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 Hey there, Bullvine
listeners. Welcome back to another episode. I'm
your host, and today I want to take you on an
incredible journey through time. A story about
a family that didn't just participate in the
Holstein dairy industry, they literally became
the backbone of it. This is the story of the
Shore Dynasty, and it's a tale that spans more
than a century, four generations. and countless
unforgettable cattle that shaped the breed we
know today. Let me start with a moment that still
gives me chills. The day after Christmas in 2013.
That was the day the news hit the dairy community
like a thunderbolt. Hardy Shore Jr. had passed
away at just 57 years old. Now, Hardy had been
battling personal demons for years, something
many brilliant minds in our industry unfortunately
face, but don't always talk about openly. It
was the kind of loss that stops you cold, you
know? Like when you walk into your barn and the
ventilation fans just suddenly quit running.
It's eerily quiet, and you realize how much background
noise there actually was when they were operating.
But here's the thing that really struck me. Losing
Hardy Jr. wasn't just about losing another talented
breeder. It was like watching the final chapter
close on one of the greatest dynasties in dairy
history. And that silence, that void, it made
me think deeply about what truly defines greatness
in this business we all love. You see, across
farms from Ontario, down into the Midwest, there's
this magic I keep noticing in certain bloodlines.
And I'm not just talking about the cattle, but
the people too. Some families just have it in
their DNA, you know? That sixth sense for reading
a cow's confirmation while walking through the
barn during morning chores. The instinct for
perfect breeding timing even when feed costs
are squeezing margins tighter than bark on a
tree. The ability to spot genetic potential in
a gangly heifer where the rest of us just see
another mouth to feed. The shores of Glanworth,
Ontario, they had that gift in absolute spades.
Their story is really like looking in a mirror
at today's dairy challenges. Picture this, four
generations, each one forced to adapt during
massive technological disruptions, that could
have buried them. From William H. Shore's bold
leap into purebreds back in 1910, when most everyone
thought he'd completely lost his mind, all the
way to Hardy Jr.'s embrace of embryo exports
right in the heart of the genomic era. It's like
watching a century of dairy evolution play out
through one family's incredible journey. Let's
start at the very beginning. The Shore story
actually begins way back in the 1850s. in a small
hamlet called Glanworth, located just south of
London, Ontario. This was part of Colonel Thomas
Talbot's domain. You might remember him from
Canadian history class. Talbot had this massive
land settlement scheme that carved some of the
absolute best dairy country in all of Canada
right out of raw wilderness. What's fascinating
about Talbot is how he hand -picked his settlers.
He kept out all the speculators and get -rich
-quick types, making sure the land went to families
who'd actually work it, and build something lasting.
Sound familiar? It's the same philosophy we see
in successful farm succession planning today.
Same concepts, just a different century. That
approach of long -term thinking, community commitment,
building something that lasts through market
cycles and government interference. That became
the foundation driving successful dairy operations.
The shores didn't just inherit good land. they
inherited a culture that valued persistence over
quick profits. William H. Shore was born in 1870,
and he ran what we'd recognize today as a diversified
operation. Shorthorns shared barn space with
grade Holsteins, and he did some horse trading
on the side. Kind of like how some Ontario producers
today run cash crops alongside their dairy herds
to spread risk when milk prices take a dive.
But William was restless. He was always on the
road. always chasing the next opportunity. His
real talent wasn't actually farming. It was reading
markets. And in 1910, he made what would turn
out to be the reed of his lifetime. Here's where
it gets really interesting. William bought his
first purebred Holsteins, two females and a bull,
from Herman Bollert's herd. Now, if you know
your Canadian Holstein history, that name should
make you sit up and take notice. Bollard's cattle
traced directly back to Michael Cook's 1881 imports,
the actual foundation animals that established
our breed here in Canada. William wasn't just
buying cattle. He was investing in genetic royalty.
Think of it like getting first pick in a genomic
draft before anyone even knew what genomics was.
