2026 Breed Judges

The NZDE Management Committee is proud to announce the judges for the 2026 17th annual All New Zealand Show, their industry expertise, reputation and knowledge of cattle will provide for spectacular viewing. Once again the All New Zealand Show will have associate judges in the Holstein Friesian Breed, Ayrshire Breed and Jersey Breed Sections.

Jersey Breed 2026: – 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞 𝐊𝐮𝐡𝐧𝐞

Wayne Kuhne – of Bushlea Jersey fame which has won Grand Champion Jersey five times at Australia’s International Dairy Week (IDW) – will judge the Jerseys at the 2026 NZ DairyEvent at Feilding from January 25 to 28. Wayne and wife Lisa are the third generation to operate Bushlea Farms at Koonwarra in South Gippsland. They milk 420 seasonal calving cows (over a 10-12-week period once-a-year). Wayne has been a board member of Jersey Australia for the last six years, and he is the current chair of its Genetic and Breed Development. Wayne’s involvement in the South Gippsland Jersey breeders club spans more than 30 years, and he is its current president. Showing, promoting, and selling Jersey cattle has been an integral part of Bushlea’s business for many years - along with a strong commercial focus under Wayne's stewardship. It's hard to know which name better known in world Jerseys circles - Bushlea (the farm), Fernleaf (the cow family that helped put Bushlea on the map), or Kuhne (the tightknit family behind it all) - take your pick. In addition to IDW broad ribbons, Bushlea has won Champion Cow at the Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane Royals. It has also been the name on multiple high-sellers throughout a profile career for this popular family. Notably, Bushlea sold Bushlea Van Fernleaf 10 EX93 for AUD$50,000 – an Australasian record price – at the Global Impact Sale in 2017 after she had won Grand Champion Jersey at IDW before the sale. She went on to secure her IDW back-to-back Grand Champion title in 2018 for the international syndicate that bought her. Wayne is quick to acknowledge the opportunities Jerseys have afforded him. He judged the 2025 Central Gippsland Jerseys Fair (which coincided with the World Jersey Tour), the 2023 Great Northern Jersey Challenge, the 2023 Brisbane Royal Show, the 2019 New South Wales State Jersey Show, the 2019 Sydney Royal, the 2017 Gatton QLD State Show, various features shows throughout Victoria, and the Waikato On-Farm Competition. Wayne and Lisa have a daughter, Ruby, who is studying Year 12. Fiona Hanks (thanks Fiona - you're a star)

Combined Breeds 2026: Brent Crothers

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐁𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐒 – 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒, Shropshire, UK. Born and bred in New Zealand and now living in the UK, Brent Crothers will be the 2026 Combined Breeds judge at the NZ DairyEvent at Mansfield Park from 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟓 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟖.Brent and his wife, Anne Crothers, relocated to the UK 10 years ago for an employment opportunity where he continues to maintain close ties with the registered dairy industry. Brent is the UK Sales Manager for MilkTechNZ, and he and Anne also run an elite group of Brown Swiss, Holstein, and Jersey animals under their Toi Toi Genetics prefix in Shropshire in the UK’s West Midlands. They have enjoyed significant success since buying their first Swiss calf in 2018, Kedar Aurora. She remains one of their highest profile animals. Aurora went on to be a two-time Junior Champion at the UK Dairy Expo, she was Intermediate Champion at the UK Dairy Day when she was two years old, and she won 27 Championships across the UK during her career. She was also the top producing UK Brown Swiss of all ages, twice. Brent is also extremely active in the Holstein breed and has (among others) co-owned and marketed direct daughters from Garay Awesome Beauty *RC VG88-USA 2yr who was 1st Junior 2yr. Old at the 2018 Royal Winter Fair and 2nd Jr. 2-Yr Old at the World Dairy Expo. Brent is chairman of the Shropshire Holstein Club, and he is on the UK Holstein and UK Brown Swiss judging panels, in addition to owning Red & White Holsteins and Ayrshires. Toi Toi has quickly become a force in All-Britain nominations in the Holsteins and Brown Swiss breeds. In the 2024 All-Britain Brown Swiss photographic competition, Toi Toi animals won four of the five classes. He has judged the 2021 Swedish Holstein On-Farm competition, the Interbreed at the 2022 Cheshire Royal County Show, and the (upcoming) 2025 All-Britain Brown Swiss Calf Show at Stafford Show in September. Brent looks forward to visiting with everyone.

Ayrshire Breed 2026: 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐫

Boldview Ayrshires needs no introduction within the Ayrshire fraternity.

