WEBVTT 00:00:14.189 --> 00:00:20.969 Creeping over fields of green Remembering the 00:00:20.969 --> 00:00:27.269 faces The moments unseen The hands that built 00:00:27.269 --> 00:00:33.590 a dynasty The vision in their eyes Echoes in 00:00:33.590 --> 00:00:38.810 the auction bar Beneath an endless sky This is 00:00:38.810 --> 00:01:04.549 the bull buy Turn the bar Hey there, Bullvine 00:01:04.549 --> 00:01:07.890 listeners. Welcome back to another episode. I'm 00:01:07.890 --> 00:01:10.010 your host, and today I want to take you on an 00:01:10.010 --> 00:01:13.030 incredible journey through time. A story about 00:01:13.030 --> 00:01:15.349 a family that didn't just participate in the 00:01:15.349 --> 00:01:17.930 Holstein dairy industry, they literally became 00:01:17.930 --> 00:01:21.230 the backbone of it. This is the story of the 00:01:21.230 --> 00:01:24.129 Shore Dynasty, and it's a tale that spans more 00:01:24.129 --> 00:01:27.400 than a century, four generations. and countless 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:30.019 unforgettable cattle that shaped the breed we 00:01:30.019 --> 00:01:32.480 know today. Let me start with a moment that still 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:35.879 gives me chills. The day after Christmas in 2013. 00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:39.219 That was the day the news hit the dairy community 00:01:39.219 --> 00:01:42.379 like a thunderbolt. Hardy Shore Jr. had passed 00:01:42.379 --> 00:01:46.400 away at just 57 years old. Now, Hardy had been 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:49.379 battling personal demons for years, something 00:01:49.379 --> 00:01:51.680 many brilliant minds in our industry unfortunately 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:55.530 face, but don't always talk about openly. It 00:01:55.530 --> 00:01:58.069 was the kind of loss that stops you cold, you 00:01:58.069 --> 00:02:00.489 know? Like when you walk into your barn and the 00:02:00.489 --> 00:02:02.709 ventilation fans just suddenly quit running. 00:02:03.170 --> 00:02:06.670 It's eerily quiet, and you realize how much background 00:02:06.670 --> 00:02:09.289 noise there actually was when they were operating. 00:02:09.949 --> 00:02:13.289 But here's the thing that really struck me. Losing 00:02:13.289 --> 00:02:16.069 Hardy Jr. wasn't just about losing another talented 00:02:16.069 --> 00:02:19.110 breeder. It was like watching the final chapter 00:02:19.110 --> 00:02:22.189 close on one of the greatest dynasties in dairy 00:02:22.189 --> 00:02:26.509 history. And that silence, that void, it made 00:02:26.509 --> 00:02:29.270 me think deeply about what truly defines greatness 00:02:29.270 --> 00:02:32.610 in this business we all love. You see, across 00:02:32.610 --> 00:02:35.770 farms from Ontario, down into the Midwest, there's 00:02:35.770 --> 00:02:38.289 this magic I keep noticing in certain bloodlines. 00:02:38.789 --> 00:02:41.310 And I'm not just talking about the cattle, but 00:02:41.310 --> 00:02:44.689 the people too. Some families just have it in 00:02:44.689 --> 00:02:47.650 their DNA, you know? That sixth sense for reading 00:02:47.650 --> 00:02:49.969 a cow's confirmation while walking through the 00:02:49.969 --> 00:02:52.759 barn during morning chores. The instinct for 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:55.000 perfect breeding timing even when feed costs 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:57.500 are squeezing margins tighter than bark on a 00:02:57.500 --> 00:03:00.699 tree. The ability to spot genetic potential in 00:03:00.699 --> 00:03:02.860 a gangly heifer where the rest of us just see 00:03:02.860 --> 00:03:05.939 another mouth to feed. The shores of Glanworth, 00:03:06.099 --> 00:03:09.460 Ontario, they had that gift in absolute spades. 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:12.520 Their story is really like looking in a mirror 00:03:12.520 --> 00:03:16.199 at today's dairy challenges. Picture this, four 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:19.379 generations, each one forced to adapt during 00:03:19.379 --> 00:03:22.090 massive technological disruptions, that could 00:03:22.090 --> 00:03:25.210 have buried them. From William H. Shore's bold 00:03:25.210 --> 00:03:28.990 leap into purebreds back in 1910, when most everyone 00:03:28.990 --> 00:03:31.729 thought he'd completely lost his mind, all the 00:03:31.729 --> 00:03:34.229 way to Hardy Jr.'s embrace of embryo exports 00:03:34.229 --> 00:03:37.469 right in the heart of the genomic era. It's like 00:03:37.469 --> 00:03:40.009 watching a century of dairy evolution play out 00:03:40.009 --> 00:03:43.669 through one family's incredible journey. Let's 00:03:43.669 --> 00:03:46.770 start at the very beginning. The Shore story 00:03:46.770 --> 00:03:50.560 actually begins way back in the 1850s. in a small 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:53.960 hamlet called Glanworth, located just south of 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:57.300 London, Ontario. This was part of Colonel Thomas 00:03:57.300 --> 00:03:59.620 Talbot's domain. You might remember him from 00:03:59.620 --> 00:04:02.860 Canadian history class. Talbot had this massive 00:04:02.860 --> 00:04:05.240 land settlement scheme that carved some of the 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:07.819 absolute best dairy country in all of Canada 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:10.319 right out of raw wilderness. What's fascinating 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:13.020 about Talbot is how he hand -picked his settlers. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:15.840 He kept out all the speculators and get -rich 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:18.480 -quick types, making sure the land went to families 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:21.220 who'd actually work it, and build something lasting. 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:25.420 Sound familiar? It's the same philosophy we see 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:27.579 in successful farm succession planning today. 00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:31.360 Same concepts, just a different century. That 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:34.360 approach of long -term thinking, community commitment, 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:36.879 building something that lasts through market 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:39.839 cycles and government interference. That became 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:43.180 the foundation driving successful dairy operations. