WEBVTT 00:00:10.220 --> 00:00:14.679 Creep across the pasture land Got dirt on the 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:19.140 boots and a working hand From the milk house 00:00:19.140 --> 00:00:24.399 home to the auction call These are the folks 00:00:24.399 --> 00:01:04.340 standing strong and tall Hey there, welcome to 00:01:04.340 --> 00:01:07.200 the Bullvine Podcast, and today I've got a story 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:09.780 that's going to make you rethink everything you 00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:13.120 know about building a Holstein empire. You ready 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:16.459 for this? An 82 -year -old dairy farmer just 00:01:16.459 --> 00:01:19.319 proved that a $50 Jersey calf can build more 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:22.019 genetic excellence than all the genomic testing 00:01:22.019 --> 00:01:24.959 in the world. And before you roll your eyes thinking 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:28.959 this is another feel -good farm story, hang on. 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:31.379 because what the Schwartzbeck family accomplished 00:01:31.379 --> 00:01:33.780 at Peace and Plenty Farm is going to challenge 00:01:33.780 --> 00:01:36.540 every assumption you have about breeding champions. 00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:41.480 Here's the kicker. They bred 181 excellent Holsteins 00:01:41.480 --> 00:01:45.319 from one foundation female. One. No genomic testing. 00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:48.980 No million -dollar embryo purchases. Just observation, 00:01:49.459 --> 00:01:52.060 patience, and a philosophy that'll make the genomics 00:01:52.060 --> 00:01:56.079 companies squirm. Their 2025 sale? grossed over 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:58.480 a million dollars, and they just won the McCown 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:01.420 Master Breeder Award, Dairy's highest honor. 00:02:02.060 --> 00:02:04.680 So buckle up, because this isn't just a success 00:02:04.680 --> 00:02:07.019 story, it's a blueprint that turns everything 00:02:07.019 --> 00:02:10.120 the experts tell you on its head. Let's roll 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:14.400 back to 1952. Gaithersburg, Maryland. Picture 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:16.840 a teenager named Joe Schwartzbeck, standing in 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:19.620 his father's small barn before dawn, his breath 00:02:19.620 --> 00:02:22.520 visible in the cold morning air. Seven or eight 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:25.759 Jersey cows waiting to be milked. by hand. That's 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:28.919 right. Hand milking. The rhythmic swish swish 00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:31.860 of milk hitting the bucket. The sweet smell of 00:02:31.860 --> 00:02:34.020 fresh hay mixing with the warmth of the animals. 00:02:34.699 --> 00:02:37.240 This kid's running a cream separator. Selling 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:39.599 cream to a creamery in Hagerstown, feeding the 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:42.939 skim to a few hogs out back. His dad? Only farms 00:02:42.939 --> 00:02:45.740 part -time. But Joe? Joe's got bigger ideas. 00:02:46.340 --> 00:02:49.219 That year, Joe buys his first 4 -H calf. A jersey. 00:02:49.659 --> 00:02:53.629 Price tag? $50. The next year he splurges $75 00:02:53.629 --> 00:02:56.530 for another one. These two jerseys become the 00:02:56.530 --> 00:02:58.930 foundation of everything that follows. And I 00:02:58.930 --> 00:03:01.870 mean everything. Fast forward through high school, 00:03:02.069 --> 00:03:04.949 military service, and Joe marries Nona. They 00:03:04.949 --> 00:03:08.969 borrow $6 ,500, serious money in those days, 00:03:09.349 --> 00:03:12.729 and build a 20 -cow stall barn. But here's where 00:03:12.729 --> 00:03:15.810 the story takes its first twist. Joe's working 00:03:15.810 --> 00:03:17.909 for a neighbor, right? But instead of paying 00:03:17.909 --> 00:03:20.349 him cash, this neighbor pays him in Holstein 00:03:20.349 --> 00:03:22.889 Heffers. First time those black and white girls 00:03:22.889 --> 00:03:26.409 start producing? Game over. Joe realizes his 00:03:26.409 --> 00:03:28.949 Holsteins are absolutely crushing his jerseys 00:03:28.949 --> 00:03:32.009 in milk production, so he makes the switch. All 00:03:32.009 --> 00:03:35.349 in on Holsteins. And that decision changes everything. 