Something supreme

MADISON, Wis. — Tyler Leuch fell for the art of exhibiting dairy cattle at a young age — the first time he grabbed hold of a lead strap, heading into the peewee showmanship class at the Shawano County Fair, at the age of 3.

At World Dairy Expo, Leuch was named the Annette Ostrom Memorial Supreme Champion Showman after winning the senior division of the contest. For his winning efforts, he received $5,000 and a crystal trophy presented by the family of the late Annette Ostrom.

“This has been the best day of my life,” Leuch said. “I didn’t do as well as I had wanted to in the fitting contest, so I told myself I’d redeem myself in showmanship. I came out here and did what I know how to do, and it turned out pretty well.”

The 17-year-old is a senior at Waunakee High School and the son of Matt and Teresa Leuch.

Leuch’s appreciation for the show ring was inspired by his cousin, Trent Styczynski, and later Trent’s wife, Laura.

“Trent and Laura have taught me so much about the little details,” Leuch said. “They’ve given me the tools I need to reach my goals, and they have fostered my love for showing.”

Leuch has attended Expo regularly since he was in grade school. In recent years, he became a competitor in the show’s youth contests.

“I’ve always thought Expo is the best time of the year,” Leuch said. “It is so full of so many great memories and experiences — the people you meet, the cows you see.”

This year marked Leuch’s third year competing in World Dairy Expo’s Youth Showmanship Contest and his first time competing in the senior division. He placed 15th in the intermediate division in 2023 and eighth in 2022.

Besides competing in the showmanship contest, Leuch said he enjoys participating in the youth fitting contest. He has taken part in the latter twice, this year as a senior and last year winning the intermediate division.

From the time he entered the showmanship ring during his initial heat in the senior division, judge Carla Stetzer said Leuch caught her eye and continued to impress her as the competition progressed through the final round.

“The young man in first place, I never saw him misstep, I never saw his heifer not look perfect,” Stetzer said. “At the end of the day, that is what showmanship is about — the people that just blend right in with their heifers, moving together with symmetry. They are like one unit, just floating around the ring. This young man did that today.”

That magical presentation does not happen by accident, Leuch said.

“It takes a lot of work, a lot of time spent learning and practicing,” Leuch said. “If you’re willing to put the time and effort into learning and then developing those skills, you’ll eventually see the results. But you have to just keep going. You’re never all the way — you can always get better.”

That attitude came through in Leuch’s showmanship performance, Stetzer said.

“All of these kids are fantastic, not only their showmanship skills, but their great attitudes,” Stetzer said. “They’re really fun to work with, they’re passionate about the business. It re-instills my faith in humanity, to see all these great kids out here, the future of our industry.”

Stetzer, of Alma Center, was charged with sorting through the senior division while Kelli Cull of Lomira worked through the intermediate division. Brent Howe of Aylmer, Ontario, placed the junior division. Katie Coyne of Geneseo, New York, put the six top showmen through their paces during the selection of supreme. The evening ended with the three divisional judges casting unanimous ballots in favor of Leuch.

The time in the spotlight at Expo was special for Leuch because the calf he led in the contest — Stitchs-Ttt Patrona-ET — is the daughter of another project animal he has worked with alongside his cousins.

Leuch’s Expo excitement did not end with the showmanship contest. His Holstein five-year-old cow, SS-Maplecrest Tatoo Jasmine, placed second in her class before being named the honorable mention senior champion in the International Junior Holstein Show. Earlier in the summer, Jasmine had swept the junior show, earning senior and grand champion banners at the Wisconsin Summer Championship Show for Leuch. 

Agriculture is near and dear to Leuch’s heart. He is active in 4-H and his school’s FFA chapter. At this year’s Wisconsin State Fair he was awarded the James W. Crowley 4-H Dairy Leadership Award. At the Wisconsin FFA Convention, he landed a spot among the top 20 competitors in the extemporaneous speaking contest.

“I really just love everything agriculture,” Leuch said. “I’m definitely a Holstein boy at heart, but I really just love cows, all breeds, and everything about them. This is something I’ll never forget.”