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:46.629 The shores didn't just inherit good land. they 00:04:46.629 --> 00:04:49.490 inherited a culture that valued persistence over 00:04:49.490 --> 00:04:53.649 quick profits. William H. Shore was born in 1870, 00:04:53.829 --> 00:04:57.069 and he ran what we'd recognize today as a diversified 00:04:57.069 --> 00:05:00.209 operation. Shorthorns shared barn space with 00:05:00.209 --> 00:05:02.290 grade Holsteins, and he did some horse trading 00:05:02.290 --> 00:05:05.110 on the side. Kind of like how some Ontario producers 00:05:05.110 --> 00:05:08.709 today run cash crops alongside their dairy herds 00:05:08.709 --> 00:05:11.389 to spread risk when milk prices take a dive. 00:05:11.750 --> 00:05:14.889 But William was restless. He was always on the 00:05:14.889 --> 00:05:18.519 road. always chasing the next opportunity. His 00:05:18.519 --> 00:05:21.480 real talent wasn't actually farming. It was reading 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:25.300 markets. And in 1910, he made what would turn 00:05:25.300 --> 00:05:28.279 out to be the reed of his lifetime. Here's where 00:05:28.279 --> 00:05:30.199 it gets really interesting. William bought his 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:33.800 first purebred Holsteins, two females and a bull, 00:05:33.980 --> 00:05:36.699 from Herman Bollert's herd. Now, if you know 00:05:36.699 --> 00:05:39.220 your Canadian Holstein history, that name should 00:05:39.220 --> 00:05:42.410 make you sit up and take notice. Bollard's cattle 00:05:42.410 --> 00:05:46.189 traced directly back to Michael Cook's 1881 imports, 00:05:46.509 --> 00:05:48.870 the actual foundation animals that established 00:05:48.870 --> 00:05:52.410 our breed here in Canada. William wasn't just 00:05:52.410 --> 00:05:55.430 buying cattle. He was investing in genetic royalty. 00:05:55.829 --> 00:05:58.089 Think of it like getting first pick in a genomic 00:05:58.089 --> 00:06:00.949 draft before anyone even knew what genomics was. 00:06:01.290 --> 00:06:04.009 The bulls he chose tell you everything about 00:06:04.009 --> 00:06:07.910 his vision. Faforet champion Echo was a maternal 00:06:07.910 --> 00:06:11.529 brother to the legendary May Echo Sylvia. Keldy 00:06:11.529 --> 00:06:14.009 Grange King Seggies came from proven Western 00:06:14.009 --> 00:06:17.310 Ontario bloodlines that everyone respected. These 00:06:17.310 --> 00:06:19.769 weren't just breeding decisions. They were market 00:06:19.769 --> 00:06:22.610 positioning moves by a man who understood where 00:06:22.610 --> 00:06:25.449 the industry was heading. What really strikes 00:06:25.449 --> 00:06:27.990 me is how William grasped brand building before 00:06:27.990 --> 00:06:31.149 the term was even coined. He wasn't just improving 00:06:31.149 --> 00:06:33.870 his herd. He was positioning himself right at 00:06:33.870 --> 00:06:37.029 the center of an emerging industry. It's the 00:06:37.029 --> 00:06:39.649 same strategic thinking I see in today's top 00:06:39.649 --> 00:06:42.649 producers who were early adopters of A2 genetics 00:06:42.649 --> 00:06:45.529 or genomic selection. But think about this for 00:06:45.529 --> 00:06:49.269 a moment. It's 1910. There's no genomic testing, 00:06:49.430 --> 00:06:53.069 no AI catalogs filled with EPDs, no production 00:06:53.069 --> 00:06:56.410 records to compare. William was making these 00:06:56.410 --> 00:06:59.069 calls based on pedigree knowledge, confirmation 00:06:59.069 --> 00:07:03.560 evaluation, and pure gut instinct. That takes 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:06.079 the exact kind of courage we need today when 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.180 we're deciding whether to invest in automated 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:11.600 feeding systems or transition to organic production 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:14.019 with all the headaches that come with it. Fast 00:07:14.019 --> 00:07:18.000 forward to 1933 when Hardy Shore Sr. joins his 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:20.540 father in partnership and does something that 00:07:20.540 --> 00:07:23.699 seems simple now but was absolutely revolutionary 00:07:23.699 --> 00:07:27.199 then. He starts using the Shore prefix on their 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:30.939 cattle. Picture Hardy Sr. standing in that barn. 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:33.060 watching his father work with those foundation 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:35.680 animals, and making the decision that would define 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:39.220 the next century. That simple black and white 00:07:39.220 --> 00:07:42.500 prefix board hanging outside their barn? It became 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:45.339 a quality guarantee that buyers from New York 00:07:45.339 --> 00:07:48.959 to Alberta learned to trust completely. Think 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:52.040 about that in today's context. How many of us 00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:54.379 are actively building brand recognition for our 00:07:54.379 --> 00:07:56.980 sustainability practices, our animal welfare 00:07:56.980 --> 00:08:00.540 protocols, or our genetic programs? The Shores 00:08:00.540 --> 00:08:03.240 figured out something we're still learning. Reputation 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:06.180 travels faster than any advertising ever could. 