The bulls he chose tell you everything about
his vision. Faforet champion Echo was a maternal
brother to the legendary May Echo Sylvia. Keldy
Grange King Seggies came from proven Western
Ontario bloodlines that everyone respected. These
weren't just breeding decisions. They were market
positioning moves by a man who understood where
the industry was heading. What really strikes
me is how William grasped brand building before
the term was even coined. He wasn't just improving
his herd. He was positioning himself right at
the center of an emerging industry. It's the
same strategic thinking I see in today's top
producers who were early adopters of A2 genetics
or genomic selection. But think about this for
a moment. It's 1910. There's no genomic testing,
no AI catalogs filled with EPDs, no production
records to compare. William was making these
calls based on pedigree knowledge, confirmation
evaluation, and pure gut instinct. That takes
the exact kind of courage we need today when
we're deciding whether to invest in automated
feeding systems or transition to organic production
with all the headaches that come with it. Fast
forward to 1933 when Hardy Shore Sr. joins his
father in partnership and does something that
seems simple now but was absolutely revolutionary
then. He starts using the Shore prefix on their
cattle. Picture Hardy Sr. standing in that barn.
watching his father work with those foundation
animals, and making the decision that would define
the next century. That simple black and white
prefix board hanging outside their barn? It became
a quality guarantee that buyers from New York
to Alberta learned to trust completely. Think
about that in today's context. How many of us
are actively building brand recognition for our
sustainability practices, our animal welfare
protocols, or our genetic programs? The Shores
figured out something we're still learning. Reputation
travels faster than any advertising ever could.
But here's the thing about building a brand in
the show ring. It takes way more than just good
cattle. It requires consistency, incredible patience,
and the guts to bounce back from setbacks that
would absolutely crush most operations. The Shores
proved this in 1942 when financial pressures
forced a complete herd dispersal. Most producers
would have liquidated everything and either started
completely over or just gotten out of the business
entirely. But Hardy Sr. made a decision that
perfectly illustrates the difference between
good operators and truly great ones. He kept
six animals, just six. Three daughters and three
granddaughters of Montvick Rag Apple Paw. Six
cows, that was it. But those six became the foundation
for absolutely everything that followed. By the
late 1940s, their herd was simply the herd to
beat at Western Fair. Nine premier exhibitor
banners, ten All -Canadian awards. The peak came
in 1952, when they had five animals nominated
for All -Canadian consideration in a single year,
an almost unheard of achievement. I've heard
stories from old -timers who remembered those
Western Fair shows in the 50s. They said you
could literally feel the tension in the barn
when the shore cattle were let out. Everyone
knew they were the standard everyone else had
to beat. That's the kind of presence you build
over decades, not months. There was one cow that
really put the shore name on the map. Fran Lee
Lass. The stories about her are absolutely legendary.
Picture this scene. It's 1951, and Fran Lee Lass
is moving through the show ring at the Royal
Winter Fair. The crowd goes completely quiet
as she approaches the judge. Perfect utter, flawless
type that indefinable presence that separates
the good from the truly great she's named all
canadian three -year -old and wins best utter
at the royal the following year she's grand champion
at western fair before earning reserve all canadian
honors for four -year -olds but here's where
it gets even better when she eventually sold
to fred bear's prestigious herd in new york and
established a world -class family there it completed
this perfect circle show ring success creates
market demand market demand validates the genetics
and suddenly everyone wants shore bloodlines
it's a lesson that's every bit as relevant today
as it was 70 years ago whether you're showing
at madison or posting videos on social media
excellence creates its own marketing momentum
the platforms change but that fundamental principle
remains exactly the same now Here's where the
genetics get absolutely fascinating, and where
Hardy Sr. showed his true breeding genius. His
greatest early contribution came through a pair
of twin bulls with names that still echo through
pedigrees today, Rockwood Ragapple Romulus and
Rockwood Ragapple Remus. Their dam, Amulry Baroness
Piecha, had a lactation record that's almost
unbelievable when you think about how close she
came to making history. She came within just
five pounds. 5 pounds, of making her the Canadian
butterfat champion. Can you imagine being that
close to history? Her record was 32 ,080 pounds
of milk with 1 ,259 pounds of fat. In today's
terms, that's like missing a genomic ranking
by a single decimal point. But Romulus, this
bull accomplished something that has literally
never been done before or since. In 1950, he
sired both the all -Canadian senior yearling
heifer and the all -Canadian junior yearling
heifer, both carrying the shore prefix, both
bred by the same operation. Genetically speaking,
creating two all -Canadian yearlings from the
same sire, in the same year, from the same herd,
the odds are absolutely astronomical. When Romulus
was sold for export to South America, Hardy Sr.
showed the kind of strategic persistence that
characterizes truly successful breeding programs.
He leased the twin brother, Remus, from a breeder
in Oklahoma who had purchased him at a classic
sale. That's exactly the kind of move you make
when you understand that genetic value compounds
over generations, like putting money in the bank
and letting compound interest work its magic.
What's truly mind -blowing is how that genetic
pathway evolved over the decades that followed.
