Level 1 Judges are capable of judging 4-H Club Shows and Breeder’s Cups, as well as providing official placings for Judging Classes included in twilight & barn meetings.
Biographical Info
Grant Armstrong along with his parents operate Armcrest Holsteins in Millbrook, Ontario. The Armcrest herd focuses on breeding show animals and deep pedigreed animals for all markets. Grant is also a professional fitter working across North America at many shows. Armcrest was very proud to have bred the second place Red and White Senior Yearling at the Royal Winter Fair in 2012, Armcrest Picolo Ballerina Red. Furthermore, he has bought and sold multiple All Canadian and All American nominations, including Newcorner Goldwyn Paulette EX-91. Grant has judged heifer shows and Breeders Cups throughout Ontario and was the official judge at the 2016 Peterborough Twilight Meeting. Grant has many sporting interests that include hockey, lacrosse and baseball.
Biographical Info
Jesse Bradley hails from Brownsburg, Quebec where he owns JPB Holsteins. Jesse has owned and marketed many Holsteins that have placed well for many breeders in Ontario and Quebec. Jesse is a professional fitter where he helps breeders throughout North America prepare their animals for regional and national shows. Jesse has many interests outside of farming including Judo, where he has placed at the top of the charts in his weight division and square dancing where he has multiple first place finishes. One of Jesse’s highlights was being the youngest judge invited to Canada’s National Judging School and placed third overall. Jesse has judged multiple 4-H shows in Eastern Ontario and Quebec including the Shawville Regional Championship Show. Furthermore, Jesse has also had the opportunity to officiate the Dundas County Breeders Cup.
Biographical Info
Jennifer farms just outside Brantford in partnership with her father at Charbend Farms, working 470 acres and milking 50 holsteins. In 2014 Jennifer won the Intercounty judging competition allowing her the opportunity to represent Ontario at Wold Dairy Expo judging competition and later on at the European Young Breeders School. Traveling to prepare cattle for the show ring across Canada, the United States, and Australia has been a very enjoyable way to connect with passionate breeders around the world and lead her to begin judging here at home. Jennifer has had the opportunity to judge several 4-H shows, Breeder’s Cups and a Jersey County show over the past few years. Working with Youth in Developing their showmanship and clipping skills at clinics and 4-H meetings is a rewarding way Jennifer likes to give back to the dairy industry.
Biographical Info
Paul Franken along with wife, Lorraine and daughter, Janine own and operate Paul-Lor Jerseys in Clinton, Ontario. This Master Breeder herd consists of 50 Jersey and Holstein cows situated on 165 acres of land. Paul established the herd in 1984 and has had many successes throughout the years. Some of the highlights are being Premier Breeder and Exhibitor at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. A recent highlight for Paul was breeding and owning the Reserve Grand Champion Jersey at the 2016 Royal Winter Fair, Paullor Giller Rilee. Paul has judged multiple 4-H shows throughout Ontario and is a very accomplished Jersey Judge. He has officiated at the Oxford County Jersey Parish Show, Brant County Jersey Parish Show and Jerseys at the Quebec Spring Show in 2009. Paul is involved in his community as a 4-H leader in Huron County and also a member of the Central Huron Agricultural Society.
Biographical Info
Jake and his wife, Ingrid along with their 5 children live in Wellandport, Ontario. Under his prefix Jakridge Holsteins, Jake owns heifers and sells embryos from many great cow families. Furthermore, he is a Sales Representative for EastGen. Throughout the past couple of years, he has had the opportunity to judge 4-H shows throughout Ontario. In his spare time, Jake enjoys spending time with his kids and is active in different sports.
Biographical Info
Ashley was born and raised on her family’s dairy farm in the heart of the Ottawa Valley. After realizing her passion for agriculture at a young age, she proceeded to attend the University of Guelph where she got her Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the Ontario Agricultural College in 2013. Upon graduation, she’s held a variety of roles in the industry ranging from a dairy nutritionist to working in communications and government relations. Ashley is currently the Dairy Strategic Accounts manager for Corteva.
Ashley has judged a number of youth shows and breeder’s cups across Ontario. Ashley currently sits on the board for the Lanark Holstein Club as well as the Lanark Federation of Agriculture.
Biographical Info
Ben Leach and his wife Terri and son reside in Osgoode, Ontario and own Bentlea Holsteins. Ben is currently a Agricultural Market Lead for Scotiabank. When not working, Ben enjoys many sport activities including hockey, golf and curling. In 2003, Ben had the opportunity to represent the University of Guelph’s Judging team at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. Ben is excited to pursue his future in judging!
