By Kathryn Rice
Leslie Birkenholz, daughter of Louis and Cheryl Birkenholz, Hopkins, was crowned the 2016 Missouri Guernsey Queen in May and competed at the National Guernsey Convention, Bloomington, MN, where she received the 2016 National Guernsey Miss Congeniality.
Birkenholz is attending Graceland University, Lamoni, IA, to become a physical therapist. She plays on the Yellowjacket basketball team. She is a 2013 graduate of North Nodaway High School.
“I decided to run for queen because I thought it would be a neat way to meet a lot of people and get more involved with public relations for Guernseys,” said Birkenholz. “I never really wanted to be a princess or queen when I was little, but I decided to try it out since I would be queen of the cows I have come to love. Also, I wanted to represent my state at the National Guernsey Convention, which hasn’t been done for a while.”
Growing up on a farm, her family had beef cattle, pigs, registered quarterhorses, Appaloosas, draft horses and mules, jacks and jennies, chickens and a few sheep, but did not have a dairy operation.
“My grandpa, who has since passed away, and my dad would always tell me stories about the few Guernseys they had in their herd when my dad was little,” she said. “They always said they were kind and smart. So when we went to the state fair with the draft mules, I would always go over to the dairy barn, which was right next door, and look at the Guernseys.”
She didn’t take an active interest in Guernseys until 2011 when she bought two heifers named Lilac and Rose from an Amish friend.
“Since then, I have raised a cow that is now three years old and three heifers, Amaryllis, Poinsettia and Lily, that were born within the last year,” said Birkenholz. “In addition, I purchased a three-year-old heifer, which brings me to a total of seven Guernseys. Hopefully, that number will be eight very soon because one of my cows is due to have her calf.”
Her state reign will end next spring and her duties consist of helping at the Missouri State Fair and anywhere else the association needs her.
“Another duty I have made for myself is getting more youth involved in dairy,” said Birkenholz. “This includes people like me who never came from a dairy background. If it weren’t for the nice people, who are now my friends, at the state fair who entertained the little girl who went to look at the Guernseys, I never would have got involved. I would have missed out on all the opportunities that the Guernseys have given me.”
She continued, “Another thing about my Guernseys is they are all A2 A2. This is a very big deal. It has to deal with the type of protein that is in their milk. It allows people who are lactose intolerant to be able to drink it without the usual symptoms. It has also shown to help with allergies, arthritis and cancer. None of this is a proven fact, but there are many studies which have supported that information. There are many people who are switching their large herds of 30 plus over to all A2 A2, but I’ve already got all of mine certified so when I want to expand it will be much easier.”
Leslie Birkenholz, center, Hopkins, was named the 2016 National Guernsey Miss Congeniality. She is surrounded by other royalty.
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