Jenny Thomas is no stranger to the Ayrshire breed, the world's dairy scene or even IDW where she stepped up from her usual role as spectator.
Jenny Thomas is no stranger to International Dairy Week, having visited twice before.
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This year, however, a lot more was asked of her.
Jenny joined her husband Nathan as a judge of the competitions due to the last-minute cancellation of renowned US Ayrshire breeder and judge Kurt Wolf who was snowed in at his Iowa home.
Although Nathan was already scheduled to judge this year’s Jerseys, it was a high-quality novelty to have the ‘Buckeye’ (Ohioan) couple join forces in the arena in different breeds.
Jenny’s credentials warranted her stepping up for the late change to judge the Ayrshires.
She has judged at the college level in the US and spent the past five years judging Jerseys and Holsteins at shows all around that country.
“I got to go last spring to the UK to judge at their national competition,” Jenny told Country News.
“Back home, we breed Holsteins and Jerseys.”
One of the couple’s most recent achievements was their stud’s development of the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Jersey at the past three World Dairy Expos.
Nathan has also been the official judge for Holsteins, Jerseys and Red and Whites at the expo.
Jenny said coming to IDW this year was a far cry from her previous visits as a spectator.
“Being out in the ring is quite an honour but under different circumstances with our good friend not able to make it because of the bad weather.
“So they asked me to step in.”
Nathan Thomas inspects a field of 13 seven-year-old Jerseys from a long day of judging more than 250 of the breed.
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