Creeping over fields of green Remembering the
faces The moments unseen The hands that built
a dynasty The vision in their eyes Echoes in
the auction bar Beneath an endless sky This is
the bull buy Turn the bar Hello everyone, and
welcome back to the Bullvine Podcast. I'm your
host today, and I've got an incredible story
to share with you. One that perfectly captures
the magic that can happen when immigrant ambition
meets Holstein breeding genius. You know, sometimes
the most extraordinary journeys in our industry
begin with the simplest conversations. Picture
this. It's March 1953. Shadows stretching across
the Haukholm stable floor. as young Dave Houck
milks cows. He's chatting with a visiting Record
of Performance inspector who casually mentions,
there's a good one up in Woodville. Highcroft
daughter, can't recall the farmer's name. The
inspector returns moments later with just one
word, Lilico. By midnight that very day, Dave
had purchased Bonnie Lonell Texel High for $875
from Clarence Lilico. a cow who would later produce
a white bull calf named Romandale reflection
Marcus, destined to become one of the most influential
Holstein sires of the 20th century. What's fascinating
is that this pivotal purchase came just months
before Hauk joined forces with Stephen Roman,
a Slovakian immigrant who'd transformed himself
from General Motors assembly line worker to mining
magnate. Together with Stephen's brother George
and Hauk's breeding genius, they would build
Romandale Farms into a Holstein powerhouse that
rewrote industry record books and conquered show
rings across North America. Let me tell you about
Stephen Boleslav Roman. He stepped onto Canadian
soil in June 1937, just a 16 -year -old kid with
ambition that far outstripped his modest circumstances.
Alongside his older brother George, sister -in
-law Mary, and nephew Tony, the Romans arrived
from Slovakia carrying $2 ,500 and dreams of
opportunity in their new homeland. Their first
Canadian home was a small farm on Skugog Island
near Port Perry, Ontario, where they engaged
in mixed farming. Now, here's what's interesting.
The Romans had actually been educated at an agricultural
college back in Slovakia and raised in relative
luxury on their father's estate. But in Canada,
they faced the humbling realities of immigrant
life. One contemporary observer put it perfectly.
Steve Roman dreamed the classic immigrant dreams.
He would make a go of it, he vowed, no matter
what. The Romans' neighbors, Russell Carter and
his son Alan, became crucial allies. Alan taught
Steve English in evening sessions. The Carters
drove the Romans when needed, and their wives
shared household equipment. I love this telling
anecdote about their resourcefulness. George
once rented Steve as farm labor to Russell Carter.
in exchange for the use of a horse. While farming
provided a start, Stephen quickly realized it
wouldn't satisfy his ambitions. He secured a
job at General Motors in Oshawa, working under
foreman John Pukey. And let me tell you, Roman
displayed the relentless drive that would define
his career taking every overtime shift available,
earning promotions and studying English, business,
and law in his limited spare time. With carefully
saved earnings, Roman began speculating in penny
mining stocks. After losing $2 ,000 in his first
venture, a substantial sum for an immigrant laborer,
he learned what became his fundamental business
lesson. In the mining game, the person who makes
the fortune is the one who controls the action.
Roman and Pukey formed Concord Mining Syndicate,
starting with 19 mineral claims. Roman quit GM
to focus entirely on this new endeavor. By 1948,
the company controlled properties from Quebec
to Alberta. When the Ledeck oil discovery created
a boom in 1949, Concord acquired claims near
major strikes. By 1954, Roman claimed to have
made his first million dollars. Think about that
transformation, from immigrant teenager to wealthy
entrepreneur in less than two decades. He was
now ready to return to his agricultural roots,
not as a struggling farmer, but as the ambitious
owner. of Romandale Farms. In 1950, Stephen Roman
purchased 150 acres north of King Road on Bathurst
Street in King, Ontario, marking his official
entry into the Holstein business. Though he briefly
considered breeding Guernseys, can you imagine?
He astutely recognized the ascendancy of Holstein
cattle in his region. His early purchases, I
have to say, reflected more enthusiasm than expertise.