00:08:06.379 --> 00:08:08.279 But here's the thing about building a brand in 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:10.860 the show ring. It takes way more than just good 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:14.879 cattle. It requires consistency, incredible patience, 00:08:15.160 --> 00:08:18.180 and the guts to bounce back from setbacks that 00:08:18.180 --> 00:08:21.980 would absolutely crush most operations. The Shores 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:25.439 proved this in 1942 when financial pressures 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:28.740 forced a complete herd dispersal. Most producers 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:31.500 would have liquidated everything and either started 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:34.279 completely over or just gotten out of the business 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:37.299 entirely. But Hardy Sr. made a decision that 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:39.340 perfectly illustrates the difference between 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:42.379 good operators and truly great ones. He kept 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:45.820 six animals, just six. Three daughters and three 00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:48.899 granddaughters of Montvick Rag Apple Paw. Six 00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:52.440 cows, that was it. But those six became the foundation 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:55.429 for absolutely everything that followed. By the 00:08:55.429 --> 00:08:58.470 late 1940s, their herd was simply the herd to 00:08:58.470 --> 00:09:01.330 beat at Western Fair. Nine premier exhibitor 00:09:01.330 --> 00:09:05.169 banners, ten All -Canadian awards. The peak came 00:09:05.169 --> 00:09:08.970 in 1952, when they had five animals nominated 00:09:08.970 --> 00:09:12.169 for All -Canadian consideration in a single year, 00:09:12.370 --> 00:09:16.169 an almost unheard of achievement. I've heard 00:09:16.169 --> 00:09:18.129 stories from old -timers who remembered those 00:09:18.129 --> 00:09:21.129 Western Fair shows in the 50s. They said you 00:09:21.129 --> 00:09:23.289 could literally feel the tension in the barn 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.139 when the shore cattle were let out. Everyone 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:28.679 knew they were the standard everyone else had 00:09:28.679 --> 00:09:31.299 to beat. That's the kind of presence you build 00:09:31.299 --> 00:09:34.720 over decades, not months. There was one cow that 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:37.639 really put the shore name on the map. Fran Lee 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:41.299 Lass. The stories about her are absolutely legendary. 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:45.659 Picture this scene. It's 1951, and Fran Lee Lass 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:47.360 is moving through the show ring at the Royal 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:50.159 Winter Fair. The crowd goes completely quiet 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:53.379 as she approaches the judge. Perfect utter, flawless 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:56.299 type that indefinable presence that separates 00:09:56.299 --> 00:09:59.080 the good from the truly great she's named all 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:01.639 canadian three -year -old and wins best utter 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:04.659 at the royal the following year she's grand champion 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:07.899 at western fair before earning reserve all canadian 00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:10.639 honors for four -year -olds but here's where 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:13.220 it gets even better when she eventually sold 00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:16.080 to fred bear's prestigious herd in new york and 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:18.919 established a world -class family there it completed 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:22.480 this perfect circle show ring success creates 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:26.220 market demand market demand validates the genetics 00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:29.500 and suddenly everyone wants shore bloodlines 00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:32.120 it's a lesson that's every bit as relevant today 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:35.519 as it was 70 years ago whether you're showing 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:38.019 at madison or posting videos on social media 00:10:38.019 --> 00:10:40.639 excellence creates its own marketing momentum 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:44.259 the platforms change but that fundamental principle 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:48.269 remains exactly the same now Here's where the 00:10:48.269 --> 00:10:51.289 genetics get absolutely fascinating, and where 00:10:51.289 --> 00:10:54.350 Hardy Sr. showed his true breeding genius. His 00:10:54.350 --> 00:10:56.769 greatest early contribution came through a pair 00:10:56.769 --> 00:10:59.409 of twin bulls with names that still echo through 00:10:59.409 --> 00:11:02.789 pedigrees today, Rockwood Ragapple Romulus and 00:11:02.789 --> 00:11:06.429 Rockwood Ragapple Remus. Their dam, Amulry Baroness 00:11:06.429 --> 00:11:09.129 Piecha, had a lactation record that's almost 00:11:09.129 --> 00:11:11.889 unbelievable when you think about how close she 00:11:11.889 --> 00:11:14.590 came to making history. She came within just 00:11:14.590 --> 00:11:17.940 five pounds. 5 pounds, of making her the Canadian 00:11:17.940 --> 00:11:20.519 butterfat champion. Can you imagine being that 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:24.559 close to history? Her record was 32 ,080 pounds 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:29.320 of milk with 1 ,259 pounds of fat. In today's 00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:31.519 terms, that's like missing a genomic ranking 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:35.399 by a single decimal point. But Romulus, this 00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:37.299 bull accomplished something that has literally 00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:41.899 never been done before or since. In 1950, he 00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:44.220 sired both the all -Canadian senior yearling 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:46.620 heifer and the all -Canadian junior yearling 00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:49.519 heifer, both carrying the shore prefix, both 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:52.700 bred by the same operation. Genetically speaking, 00:11:53.019 --> 00:11:55.559 creating two all -Canadian yearlings from the 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:58.419 same sire, in the same year, from the same herd, 00:11:58.580 --> 00:12:02.379 the odds are absolutely astronomical. When Romulus 00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:05.139 was sold for export to South America, Hardy Sr. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:07.879 showed the kind of strategic persistence that 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:10.659 characterizes truly successful breeding programs. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:14.299 He leased the twin brother, Remus, from a breeder 00:12:14.299 --> 00:12:17.240 in Oklahoma who had purchased him at a classic 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:20.139 sale. That's exactly the kind of move you make 00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:22.519 when you understand that genetic value compounds 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:26.000 over generations, like putting money in the bank 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:28.580 and letting compound interest work its magic. 00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:31.899 What's truly mind -blowing is how that genetic 00:12:31.899 --> 00:12:34.720 pathway evolved over the decades that followed. 00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:38.220 You can follow the line from Remus to Shore Royal 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:41.039 Duke, whose daughter produced Fairleigh Royal 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:44.580 Mark, described as possibly the best bull to 00:12:44.580 --> 00:12:48.679 come out of Western Ontario. But keep tracing 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:51.639 that line forward, and here's where it gets incredible. 00:12:51.799 --> 00:12:54.820 You'll find it leads directly to Bradel Goldwyn. 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:57.620 We're talking about breeding decisions made in 00:12:57.620 --> 00:13:01.200 the 1940s that shaped the breed all the way through 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:04.399 to the 2000s. That's the kind of long -term thinking 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:07.159 that's becoming absolutely essential in today's 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:09.820 genomic era, where the genetic decisions we make 00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:12.519 today will impact breeding programs for decades 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:15.379 to come, assuming we have the patience to let 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:19.019 them play out. While Hardy Sr. was building this 00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:21.879 genetic empire, he also recognized something 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:25.500 absolutely fundamental about our business. There's 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:28.000 more money to be made in merchandising than in 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:31.559 routine dairy farming. Sound familiar? It's the 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:34.179 exact same realization driving today's focus 00:13:34.179 --> 00:13:37.659 on branded genetics, premium programs, and value 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:40.940 -added marketing. Think about how many top operations 00:13:40.940 --> 00:13:44.120 today make as much from genetics sales as they 00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:46.419 do from their milk check. The Shores saw that 00:13:46.419 --> 00:13:49.240 trend coming 60 years before everyone else caught 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:52.600 on. During the Depression years, while other 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:54.860 farm families were struggling just to keep the 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:58.000 lights on, the Shores found opportunity. They 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:00.080 started exporting dairy cattle to the United 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:03.539 States, acting as sales agents who'd drive American 00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:07.460 buyers farm to farm to purchase cattle. Their 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:09.860 reputation opened doors that stayed completely 00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:13.620 closed to everyone else. The absolute masterstroke 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:17.379 came in 1949 when Hardy Sr. and his brother Don 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:20.460 bought a 70 -acre farm on Glanworth Road and 00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:23.500 built an auction barn. Picture that very first 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:26.659 sale. Don chanting the sale while Hardy stood 00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:29.460 beside him in the auction box, making announcements, 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:32.639 their combined reputations the only guarantee 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:35.120 buyers had that they were getting quality animals. 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:38.820 But it was Bob Shore who really turned that auction 00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:42.350 barn into absolute legend. Bob joined the operation 00:14:42.350 --> 00:14:45.629 in 1951, fresh from the Ontario Agricultural 00:14:45.629 --> 00:14:48.470 College and Auctioneering School. Here's the 00:14:48.470 --> 00:14:51.909 beautiful irony. He was shy, genuinely uncomfortable 00:14:51.909 --> 00:14:55.690 in crowds. But something absolutely magical happened 00:14:55.690 --> 00:14:58.590 when he stepped into that sales ring. It's a 00:14:58.590 --> 00:15:01.370 transformation I've witnessed before. Quiet farm 00:15:01.370 --> 00:15:04.710 kids who become completely different people when 00:15:04.710 --> 00:15:07.769 they're working with cattle. Bob found his voice 00:15:07.769 --> 00:15:10.679 at that sales barn. And once he found it, there 00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:13.240 was absolutely no stopping him. His training 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:15.740 ground was the Talbotville sales barn, where 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:18.460 he sold beef animals by the pound every Saturday. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:21.500 30 -second intervals, prices measured in fractions 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:24.940 of cents. It created that distinctive shore auctioneering 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:28.740 style that became legendary. Crisp, fast, absolutely 00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:31.639 commanding. When you're working at that pace, 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:34.720 every single word matters. No wasted syllables, 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:38.059 no hesitation whatsoever. just pure, focused 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:40.799 communication. It's like watching a skilled AI 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:43.580 technician work during breeding season. Every 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:45.940 motion is deliberate and incredibly efficient. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:50.120 The Shore Canadian Classic, launched in 1964, 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:53.039 became the premier North American marketplace 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:56.480 for elite Holstein genetics. World record prices 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:58.919 were being set at these events on a regular basis. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:03.440 The $115 ,000 syndication of Weaver's Reflection 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:09.259 Apex in 1967 The $125 ,000 sale of the famous 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:14.080 show cow known as Blackie in 1974. But the one 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.820 that truly made headlines was when Bob brought 00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:19.740 the gavel down on what industry sources reported 00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:23.399 as the first million -dollar cow sale. The success 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:25.980 wasn't just about Bob's incredible auctioneering 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:28.460 skills, though he was arguably the best in North 00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:31.620 America. It was perfect timing meeting perfect 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:34.820 preparation. The bulk cooler revolution in the 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:37.980 mid -1950s forced thousands of smaller dairy 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:40.799 producers completely out of the industry. Their 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:43.320 dispersals needed a marketplace and the shore 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:46.700 arena was ready and waiting. Here's what's really 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:49.820 interesting. That bulk cooler disruption parallels 00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:52.539 exactly what we're seeing today with environmental 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:55.440 regulations, labor shortages, and the adoption 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:58.919 of precision agriculture. The producers who adapt 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:02.710 first create the biggest advantages. Those who 00:17:02.710 --> 00:17:05.829 resist change get left behind. The Shores understood 00:17:05.829 --> 00:17:09.049 this dynamic better than absolutely anyone. The 00:17:09.049 --> 00:17:11.369 fourth generation brought a completely different 00:17:11.369 --> 00:17:14.930 kind of genius to the operation. Hardy Jr. left 00:17:14.930 --> 00:17:17.690 high school at just 16 to attend Reich Auction 00:17:17.690 --> 00:17:21.170 School in Iowa. By his early 20s, he had what 00:17:21.170 --> 00:17:24.069 industry veterans call cow talent, that rare 00:17:24.069 --> 00:17:26.589 ability to see genetic potential before it's 00:17:26.589 --> 00:17:29.170 actually proven in production or progeny testing. 00:17:29.549 --> 00:17:32.829 But Hardy Jr. was complicated. Brilliant and 00:17:32.829 --> 00:17:35.569 visionary, but drawn to what was delicately described 00:17:35.569 --> 00:17:39.349 as high -risk behavior. When his parents agreed 00:17:39.349 --> 00:17:42.009 to bring him into the family business, it came 00:17:42.009 --> 00:17:45.950 with conditions. The result was Shoremar Incorporated, 00:17:46.089 --> 00:17:48.549 a company that immediately signaled a completely 00:17:48.549 --> 00:17:51.569 new direction. While his father and grandfather 00:17:51.569 --> 00:17:53.950 had mastered the art of selling live cattle, 00:17:54.369 --> 00:17:57.250 Hardy Jr.'s focus was on the absolute cutting 00:17:57.250 --> 00:18:00.819 edge, marketing frozen embryos worldwide. His 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:03.160 breeding philosophy was perfectly calibrated 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:07.079 for the modern era, strong type, solid cow families, 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:10.140 and modern genetics, seeking what he called a 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:13.960 balance of type, fat, protein, and modern sires. 