show day at all. The 00:10:35.409 --> 00:10:37.850 stress and the pressure I put on myself is probably 00:10:37.850 --> 00:10:41.049 very difficult for me. Instead, he finds joy 00:10:41.049 --> 00:10:43.409 in the preparation, getting the cows ready in 00:10:43.409 --> 00:10:46.649 his barn at home. It's the journey, not the destination, 00:10:46.789 --> 00:10:50.169 that brings him satisfaction. And it goes far 00:10:50.169 --> 00:10:53.549 beyond normal pre -show nerves. In his first 00:10:53.549 --> 00:10:56.240 10 years of showing, Nico couldn't eat on show 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:59.100 days and would throw up seven or eight times. 00:10:59.960 --> 00:11:02.159 Can you imagine being so passionate about something 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:04.419 that your body physically rebels against the 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:07.519 pressure you're putting on yourself? If you've 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:09.799 ever run into Nico at a show and found him a 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:12.919 bit standoffish, there's a reason for that. He's 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:15.000 explained that it's not because he doesn't like 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:17.860 people, but because he's so intensely focused. 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:21.769 In his words, We put so much time in these cows 00:11:21.769 --> 00:11:24.269 that we have to be sure that everything is 100 00:11:24.269 --> 00:11:28.490 % ready and spot on. And I cannot make one little 00:11:28.490 --> 00:11:32.850 fault. I should not forgive myself. And the perfectionism 00:11:32.850 --> 00:11:35.870 doesn't end when the show does. His post -show 00:11:35.870 --> 00:11:39.990 routine is intense. He milks the cows just before 00:11:39.990 --> 00:11:43.330 they go on the truck to the show. Again, four 00:11:43.330 --> 00:11:46.379 hours after they return home. and then gets out 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:48.059 of bed in the middle of the night to check them 00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:50.759 one more time for any signs of mastitis or health 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:55.639 issues. That's next level dedication. Most people 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:58.120 would be celebrating or sleeping after a big 00:11:58.120 --> 00:12:00.580 show, but Nico's out there in the middle of the 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:04.120 night, checking udders. This isn't just a business 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:06.879 for him. It's an all -consuming passion that 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:10.340 demands nothing less than perfection. This intense 00:12:10.340 --> 00:12:13.000 focus has been balanced by another aspect of 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:16.019 Nico's career. his extensive experience judging 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:18.519 cattle around the world, which has given him 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:22.480 a unique perspective on breeding. Nico has judged 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:25.740 cattle in 17 different countries. That's not 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:28.879 just frequent flyer miles, it's a master class 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:32.240 in global Holstein genetics. How has all this 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:35.019 judging experience influenced his breeding program 00:12:35.019 --> 00:12:38.139 back home? It's given him a three -dimensional 00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:41.139 preview of how different bulls perform in various 00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:45.440 environments and management systems. As Nico 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:48.580 explains it, when you judge shows, at the end 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:51.080 of the day, you try to find out what the champion 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:53.580 was and what the first one in the class was, 00:12:53.940 --> 00:12:56.120 you want to find out what the father was. It 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:58.659 really helps you to get an idea how a bull is 00:12:58.659 --> 00:13:02.960 breeding. That global perspective becomes absolutely 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:06.159 crucial when you're running a 100 % homebred 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:08.940 operation like Bonds Holstein's has been since 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:12.539 1945. There's zero room for error when you're 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:16.980 not buying in genetics. As Nico puts it, with 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:19.740 milking 60 cows and not buying any calf or any 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:22.200 heifer, if you make one mistake with buying a 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:25.639 bull 15 doses of semen, then you are in big trouble 00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:29.159 in three years. I love how Nico doesn't just 00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:32.500 follow trends. He's developed his own true type 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:35.139 ideal based on what he's seen work around the 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:38.179 world. And he's not afraid to question the establishment 00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:42.450 either. He's quite direct about it. He said, 00:13:43.049 --> 00:13:45.450 sometimes I see judges doing a job that I think, 00:13:45.809 --> 00:13:48.669 what the heck is going on? Are these people milking 00:13:48.669 --> 00:13:52.389 cows by themselves? You can just picture him 00:13:52.389 --> 00:13:55.210 watching a show, shaking his head in disbelief 00:13:55.210 --> 00:13:58.009 when the placings don't match his vision. What 00:13:58.009 --> 00:14:01.549 really shows Nico's independent thinking is his 00:14:01.549 --> 00:14:04.830 approach to bulls like alligator. While others 00:14:04.830 --> 00:14:07.049 might have dismissed alligator daughters because 00:14:07.049 --> 00:14:09.950 they weren't winning heifer classes, Nico saw 00:14:09.950 --> 00:14:13.379 something different. He observed that they were 00:14:13.379 --> 00:14:16.059 not narrow -chested. They had de -bodied. They 00:14:16.059 --> 00:14:18.259 were maybe not the strongest on the top line. 