00:03:36.069 --> 00:03:40.090 December 1968. Picture this. Joe and Nona sitting 00:03:40.090 --> 00:03:42.810 in a Carroll County auction barn. It's freezing 00:03:42.810 --> 00:03:45.409 cold. The kind of cold that makes your bones 00:03:45.409 --> 00:03:48.550 ache. The auctioneers chant, echoing off the 00:03:48.550 --> 00:03:52.780 metal walls. When that gavel falls on a 295 -acre 00:03:52.780 --> 00:03:57.560 farm, they've just committed $125 ,100 to their 00:03:57.560 --> 00:04:00.740 future. Think about that for a second. That's 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:03.340 like betting everything on a vision that only 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:07.280 exists in your head. The first few months? Chaos. 00:04:08.020 --> 00:04:10.099 They're living in Montgomery County, driving 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:12.759 to Union Bridge every single day, renovating 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:16.339 barns, fixing fences. None is tracking every 00:04:16.339 --> 00:04:19.009 expense on a yellow legal pad. while their young 00:04:19.009 --> 00:04:21.949 sons Gus and Shane are dodging construction equipment 00:04:21.949 --> 00:04:25.410 and flying sawdust. When they finally move those 00:04:25.410 --> 00:04:29.250 45 Holsteins into their 49 -cow tie stall, Joe's 00:04:29.250 --> 00:04:32.550 first milk check hits around $2 ,500 a month. 00:04:33.009 --> 00:04:35.649 Not impressive by today's standards, but it represented 00:04:35.649 --> 00:04:38.449 something bigger than money. It represented ownership, 00:04:38.970 --> 00:04:42.029 independence, the American dairy dream. They 00:04:42.029 --> 00:04:45.189 expand methodically, no flash, no debt -fueled 00:04:45.189 --> 00:04:49.170 gambles. In 1974, Joe builds a double four herringbone 00:04:49.170 --> 00:04:53.490 parlor that serves them for 26 years. 26 years. 00:04:54.009 --> 00:04:56.110 That parlor sees them through decades of 4 a 00:04:56.110 --> 00:04:59.029 .m. starts and midnight emergencies. By 2000, 00:04:59.170 --> 00:05:01.290 they upgrade to a double eight, growing from 00:05:01.290 --> 00:05:06.269 120 cows to 240. Today, their rolling herd averages 00:05:06.269 --> 00:05:11.170 24 ,000 pounds with 4 % fat and 3 .1 % protein. 00:05:11.649 --> 00:05:14.490 Those butter fat numbers? That's the consistency 00:05:14.490 --> 00:05:17.389 cheese plants dream about. But here's where this 00:05:17.389 --> 00:05:20.449 story goes from good to legendary. Every great 00:05:20.449 --> 00:05:23.149 breeding program has that one foundation animal. 00:05:23.610 --> 00:05:25.810 For Peace and Plenty, her name was Peace and 00:05:25.810 --> 00:05:28.790 Plenty Atwood Jubilant. Everyone called her Juby. 00:05:29.170 --> 00:05:32.610 Listen to these numbers. First flush, seven offspring 00:05:32.610 --> 00:05:35.970 with the Ocaliber prefix. Second flush, six docks 00:05:35.970 --> 00:05:38.829 and six gold chips. This cow just kept delivering 00:05:38.829 --> 00:05:41.490 genetic gold. Her offspring never disappointed. 00:05:41.790 --> 00:05:44.370 Never. But here's what separates the Schwartzbecks 00:05:44.370 --> 00:05:46.629 from everyone else chasing the next hot bull. 00:05:47.350 --> 00:05:50.189 They didn't just multiply genetics. They curated 00:05:50.189 --> 00:05:53.129 them. Generation after generation, they chose 00:05:53.129 --> 00:05:56.029 which daughters to flush next, building depth 00:05:56.029 --> 00:05:58.350 through the Juby line like master craftsmen. 00:05:58.850 --> 00:06:02.689 The proof? In 2023, all seven piece -and -plenty 00:06:02.689 --> 00:06:05.230 All -American nominations came from jubilant 00:06:05.230 --> 00:06:09.120 bloodlines. Every. Single. One. Then 2024 rolls 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:11.959 around and lightning strikes twice. Seven more 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:14.720 All -American nominations, including both senior 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:17.800 and junior best three. All tracing back to that 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:21.439 one remarkable cow. Now, let me paint you a picture 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:24.740 of what excellence really looks like. Peace and 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:28.100 Plenty has bred 181 excellent Holstein cows. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:31.750 Let that sink in. 181. We're talking about cows 00:06:31.750 --> 00:06:35.649 scoring 90 to 97 points. That's the top 5 % of 00:06:35.649 --> 00:06:39.029 all classified cattle. Two cows at 95 points. 00:06:39.310 --> 00:06:43.069 That's approaching perfection. 10 at 94. 14 at 00:06:43.069 --> 00:06:49.290 93. 25 at 92. 36 at 91. And 95 cows hitting that 00:06:49.290 --> 00:06:52.529 coveted 90 point threshold. These aren't lucky 00:06:52.529 --> 00:06:56.089 breaks. This is systematic excellence. This is 00:06:56.089 --> 00:06:57.730 what happens when you know what you're doing 00:06:57.730 --> 00:07:01.250 and stick to it for seven decades. But here's 00:07:01.250 --> 00:07:03.569 the beautiful part of this story. It's not just 00:07:03.569 --> 00:07:06.790 about genetics. It's about family. Walk onto 00:07:06.790 --> 00:07:08.730 Peace and Plenty any morning, and you'll see 00:07:08.730 --> 00:07:11.050 something increasingly rare in our industry. 