THOMAS “MOSS” McCAULEY WINS KLUSSENDORF-MACKENZIE AWARD

Thomas “Moss” McCauley, Lowell, Mich., won the coveted Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award presented during the 43rd World Dairy Expo, in memory of Duncan McKenzie, 1961 Klussendorf winner. The combination of genetics and environment is what makes a good cow great. The same can be said of making a good cowman a great one. This year’s MacKenzie winner grew up under the keen eye of his father who was a pioneer in embryo transfer. Additionally, this year’s winner had the unique opportunity to be mentored by Dr. David Hagen. With their home farm on the outskirts of Harrisburg, Pa., McCauley would spend days at the All-American learning from Dr. Hagen, who was the show’s official veterinarian.

Even at the young age of 10, McCauley had a keen eye of his own. After being disappointed with his first year in 4-H, his father let him pick a calf at the All-American Elite Sale. There was only one calf that he wanted, and she developed into an EX-94 GMD, DOM that eventually went on to be named Grand Champion of the Junior National Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

Later on, this Pennsylvania native worked at EmTran where he had the opportunity to be around many prominent cows and breeders. When he entered college, he stayed involved at EmTran and his own New Direction herd. At Penn State, he earned a degree in dairy science and some questioned why he didn’t take his 3.9 GPA to vet school. But, his passion was solely working with dairy cows.

Since then, he was worked with cattle from coast to coast. The time and dedication he has spent with his animals at the show fostered many friendships that have developed into strong partnerships. He has worked with such herds as Brigeen, MD-Hillbrook, Waverly, Rosedale, Exel, Nabholz, Oakvale, and Airosa, not to mention his own family’s herds of New Direction, Nugentdale, and now Tumbleweed Holsteins and Jerseys.

For more information, contact World Dairy Expo at 608-224-6455 or http://www.worlddairyexpo.com.