You can follow the line from Remus to Shore Royal
Duke, whose daughter produced Fairleigh Royal
Mark, described as possibly the best bull to
come out of Western Ontario. But keep tracing
that line forward, and here's where it gets incredible.
You'll find it leads directly to Bradel Goldwyn.
We're talking about breeding decisions made in
the 1940s that shaped the breed all the way through
to the 2000s. That's the kind of long -term thinking
that's becoming absolutely essential in today's
genomic era, where the genetic decisions we make
today will impact breeding programs for decades
to come, assuming we have the patience to let
them play out. While Hardy Sr. was building this
genetic empire, he also recognized something
absolutely fundamental about our business. There's
more money to be made in merchandising than in
routine dairy farming. Sound familiar? It's the
exact same realization driving today's focus
on branded genetics, premium programs, and value
-added marketing. Think about how many top operations
today make as much from genetics sales as they
do from their milk check. The Shores saw that
trend coming 60 years before everyone else caught
on. During the Depression years, while other
farm families were struggling just to keep the
lights on, the Shores found opportunity. They
started exporting dairy cattle to the United
States, acting as sales agents who'd drive American
buyers farm to farm to purchase cattle. Their
reputation opened doors that stayed completely
closed to everyone else. The absolute masterstroke
came in 1949 when Hardy Sr. and his brother Don
bought a 70 -acre farm on Glanworth Road and
built an auction barn. Picture that very first
sale. Don chanting the sale while Hardy stood
beside him in the auction box, making announcements,
their combined reputations the only guarantee
buyers had that they were getting quality animals.
But it was Bob Shore who really turned that auction
barn into absolute legend. Bob joined the operation
in 1951, fresh from the Ontario Agricultural
College and Auctioneering School. Here's the
beautiful irony. He was shy, genuinely uncomfortable
in crowds. But something absolutely magical happened
when he stepped into that sales ring. It's a
transformation I've witnessed before. Quiet farm
kids who become completely different people when
they're working with cattle. Bob found his voice
at that sales barn. And once he found it, there
was absolutely no stopping him. His training
ground was the Talbotville sales barn, where
he sold beef animals by the pound every Saturday.
30 -second intervals, prices measured in fractions
of cents. It created that distinctive shore auctioneering
style that became legendary. Crisp, fast, absolutely
commanding. When you're working at that pace,
every single word matters. No wasted syllables,
no hesitation whatsoever. just pure, focused
communication. It's like watching a skilled AI
technician work during breeding season. Every
motion is deliberate and incredibly efficient.
The Shore Canadian Classic, launched in 1964,
became the premier North American marketplace
for elite Holstein genetics. World record prices
were being set at these events on a regular basis.
The $115 ,000 syndication of Weaver's Reflection
Apex in 1967 The $125 ,000 sale of the famous
show cow known as Blackie in 1974. But the one
that truly made headlines was when Bob brought
the gavel down on what industry sources reported
as the first million -dollar cow sale. The success
wasn't just about Bob's incredible auctioneering
skills, though he was arguably the best in North
America. It was perfect timing meeting perfect
preparation. The bulk cooler revolution in the
mid -1950s forced thousands of smaller dairy
producers completely out of the industry. Their
dispersals needed a marketplace and the shore
arena was ready and waiting. Here's what's really
interesting. That bulk cooler disruption parallels
exactly what we're seeing today with environmental
regulations, labor shortages, and the adoption
of precision agriculture. The producers who adapt
first create the biggest advantages. Those who
resist change get left behind. The Shores understood
this dynamic better than absolutely anyone. The
fourth generation brought a completely different
kind of genius to the operation. Hardy Jr. left
high school at just 16 to attend Reich Auction
School in Iowa. By his early 20s, he had what
industry veterans call cow talent, that rare
ability to see genetic potential before it's
actually proven in production or progeny testing.
But Hardy Jr. was complicated. Brilliant and
visionary, but drawn to what was delicately described
as high -risk behavior. When his parents agreed
to bring him into the family business, it came
with conditions. The result was Shoremar Incorporated,
a company that immediately signaled a completely
new direction. While his father and grandfather
had mastered the art of selling live cattle,
Hardy Jr.'s focus was on the absolute cutting
edge, marketing frozen embryos worldwide. His
breeding philosophy was perfectly calibrated
for the modern era, strong type, solid cow families,
and modern genetics, seeking what he called a
balance of type, fat, protein, and modern sires.