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:20.759 But even when I saw the first two -year -olds, 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:24.399 I saw the fantastic udders down under them. That's 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:26.980 the benefit of his judging experience. He can 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:29.659 look past current show trends and see long -term 00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:34.100 potential. This wealth of global experience is 00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:36.320 something Nico is now passing down to the next 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:39.679 generation, particularly his daughters who are 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:43.600 following in his footsteps. One of the most heartwarming 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:46.419 aspects of Nico's story is seeing how his children, 00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:50.019 especially his oldest daughter Anuke, are continuing 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:56.179 the family legacy. Absolutely. At 19, Anuke is 00:14:56.179 --> 00:14:58.620 following a path that's almost eerily similar 00:14:58.620 --> 00:15:02.220 to her father's early journey. Nico beams with 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:04.320 pride when he talks about how she's starting 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:07.299 to clip the cows for him at shows. She's still 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:09.679 learning, but already showing tremendous promise. 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:12.220 What's fascinating is that just like Nico did 00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:15.320 at Bosdale, Anouk spent three months training 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:18.899 at Rosedale in America last summer. The parallels 00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:22.940 are striking. Nico says she had a great time 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:25.820 with Nikki and Mark, and they gave her the opportunity 00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:28.139 to start with clipping the heifers and washing 00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:30.440 the show animals and train them. And she did 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:33.179 go with them to Madison. That was something I 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:35.759 think she had the same time what I had at Bosdale. 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:40.460 And she's caught the Canadian bug too. She's 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:42.799 talking about going back to North America for 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:46.899 a longer period to gain more experience. When 00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:49.100 asked how he'd feel if a nuke wanted to stay 00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:51.580 in North America permanently, essentially fulfilling 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:54.720 the dream he had to abandon, Nico's answer reveals 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:58.799 how parenthood has changed his perspective. He 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:02.500 said, I understood my dad now. If my daughter 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:05.080 should say when she was leaving. Maybe this summer 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:07.679 for four or five months to North America, she 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:09.779 could call me and say, hey, dad, I'm not coming 00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:12.779 back. I stay here. I should say exactly the same 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:15.440 thing. You come back first and we talk about 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:18.419 it. The same conversation he had with his own 00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:21.320 father decades ago is now playing out with his 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:25.059 daughter. Only now he's on the other side. But 00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:27.899 a nuke isn't the only Bond's daughter making 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:30.840 waves in the Holstein world. Her sister Tessa, 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:33.940 just 16, is already showing the same passion 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:37.299 and drive that defines the Bonds family. What's 00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:39.700 remarkable about Tessa is her incredible work 00:16:39.700 --> 00:16:42.840 ethic. Even Nico, with his legendary dedication, 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:46.559 seems amazed by her commitment. Last year she 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:48.320 achieved something that took her father years 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:51.039 to accomplish, winning reserve champion at the 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:55.299 national show. Detailed. Like her older sister, 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:58.399 Tessa is already making plans to follow the family 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:01.080 