Accompanied by what was described as an unenlightened
herdsman, Roman acquired foundation animals from
various small herds. From Smith Brothers came
Dorothy Lonelm Texel Supreme VG, and from Murray
Holtby, Aiton Lodge Jean Rag Apple Echo. At Jack
Houck's Houckholm Farm, he purchased Re -Echo
May Burke EX shortly after she completed a 35
,000 3 -14 pound Canadian Championship record.
With his herd growing rapidly, Roman scheduled
his first production sale for March 31, 1953,
at Hayes Sales Arena. The event averaged $784
.77 per head on 64 animals, the first of 19 Romandale
auctions that would systematically raise the
bar for Holstein merchandising. But here's where
Roman made his most strategic move. He hired
Jack Houck's son, Dave, as herd superintendent
in June 1953. The Romandale advertisement announcing
the hire noted, It is expected that he will contribute
much to the development of our breeding and testing
program, for we have long admired Dave's ability
to pick the good ones, care for them, test them,
and show them. You have to understand that Hauk
brought an almost spiritual connection to Holstein
cattle, and he was just 20 years old. As a boy,
he'd miss church services to read the Holstein
Journal in the family car. He'd hand -milked
Spring Farm Barely to a Canadian record as a
teenager and had won the Ontario Junior Dairy
Cattle Judging Competition in 1945. After a stint
at Hickory Creek Farms under the mentorship of
Whitey Thompson, Houck returned to work with
his father before Roman's offer came. Jack Houck,
recognizing opportunity, encouraged his son to
accept Roman's proposition. Romandale, he said,
was a big, pushy outfit that was destined to
go to the top. And you know what? History would
prove him right. Now, let me tell you about something
remarkable. Dave Houck arrived at Romandale with
five cows. These females, all daughters of Lonelm
Texel Highcroft, would become the foundation
upon which Romandale's breeding empire was built.
Their names were Texel Highcroft Calantha, Layla
Texel, Texel Francie Wayne, Georgina Texel Peavy,
and Bonnie Lonelm Texel High. On paper, they
seemed unimpressive. None had production -tested
dams. Only three had classified dams, all scoring
merely good plus. But here's where Dave Houck's
genius comes in. These unheralded cows possessed
an unmistakable uniformity and quality that caught
his practiced eye. A contemporary described them
as remarkably uniform in their type pattern,
tall, wide -chested cows with clean, broad rumps,
beautiful quality of bone, fine textured udders,
some long teated in front, udders carried high
and wide in the rear. Full sisters Texel Highcroft
Calantha and Layla Texel, both out of Heliana
Calantha GP, founded the Calantha family, a tribe
which empowered the Romandale herd to move forward.
Before their arrival, the Texel strain was merely
a strong regional bloodline, popular in and around
York County. The Romandale program elevated it
to international prominence. But the most consequential
of these foundation cows proved to be Bonnie
Lonum Texel High. the one purchased after that
fateful conversation with the ROP inspector.
She traced directly back to Musette, an 1882
import from Holland who had once been shown by
an Amish deacon who was later chastised by his
church for exhibiting livestock. Imagine that!