Scott Braendler (together with his sister, Cheryl Liebech) are the co-owners and managers of South Australian family operation, which includes Cher-Bar Ayrshires. In a unique twist, 20% of the herd includes animals from 28 other studs – who rely on Boldview to keep their interest in the breed alive by housing their show animals. Boldview is also Australia’s biggest Ayrshire herd – milking up to 420 Ayrshires, 25 Jerseys, seven Holsteins, and two Illawarras – through a 60-unit rotary. It is also one of the most successful Ayrshire breeders and exhibitors in Australia, winning significant numbers of championships at its hometown Royal – Adelaide – along with International Dairy Week, and at local country shows. Its Adelaide Show teams are renowned for being exceptionally big – and for representing the many exhibitors Boldview helps sustain an interest in the breed by showing on their behalf. Boldview has also won many All-Australian and All-World Photo Competition winners.

In December 2018, the home farm relocated to a 270ha property at Mount McIntyre, in the south-east region of South Australia, which as a 27-inch rainfall (and underground aquifers via three centre pivots and 40ha of fixed sprinklers). It recently bought an additional 160ha of dryland for silage production and heifer growing.Scott held Federal positions on Australian Ayrshire Committees between 2004 and 2020 – including four years as Treasurer of AABA Inc, and four years as President of AABA Inc. His involvement co-incided with the 2015 amalgamation of the two Australian Ayrshire Breed organisations, and was followed by his three-year term as Federal President of Australian Ayrshires Ltd. During his presidency, Australia hosted the 2020 World Ayrshire Federation Conference Tour. In 2017, Scott was awarded Life Membership of Australian Ayrshires Ltd.

𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 (𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬) 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:Toowoomba Royal – Ayrshire – 2008Brisbane Royal – Ayrshire – 2010 South Australian Jersey Heifer On-Farm Challenge – 2010 South Australian Illawarra Calf Day – 2011 New South Wales Ayrshire Calf Day – 2011Stratford Royal Event (NZ) – Ayrshire – 2012 Melbourne Royal – Ayrshire & Illawarra Breeds – 2013South Australian Illawarra On Farm Challenge – 2013Western Districts of Victoria Ayrshire On-Farm Herd Competition – 2014Holstein Australia – SEMEX On-Farm Challenge, South East of South Australia section – 2014Sydney Royal – Ayrshire & Guernsey – 2016Burnie Show (Tasmania) – Ayrshire – 2016All-World Ayrshire Photographic Competition – 2017Tasmania Ayrshire Calf Day – 2018All-New Zealand Photographic Competition – 2020On-Line Dairy Show of Wales – Ayrshire – 2020Scott is pictured at the Adelaide Royal.

Photo by Michael Hentschke

Holstein Friesian Breed 2026: 𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆

Tanner Schmaling is a name routinely in the mix at the top end of the North American show circuit which also offers premium boarding for registered cows under Maple-Leigh Futures at Delavan, Wisconsin. Tanner was the associate judge for the Red & White Holstein show at the 2023 World Dairy Expo (WDE) and his show strings are always a must-visit. After graduating from UW-River Falls, Tanner spent five years as a professional fitter travelling throughout North America. He then returned home to Schmaling Farm Inc., his family’s 120-cow registered Holstein and crop farm he now farms with his wife, Madeline and parents John and Jill. In 2017, the family expanded the operation to include Maple-Leigh Futures. This facility houses 100-head of cattle and is known for its premier individualised care for both high genomic and high-type cattle. Its services include IVF, conventional flushing, and advanced donor management. Maple-Leigh Futures also specialises in show cattle housing, and it has cared for and exhibited a number of Grand Champions. In its first eight years of the business it has amassed more than 65 All-American, Jr. All-American, and All-Canadian nominations. Tanner and Madeline have two daughters, Haisey and Hollyn.

𝐓𝐨𝐩-𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬:

• 2023 International Red & White Holstein Show – Associate Judge
• 2024 Minnesota Holstein State Junior Show
• 2024 Fond Du Lac Holstein Futurity
• 2024 Houston Livestock & Rodeo Dairy Show
• 2025 Fort Worth Junior Dairy Show

Youth Show 2026: 𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐄𝐋 𝐉𝐄𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐒

This year’s Youth Show Judge, Michael Jenkins says it is an honour to be asked to officiate the next generation of rising stars. Michael was introduced to Holsteins through his parents, Roger and Sue Jenkins, of Membury Holsteins. Adding fuel to the fire lit by their genetics was exposure to some of the great studs within the New Zealand including names like Cairnhill (Trevor and Rosalie Zanders), Kauri Glen (Tony Barton), Belrose (Gary Cahone), Oak Lodge (Rennie family), and Karatane (Ormsby family). “With that kind of influence, it was easy to fall in love with quality dairy cows,” Michael said. Michael showed for the first time when he was eight years old and he took his own string when he was aged 13. In 2010, together with his wife, Holly, they started their own stud – Lucerne Holsteins. They dispersed in 2022, and no longer live on a dairy farm. “But the passion for cows is still very much part of our lives. We’re raising three amazing teenagers, and I feel lucky that the dairy industry has played such a big role in shaping our family,” Michael said. Some personal highlights include winning Champion Cow at the Waikato Show four times and Reserve Champion three times. Michael has judged on-farm competitions in Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay and Southland, as well as the North Island Championships in Stratford.

Today, he is the Business Development Manager for Bell-Booth, travelling around New Zealand, visiting farms and supporting farmers. “I still love exhibiting cattle with my brother, Tony, and his wife Serena, who share the same passion as I do.“Cows have given me and my family lifelong friendships – both here in New Zealand – and across the Tasman.“I wish all the competitors the very best of luck. I can’t wait to see the animals and line them up.”

Photo supplied.

Youth Team Challenge Judges: TBC

2026 Associate Breed Judges

Holstein Friesian: 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫

This year’s 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫 from Tararua. He will work with the Holstein lead judge – Tanner Schmaling (Maple-Leigh Futures) from Wisconsin. The pair will be in action at Manfield Park between January 25 and January 28.Braydon said while it would be hard to step aside from showing in the 2026 event, the “honour” of being associate to Tanner was too good to turn down. “It’s an opportunity that couldn't be passed up to have the chance to learn from his wisdom and cow knowledge,” Braydon said. Braydon has judged a number of small A&P shows or on-farm branch competitions annually for the last five years. He has also shown his own animals in New Zealand and Australia, and he fitted cattle for several breeders across Canada over a six-month period. He has regularly fitted since for breeders in Australasia. Born and raised in the Tararua breeding Holsteins, Braydon completed his education through Lincoln University (Canterbury) and Guelph University (Canada) – achieving a First Class Honors degree in Agricultural Science. He has since completed a number of international agriculture experiences that supported him as he worked towards his current role with Perrin Ag Consultants. He is a shareholder with the company, overseeing farms for absentee owners, advising to farm boards, offering farm system analysis and advice, and project managing industry initiatives. He also wears a couple of other hats as a Federated Farmers provincial president and associate director of HFNZ, which he says allows him to contribute and have a positive impact on the industry in different ways

Jersey Breed 2026: 𝐊𝐚𝐡𝐮 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧

This year’s 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 is 𝐊𝐚𝐡𝐮 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧, from Cambridge. He will work with the Jersey show’s lead judge – Australia’s Wayne Kuhne of Bushlea Jersey fame – at Manfield Park between January 25 and January 28. To recap, Wayne and wife Lisa are the third generation to operate Bushlea Farms at Koonwarra in South Gippsland. They milk 420 seasonal calving cows over a 10-12-week period once-a-year. Wayne has been a board member of Jersey Australia for the last six years, and he is the current chair of its Genetic and Breed Development.Kahu’s love of dairy farming was encouraged by his grandfather who picked him up most weekends when he was young and took him out to the family farm. It ignited his love of farming.His interest in registered cattle was kick-started from the age of 13 from weekends and school holidays spent at Bryan and Shirley Phillips’ farm milking Jerseys. He hasn’t looked back, leaving school at 17 to work fulltime for Bryan and Shirley. After four seasons, Kahu relocated to Otorohanga with his partner, Rhiarna, to contract milk at Thornlea Jerseys for Nigel and Julz Riddell. The experience gave them the chance to refine their on-farm skills, teamwork, cow knowledge, and business strategies. Through this time Kahu started to get involved in on-farm competitions and shows.This season, Kahu and Rhiarna are contract milking at Ellison Jerseys. They own 12 animals and their goal is to continue building numbers over the coming seasons with a clear vision to achieve a 50/50 sharemilking position in the future. Kahu is excited and grateful for opportunity at the NZ DairyEvent, adding: “I hope everyone is having a great season, and I look forward to seeing many of you there and plenty of great Jersey cattle.”