What's really interesting about Hardy Jr.'s approach
is how it anticipated today's genomic selection
strategies. He was breeding for balanced improvement
literally decades before we had the technological
tools to measure it precisely. Sometimes the
very best breeders are the ones who see what's
coming before the rest of us even catch up. Hardy
Jr.'s greatest stroke of absolute genius came
in acquiring Aitkenbrae Starbuck Ada. As a former
hoof trimmer, he understood foundation quality
when he saw it, and Ada had absolutely perfect
feet and legs. Picture Hardy Jr. walking through
that barn, his trained eye taking in everything
from hock angle to heel depth. Most people would
see a pretty cow. He saw the genetic architecture
that would support decades of production. That's
cow sense. You absolutely cannot teach in any
classroom. But it was what he did next that showed
his true vision. The decision to flush Ada to
Donendale Sky Chief produced what may be the
most influential pair of full sisters in modern
Holstein history. Shormar S. Alicia became a
breed legend, classifying EX97 and winning the
world championship in 2000. With 32 excellent
daughters in the U .S. and Canada, she ranks
among the elite transmitters of North America.
Her sister, MS Kingstead, Chief Adeen, proved
equally influential as a brood cow, producing
51 daughters classified excellent worldwide,
ranking her second all -time for most EX daughters
in breed history. When I look at those numbers,
51 EX daughters from one single cow, that's not
luck, folks. That's the result of understanding
genetic architecture at a level most of us can
only dream about. And remember, this was before
genomic testing made genetic prediction routine.
The ultimate validation of Hardy Jr.'s vision
came through the bulls he bred. His most famous
achievement was Shormar James, born from his
foundation cow Stelbro Jenin Aerostar. James
became a phenomenal sire of show cows. His daughters
were voted world champion Holstein cow three
times in four years. 2009, and 2011. But James'
greatest legacy wasn't his incredible show daughters.
It was his most famous son, Bradel Goldwyn. Here's
what absolutely blows my mind about Goldwyn's
creation. It wasn't an accident or just good
luck. You can trace the genetic pathways directly
from Hardy Sr.'s breeding decisions in the 1940s.
Those twin bulls, Romulus and Remus, led to Fairly
Royal Mark, whose lineage eventually produced
Moglin Storm, who sired Bradel Baylor Twine,
Goldwyn's dam. Hardy Jr. bred the sire, Shormar
James. When those two carefully crafted genetic
lines converged, they created what can only be
described as a genetic perfect storm. Industry
records show that Goldwyn's influence extended
to Holstein herds on every single continent.
It's like watching a master chess player execute
a strategy that unfolds over the course of multiple
decades. Goldwyn became one of the most dominant
sires in breed history, with a record eight -time
reign as premier sire at the World Dairy Expo
in Madison, a record that still stands today
and may never be broken. For all his incredible
brilliance, Hardy Jr.'s life was marked by profound
personal struggle. The same intensity that drove
him to acquire legendary cows like Ada and breed
phenomenal bulls like James also led him to what
observers called the edge of the abyss. The Holstein
community's response to his struggles revealed
something truly beautiful about our industry.
People recognized genuine genius when they saw
it, even when it came with serious complications.
Eighteen bulls from his program received major
awards in Canada and three became number one
sires in different countries around the world.
But privately, many watched with growing concern
as he navigated battles that were every bit as
intense as his genetic triumphs. People remembered
him as gifted, talented, remarkable beyond one's
imagination. The same creative fire that produced
breakthrough genetics also fueled personal demons
that few people truly understood. It's a sobering
reminder that innovation often comes with a hidden
price, that the very same traits that drive visionary
thinking can also create profound personal challenges.
We've seen this pattern repeated in other brilliant
minds throughout our industry's history. The
relentless drive that creates breakthrough genetics
sometimes carries costs that aren't immediately
visible from the outside. December 26, 2013.
Hardy Shore Jr. died peacefully at his home at
age 57. The dairy industry's response spoke to
the profound connections he'd forged throughout
his career. Despite his well -known struggles,
colleagues remembered his kindness, his optimism,
and his absolutely unwavering passion for the
Holstein breed. The final detail that really
gets to me, the family's request that memorial
donations be made to the Men's Mission Services
of London, provided quiet testimony to the nature
of his personal battles. Here was a man who dealt
regularly in world record prices and global genetics,
yet fighting private battles that few people
understood. Sometimes the most brilliant minds
carry the heaviest burdens. The Holstein community's
ability to honor his incredible contributions
while acknowledging his struggles showed the
absolute best of what our industry can be when
we support each other. So, what does the Shore
story teach those of us who are still making
breeding decisions today, still building something
meaningful for the next generation? First, It's
about having vision beyond the immediate cash
flow pressures that keep us awake at night. William
H. Shore could have stayed with mixed livestock
forever, safe, predictable, consistently profitable.