As a mature cow, Bonnie stood 62 inches at the
withers and many times taped over a ton. Despite
her immense power, she maintained a respectable
angularity and walked on, legs made of clean,
flinty bone. Bonnie's show ring career included
winning the milking three -year -old class at
the Canadian National Exhibition in 1953. Judge
Harvey Swartz, handling her at the Royal Winter
Fair the following year, grabbed her rear udder
and commented admiringly, Nice skin. That was
high praise back then. From these Highcroft Foundation
cows flowed numerous champions, including Texel
Fond Hope Darkie VG, all -Canadian two -year
-old of 1954, Texel Fond Hope Sparky VG, all
-Canadian two -year -old of 1956, and Romandale
Highcroft Rose EX, reserve all -American three
-year -old of 1959. Now, if the Highcroft daughters
provided the foundation of Romandale's success,
their mating to ABC reflection sovereign catapulted
the herd to greatness. This cross became what
many called one of the potent combinations of
breed history. a pairing that merged the flash,
style, and quality look of the ABC blood with
the power, clean bone, and boxcar rumps of the
Highcrofts. The results were nothing short of
spectacular. Three of the four members of the
1962 All -Canadian Get of ABC Reflection Sovereign
were out of Highcroft dams, while the fourth
was from a fond hope daughter of a Highcroft
cow. With one substitution, this group was also
named the 1962 All -American Get of Sire, and
later voted all -time All -American. That's about
as good as it gets in the Holstein world. Among
the most celebrated progeny from this cross was
Romandale Cora EX4, daughter of Texel Highcroft
Calantha. Described as possessing Hollywood good
looks, Cora became Grand Champion and Best Utter
at the International Dairy Show in 1962. Later
sold for $23 ,300, she achieved the rare distinction
of being nominated All -American while having
over 100 ,000 pounds of milk production. At age
12, she classified EX96 and produced a son named
King of the ABCs, who would influence the breed
for generations. Another standout was Romandale
reflection Betsy EX, described as one of the
prettiest females bred at Romandale. Reserve
All -American three -year -old in 1960 after
winning at the International Dairy Show, Betsy
continued her show career by winning the Interbreed
Best Utter Class at the Royal Winter Fair in
1965 at the relatively advanced age for a show
cow. But the crowning achievement of the ABC
Highcroft Cross, the one I really want to tell
you about, was Romandale Reflection Marquise
EXST, the son of ABC and Bonnie Lonelm Texel
High. This white male monster, as one admirer
called him, would transcend even his parents'
considerable influence and leave an indelible
mark on Holstein breeding worldwide. I wish you
could have been there. It's a crisp autumn day
in 1962, and the crowd at the National Dairy
Cattle Congress in Waterloo, Iowa, falls silent
as Judge Spencer Dunham raises his hand to indicate
his grand champion bull. The massive white yearling
at the end of Dave Houck's lead stands motionless.
commanding the ring with his presence. Romandale
Reflection Marquis had just defeated America's
best bulls on their home turf, cementing the
Roman brothers' status as international Holstein
powerhouses. Marquis was the embodiment of the
Romans' breeding philosophy, the product of one
of the breed's infallible crosses, ABC Reflection
Sovereign on Alonum Texel Highcroft Dam. His
journey from calf to legendary sire exemplified
the Romandale approach to Holstein breeding.
Identify exceptional foundation animals, make
strategic crosses, and market the results with
flair. As Markey matured, his dominance grew.
Partially proven at Hawkhurst, Agro Acres, and
Romandale, Markey topped the 1964 Romandale sale
on the $37 ,000 bid of Curtis Breeding Service,
Cary, Illinois, chronicled one industry observer.
His progeny soon dominated show rings across
the continent. Between 1968 and 1974, Marquis
offspring dominated the all -Canadian and all
-American contests. Few sires have fathered a
longer list of all -Canadian and all -American
winners, and few have produced stronger breeding
cattle, noted one Holstein historian. Among his
most influential daughters were Anzabar Marquis
Kizil EX7, all -Canadian three -year -old in
1971, Neodack Marquis Josephine EX, a member
of the 1973 All -Canadian Get, and the remarkable
Mellow Breeze cows, Mellow Breeze Marquee Sue
EX2 and Mellow Breeze Marquee Arlene EX. The
Mellow Breeze sisters came to Romandale through
another of Dave Houck's inspired discoveries.