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:17.900 What's really interesting about Hardy Jr.'s approach 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:20.400 is how it anticipated today's genomic selection 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:23.779 strategies. He was breeding for balanced improvement 00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:26.440 literally decades before we had the technological 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:29.869 tools to measure it precisely. Sometimes the 00:18:29.869 --> 00:18:32.109 very best breeders are the ones who see what's 00:18:32.109 --> 00:18:35.029 coming before the rest of us even catch up. Hardy 00:18:35.029 --> 00:18:37.809 Jr.'s greatest stroke of absolute genius came 00:18:37.809 --> 00:18:40.990 in acquiring Aitkenbrae Starbuck Ada. As a former 00:18:40.990 --> 00:18:43.569 hoof trimmer, he understood foundation quality 00:18:43.569 --> 00:18:46.950 when he saw it, and Ada had absolutely perfect 00:18:46.950 --> 00:18:50.670 feet and legs. Picture Hardy Jr. walking through 00:18:50.670 --> 00:18:53.250 that barn, his trained eye taking in everything 00:18:53.250 --> 00:18:56.650 from hock angle to heel depth. Most people would 00:18:56.650 --> 00:18:59.269 see a pretty cow. He saw the genetic architecture 00:18:59.269 --> 00:19:02.329 that would support decades of production. That's 00:19:02.329 --> 00:19:05.269 cow sense. You absolutely cannot teach in any 00:19:05.269 --> 00:19:07.970 classroom. But it was what he did next that showed 00:19:07.970 --> 00:19:11.369 his true vision. The decision to flush Ada to 00:19:11.369 --> 00:19:14.069 Donendale Sky Chief produced what may be the 00:19:14.069 --> 00:19:17.130 most influential pair of full sisters in modern 00:19:17.130 --> 00:19:20.809 Holstein history. Shormar S. Alicia became a 00:19:20.809 --> 00:19:24.069 breed legend, classifying EX97 and winning the 00:19:24.069 --> 00:19:27.759 world championship in 2000. With 32 excellent 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:30.259 daughters in the U .S. and Canada, she ranks 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:32.359 among the elite transmitters of North America. 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:36.160 Her sister, MS Kingstead, Chief Adeen, proved 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:38.880 equally influential as a brood cow, producing 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.559 51 daughters classified excellent worldwide, 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:44.980 ranking her second all -time for most EX daughters 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:47.859 in breed history. When I look at those numbers, 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:51.880 51 EX daughters from one single cow, that's not 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:54.339 luck, folks. That's the result of understanding 00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:56.859 genetic architecture at a level most of us can 00:19:56.859 --> 00:20:00.460 only dream about. And remember, this was before 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:02.940 genomic testing made genetic prediction routine. 00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:05.900 The ultimate validation of Hardy Jr.'s vision 00:20:05.900 --> 00:20:08.819 came through the bulls he bred. His most famous 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:11.440 achievement was Shormar James, born from his 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.660 foundation cow Stelbro Jenin Aerostar. James 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:17.680 became a phenomenal sire of show cows. His daughters 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:20.160 were voted world champion Holstein cow three 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:26.630 times in four years. 2009, and 2011. But James' 00:20:26.789 --> 00:20:29.589 greatest legacy wasn't his incredible show daughters. 00:20:29.849 --> 00:20:34.190 It was his most famous son, Bradel Goldwyn. Here's 00:20:34.190 --> 00:20:36.230 what absolutely blows my mind about Goldwyn's 00:20:36.230 --> 00:20:38.789 creation. It wasn't an accident or just good 00:20:38.789 --> 00:20:41.750 luck. You can trace the genetic pathways directly 00:20:41.750 --> 00:20:44.970 from Hardy Sr.'s breeding decisions in the 1940s. 00:20:45.029 --> 00:20:48.589 Those twin bulls, Romulus and Remus, led to Fairly 00:20:48.589 --> 00:20:50.849 Royal Mark, whose lineage eventually produced 00:20:50.849 --> 00:20:54.079 Moglin Storm, who sired Bradel Baylor Twine, 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:58.119 Goldwyn's dam. Hardy Jr. bred the sire, Shormar 00:20:58.119 --> 00:21:01.220 James. When those two carefully crafted genetic 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:03.960 lines converged, they created what can only be 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:07.960 described as a genetic perfect storm. Industry 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:10.440 records show that Goldwyn's influence extended 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:13.180 to Holstein herds on every single continent. 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:16.720 It's like watching a master chess player execute 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:19.440 a strategy that unfolds over the course of multiple 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:22.640 decades. Goldwyn became one of the most dominant 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:25.700 sires in breed history, with a record eight -time 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:28.619 reign as premier sire at the World Dairy Expo 00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:31.380 in Madison, a record that still stands today 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:34.279 and may never be broken. For all his incredible 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:37.359 brilliance, Hardy Jr.'s life was marked by profound 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:40.599 personal struggle. The same intensity that drove 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:43.880 him to acquire legendary cows like Ada and breed 00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:46.960 phenomenal bulls like James also led him to what 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:50.930 observers called the edge of the abyss. The Holstein 00:21:50.930 --> 00:21:53.390 community's response to his struggles revealed 00:21:53.390 --> 00:21:55.950 something truly beautiful about our industry. 00:21:56.250 --> 00:21:58.950 People recognized genuine genius when they saw 00:21:58.950 --> 00:22:01.789 it, even when it came with serious complications. 00:22:02.730 --> 00:22:05.549 Eighteen bulls from his program received major 00:22:05.549 --> 00:22:08.309 awards in Canada and three became number one 00:22:08.309 --> 00:22:10.609 sires in different countries around the world. 