Herb Henderson Wins 2025 Curtis Clark Achievement Award  

Herb Henderson of Hendercroft Holsteins, Ashton, ON, won the 2025 Curtis Clark Achievement Award presented on November 14th at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.  

Herb Henderson, 62, is a humble man whose passion for good cows and showing is seldom equalled. Recipient of a Holstein Canada Master Breeder award in 2001, Henderson has bred and developed one of Canada’s most consistent breeding and show herds. A longtime exhibitor at local and major shows, Hendercroft Holsteins has been Premier Breeder 15X and Premier Exhibitor 6X at the Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec (EO/WQ) Championship Show and was runner-up for Premier Breeder at the Royal Winter Fair National Holstein Show in 2023. Hendercroft has earned multiple All-Canadian and All-Ontario Holstein nominations and Herb is particularly proud of his Breeder’s Herd nominations which include Reserve All-Canadian Breeder’s Herd in 2018 and 2023 and All-Ontario Breeder’s Herd in 2023 and 2024. At the heart of Henderson’s success has been the cow family of Hendercroft Lheros Gumball (EX-96-6E-36*) who had 22 Excellent daughters. Gumball and two of her daughters, Hendercroft Fever Bazooka (EX-96-4E-7*) and Hendercroft Winbrok Gummybear (EX-95-4E-4*), have all been finalists for Holstein Canada’s coveted “Cow of the Year” award. Gumball and Bazooka were Canada’s first Excellent-96 Holstein dam and daughter duo and both were Grand Champion at the EO/WQ Championship Show. Gummybear was All-Canadian Longtime Production Cow in 2023. Henderson has bred over 100 Excellent cows (166 to the end of 2024). The current line-up at Hendercroft includes 14 Multiple Excellent, 8 Excellent, 40 Very Good and 18 Good Plus cows. Henderson is an Official Judge and has judged many shows in Ontario and Quebec. He is a member of Holstein Ontario’s Judges Committee, a former 4-H leader and broomball coach, and a mentor to many. Herb and his wife Darlene have three children and currently farm with their son Chad. 

Herb Henderson is the 37th winner of the Curtis Clark Achievement Award which recognizes a Canadian dairy cattle exhibitor who is respected for their ability, sportsmanship and dedication. The award was established by the Alberta Holstein Association in 1988 to honour the late Curtis Clark of Acme Holsteins, a noted Alberta Holstein breeder, cowman and showman. 

For more information contact Bonnie Cooper, Secretary, Curtis Clark Achievement Award Committee, becooper2010@ gmail.com or 416-579-6572.  

The Alberta Holstein Association was happy to sponsor the Best Bred & Owned awards at the Westerner Dairy Showcase- National Show in Red Deer! Congratulations to all the winners!

Winter Yearling in Milk- Wedgwood Blakely Rebel- Wedgwood Holsteins, BC

Fall Yealing in Milk- Lovhill Eye Candy Desperato- Lovholm Holsteins, SK

Summer 2 Year Old- Westcoast Hasitall Arro 15582- Westcoast Holsteins, BC

Spring 2 Year Old- Wendon Altitude Albina- Wendon Holsteins, AB

Winter 2 Year Old- Crestomere Perennial Daphne- Crestomere Holsteins, AB

Fall 2 Year Old- Wedgwood Sidekick Athina- Wedgwood Holsteins, BC

Junior 3 Year Old- Wendon Master Device- Wendon Holsteins, AB

 Intermediate Champion B&O

Senior 3 Year Old- Benbie Legend Paradise- Benbie Holsteins, SK

4 Year Old- Wendon Lambda Devastate- Joel Phoenix, T& L Cattle, Wendon Holsteins, AB

5 Year Old

Mature Cow- Wendon Solomon Alby- Wendon Holsteins, AB

Grand Champion B&O

Longtime Production Cow- Benbie Pharo Zarria- Benbie Holsteins, SK

Contact Amanda if you’d like a copy mailed out.

Judge: Lee Morey

Grand Champion

1st Production Cow, Kozak Aussie Red Ribbon, Kozak Holsteins

Reserve Grand Champion

1st 3rd Lactation cow, New Mars Sidekick Adalyn, New Mars Dairy

Honourable Mention Grand

1st 1st Lactation Cow, Budjon Vail Lamb Chelsea, Mellowdale Dairy

Junior Champion

1st Fall Heifer Detimdale Does Knowhow, Detimdale Holsteins

Reserve Junior Champion

2nd Fall Heifer Detimdale Dam Good Detective, Detimdale Holsteins

Honourable Mention Junior Champion

1st Summer Yearling- Kozak Chocochip Marigold, Kozak Holsteins

Judge- Garry Vanderpost

Junior Champion- Diamondpark J Lewis Carve- 1st Summer Yr- Diamond Park Dairy

Reserve Junior Champion- Diamondpark Believe Jellied-P- 1st Fall Hf- Diamond Park Dairy

HM Junior Champion- Quintus Illustrator Rena 962- 1st Spring Hf- Quintus Dairy

Grand Champion- Decoy Master Blacklight- 1st Sr. 3 Yr Old- Decoy Holsteins

Reserve Grand Champion- Nifera Sidekick Ensley- 2nd Sr. 3 Yr Old- Nifera Holsteins

HM Grand Champion- Quintus Sidekick Rena 777- 1st 5 Yr Old- Quintus Dairy

Premier Breeder & Exhibitor- Diamond Park Dairy