While speaking at a breeders' seminar in Maine
in 1968, Houck was approached by Vermont dairyman
Doug Nelson about two Marquee daughters he had
spotted. Houck purchased the pair from Robert
P. Sherman Jr. of New Haven, Vermont. Despite
their undistinguished maternal lines, both were
in calf to don auger true type model. In a remarkable
coincidence, both delivered excellent daughters
Mellow Breeze Flory EX and Mellow Breeze Giselle
EX4. These females founded families that would
rival the Calanthus in breeding power and consistently
produce high selling, high performing offspring
for two decades. While Romandale's Holstein breeding
program flourished, Stephen Roman's business
empire expanded exponentially. In 1953, he purchased
900 ,000 shares of North Denison Mines at 8 .5
cents each. After renaming it Consolidated Denison
Limited, he acquired claims near Quirk Lake that
contained the largest body of uranium ore ever
discovered. Roman later identified as one of
his life's main accomplishments, the fact that
he raised $59 million to bring the mine into
production. without losing financial control
of the project. Within four years, he owned the
richest uranium mine in the world and by the
mid -1970s had secured forward orders worth $5
billion. His office reflected his status. Journalist
Paul McKay described it as dominated by a massive,
dark, antique desk imported from Europe with
an intricate pattern of wood inlays and hand
-carved gargoyles glaring out from the corners.
Behind it stood a wooden bookcase filled with
leather -bound books, all of which were kept
meticulously free from dust. The room featured
burnished oak paneling and a plush blood -red
deep -pile carpet. Roman's chair was dark brown
leather trimmed in gold. Above the Chesterfield
hung a Habsburg -era original painting depicting
an antelope being dismembered by a bloodied,
snarling bear. Roman's office procedures were
equally distinctive. He scheduled important meetings
for Friday the 13th, believing it his lucky day.
Pregnant secretaries were dismissed when their
stomachs began to bulge. Yet despite his demanding
nature, he respected those who stood their ground.
When a secretary refused his order to run through
the office, insisting she would walk briskly,
Roman backed down after a moment of stunned silence.
Here's something that reveals the man's character.
Despite his wealth, Roman often lunched on humble
fare, cabbage rolls or wieners and beans smothered
with ketchup, which Roman consumed with gusto,
though more elaborate meals were prepared for
distinguished guests like American President
Richard Nixon. At Romandale Farms, Roman maintained
the same involved management style. Not content
to sit back and permit his managers to run things,
he was never far removed from the heat and the
dust. He knew every animal by sight, could recite
all pedigrees from memory, and was personally
involved in breeding decisions. To him goes the
credit for some of the herd's wisest matchups,
noted one observer. Stephen Roman believed that
through the show ring lay the path to the Holstein
mountaintop. By 1959, Romandale had reached the
summit, winning premier breeder and exhibitor
banners at the International Dairy Show in Chicago.
Let me share a story that reveals Roman's competitive
spirit. As he accepted congratulations after
this triumph, Robert M. Rumler, Secretary of
the Holstein Association of America, approached.
Well, Steve, you did pretty well, Rumler acknowledged.
When Roman thanked him, Rumler added, You realize,
of course, that this is not our most important
show. Asked which was the premier event, Rumler
replied, Why the National Dairy Cattle Congress
at Waterloo? Roman took this as a challenge.
The following year, Romandale Farms won Premier
Breeder and Exhibitor at the National Dairy Cattle
Congress and repeated the feat in 1961 and 1962,
the first time in history that one herd had taken
these banners three years in succession. If you
know anything about showing cattle, you understand
what an extraordinary achievement that was. The
Romandale Show Team became legendary, featuring
animals like Romandale Cora EX, Romandale Reflection
Betsy EX, and Romandale Highcroft Rose EX. In
1961, these three formed one of the breed's fanciest
home -bred trios to win best three females at
Waterloo. The impact of Romandale's show ring
dominance extended beyond ribbons and banners.
It established Canadian Holsteins as world -class,
paving the way for an export market that would
become a cornerstone of the Canadian dairy industry.
In the continuance of a tradition started by
Estengo and Tom Hayes, the Romans' annual forays
across the border, meeting the Americans on home
turf, provided the Canadians with international
leadership of flair and style. On this foundation
was built the Canadian success in exporting breeding
stock around the world. Stephen Roman approached
Holstein Merchandising with the same innovation
he brought to mining ventures. While not the
first breeder to use reduction sales as marketing
tools, Roman perfected the strategy, eventually
holding 18 Romandale auctions, where access to
Romandale genetics was available only through
these carefully orchestrated events. Roman's
tax strategy influenced the timing of these sales.
