WEBVTT 00:00:10.570 --> 00:00:13.050 Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Bullvine 00:00:13.050 --> 00:00:16.089 Podcast. I'm your host, Bella, joined as always 00:00:16.089 --> 00:00:20.030 by my co -host, Douglas. Today's episode is particularly 00:00:20.030 --> 00:00:23.890 meaningful as it marks two years since we lost 00:00:23.890 --> 00:00:26.269 one of the most influential figures in our dairy 00:00:26.269 --> 00:00:29.530 community, Michael Patrick Heath. That's right, 00:00:29.589 --> 00:00:32.159 Bella. It's hard to believe it's been two years 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:35.659 already. Michael was just a day shy of his 59th 00:00:35.659 --> 00:00:38.579 birthday when that tragic farm accident occurred 00:00:38.579 --> 00:00:41.179 at his family's Spring Valley Jersey farm in 00:00:41.179 --> 00:00:45.780 Maryland. Born on March 24, 1964 in Gettysburg, 00:00:45.899 --> 00:00:48.780 Pennsylvania, Michael packed more passion and 00:00:48.780 --> 00:00:52.299 influence into his 58 years than most could in 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:54.820 several lifetimes one. For our listeners who 00:00:54.820 --> 00:00:56.979 might not have had the privilege of knowing Michael 00:00:56.979 --> 00:00:59.899 personally, You're in for a treat today as we 00:00:59.899 --> 00:01:02.500 explore the incredible legacy he left behind. 00:01:03.179 --> 00:01:06.579 And for those who did know him, well, I think 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:08.819 you'll enjoy reminiscing about a man whose impact 00:01:08.819 --> 00:01:12.200 on our industry simply cannot be overstated. 00:01:12.780 --> 00:01:15.500 We'll be discussing Michael's extraordinary contributions 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:18.640 as a fitter, showman, sales manager and judge. 00:01:19.180 --> 00:01:21.879 We'll talk about his generous mentorship, his 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:24.659 passion for the industry and how his legacy continues 00:01:24.659 --> 00:01:27.159 through the Michael Heath Overall Fitter Award. 00:01:28.780 --> 00:01:32.260 So grab your morning coffee, settle in at the 00:01:32.260 --> 00:01:35.340 milking parlor, or tune in during your farm chores, 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:39.000 wherever you're listening from, as we remember 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:41.700 the remarkable Michael Heath and his enduring 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:45.079 legacy in the dairy industry. Bella, trying to 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:47.400 describe Michael Heath's role in the dairy industry 00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:49.920 is like trying to fit a square peg in a round 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:53.599 hole. It just doesn't work, because the man simply 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:56.140 couldn't be contained to one area of expertise. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:00.840 You're absolutely right, Douglas. Michael wore 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:03.140 so many hats in our industry that it sometimes 00:02:03.140 --> 00:02:06.140 made your head spin. He excelled as a fitter, 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:10.180 showman, sales manager, judge, and mentor, redefining 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:13.120 excellence in each of these roles one. What always 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:15.580 struck me about Michael was how he transformed 00:02:15.580 --> 00:02:18.740 cattle fitting into an art form. He could turn 00:02:18.740 --> 00:02:20.900 good cows into great ones with those skilled 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:24.719 hands and patient approach. His techniques became 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:27.389 the gold standard that everyone veterans and 00:02:27.389 --> 00:02:30.629 rookies alike tried to emulate one. That's so 00:02:30.629 --> 00:02:34.009 true. And what's interesting is that while his 00:02:34.009 --> 00:02:37.250 fitting skills first put him on the map, they 00:02:37.250 --> 00:02:39.729 were just the beginning of what made Michael 00:02:39.729 --> 00:02:43.370 special. He brought an almost artistic sensibility 00:02:43.370 --> 00:02:46.069 to fitting. It wasn't just about winning for 00:02:46.069 --> 00:02:48.289 him, though he certainly did plenty of that. 00:02:48.490 --> 00:02:50.949 I remember Michael often saying, with that sideways 00:02:50.949 --> 00:02:54.069 grin of his, if you're going to do it, why not 00:02:54.069 --> 00:02:57.330 do it right? He believed presentation was about 00:02:57.330 --> 00:03:00.889 showing respect. Respect for the animal, respect 00:03:00.889 --> 00:03:03.590 for the breeder, and respect for the entire industry 00:03:03.590 --> 00:03:06.889 won. His sales management abilities were equally 00:03:06.889 --> 00:03:10.949 impressive. Michael had this uncanny sixth sense 00:03:10.949 --> 00:03:13.169 about matching the right animal with the right 00:03:13.169 --> 00:03:16.090 buyer. He could walk into a barn, glance at a 00:03:16.090 --> 00:03:18.490 heifer, and immediately know who would want her 00:03:18.490 --> 00:03:22.250 and why one. I've witnessed him work a sales 00:03:22.250 --> 00:03:25.520 event, and it was something to behold. He'd have 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:28.979 the entire crowd energized, laughing, and engaged. 