00:07:11.649 --> 00:07:14.509 Genuine, multi -generational collaboration that 00:07:14.509 --> 00:07:18.350 actually works. No drama. No stepping on toes. 00:07:18.810 --> 00:07:21.850 Just family working towards shared goals. Joe, 00:07:21.870 --> 00:07:24.550 now 82 years old, and he'll gladly remind you 00:07:24.550 --> 00:07:27.709 of that fact, still handles the fieldwork. Five 00:07:27.709 --> 00:07:30.490 -plus decades of wisdom applied to every acre. 00:07:31.050 --> 00:07:33.149 Nona manages the books with the precision of 00:07:33.149 --> 00:07:36.290 a Swiss watch. Their son Gus and his wife Lisa 00:07:36.290 --> 00:07:39.709 run daily operations. The third generation? That's 00:07:39.709 --> 00:07:42.589 where the future lives. Davis serves as herdsman. 00:07:42.769 --> 00:07:45.189 He's the guy who knows every cow's personality, 00:07:45.589 --> 00:07:47.709 who spots trouble before it becomes a problem. 00:07:48.629 --> 00:07:50.949 Austin handles the technical breeding work, though 00:07:50.949 --> 00:07:54.069 the brothers share mating decisions. No egos. 00:07:54.689 --> 00:07:58.110 Just collaboration. Austin's wife Lauren and 00:07:58.110 --> 00:08:00.709 sister Aubrey run the show program. And when 00:08:00.709 --> 00:08:03.949 I say program, I mean program. These animals 00:08:03.949 --> 00:08:06.769 don't just show up and win. It's daily grooming, 00:08:07.290 --> 00:08:09.689 teaching heifers to set up properly, having the 00:08:09.689 --> 00:08:11.769 patience of saints when an animal decides she's 00:08:11.769 --> 00:08:14.730 not interested in cooperating. Speaking of showing, 00:08:15.189 --> 00:08:18.290 let me tell you about 2011. Austin had a heifer 00:08:18.290 --> 00:08:21.269 named Peace and Plenty Asteroid Fishy. She takes 00:08:21.269 --> 00:08:24.029 junior champion at the Junior Holstein Show at 00:08:24.029 --> 00:08:27.579 World Dairy Expo. on the colored shavings. If 00:08:27.579 --> 00:08:30.300 you know, you know. That feeling when they call 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:32.960 your number at Madison? You never forget it. 00:08:33.259 --> 00:08:36.000 But here's what really gets me excited. The fourth 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:39.500 generation is already in the ring. Chandler's 00:08:39.500 --> 00:08:42.200 story. Aubrey's daughter just turned nine. She's 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:44.960 heading to World Dairy Expo this year with her 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:47.379 Jersey winter calf that was just named junior 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:50.700 champion at All American in Harrisburg. Her brother 00:08:50.700 --> 00:08:53.200 Madden got his first chance to exhibit at Expo 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:56.860 last year. Four generations, all connected by 00:08:56.860 --> 00:08:59.360 those moments in the ring, by early mornings 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:02.220 prepping cattle, by learning to win and lose 00:09:02.220 --> 00:09:05.399 with grace. Now, let's talk about their breeding 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:08.080 philosophy, because this is where they flip the 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:11.720 script on modern breeding. High type with positive 00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:14.360 milk production, a cow that can represent your 00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:17.039 prefix but also produce milk to pay the bills. 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:20.519 They call it their no -pansy -cows philosophy. 00:09:20.940 --> 00:09:23.940 They breed for aggressive, strong animals with 00:09:23.940 --> 00:09:26.700 genuine presence. These aren't delicate show 00:09:26.700 --> 00:09:28.980 queens that need special treatment. These are 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:31.580 cattle with attitude, with dairy strength that 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:34.139 catches your eye from across the barn. Their 00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:37.559 selection criteria, longevity, milk production, 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:40.799 and the ability to push to the feed bunk. A cow 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:44.299 that's hungry is a cow that milks. Think about 00:09:44.299 --> 00:09:46.899 that. While everyone's chasing genomic numbers 00:09:46.899 --> 00:09:49.629 on a computer screen, the Schwartzbecks are watching 00:09:49.629 --> 00:09:52.789 which cows are hungry. Which cows want to work? 00:09:53.409 --> 00:09:55.870 It sounds simple because it is, and it works 00:09:55.870 --> 00:10:00.210 because it's right. April 2025. The Springtime 00:10:00.210 --> 00:10:03.389 Jubilee Sale, co -hosted with Duckets and Borderview. 