The Beginning

The first meeting of the Wisconsin Milking Shorthorn was held on Saturday, March 10th. 1945. Over 40 breeders gathered at the Park Hotel in Madison, WI. They adopted a Constitution, by laws, and the name Wisconsin Milking Shorthorn Breeders Association.

President George Rye wrote “I feel you will want to be a part of a live group that is working in your interest, have a vote in the affairs of the Association and become a part of a working organization to put Wisconsin Milking Shorthorns on the map and establish better values for them.

Three paragraphs set forth the purposes of the Wisconsin Milking Shorthorn Association.

-To encourage and extend the influence of Milking Shorthorn breeding; to promote the interests of its membership by creating better trade opportunities, and so far as possible, cooperate to their general advantage and profit; to promote closer relations between the membership and to stimulate greater activity among them.

-To arrange for public sales when conditions are favorable, to which members may consign their salable stock, and to provide for a careful inspection of said sale entries that a creditable offering may be assured.

-To arrange for exhibits at local and other fairs, as may be agreed upon and, where necessary, make selections of individuals from the several herds in order that the groups may represent the best herds in the state (or district).

Three projects were agreed upon which are still continued today

1. A members only sale was set for June 12, 1945

2. A youth contest awarding a heifer calf to the outstanding 4-H Milking Shorthorn Member was approved as an incentive to the young people in starting with the breed.

3. The group voted to have a summer picnic.

The 1940s-1950s

1948 was the year Milking Shorthorn breeders broke away from the national Shorthorn organization and formed the American Milking Shorthorn Society.

Milking Shorthorn Breeders knew the breed had the versatility to be profitable on diversified farms, that emphasis on dual purpose characteristics was a bane in some situations. It was not until 1972 that Milking Shorthorns were accepted by the PDCA.

Also in 1950 the secretary started writing 4 newsletters throughout the year to keep members informed from their organization.

The 1960s

In 1966 the junior awards committee organized the queen contest. Originally called the Wisconsin Milking Shorthorn Miss, a girl aged 16-21 was chosen at the picnic or annual meeting to represent Milking Shorthorn Breeders primarily at the State Fair. Doris Aebischer was the very first Milking Shorthorn Miss.

In 1966 the association gave county extension agent a subscription to the Milking Shorthorn Journal in hopes of breed promotion. Three years later the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Milwaukee Brewers were added to the mailing list in hopes that players might be interested in agriculture.

After years of debate the AMSS declared the milking shorthorn a dairy breed in 1969.

The 1970s

In 1972 Milking Shorthorns were accepted into the national Purebred Dairy Cattle Association.

In 1973 the national youth got a boost from the first fun auction at a national convention banquet.

In the mid 1970s the expo board announced the dropping of Milking Shorthorn classes. WMSBA protested and milking shorthorns were reinstated in 1977.

The WMSBA hosted the AMSS annual meeting in 1974

1980s

In 1980 85 head from 14 herds in four states were shown at World Dairy Expo and in 1981 marked the begging of a continuous run as National Show.

In 1981 the World Dairy Expo featured for the first time 4 milking shorthorns in it’s traditionally Holstein World Premier Sale.

In 1982 Milking Shorthorns were added to Expo’s intercollegiate judging contest.

The Shorthorn Show at the Wisconsin State Fair was also growing.

In 1985 a proposal for a dairy complex at the Milwaukee County Zoo was announced. WMSBA purchased a fresh cow at the state sale for the zoo exhibit.

Annual meeting dues were raised form $5 to $10 the only increase in the fifty year history of the association.

In 1985 the WMSBA passed a motion in support of a legislative proposal to proclaim milk the official state drink.

In 1985 the AMSS board voted to move the national office out of Springfield, MO to Beloit, WI as a joint occupancy with the national Brown Swiss Organization.

1990s

In 1993 Janet Ericksen was elected as the WMSBA first female president, following her husbands term.

In 1995 the “Central National” at expo was renamed the “International Milking Shorthorn Show”. A total of 189 head were shown.

At the WMSBA annual meeting in 1992 the voters extended an invitation to host the 1996 National Convention at La Crosse, WI in June.

“It has been most encouraging to the breeders that held the line to see their favorite breed stage such a remarkable comeback. It has been slow but in more recent years the numbers have made themselves felt and many a new herd has been established in sections where the breed was almost unknown a decade ago.” -George Rye