00:03:29.819 --> 00:03:32.240 Buyers who came with no intention of purchasing 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:34.719 would end up raising their bidding cards because 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:37.000 Michael made them see the potential right in 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:40.699 front of them won. What made him such a force 00:03:40.699 --> 00:03:43.159 in advancing dairy breeds was his understanding 00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:45.819 of both the science of genetics and the very 00:03:45.819 --> 00:03:49.219 human preferences of individual breeders. It 00:03:49.219 --> 00:03:52.039 wasn't just about transactions for Michael. Sales 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:55.099 were celebrations. opportunities to strengthen 00:03:55.099 --> 00:03:57.639 the community bonds that make our industry unique 00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:01.439 one. Douglas, have you ever seen someone who 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:04.560 just belongs in the show ring? That was Michael 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:08.159 Heath to a T. The man collected championship 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:12.039 ribbons the way some people collect stamps. Absolutely. 00:04:12.580 --> 00:04:15.379 Show rings across North America and beyond became 00:04:15.379 --> 00:04:18.060 his second home. And it wasn't luck that got 00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:20.980 him there time after time. It was skill and knowledge 00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:24.839 that few could match one. What always amazed 00:04:24.839 --> 00:04:27.920 me about Michael was his memory. The man was 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:31.439 like a walking, talking cattle database. He didn't 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:33.639 just know animals. He knew their grandmothers, 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:36.160 great -grandmothers, and distant cousins twice 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:40.680 removed. Impressed. I heard he could recite five 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:43.019 generations of a heifer's pedigree at a sale 00:04:43.019 --> 00:04:46.160 without even glancing at the catalog. And not 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:48.439 as a party trick, but because that knowledge 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:51.100 helped him develop exceptional cow families and 00:04:51.100 --> 00:04:54.740 influential bulls. He had this remarkable ability 00:04:54.740 --> 00:04:58.180 to spot promising traits that most of us would 00:04:58.180 --> 00:05:01.339 walk right past, identifying future champions 00:05:01.339 --> 00:05:04.500 while they were still awkward youngsters. That's 00:05:04.500 --> 00:05:07.319 a rare gift in our industry. And when Michael 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:09.759 stepped into the ring as a judge, something magical 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:12.800 happened. The entire barn would hold its breath. 00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:15.899 His judging passport had more stamps than most 00:05:15.899 --> 00:05:19.459 people's regular passports. Canada, Brazil, Australia, 00:05:19.779 --> 00:05:23.730 Mexico, Switzerland, the list goes on. But it 00:05:23.730 --> 00:05:26.589 wasn't just where he judged, but how he judged, 00:05:26.670 --> 00:05:30.829 that made him special. He turned technical evaluation 00:05:30.829 --> 00:05:34.589 into theater. He'd have spectators hanging on 00:05:34.589 --> 00:05:36.870 his every word with his creative explanations 00:05:36.870 --> 00:05:39.629 and dramatic championship announcements. Remember 00:05:39.629 --> 00:05:43.170 his famous bing, bang, boom speech at World Dairy 00:05:43.170 --> 00:05:47.560 Expo? People still talk about it. Only Michael 00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:50.019 could make the detailed assessment of dairy cattle's 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:52.319 structural traits sound like the most exciting 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:55.540 story you'd ever heard. If there's one thing 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:58.519 that truly set Michael apart, it was his generosity 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:01.740 with knowledge. I've never met anyone so willing 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:04.899 to share everything they knew with others. I've 00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:07.000 heard it said that Michael never met a stranger, 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:10.519 just friends he hadn't made yet. And boy, did 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:13.040 he make a lot of them. He had this incredible 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:16.120 gift for connecting with people, especially young 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:18.259 people just finding their way in the industry 00:06:18.259 --> 00:06:22.839 one. Got a question about fitting? Michael would 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:25.899 drop everything to show you his technique. Struggling 00:06:25.899 --> 00:06:28.500 with selecting your next herd sire? He'd pull 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:30.939 up a chair and talk genetics with you for hours. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:33.699 Need someone to believe in you when you're having 00:06:33.699 --> 00:06:37.699 doubts? That was Michael too. What struck me 00:06:37.699 --> 00:06:40.240 most about his mentorship was how personal it 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:43.370 felt. He didn't have a one -size -fits -all approach. 00:06:43.850 --> 00:06:46.769 Instead, he'd take the time to understand what 00:06:46.769 --> 00:06:49.410 made you tick, your goals, and your strengths. 00:06:50.110 --> 00:06:53.269 Then he'd tailor his guidance specifically for 00:06:53.269 --> 00:06:55.870 you. I can't tell you how many young dairy enthusiasts 00:06:55.870 --> 00:06:58.930 have told me, Michael was the first person who 00:06:58.930 --> 00:07:02.470 saw what I could become. That's a powerful legacy 00:07:02.470 --> 00:07:06.509 to leave behind. I love the story about his worn 00:07:06.509 --> 00:07:09.089 yellow legal pad that he kept with him everywhere. 00:07:10.029 --> 00:07:13.089 He'd randomly stop at farms he was passing, farms 00:07:13.089 --> 00:07:15.509 where he didn't know a soul, just to look at 00:07:15.509 --> 00:07:18.370 their cattle. He'd jot down notes about animals 00:07:18.370 --> 00:07:21.449 that caught his eye, regardless of breed. And 00:07:21.449 --> 00:07:24.029 through these spontaneous visits, he turned strangers 00:07:24.029 --> 00:07:27.430 into lifelong friends. That was the Michael Heath 00:07:27.430 --> 00:07:30.089 effect, making meaningful connections wherever 00:07:30.089 --> 00:07:33.649 he went. His impact went beyond casual advice, 00:07:33.790 --> 00:07:37.300 too. Michael often partnered with promising young 00:07:37.300 --> 00:07:40.180 exhibitors who couldn't afford top -quality show 00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:43.240 animals. These partnerships gave kids opportunities 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:46.620 they'd never have had otherwise, chances to raise 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:49.959 and show exceptional animals while learning directly 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:53.540 from one of the best in the business. Many of 00:07:53.540 --> 00:07:55.720 today's leading dairy professionals got their 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:58.439 start because Michael Heath decided to take a 00:07:58.439 --> 00:08:01.199 chance on them. That kind of investment in the 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:03.970 next generation That's what helps an industry 00:08:03.970 --> 00:08:07.550 thrive long term. One of Michael's closest friends 00:08:07.550 --> 00:08:09.870 said something that really stuck with me after 00:08:09.870 --> 00:08:13.610 his passing. He's never actually worked a day 00:08:13.610 --> 00:08:17.149 in his life. Every single day of his life, he 00:08:17.149 --> 00:08:20.009 has done exactly what he loves, and he died doing 00:08:20.009 --> 00:08:23.870 what he loved. That's profound, isn't it? How 00:08:23.870 --> 00:08:27.269 many of us can say that about our lives? Michael 00:08:27.269 --> 00:08:29.790 never viewed what he did as work. It was simply 00:08:29.790 --> 00:08:33.100 who he was. The barn wasn't his office. It was 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:35.940 his playground. The show ring wasn't his job. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:38.679 It was his stage. The cattle weren't his business. 00:08:38.820 --> 00:08:41.620 They were his passion. In a world where so many 00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:44.220 people count the minutes until retirement, Michael 00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:47.500 gave us a different model. Find what lights you 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:51.539 up inside and build your life around it. His 00:08:51.539 --> 00:08:54.259 success wasn't measured in bank accounts or trophies, 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:57.580 though he earned plenty of the latter. It came 00:08:57.580 --> 00:09:00.120 from the alignment between who he was and what 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:03.179 he did every day. Knowing that even on his last 00:09:03.179 --> 00:09:05.899 day, he was immersed in what brought him joy 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:09.440 is profoundly comforting. I wasn't surprised 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:12.240 to learn that Michael was an organ donor. Even 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:15.879 in death, he found a way to give to others. That 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:18.960 final act of generosity, allowing parts of himself 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:21.919 to live on in others who needed them, was perfectly 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:25.379 Michael. It wasn't just a box checked on a driver's 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:27.990 license form. It was the culmination of a lifetime 00:09:27.990 --> 00:09:31.190 spent freely giving of himself, his knowledge, 00:09:31.429 --> 00:09:34.470 his time, his encouragement, and his friendship. 