Biographical Info
Gary Markus along with his wife, Hilary and their children Peyton and Nolan, operate Markhill Holsteins on 200 acres in Ingersoll, Ontario. The Markhill herd is made up of 65 head of milking cows and housed in a free-stall operation. Gary’s daily responsibilities also include being the District Sales Manager for Alta Genetics. Outside of work, Gary is also very involved in his community as a 4-H leader in Ingersoll and also a director on the Oxford County Holstein Club. In 2007, Gary won the Spirit of 4-H award and in 2015, he received the Ontario Dairy Youth Award where he won a trip to World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. Throughout his judging career, Gary has had the opportunity to judge 4-H shows throughout Ontario.
Biographical Info
Ian Mathers was raised on a dairy farm with the prefix Ballybeeny Holsteins and currently resides in Consecon, Ontario. Ian has always had a passion for elite animals that could show and has fitted animals for breeders throughout Canada, Italy and Britain. After receiving his certificate at Dairyland Hoofcare Institute, Ian started his own business, BBH Hoofcare. Additionally, Ian was a Holstein Canada Classifier for two and a half years. Ian is excited to pursue his judging career while he continues to judge 4-H shows throughout Ontario.
Biographical Info
Laura lives with her husband Ryan Finley and their children on their Dairy Farm, Far-Row Holsteins, in Woodville Ontario. She has an off farm career as a Financial Advisor and enjoys volunteering as a 4-H leader and with the local figure skating club in her free time.
She has been a 4-H leader since 1997 and has been coach/charperone of the Durham West 4-H Classic Dairy team since 1997. A passion has been running the Classic team and county 4-H showmanship clinics.
Laura enjoyed her own successful 4-H career, being name Champion Showman in 1995 at the Classic 4-H Dairy Show at the Royal Winter Fair and in 1996 was a team member of the Ontario Youth Judging team that traveled to World Dairy Expo.
After raising her 3 children, Cally, Caden & Ty, she has had the pleasure of being back in the ring and judging 4-H shows. Most notably, judging World Dairy Expo Junior Showmanship in 2017 as well as many 4-H shows that include New York Spring Show 4-H Showmanship in 2017, Carleton 4-H Championship Show 2019, Simcoe County 4-H Show 2021 and Lucknow 4-H Dairy Invitational Show in 2022.
Biographical Info
Craig Templeton hails from Kemptville, Ontario where he owns and operates Templeview Farms Inc. with his parents. Templeview is a 400 acre farm which currently milks approximately 60 purebred Holsteins in a robotic facility where the herd is scored 70% VG or EX. In 2008, Craig traveled to World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin to represent Ontario on the Judging team. Additionally, he has represented the University of Guelph at many competitions and was awarded Inter-Collegiate Champion twice. Craig has had the opportunity to many judge 4-H Shows and Breeders’ Cups throughout Ontario.
Biographical Info
Chris, alongside his wife Bobbi-Jo, own and operate Knonaudale Farms. They have three enthusiastic children, Jasmine, Nadia, and Joshua, who all love showing cattle. Knonaudale Farms has 95 milking, with 230 total head of cattle and 350 acres of tillable land. The ‘Jasmine’ family has been the most rewarding cow family for Knonaudale, with many cattle and embryos sold and exported and several All-Canadian and All-American nominations from the family.
Biographical Info
Robert Velthuis along with his wife Katherine and their three children Emily, Ethan and Liam own and operate Vriesdale Holsteins in Mountain, Ontario. Vriesdale Holsteins currently milks 145 cows in a new robot facility and crops approximately 600 acres alongside Robert’s parents.
Robert’s judging career started in 1997 when he was a member of Team Ontario competing at the World Dairy Expo’s Judging Competition in Madison, Wisconsin. In his spare time, Robert has a passion for teaching young 4-H members about farming, especially the dairy industry and judging. In the past couple of years, Robert has had the opportunity to officiate many of the local 4-H Shows in Eastern Ontario.
Biographical Info
Jake Whitmore is from Pembroke, Ontario where he helps operate the family farm, Hay-Way Farms. Hay-Way Farms milks 170 registered Holsteins and shows cattle at the Renfrew County Holstein Show, and neighbouring open shows, where they have had some recent success. Jake is a member of the Renfrew County Holstein Club and provides valuable mentorship and heifers to young 4-H members in the community. Jake is the father of an aspiring 2-year-old 4-H kid, Brook.