Instead, he bet everything on purebred Holsteins
when most people thought he was completely crazy.
Hardy Sr. kept six females when forced to disperse,
understanding that genetic value compounds over
time exactly like interest in a savings account.
Today's genomic tools give us unprecedented ability
to make these kinds of long -term decisions if
we have the courage to actually use them effectively.
Second, it's about recognizing industry shifts
before they hit your bottom line like a freight
train. The bulk cooler revolution could have
been absolutely devastating for the dairy industry.
Instead, the shores turned it into their greatest
opportunity. Today's shifts toward sustainability,
animal welfare requirements, and precision agriculture
require exactly the same kind of strategic thinking.
The producers who adapt first consistently create
the biggest competitive advantages. Think about
the early adopters of robotic milking systems,
or those who entered organic production before
the premiums got eroded by oversupply. Third,
it's about understanding that reputation matters
every bit as much as genetics. The sure name
opened doors because it stood for integrity,
quality, and innovation. In our current age of
social media and instant communication, building
that kind of trust is simultaneously both easier
and harder than it's ever been. But perhaps most
importantly, it's about persistence through complexity.
Hardy Jr.'s story reminds us that innovation
often comes with personal costs that aren't always
visible from the outside. The very traits that
drive breakthrough thinking can also create challenges
that test us in ways we never expected. The industry's
response, celebrating his contributions while
supporting him through his difficulties, shows
the absolute best of what our community can be
when we truly care for each other. Walk through
any modern dairy barn today, anywhere in the
world, and you'll find cattle whose pedigrees
trace back to that small hamlet of Glanworth,
Ontario. The Shore prefix might no longer appear
as frequently on registration papers, but their
genetic influence flows through the global Holstein
population like underground streams feeding a
mighty river. The auction barn on Glenworth Road
stands quiet now, but the echoes of that distinctive
auctioneer's chant still resonate through every
major sale, every breeding decision based on
balanced genetics, every young producer who dares
to dream of creating the next genetic revolution.
For the better part of a full century, the Shores
truly were the business. And in many fundamental
ways, they still are. Every superior cow carrying
their bloodlines, every successful breeding program
following their example of long -term thinking,
every auction where quality genetics find their
true value. That's the Shore legacy, continuing
to unfold. The dynasty may have ended with Hardy
Jr.'s passing, but the influence? That's absolutely
immortal. And in our industry, where the right
genetic decision can echo positively for generations,
immortality is really the only currency that
truly matters in the end. Folks, that's the incredible
story of the Shore dynasty. From William H. Shore's
gutsy decision in 1910 to bet everything on purebred
Holsteins, through Hardy Sr.'s masterful brand
building and show ring dominance, Bob's legendary
auctioneering career, and finally, Hardy Jr.'s
visionary approach to genomic breeding, We're
talking about a century of innovation, adaptation,
and absolute excellence. Their story teaches
us that success in this industry isn't just about
having great cattle. It's about vision, timing,
resilience, and the courage to make bold moves
when everyone else thinks you've lost your mind.
It's about building something that lasts, something
that makes the breed better for generations to
come. As we face our own challenges today, Whether
it's environmental regulations, labor shortages,
volatile feed costs, or the pressure to adopt
new technologies, we can learn from the shore
approach. Look beyond the immediate crisis. Spot
the opportunities hidden within the disruptions.
Build your reputation on integrity and excellence.
And never, ever underestimate the power of genetic
decisions made with the long view in mind. The
shore genetic legacy flows through Holstein herds
worldwide. Their business principles continue
to guide successful operations across North America
and beyond, and their story reminds us that in
dairy farming, as in life, the right decisions
at the right time can create ripples that last
for generations. Thanks for joining me today
on this journey through Holstein history. The
Shore Dynasty may have ended, but their lessons
live on in every breeding decision we make, every
show ring we enter, and every time we dare to
dream of genetic excellence. Until next time,
keep breeding smart, keep thinking long -term,
and never forget that in this business, giants
may fall silent, but their echoes last forever.
This has been the Bullvine Podcast. I'm your
host, and we'll see you next time. Never will
die. From the show ring, from the tune, the quiet
strength they knew. Hear that story's now coming
right on through. Oh, tell the tale, tell the
tale. The Beaumont legends live here.