00:09:35.570 --> 00:09:38.370 Sometimes I think about the strangers out there 00:09:38.370 --> 00:09:40.590 walking around with Michael's gifts inside them. 00:09:40.990 --> 00:09:43.690 I wonder if they somehow feel his enthusiasm 00:09:43.690 --> 00:09:47.450 for life and generous spirit. I like to think 00:09:47.450 --> 00:09:50.610 they do. It's remarkable how quickly the dairy 00:09:50.610 --> 00:09:54.259 community rallies around its own. After Michael's 00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:57.820 tragic accident in March 2023, friends and family 00:09:57.820 --> 00:10:00.159 barely had time to process their grief before 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:02.740 they started asking, how do we make sure his 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:05.879 legacy lives on? The answer came in the form 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:09.360 of the Michael Heath Overall Fitter Award. Could 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:12.120 there be a more perfect tribute? Fitting was 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:14.159 where Michael first made his mark after all. 00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:17.539 Establishing this award at World Dairy Expo, 00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:21.600 dairy's biggest stage, just felt right. The Expo 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:23.519 had been home to many of Michael's most significant 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:26.360 moments, his most memorable championships, and 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:29.740 his famous Bing Bang Boom speech. It's where 00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:31.840 his presence had loomed largest for decades. 00:10:32.340 --> 00:10:35.500 I was at the 2023 Expo when Savannah Crack from 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:38.039 Quebec received the first ever Michael Heath 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:42.639 Overall Fitter Award. Talk about emotions. Along 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:45.259 with the $500 prize came this powerful moment 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:47.620 of recognition that linked a promising young 00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:51.409 fitter to the legendary Michael Heath. For 2024, 00:10:51.929 --> 00:10:55.070 they've expanded the award significantly. The 00:10:55.070 --> 00:10:58.389 winner now receives $1 ,000, a beautiful commemorative 00:10:58.389 --> 00:11:01.809 plaque, and, this is the part that gets me, their 00:11:01.809 --> 00:11:04.009 name inscribed on a permanent award displayed 00:11:04.009 --> 00:11:08.049 at World Dairy Expo headquarters. That permanence 00:11:08.049 --> 00:11:11.470 matters, doesn't it? Decades from now, young 00:11:11.470 --> 00:11:13.710 fitters who never had the chance to meet Michael 00:11:13.710 --> 00:11:16.470 will see that plaque. ask about the man behind 00:11:16.470 --> 00:11:19.149 the name, and hear stories about his extraordinary 00:11:19.149 --> 00:11:23.169 contributions to our industry. That's how the 00:11:23.169 --> 00:11:26.649 best legacies work. They keep inspiring new generations 00:11:26.649 --> 00:11:29.370 to reach for excellence. The Michael Heath Overall 00:11:29.370 --> 00:11:32.750 Fitter Award isn't just a trophy or check. At 00:11:32.750 --> 00:11:35.070 its heart, it's about carrying forward what Michael 00:11:35.070 --> 00:11:38.090 stood for, excellence in craft and the spirit 00:11:38.090 --> 00:11:40.250 of generosity and community that made him so 00:11:40.250 --> 00:11:43.320 beloved. Shuna watching the award presentation, 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:46.799 I'm struck by how it encourages precisely the 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:50.039 qualities that made Michael special. Sure, it 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:52.779 rewards technical skill, those meticulous fitting 00:11:52.779 --> 00:11:55.500 techniques that transform good animals into great 00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:58.519 ones. But it also celebrates Michael's hallmarks, 00:11:58.700 --> 00:12:02.200 mentorship and community building. The award 00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:04.500 especially highlights young competitors, which 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:07.179 feels so right. when you remember how much time 00:12:07.179 --> 00:12:09.340 Michael devoted to developing the next generation 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:13.799 of dairy enthusiasts. Sometimes the best way 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:16.299 to understand someone's impact is through the 00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:19.399 words of those who knew them best. The tributes 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:21.700 that poured in after Michael's passing paint 00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:24.000 a picture more vivid than any formal biography. 