00:10:03.830 --> 00:10:06.970 The sale grosses over $1 million, averaging $8 00:10:06.970 --> 00:10:12.210 ,635 on 117 lots. But here's what those numbers 00:10:12.210 --> 00:10:15.090 don't tell you. The energy in that sale barn 00:10:15.090 --> 00:10:17.830 was electric, international buyers flying in, 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:20.259 domestic buyers driving from across the country. 00:10:20.419 --> 00:10:23.259 When Peace and Plenty honored JUB 360 sold for 00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:27.240 $27 ,000 to Pine Tree Genetics, you could feel 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:30.419 the validation rippling through the crowd. This 00:10:30.419 --> 00:10:33.220 wasn't just a sale. This was the market saying, 00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:36.820 yes, this approach works. This genetics matter. 00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:39.759 The Schwartzbecks understand something that too 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:42.500 many operations forget. Excellence in breeding 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:45.240 is just part of the equation. They earned the 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:48.519 2006 Carroll County Soil Conservation District 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:52.019 Cooperator of the Year Award recognition for 00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:53.960 conservation achievements through the Double 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:58.200 Pipe Creek Rural Clean Water Project. Young stockpens 00:10:58.200 --> 00:11:01.679 picked twice daily, calf barn power washed and 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.960 sanitized after each group. This isn't for show. 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:08.000 This is systematic care that becomes second nature 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:10.240 when you genuinely care about what you're doing. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:13.470 And their community, as they put it, If there's 00:11:13.470 --> 00:11:15.850 one thing about Carroll County, it's that one 00:11:15.850 --> 00:11:18.850 call leads to an army of support. Whether it's 00:11:18.850 --> 00:11:21.110 weddings at the farm, their cow sale, a barn 00:11:21.110 --> 00:11:23.990 fire, or help during crop season, an army shows 00:11:23.990 --> 00:11:27.009 up. They're even featured on Maola milk bottles 00:11:27.009 --> 00:11:30.429 shipped down the East Coast. Direct consumer 00:11:30.429 --> 00:11:33.529 connection. Farm -to -table visibility. That's 00:11:33.529 --> 00:11:36.230 marketing you can't buy. When the Klusendorf 00:11:36.230 --> 00:11:39.169 Association announced Peace and Plenty as the 00:11:39.169 --> 00:11:42.610 2025 McCown Master Breeder Award recipients, 00:11:43.090 --> 00:11:45.529 the family's reaction tells you everything about 00:11:45.529 --> 00:11:48.730 their character. Unexpected, they said. Something 00:11:48.730 --> 00:11:50.870 that makes you look back at past winners and 00:11:50.870 --> 00:11:53.350 realize how humbling this acknowledgement is. 00:11:54.490 --> 00:11:57.409 The McCown Master Breeder Award is Dairy's highest 00:11:57.409 --> 00:12:00.509 breeding honor. Previous winners represent the 00:12:00.509 --> 00:12:03.470 absolute pinnacle of dairy excellence across 00:12:03.470 --> 00:12:06.629 North America. And now the Schwartzbecks join 00:12:06.629 --> 00:12:09.169 that elite group. But here's what they said that 00:12:09.169 --> 00:12:12.269 really got me. Some roles are larger than others, 00:12:12.629 --> 00:12:15.269 but nothing's worse than building a puzzle without 00:12:15.269 --> 00:12:18.210 all the pieces. There are lots of pieces that 00:12:18.210 --> 00:12:21.470 come together at piece and plenty. In an industry 00:12:21.470 --> 00:12:24.049 that loves to celebrate individual achievement, 00:12:24.570 --> 00:12:27.750 here's a family that understands success is collective. 00:12:28.529 --> 00:12:31.850 Every person matters. Every contribution counts. 00:12:32.129 --> 00:12:34.669 So what's next for Peace and Plenty? They're 00:12:34.669 --> 00:12:37.710 not resting on their laurels. Davis puts it simply. 00:12:38.250 --> 00:12:42.029 POLD and A2A2. They're investing in diversified 00:12:42.029 --> 00:12:44.929 genetics to create resilient herds. They're thinking 00:12:44.929 --> 00:12:47.529 about trends that'll matter five, ten years down 00:12:47.529 --> 00:12:50.610 the road. They've embraced IVF technology, but 00:12:50.610 --> 00:12:54.070 only after mastering traditional selection. They're 00:12:54.070 --> 00:12:56.429 injecting liquid manure for better crop yields. 