Because of Canada's Income Tax Act, which provided
for income averaging over a five -year period,
Roman liked to hold a sale every five years.
That's smart business, folks. One of his innovations
was offering animals in pairs. A number of females,
usually 10 or 20 of them, were sold on choice,
the highest bidder taking his pick. The remaining
animal formed part of a nucleus for a new Romandale
herd. These pairs typically included a name recognition
female one who had done it all, and a younger
female of unusual potential. This strategy maximized
returns while ensuring Romandale retained quality
foundation animals for rebuilding the herd. The
results were spectacular. The ninth Romandale
sale in 1975, marking the farm's 25th anniversary,
featured a bull selling for $72 ,000 and a female
for $31 ,000. The 149 head averaged $4 ,358 .39,
the highest ever made at a Canadian auction of
animals from a single herd. But these figures
paled beside the 1979 Romandale dispersal, described
by Holstein -Friesian Journal as fantastic and
unparalleled. The auction grossed $2 ,795 ,500
on 21 head, averaging $13 ,907 .96, the highest
ever made at a North American dispersal, and
three times better than the previous Canadian
high. The sale featured world record prices for
ABC Reflection's sovereign offspring. Romandale
Pride, a three -month -old bull calf sold for
$400 ,000 to Japan Holstein Breeding Services,
Romandale Trillium, an eight -month -old heifer,
brought $330 ,000, and Romandale Rose, a three
-month -old heifer calf, fetched $175 ,000. Even
after this dispersal, the Romans assembled another
herd and held further sales. Their 1984 dispersal
averaged $11 ,668 .85 per head, the highest averaging
herd sale ever held in Canada. Featured were
eight progeny of Northcroft Ella Elevation EX97
-3E, including Romandale Sterling, who sold for
$300 ,000, and Romandale Valor ET, purchased
by Japan Holstein Breeding Service, for $200
,000. The final chapter came on November 13,
1990. when the 40 -year Romandale story concluded
with a final dispersal averaging $3 ,635 .90
on 117 head. While Marquis established Romandale's
reputation in North America, another bull extended
the farm's influence across the Pacific. Romandale
Count Kristen E .X .S .T., the Citation R., son
of Grayview Pet Krista E .X., sold to Hokkaido
Dairy Agricultural Co -op of Japan for $15 ,000
in the seventh Romandale sale in 1969. Roman
had drawn semen before shipping the bull, making
it available to other breeders. Used extensively
at Romandale, Count Christon came up with one
of the highest type proofs in Canadian history,
even surpassing the record set by ABC reflection
sovereign EX Extra, his paternal grandsire. His
474 classified daughters rated 92 % good plus
and better for type with 33 excellent and 178
very good females. In Japan, Count Kristen's
influence was revolutionary. This bull is credited
with changing the nature and quality of Japanese
Holstein type in a single generation. At the
1983 All Japan show, three -quarters of the exhibited
cattle were Count Kristen offspring. His daughters
not only looked the part, but shattered several
Asian production records. The Japanese commemorated
his contribution by constructing a memorial statue
in recognition of his contribution to breed progress.
His North American daughters included Continental
Scarlet Red EX, All -American 3 -year -old, Romandale
Countess Jewel EX, All -Canadian 4 -year -old
with multiple superior production records, and
Romandale Countess Jan EX, Grand Champion at
the CNE in 1981. Behind Romandale's success lay
a disciplined breeding philosophy. developed
through collaboration between the Romans and
Dave Houck. Making breeding decisions was more
or less a collaborative effort. The loud voices
belonged to Steve Roman and Dave Houck. The buzz
came from George Roman, seated in the background,
who provided wise counsel. The team shared a
vision focused on show type, good legs and udders,
longevity. While popularity of bloodline was
considered, it was not determinative. though
matings were never permitted to shift too far
from an ABC reflection sovereign focus. Their
approach to analyzing cattle was methodical.