00:12:25.559 --> 00:12:28.639 Nathan Thomas of Triple T Holsteins and Jerseys, 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:31.840 who worked alongside Michael for years, put it 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:34.100 beautifully when he called Michael the kind of 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:37.480 friend who comes along once in a lifetime. He 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:40.259 wrote, Your knowledge and eye for cattle were 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:43.139 unparalleled and reflected on their shared adventures. 00:12:43.580 --> 00:12:46.100 We had the honor of owning some great ones with 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:48.480 you and putting together first -class sales. 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:53.019 What struck me in Nathan's remembrance was his 00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:56.000 observation that farmers and breeders all over 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:58.659 the world sought Michael's opinions on cattle. 00:12:58.980 --> 00:13:01.940 Think about that. From small family farms to 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:04.679 massive operations across continents, People 00:13:04.679 --> 00:13:07.899 valued what Michael had to say. I loved photographer 00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:11.200 Sybil Fisher's perspective too. It's hard to 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:13.120 think of anyone in this current industry that 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:15.639 had more drive and passion for cattle than Michael, 00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:18.419 she noted. Fisher pointed out something I've 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:21.279 thought about often. Nobody visited more herds 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:24.159 in a year and saw more potential in cattle and 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:28.840 people than MPH did. One. That's an important 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:32.200 insight. Michael didn't just evaluate animals. 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:36.159 He saw potential in people. He could spot promise 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:38.720 in a shy teenager at their first cattle show 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:41.440 just as quickly as he could identify a future 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:45.000 champion heifer in a group of calves. What stays 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:47.340 with me most about Michael, and I hear this from 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:50.019 practically everyone who knew him, was his remarkable 00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:52.559 ability to connect with people from all walks 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:55.580 of life. It didn't matter if you were a renowned 00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:58.299 breeder with generations of champions or a nervous 00:13:58.299 --> 00:14:01.350 kid at your first 4 -H show. Michael treated 00:14:01.350 --> 00:14:04.210 you with the same genuine interest and respect 00:14:04.210 --> 00:14:07.669 one. He'd remember your name. He'd ask about 00:14:07.669 --> 00:14:10.669 that heifer you were so proud of last year. He'd 00:14:10.669 --> 00:14:12.629 follow up on the breeding recommendation he'd 00:14:12.629 --> 00:14:16.090 made six months earlier. These weren't just professional 00:14:16.090 --> 00:14:18.750 courtesies. They reflected who Michael truly 00:14:18.750 --> 00:14:22.450 was. He cared. That universal approachability 00:14:22.450 --> 00:14:25.309 broke down barriers in an industry that can sometimes 00:14:25.309 --> 00:14:29.049 feel hierarchical. He was simultaneously a friend. 00:14:29.579 --> 00:14:32.500 colleague, and mentor to people of all ages and 00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:35.919 experience levels. Heps. I still catch myself 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.919 looking for him at dairy events. I'm not alone 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:42.100 in that. One longtime industry observer put it 00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:45.720 perfectly. I haven't been to a dairy cattle event 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:48.059 that I didn't still expect to see him come around 00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:50.419 the corner with his head tilted to one side, 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:53.159 pointing a finger in the air, and talking with 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:56.539 a friend about the good one he'd seen. Can't 00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:59.429 you picture that? That slight head tilt, the 00:14:59.429 --> 00:15:02.330 enthusiastic finger point, the animated conversation 00:15:02.330 --> 00:15:05.950 about some promising animal he'd spotted. The 00:15:05.950 --> 00:15:10.429 void his absence created is undeniable. But here's 00:15:10.429 --> 00:15:13.269 the thing about people like Michael. Their influence 00:15:13.269 --> 00:15:17.049 