Nadia Uhr of Crysler and Robert Goodwill of Owen Sound were this year’s Holstein Ontario delegates to the annual European Young Breeders School (EYBS) event from Sept. 3-7, 2025 in Belgium.
Uhr and Goodwill were the successful applicants among a larger group of dairy showpersons and judges aged 18-21 who met criteria established by Holstein Ontario in 2024 for participation in the event. Those who applied online were then interviewed by a three-person Holstein Ontario panel before a decision was made.
Why it matters: Uhr and Goodwill get the opportunity to share experiences and insights with people their age from around the world who have the same enthusiasm about the Holstein breed.
“I am really hoping that this trip allows me to broaden my horizons and make global connections with other peers that are also competing,” Uhr told Farmtario.
“I personally think that meeting people worldwide who share your same passion is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that could open up so many new doors for the future.”
First held in 1999, the EYBS grew from originally hosting only northeastern European participants to eventually welcoming young dairy enthusiasts from around the world. It’s now described as the international reference for the training of young people passionate about the Holstein breed.
For its delegate selection process, Holstein Ontario encourages an online application from anyone within the age group achieving any of:
- Overall Champion or Reserve Overall Champion at any of the three regional EastGen provincial events;
- Grand, Reserve, or Honourable Mention Showmanship Champion at any of the three regional EastGen provincial events;
- Top 10 result in the Senior Showmanship class at the TD Canadian 4-H Dairy Classic at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto;
- Senior Division High Individual or Runner-Up High Individual in the Inter-County Judging Competition.
Goodwill says he knew about the program through mentors in 4-H in the Owen Sound, Wiarton, and now York County dairy clubs, told Farmtario he was “very excited to get that email” from Holstein Ontario stating he was eligible to apply in 2025.
“All the great stories that I’ve heard about the trip and the opportunities that came about from it were intriguing to me,” he said. “Everyone who has gone talks about making connections from all over the world.”
Goodwill and his father run a 120-head robotic dairy near Owen Sound, growing a mix of crops to feed the herd. This is his third year working there full-time after first juggling responsibilities on the farm with post-secondary studies.
He has been involved with 4-H since before he was officially old enough. “I have two older sisters and I would always train their calves for them even before I was old enough to do 4-H.” Now that he’s back on the farm full-time, he explained, “we’re starting to emphasize more on the genetic side” with an aim to develop strong cow families.
Goodwill has also been getting more involved with herd management and has tried to implement some strategies for fertility, cow comfort and hoof care. He believes the farm is seeing results in the form of cows that are at ideal weights and in good health, and in calves that are healthy and gaining well.
Uhr, who was the 2024 Grand Champion Showperson at the Royal Winter Fair’s TD Canadian Classic, enjoys raising calves and caring for young stock on the family’s Eastern Ontario farm under the Knonaudale prefix.
“We milk 95 Holsteins as well as a few Jerseys in a tie-stall operation,” she said. The family is retrofitting the barn to a freestall with two robots.
Knonaudale crops 350 acres of owned land and 50 acres of rented land.
Both Holstein Ontario representatives are looking forward to a pre-conference opportunity for sightseeing around the Belgian capital. But they’re most looking forward to getting out of the city and visiting the farm that will host them and provide cattle for their competitions.
Goodwill noted there will be some other breeds involved in the event, including Belgian Blue – a breed he has learned was popular in North American show circles years ago, but has largely disappeared from the continent now. But the focus will definitely be on Holsteins.
“I have learned the EYBS experience will allow me to gain knowledge around showmanship, fitting, judging as well as marketing,” Uhr said.
“I am also really looking forward to meeting people globally who share the same passion and love for the industry as I do.”