00:22:10.890 --> 00:22:13.950 But privately, many watched with growing concern 00:22:13.950 --> 00:22:16.650 as he navigated battles that were every bit as 00:22:16.650 --> 00:22:20.099 intense as his genetic triumphs. People remembered 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:23.400 him as gifted, talented, remarkable beyond one's 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:26.519 imagination. The same creative fire that produced 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:29.619 breakthrough genetics also fueled personal demons 00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:33.220 that few people truly understood. It's a sobering 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:36.279 reminder that innovation often comes with a hidden 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:39.660 price, that the very same traits that drive visionary 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:43.220 thinking can also create profound personal challenges. 00:22:44.170 --> 00:22:46.789 We've seen this pattern repeated in other brilliant 00:22:46.789 --> 00:22:49.970 minds throughout our industry's history. The 00:22:49.970 --> 00:22:52.390 relentless drive that creates breakthrough genetics 00:22:52.390 --> 00:22:55.109 sometimes carries costs that aren't immediately 00:22:55.109 --> 00:22:59.730 visible from the outside. December 26, 2013. 00:23:00.509 --> 00:23:03.430 Hardy Shore Jr. died peacefully at his home at 00:23:03.430 --> 00:23:07.430 age 57. The dairy industry's response spoke to 00:23:07.430 --> 00:23:09.529 the profound connections he'd forged throughout 00:23:09.529 --> 00:23:12.250 his career. Despite his well -known struggles, 00:23:12.829 --> 00:23:15.410 colleagues remembered his kindness, his optimism, 00:23:15.589 --> 00:23:18.869 and his absolutely unwavering passion for the 00:23:18.869 --> 00:23:21.089 Holstein breed. The final detail that really 00:23:21.089 --> 00:23:23.589 gets to me, the family's request that memorial 00:23:23.589 --> 00:23:26.069 donations be made to the Men's Mission Services 00:23:26.069 --> 00:23:29.390 of London, provided quiet testimony to the nature 00:23:29.390 --> 00:23:32.710 of his personal battles. Here was a man who dealt 00:23:32.710 --> 00:23:36.190 regularly in world record prices and global genetics, 00:23:36.430 --> 00:23:39.049 yet fighting private battles that few people 00:23:39.049 --> 00:23:42.640 understood. Sometimes the most brilliant minds 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:45.619 carry the heaviest burdens. The Holstein community's 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:47.960 ability to honor his incredible contributions 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:50.920 while acknowledging his struggles showed the 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:53.680 absolute best of what our industry can be when 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:57.380 we support each other. So, what does the Shore 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:59.559 story teach those of us who are still making 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:02.200 breeding decisions today, still building something 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:06.250 meaningful for the next generation? First, It's 00:24:06.250 --> 00:24:08.490 about having vision beyond the immediate cash 00:24:08.490 --> 00:24:11.650 flow pressures that keep us awake at night. William 00:24:11.650 --> 00:24:14.289 H. Shore could have stayed with mixed livestock 00:24:14.289 --> 00:24:18.089 forever, safe, predictable, consistently profitable. 00:24:18.549 --> 00:24:21.849 Instead, he bet everything on purebred Holsteins 00:24:21.849 --> 00:24:24.150 when most people thought he was completely crazy. 00:24:24.710 --> 00:24:27.950 Hardy Sr. kept six females when forced to disperse, 00:24:28.029 --> 00:24:30.970 understanding that genetic value compounds over 00:24:30.970 --> 00:24:33.589 time exactly like interest in a savings account. 00:24:34.569 --> 00:24:37.410 Today's genomic tools give us unprecedented ability 00:24:37.410 --> 00:24:40.490 to make these kinds of long -term decisions if 00:24:40.490 --> 00:24:42.809 we have the courage to actually use them effectively. 00:24:43.890 --> 00:24:46.529 Second, it's about recognizing industry shifts 00:24:46.529 --> 00:24:48.609 before they hit your bottom line like a freight 00:24:48.609 --> 00:24:52.230 train. The bulk cooler revolution could have 00:24:52.230 --> 00:24:54.829 been absolutely devastating for the dairy industry. 00:24:55.230 --> 00:24:57.869 Instead, the shores turned it into their greatest 00:24:57.869 --> 00:25:01.230 opportunity. Today's shifts toward sustainability, 00:25:01.569 --> 00:25:04.710 animal welfare requirements, and precision agriculture 00:25:04.710 --> 00:25:08.190 require exactly the same kind of strategic thinking. 00:25:08.470 --> 00:25:11.950 The producers who adapt first consistently create 00:25:11.950 --> 00:25:15.210 the biggest competitive advantages. Think about 00:25:15.210 --> 00:25:17.769 the early adopters of robotic milking systems, 00:25:17.950 --> 00:25:20.410 or those who entered organic production before 00:25:20.410 --> 00:25:24.130 the premiums got eroded by oversupply. Third, 00:25:24.309 --> 00:25:26.670 it's about understanding that reputation matters 00:25:26.670 --> 00:25:29.670 every bit as much as genetics. The sure name 00:25:29.670 --> 00:25:31.890 opened doors because it stood for integrity, 00:25:32.170 --> 00:25:35.710 quality, and innovation. In our current age of 00:25:35.710 --> 00:25:38.410 social media and instant communication, building 00:25:38.410 --> 00:25:41.349 that kind of trust is simultaneously both easier 00:25:41.349 --> 00:25:44.650 and harder than it's ever been. But perhaps most 00:25:44.650 --> 00:25:47.609 importantly, it's about persistence through complexity. 