outlives them. Every time someone applies a fitting 00:15:17.049 --> 00:15:19.889 technique he taught them, every time a young 00:15:19.889 --> 00:15:22.350 fitter remembers his encouragement and decides 00:15:22.350 --> 00:15:25.460 to stick with it when things get tough, Every 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:27.639 time a breeder makes a mating decision influenced 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:31.679 by his philosophy, Michael's legacy grows. Formal 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:33.840 tributes like the overall Fitter Award matter 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:37.440 enormously. But equally important are these countless 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:40.740 informal moments when his wisdom and example 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:44.440 continue to shape our industry's future. That's 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:48.720 a different kind of immortality. Two years. It 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:51.200 seems both like yesterday and forever since we 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:54.309 lost Michael Heath. I find myself reflecting 00:15:54.309 --> 00:15:56.629 not just on what he accomplished, though that 00:15:56.629 --> 00:15:59.529 list is extraordinary, but on how he accomplished 00:15:59.529 --> 00:16:01.850 it with that unmistakable blend of expertise, 00:16:02.250 --> 00:16:05.549 passion, and generosity that was uniquely his. 00:16:05.929 --> 00:16:08.289 Michael Heath's name lives on through the Michael 00:16:08.289 --> 00:16:11.350 Heath Overall Fitter Award, but his true legacy 00:16:11.350 --> 00:16:14.149 is in the form of people, the countless individuals 00:16:14.149 --> 00:16:16.929 whose lives and careers took shape under his 00:16:16.929 --> 00:16:20.370 influence. Michael's fingerprints are everywhere 00:16:20.370 --> 00:16:23.519 in our dairy world. from industry veterans to 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:27.720 that kid who just showed her first heifer. Yix. 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:30.779 What strikes me most about Michael's story is 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:33.080 how it reminds us that a meaningful legacy isn't 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:35.879 built through accomplishments alone. The ribbons 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:39.500 fade. The sale prices get forgotten. The records 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:42.000 eventually get broken. But the relationships 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:45.620 formed, the knowledge shared, the moments of 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:47.580 inspiration that change someone's direction, 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:50.700 those endure. Remember what his friend said? 00:16:51.789 --> 00:16:55.330 He died doing what he loved. There's profound 00:16:55.330 --> 00:16:58.529 wisdom in that observation. Michael lived authentically, 00:16:58.610 --> 00:17:01.230 aligned with his passions and was generous with 00:17:01.230 --> 00:17:04.230 his gifts. In a world that often pushes us toward 00:17:04.230 --> 00:17:06.349 what's profitable rather than what's purposeful, 00:17:06.470 --> 00:17:09.230 his example stands as a powerful alternative. 00:17:09.910 --> 00:17:13.470 As our dairy community continues to evolve, facing 00:17:13.470 --> 00:17:16.390 new challenges, embracing new technologies and 00:17:16.390 --> 00:17:19.000 adapting to changing markets, the principles 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:22.960 Michael embodied offer a sort of compass. Technical 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:26.099 expertise matters enormously, yes, but Michael 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:28.380 showed us that expertise has the greatest impact 00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:30.740 when paired with genuine passion and generous 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:33.640 mentorship. So, as we remember Michael Heath 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:36.519 two years after his passing, let's honor not 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:39.480 just what he contributed to our industry, but 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:41.900 how he contributed it, with his whole heart, 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:44.980 his extraordinary mind, and that unwavering commitment 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:47.740 to excellence that inspired everyone around him. 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:51.039 And the best tribute we can offer isn't just 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:54.160 remembering him. It's living a little more like 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:56.900 him. Thanks for joining us today on the Bullvine 00:17:56.900 --> 00:18:00.900 Podcast. I'm Bella. And I'm Douglas. Until next 00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:04.140 time, keep pursuing excellence in your herds 00:18:04.140 --> 00:18:07.099 and generosity in your hearts. See you down the 00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:07.299 road.