tradition with a work term in North America, 00:17:01.580 --> 00:17:03.639 further cementing the Bonds family's connection 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:06.299 to the continent that so profoundly shaped their 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:09.079 breeding philosophy. With two daughters this 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:12.599 passionate and skilled, Nico's legacy seems secure 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:16.079 for another generation. It's truly a family affair 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:20.279 at Bonds Holsteins. When you visit Bonds Holsteins, 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:22.980 you quickly realize it's not just Nico's show. 00:17:23.230 --> 00:17:26.369 All three kids are deeply involved. We've talked 00:17:26.369 --> 00:17:28.890 about Anouk and Tessa, but there's also Reuben, 00:17:29.069 --> 00:17:31.750 who's 13 and already contributing to the family 00:17:31.750 --> 00:17:36.490 operation. What strikes me is how Nico marvels 00:17:36.490 --> 00:17:39.769 at his kids' work ethic. He said, I think I didn't 00:17:39.769 --> 00:17:42.190 work that hard when I was on their age, to be 00:17:42.190 --> 00:17:45.910 honest, especially when I was 15 or 16. I think 00:17:45.910 --> 00:17:48.609 many parents can relate to that feeling. There's 00:17:48.609 --> 00:17:51.170 zero pretense when Nico admits how essential 00:17:51.170 --> 00:17:54.279 his family's contribution is. If my kids doesn't 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:57.059 help us with the normal day jobs anymore, then 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:59.099 we couldn't be that successful in the show ring 00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:03.160 anymore. That's not just humility. It's honesty. 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.960 But you know who's really the cornerstone of 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:09.839 it all? Leanne, his wife. When Nico talks about 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:12.650 her, his priorities couldn't be clearer. Bonds 00:18:12.650 --> 00:18:16.529 Holsteins is definitely my wife, Leanne. I always 00:18:16.529 --> 00:18:18.970 tell my best friends if she's walking away from 00:18:18.970 --> 00:18:21.509 me then I'm gonna follow her and not gonna stay 00:18:21.509 --> 00:18:24.650 on the farm by myself alone. This family first 00:18:24.650 --> 00:18:26.829 philosophy permeates everything about how they 00:18:26.829 --> 00:18:30.109 operate. Nico has said, if we win a show then 00:18:30.109 --> 00:18:32.730 we all know, all five of us, we know we did it 00:18:32.730 --> 00:18:34.849 as a family and there's nobody more important 00:18:34.849 --> 00:18:38.349 than somebody else. In an industry that often 00:18:38.349 --> 00:18:41.440 celebrates individual breeders, this team approach 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:44.839 feels refreshing and real. It's clear that for 00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:47.759 all his dedication to breeding, Nico's first 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:51.259 loyalty is to his family. This family foundation, 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:54.119 combined with Nico's relentless pursuit of excellence, 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:57.140 has transformed Bonds Holsteens into a global 00:18:57.140 --> 00:19:00.519 success story. What truly sets Nico's story apart 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:03.960 is the transformation he's achieved. A farm that 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:07.440 once averaged 80 .2 points, has become a globally 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:10.180 recognized breeding operation, with a current 00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:14.839 classification average of 89 .7 points. For listeners 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:17.039 who might not be familiar with the classification 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:19.400 system, that's an extraordinary improvement. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:23.140 The farm has become so successful that embryos 00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:26.299 from Bonds Holsteins now sell worldwide, with 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:28.960 partnerships established with premier operations 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:32.640 like West Coast Holsteins. Yet, despite this 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:36.180 success, Nico maintains a surprising humility 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:51.539 about his achievements. He's confessed, This 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:53.980 down -to -earth attitude extends to his advice 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:56.740 for young people aspiring to similar success. 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:59.880 If you have nothing at home on your farm, what 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:02.680 is special for bringing to the show, that you 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:05.779 want to win the show, it is possible. You don't 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:08.619 always need a lot of money or a good start with 00:20:08.619 --> 00:20:12.240 good cows to be successful. According to Nico, 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:15.819 the key ingredients are hard work, trusted mentors 00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:19.559 and unwavering focus. He emphasizes that young 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:21.980 breeders shouldn't think they can only be successful 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:24.579 if they start with advantages like a herd of 00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:28.180 really good cows or a lot of money. His success 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:31.259 with