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:59.480 Building new calf facilities for improved air 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:02.460 quality and animal transitions. Always adapting. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:05.799 Always improving. And with Chandler and Madden 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:07.960 already showing on colored shavings at World 00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:11.019 Dairy Expo, the fourth generation isn't just 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:14.580 watching anymore. They're participating. Learning. 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:17.600 Building their own memories in those same rings 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:20.120 where their parents and grandparents made names 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:23.610 for themselves. Alright. Let's break down what 00:13:23.610 --> 00:13:25.950 Peace and Plenty teaches us. Because this isn't 00:13:25.950 --> 00:13:29.250 just an inspiring story, it's a roadmap. First, 00:13:29.570 --> 00:13:33.490 build depth, not breadth. 181. Excellence from 00:13:33.490 --> 00:13:35.809 one cow family proves focused breeding beats 00:13:35.809 --> 00:13:38.830 scattered genetics every single time. Second, 00:13:39.149 --> 00:13:42.129 start at any scale. $50 teen investment became 00:13:42.129 --> 00:13:45.230 a million dollar sale 73 years later. Compound 00:13:45.230 --> 00:13:48.590 annual growth beats quick flips. Third, share 00:13:48.590 --> 00:13:51.539 breeding decisions. Austin and Davis's collaboration 00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:55.620 produces 24 ,000 pounds at 4 % fat. Ego kills 00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:59.000 consistency. Fourth, master fundamentals before 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:02.220 technology. They added IVF after perfecting selection. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:05.879 Tools amplify skill. They don't replace it. Look, 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:08.159 I've covered this industry for decades. I've 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:11.200 seen every trend, every technology, every supposed 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:14.059 revolution in dairy breeding. But the piece -and 00:14:14.059 --> 00:14:17.470 -plenty story? This hits different. In 2025, 00:14:17.970 --> 00:14:20.330 when input costs are through the roof, labor 00:14:20.330 --> 00:14:22.429 challenges are everywhere, and everyone's telling 00:14:22.429 --> 00:14:24.809 you that you need the latest genomic technology 00:14:24.809 --> 00:14:28.210 to compete. Here's an 82 -year -old proving them 00:14:28.210 --> 00:14:31.450 all wrong with observation, patience, and a cow 00:14:31.450 --> 00:14:33.529 that's hungry enough to push to the feed bunk. 00:14:35.009 --> 00:14:37.450 The Peace and Plenty story started with a teenager's 00:14:37.450 --> 00:14:40.549 $50 gamble on a Jersey calf in Gaithersburg, 00:14:41.129 --> 00:14:44.769 Maryland. 73 years later, it's proof that with 00:14:44.769 --> 00:14:47.809 dedication, vision, and genuine love for what 00:14:47.809 --> 00:14:51.149 you do, the most unlikely dreams can become generational 00:14:51.149 --> 00:14:54.429 reality. As Nona Schwartzbeck puts it, nothing 00:14:54.429 --> 00:14:56.970 gives me more joy than watching the great -grandchildren 00:14:56.970 --> 00:14:59.629 play in the yard. That's not just a nice sentiment. 00:14:59.889 --> 00:15:03.669 That's the whole point. Family. Legacy. Excellence 00:15:03.669 --> 00:15:06.750 that spans generations. So here's my challenge 00:15:06.750 --> 00:15:09.970 to you. Tomorrow morning, walk your barn. Really 00:15:09.970 --> 00:15:12.529 look at your cows. Pick your best one. Focus 00:15:12.529 --> 00:15:15.940 on her bloodline. Stop diversifying your mediocrity 00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:19.440 and start building depth. Because if a $50 calf 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:22.059 can build a Holstein empire, what's stopping 00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:25.419 you? The bull vine, reminding you that sometimes 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:28.159 the best genetics aren't in a catalog or a genomic 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:31.580 test. Sometimes they're in that cow pushing hardest 00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:34.919 to the feed bunk. Until next time, keep breeding 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:38.059 better cattle and challenging what everyone tells 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:39.340 you is impossible.