In analyzing a female, they tended to think in
terms of sharp fronts or power fronts and their
natural accompaniments. They recognized that
certain traits came with trade -offs. The powerhouse
cow, or the real smooth one, they found, often
appears too straight in the leg, but her udder
is usually tucked tightly underneath. The loose
-jointed, rangy cow, on the other hand, is often
loose of her utter attachments. The Romandale
breeding philosophy worked toward the middle,
trying to reconcile these extremes, moving toward
a median point. They discovered that the hardest
thing to breed was strength and spring of rib
with cleanness of bone. This thoughtful approach,
backed by Roman's financial resources and marketing
acumen, produced cattle with the consistency
of a baker stamping out taste treats with a cookie
cutter. A common misconception holds that wealthy
hobbyists like Roman operate with unlimited budgets.
But that wasn't Roman's way. The weekend farmer
usually approaches the cattle business on a no
-nonsense basis. The enterprise must stand on
its own merits. There is a dollar limit on what
will be spent. Many times Dave Houck suggested
to Steve Roman that they buy this cow or that.
only to be told by Roman that the Romandale cow
budget would not allow it. Major purchases like
Pet Christa, Crisco X, and Northcroft Ella Elevation
came at a time when the farm bank account was
bulging, usually after a major Romandale sale.
This fiscal discipline extended to breeding decisions.
When evaluating potential sires, their first
task was to sort out the beast's breeding pattern.
They scrutinized his best daughters and his worst,
determined his strong points, enumerated the
things that the sire could never accomplish in
a million years. They used promising bulls sparingly
at first, more if the results justified, always
exercising the keenest discretion. On September
23, 1989, Stephen Roman died at age 68. In obituaries,
the business press remembered him as a business
titan. Peter Newman in Maclean's described him
as a builder and a risk -taker on a grand scale.
while Toronto Sun journalist Diane Francis called
him one of Canada's greatest builders. His physical
appearance matched his larger -than -life persona.
Dominating the face of high Slavic cheekbones,
a face that frequently broke into a mischievous
grin, were two honest eyes, eyes that met yours
in direct gaze. Though known as a hard -shell
capitalist, Roman possessed a philosophical turn
of mind and was the deepest of thinkers. He believed
a good man's life on earth was a gradual ascension
towards enlightenment and godliness, and saw
wealth creation as a high calling, an activity
perfectly compatible with the religious perception
of the universe. The true mourning for Stephen
Roman in Holstein circles began on November 13,
1990, when the Romandale herd dispersed. For
with the dispersal came the realization that
for the first time in 40 years, no more Romandale
full -page Holst Journal advertisements would
appear monthly. No more would Romandale farms
provide the high -powered international leadership.
No more would the beautifully scripted Romandale
breeding program produce the kind of cattle that
made Holstein lovers drool. Today, the Romandale
influence continues through countless pedigrees
tracing to Marquis, Count Kristen, and other
Romandale sires and cow families. Perhaps more
importantly, the Romans set a standard for breeding
excellence and promotional savvy that transformed
how Holstein cattle are marketed worldwide. As
for Bonnie Lonum Texel High, the $875 cow who
produced Romandale Reflection Marcus, her purchase
illustrates the perfect partnership between Roman's
willingness to invest and Houck's eye for quality.
It was these complementary talents, along with
George Roman's steady counsel, that built a Holstein
dynasty still reverberating through the breed
decades after the final Romandale cow left the
auction ring. The story of Romandale is ultimately
one of vision, the immigrant's vision to build
a fortune, the breeder's vision to identify genetic
combinations that would create superior animals,
and the marketer's vision to showcase these achievements
to maximum advantage. When you think about it,
isn't that what makes our industry so special?
It's not just about cows. It's about people with
dreams, with vision, with determination. It's
about seeing potential where others don't, making
connections that others miss. Stephen Roman and
Dave Houck exemplified this perfectly, and their
legacy lives on in herds across the globe. Thanks
for joining me today for this remarkable Holstein
story. Until next time, keep dreaming big. Legends
live here.