Ayrshire Breed 2026: 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬

This year’s 𝐀𝐲𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 show’s 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 is 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬, from Auckland. She will work with the Ayrshires show’s lead judge – Australia’s Scott Braendler – at Manfield Park between January 25 and January 28. To recap, Scott represents Boldview Ayrshires, Australia’s biggest Ayrshire herd – milking up to 420 Ayrshires, 25 Jerseys, seven Holsteins, and two Illawarras – through a 60-unit rotary. It is also one of the most successful breeders and exhibitors in Australia, winning significant numbers of championships at its hometown Royal – Adelaide – along with International Dairy Week, and at local country shows. Its Adelaide Show teams are renowned for being big – and for representing the many exhibitors who Boldview help sustain an interest in the breed by showing on their behalf. Boldview has also won many All-Australian and All-World Photo Competition winners.Courtney is a first-generation Ayrshire breeder from Dairy Flat, founding her herd, Inca Ayrshires. She doesn’t come from a farming background, and she has nurtured her passion for Ayrshire cattle through the show rings of Northland and Auckland. She owns 11 cows under the Inca prefix. She recently achieved her first homebred Excellent classification with Inca Pinnacle – who is out of her first homebred heifer to win an A&P show championship, Inca Bur Piper.Courtney is a passionate advocate for dairy, and she was the youngest elected member to serve a term on the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand Executive. She has also represented New Zealand as the Rural Ambassador in Australia. Her interest in livestock stretches her resume to include representing New Zealand as a dairy, beef, poultry and merino judge across the Agricultural Shows of Australian state shows.She has been a qualified Ayrshire Judge for over 10 years and has judged at school Ag Days and local A&P Shows when she isn’t on the end of a halter. Courtney champions the next generation, especially those without a connection to the industry. She set up an inter-show young parader’s competition, which ran successfully pre-COVID. In her first visit to the NZ DairyEvent, Courtney won the Ayrshire Young Judge Arran Trophy (defending it the following year) and – alongside Celine, Loren and Hope – she was part of the winning Youth Challenge team. That same year she was awarded the Shirley Crothers Memorial Trophy and spent a month touring Ayrshire farms and country shows across Scotland and England, before participating in the Young Breeders group at UK Dairy Day.Outside of agriculture, Courtney has an MBA and a Master of Natural Sciences in Microbiology from Massey University. Inspired by solving a mastitis issue in her top show heifer, she developed a prophylactic antimicrobial tool using viruses to protect against bacterial diseases in agriculture and human health. She is a keen educator, having worked with over 40,000 people across the world lecturing and consulting on agriculture, sustainability and marine biology. In addition to her love for Ayrshire cattle, Courtney is a commercial beef cattle photographer and has spoken at the African Food System’s Forum in Tanzania, the Youth Ag Summit in Brazil and the World Seed Congress in the Netherlands. Courtney is looking forward to learning from overjudge Scott and is grateful for the opportunity to see exceptional Ayrshire cattle at NZDE

Combined Breed 2026: Harvey Verwaayen

This year’s Combined Breeds’ 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 judge is Harvey Verwaayen from Dannevirke. He will work with the Combined Breeds’ lead judge – Brent Crothers – at Manfield Park between January 25 and January 28.

Harvey is a young breeder who – together with his partner Zara van Hout – have recently taken over the family’s 375-cow dairy farm from Harvey's parents, Hennie and Kerri.

Although the majority of their herd is Holsteins, Harvey has also had experience with Ayrshire, Milking Shorthorns and Brown Swiss animals (boarding for the Lakeview Partnership, Kelsen family) and there are also several Brown Swiss animals in the herd that belong to Harvey’s sister, Lucy, who’s currently farming overseas.

Harvey’s involvement with pedigree cattle and showing started at the local primary school. In his early years he was mainly showing homebred stock. The first ever shows Harvey helped out at were with Brent Crothers and Fred Blatchford, this is where his passion truly began.

Later on, his showing and pedigree cattle knowledge, expanded with a stint at Okawa Holsteins (Tim & Jo Barclay and family) and after that, an internship at Luck-E Holsteins (Matt & Joe Engel and family) in Hampshire, Illinois, USA. Both of these jobs also earned him several embryos that have made their way into the current herd.

Over the years he’s also helped out fitting and leading for other breeders and at multiple high-profile pedigree sales.

Farming commitments at home and having an autumn calving herd is restricting showing his own animals fractionally, but Harvey most years attends the Stratford A&P show and the NZ DairyEvent with either stock of his own or helping out other breeders.

Harvey is excited and very much looking forward to being in the ring in January.

Harvey Verwaayen and his partner, Zara van Hout. Photo supplied.