cows like Coba 219, the lethority daughter 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:33.680 who was Reserve Grand Champion at Swiss Expo 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:37.099 and sold in a 50 % partnership to a major North 00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:41.220 American operation, Coba 245, the remarkable 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:45.619 2022 Reserve Grand Champion at Cremona, and Coba 00:20:45.619 --> 00:20:50.160 191, the unbelievable Jasper Donner, has opened 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:52.619 doors that once seemed firmly closed to someone 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:56.099 starting with a commercial herd. Perhaps this 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:59.480 grounding explains Nico's enduring success. Behind 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:02.160 the championships and the international recognition 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:05.440 is simply a family united in purpose with a father 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:08.480 who, despite missing his own, has built a legacy 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:11.460 that honors both his Canadian dreams and his 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:14.619 Dutch roots. As we wrap up our exploration of 00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:17.599 Nico Banz's remarkable journey, what stands out 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:21.160 to me is the power of unwavering vision. From 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:23.640 transforming an 80 -point commercial herd into 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:26.079 an internationally respected breeding program 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:30.900 to maintaining 100 % homebred status since 1945, 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:34.019 the Bonds -Holstein story is truly inspirational. 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:37.960 What moves me most is how Nico has balanced his 00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:41.000 relentless pursuit of excellence with his dedication 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:44.579 to family. After experiencing the profound loss 00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:46.839 of his father at a pivotal moment in his life, 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:49.880 he's created not just a successful business, 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:52.900 but a family legacy that will continue through 00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:56.079 his children. For our listeners who might be 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:58.279 interested in bringing some of that Bonds Holstein's 00:21:58.279 --> 00:22:01.220 excellence into their own herds, there's an exciting 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:04.779 opportunity coming up. This isn't just a sale. 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:07.779 It's a chance to invest in genetics forged by 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:11.339 one of Europe's most dedicated breeders. The 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:14.920 star of the offering, Coba 291, is a special 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:19.119 two -year -old who dominated the 2024 HHH show 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:21.640 with what's been described as her international 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:24.819 allure. She's backed by a maternal line that 00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:28.960 produced Cremona's 2022 Reserve Grand Champion. 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:32.140 These animals aren't just cattle. They're living 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:35.339 proof of Nico's 22 -year quest for Holstein perfection. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:40.960 With 100 % homebred genetics since 1945 and partnerships 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:43.400 spanning from North America to Japan's elite 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:46.160 breeders, this sale isn't about buying cows. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:48.839 It's about securing a legacy. Whether you're 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:51.559 chasing show ring glory or building a herd with 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:55.019 solid foundations, this is your chance to incorporate 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:58.000 the bonds breeding philosophy into your own program. 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:01.400 To learn more about these opportunities, visit 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:05.079 thebullvine .com for all the details. Whether 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:07.700 you're chasing show ring glory or building a 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:10.440 herd with solid foundations, this is your chance 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:12.720 to incorporate the bonds breeding philosophy 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:16.039 into your own program. To learn more about these 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:18.880 opportunities, visit thebullvine .com for all 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:21.380 the details. Thank you for joining us today on 00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:24.440 the Bull Vine Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:27.599 please subscribe, leave a review, and share with 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:31.180 fellow dairy enthusiasts. Until next time, I'm 00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:34.099 Bella. And I'm Douglas, wishing you all the best 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:35.279 with your breeding program.