00:25:48.670 --> 00:25:51.450 Hardy Jr.'s story reminds us that innovation 00:25:51.450 --> 00:25:54.730 often comes with personal costs that aren't always 00:25:54.730 --> 00:25:58.089 visible from the outside. The very traits that 00:25:58.089 --> 00:26:00.670 drive breakthrough thinking can also create challenges 00:26:00.670 --> 00:26:04.589 that test us in ways we never expected. The industry's 00:26:04.589 --> 00:26:07.509 response, celebrating his contributions while 00:26:07.509 --> 00:26:10.009 supporting him through his difficulties, shows 00:26:10.009 --> 00:26:12.650 the absolute best of what our community can be 00:26:12.650 --> 00:26:15.869 when we truly care for each other. Walk through 00:26:15.869 --> 00:26:18.430 any modern dairy barn today, anywhere in the 00:26:18.430 --> 00:26:20.769 world, and you'll find cattle whose pedigrees 00:26:20.769 --> 00:26:23.549 trace back to that small hamlet of Glanworth, 00:26:23.710 --> 00:26:27.839 Ontario. The Shore prefix might no longer appear 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:30.440 as frequently on registration papers, but their 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:32.980 genetic influence flows through the global Holstein 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:36.240 population like underground streams feeding a 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:39.380 mighty river. The auction barn on Glenworth Road 00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:42.500 stands quiet now, but the echoes of that distinctive 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:45.460 auctioneer's chant still resonate through every 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:48.359 major sale, every breeding decision based on 00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:51.180 balanced genetics, every young producer who dares 00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:53.720 to dream of creating the next genetic revolution. 00:26:55.049 --> 00:26:57.849 For the better part of a full century, the Shores 00:26:57.849 --> 00:27:00.809 truly were the business. And in many fundamental 00:27:00.809 --> 00:27:04.849 ways, they still are. Every superior cow carrying 00:27:04.849 --> 00:27:07.549 their bloodlines, every successful breeding program 00:27:07.549 --> 00:27:10.089 following their example of long -term thinking, 00:27:10.289 --> 00:27:13.069 every auction where quality genetics find their 00:27:13.069 --> 00:27:16.589 true value. That's the Shore legacy, continuing 00:27:16.589 --> 00:27:19.789 to unfold. The dynasty may have ended with Hardy 00:27:19.789 --> 00:27:23.130 Jr.'s passing, but the influence? That's absolutely 00:27:23.130 --> 00:27:26.009 immortal. And in our industry, where the right 00:27:26.009 --> 00:27:28.769 genetic decision can echo positively for generations, 00:27:29.490 --> 00:27:32.109 immortality is really the only currency that 00:27:32.109 --> 00:27:35.589 truly matters in the end. Folks, that's the incredible 00:27:35.589 --> 00:27:38.970 story of the Shore dynasty. From William H. Shore's 00:27:38.970 --> 00:27:42.289 gutsy decision in 1910 to bet everything on purebred 00:27:42.289 --> 00:27:45.390 Holsteins, through Hardy Sr.'s masterful brand 00:27:45.390 --> 00:27:48.450 building and show ring dominance, Bob's legendary 00:27:48.450 --> 00:27:51.710 auctioneering career, and finally, Hardy Jr.'s 00:27:51.710 --> 00:27:54.460 visionary approach to genomic breeding, We're 00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:56.900 talking about a century of innovation, adaptation, 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:59.980 and absolute excellence. Their story teaches 00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:03.019 us that success in this industry isn't just about 00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:06.160 having great cattle. It's about vision, timing, 00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:09.140 resilience, and the courage to make bold moves 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:11.460 when everyone else thinks you've lost your mind. 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:14.859 It's about building something that lasts, something 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:17.519 that makes the breed better for generations to 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:21.319 come. As we face our own challenges today, Whether 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:23.839 it's environmental regulations, labor shortages, 00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:26.799 volatile feed costs, or the pressure to adopt 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:29.079 new technologies, we can learn from the shore 00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:32.980 approach. Look beyond the immediate crisis. Spot 00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:35.559 the opportunities hidden within the disruptions. 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:38.819 Build your reputation on integrity and excellence. 00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:42.279 And never, ever underestimate the power of genetic 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:46.539 decisions made with the long view in mind. The 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:49.160 shore genetic legacy flows through Holstein herds 00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:51.589 worldwide. Their business principles continue 00:28:51.589 --> 00:28:54.509 to guide successful operations across North America 00:28:54.509 --> 00:28:57.769 and beyond, and their story reminds us that in 00:28:57.769 --> 00:29:00.809 dairy farming, as in life, the right decisions 00:29:00.809 --> 00:29:03.869 at the right time can create ripples that last 00:29:03.869 --> 00:29:06.990 for generations. Thanks for joining me today 00:29:06.990 --> 00:29:10.130 on this journey through Holstein history. The 00:29:10.130 --> 00:29:12.430 Shore Dynasty may have ended, but their lessons 00:29:12.430 --> 00:29:15.430 live on in every breeding decision we make, every 00:29:15.430 --> 00:29:18.140 show ring we enter, and every time we dare to 00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:21.359 dream of genetic excellence. Until next time, 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:24.000 keep breeding smart, keep thinking long -term, 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:26.619 and never forget that in this business, giants 00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:29.539 may fall silent, but their echoes last forever. 00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:32.859 This has been the Bullvine Podcast. I'm your 00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:48.289 host, and we'll see you next time. Never will 00:29:48.289 --> 00:29:53.309 die. From the show ring, from the tune, the quiet 00:29:53.309 --> 00:29:59.789 strength they knew. Hear that story's now coming 00:29:59.789 --> 00:30:05.529 right on through. Oh, tell the tale, tell the 00:30:05.529 --> 00:30:09.589 tale. The Beaumont legends live here.