The golden Guernsey

WEST ALLIS, Wis. — When RHG Villa Breezy Venus-ET was crowned supreme champion of the junior show at the Wisconsin State Fair, it had been 14 years since a Guernsey received the title. It was also a feat accomplished only twice by the breed.

“It was definitely an unreal experience, a super unexpected thing, just because she is a Guernsey,” Alison Gartman said. “Not everyone expects a Guernsey to be right up there in a show and be able to compete with a Holstein and those other breeds. They’re just not as popular.”

At the halter Aug. 7 was 18-year-old Gartman, who is the daughter of Luke and Liz Gartman. The Gartmans milk about 65 cows near Sheboygan. Gartman, a freshman at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, is double majoring in animal science and agriculture food and business management.

“I was definitely feeling the nerves that morning,” Gartman said. “The judge gave some good reasons after judging the champion Guernsey class, and I thought, ‘We might have a shot at this.’”

It was the Holstein judge, Pat Lundy, who gave Gartman the handshake for supreme.

“That was really awesome,” Gartman said. “It was not expected at all. I’m just happy that Venus could get it done. It was super cool that she’s only the second Guernsey ever to be supreme.”

This year marked the 175th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Fair in which 707 dairy animals were shown by 427 junior exhibitors. The reserve supreme champion cow was Robthom Martina Pety, a Holstein exhibited by Leah Marie Smith of Watertown.

Venus, a 3-year-old cow scored EX-92, has a long list of show ring achievements.

“The cool thing about this cow is that she’s been on a high since 2024,” Gartman said.

That year, Venus was junior champion of the junior show at World Dairy Expo as a winter yearling as well as Junior All-American and All-American. In 2025, the Guernsey was reserve grand champion at the Midwest Dairy Showcase; grand champion of the junior show and reserve grand champion of the open show at the Midwest State Show; and reserve grand champion of the junior show and reserve intermediate champion of the junior and open shows  at WDE and unanimous All-American senior 2-year-old.

Venus’ success continued in 2026 when she won grand champion of both the junior and open shows at the Midwest Spring Show. She was grand champion of the junior show and reserve of the open show for the second year in a row at the Midwest State Show before winning supreme at the state fair.

“I feel like there’s been so many more people asking me about her,” Gartman said. “They saw those results and said, ‘Your Expo is going to be incredible.’ That really makes me excited. I feel like Venus winning supreme at state fair and making this history has put me and her on the map. It just makes October even more exciting.”

Gartman’s state fair show string consisted of a trio of Guernseys. In addition to her prize-winning cow, she also showed two of Venus’ daughters — Voodoo and Vanilla Ice. Voodoo was second in the winter calf class and first bred and owned and also champion bred and owned of the Guernsey heifer show and fourth overall supreme bred and owned heifer. Vanilla Ice was second in the spring calf class and second bred and owned.

“Venus is not only a good cow herself, but she can transmit and make good heifers as well,” Gartman said.

Venus is one of three Guernsey cows in the Gartman herd, which is primarily Holsteins along with several Brown Swiss and Ayrshires and one Milking Shorthorn. In 2021, Gartman was the recipient of the Hellenbrand Lasting Legacy Award, which connected her with her first Guernsey. She received a fall calf out of Springhill Mentor Jazzy-ET — the grand champion Guernsey cow at WDE in 2017. The calf was the first animal Gartman showed at Expo.

Gartman met Venus through Dominic Pritzl, a Guernsey enthusiast from Manitowoc.

“He had a winter yearling that he wanted a junior to lease because he thought she was a pretty nice heifer,” Gartman said. “He was looking for someone who could take her to the next level.”

That heifer was Venus, which Gartman proceeded to lease. She arrived at the Gartman farm two weeks before the spring show in 2024.

“We developed her all the way until she was junior champion at the end of that year,” Gartman said. “After Expo, my family and I bought her from Dominic. He’s been involved ever since, getting embryos and daughters from her. He also comes to every show to watch her compete. It’s incredible the way it worked out. I’m thankful for his trust in us to get Venus to where she is today.”