The American Jersey Cattle Association named Michelle and Rose Morian of Mish-Ro Jerseys, Atlantic, Pa., as one of six recipients of the 2026 Young Jersey Breeder Award. They were honored June 18 during the 158th Annual Meeting of the association in Springfield, Mo.
The Young Jersey Breeder Award is presented to individuals or couples between the ages of 28 and 40 on January 1 of their nomination year. The award recognizes expertise in dairy farming and breeding Jersey cattle, participation in programs of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc., and leadership in Jersey, dairy and agricultural organizations.
For Michelle and Rose, success with Registered Jerseys has not been measured by the size of their herd. Instead, the sisters have built their reputation one generation at a time, with a determination to breed each generation better than the one before it.
Growing up, Michelle and Rose watched their parents, Gary and Denise, build their dairy through both challenging and rewarding times. The family added its first Registered Jerseys in the early 1990s, and the sisters quickly developed an appreciation for the breed.
Their interest in breeding better Jerseys grew from an experience familiar to many young exhibitors—a disappointing day in the show ring. Their father offered a simple piece of advice: If they wanted better cattle, they should learn to breed them themselves.
The sisters took his advice to heart.
By 2003, Mish-Ro Jerseys participated in its first official appraisal through the American Jersey Cattle Association, earning scores that exceeded the sisters’ expectations, including a Very Good first-calf two-year-old. Since then, they have bred more than 35 Excellent cows, including one Excellent-95%, four Excellent-94%, three Excellent-93% and six Excellent-92% cows.
Their early success only made Michelle and Rose want to learn more. They immersed themselves in pedigrees, studied cow families and appraisal results, and became increasingly deliberate with mating decisions. Just as importantly, they sought out experienced breeders as mentors, asked questions and put what they learned into practice.
Among those mentors was respected Jersey breeder Michael Heath. When Michelle told him that she and Rose wanted to improve their herd, he encouraged them to use good bulls consistently and told them they would be surprised by how much progress they could make in just a few generations. His advice reinforced their belief that thoughtful breeding decisions, repeated generation after generation, could transform a herd.
Today, Mish-Ro Jerseys numbers just 35 Registered Jerseys, but the influence of the sisters’ breeding program reaches well beyond the herd’s size. Michelle and Rose have developed a reputation for breeding balanced, productive and long-lasting cows capable of thriving in a variety of environments.
Among the cattle carrying the Mish-Ro prefix is Mish-Ro VIP Shabbat Shalom, who placed fifth as a milking yearling at The All American Jersey Show. The herd also includes descendants of Mish-Ro Comerica Lettie, Excellent-94%, a cow family whose production and components have generated continued interest in Mish-Ro genetics.
The sisters have been equally committed to sharing with others the knowledge and encouragement that helped them along the way.
Together, Michelle and Rose coached the Crawford County 4-H Dairy Judging Team for a combined 20 years, helping develop the skills and confidence of young dairy enthusiasts. Michelle serves as chairman of the Western Pennsylvania Jersey Show and has judged at the Pennsylvania All-American. Rose serves on the Crawford County DHIA Board and is editor of Pennsylvania Holstein Profiles.
Whether coaching dairy judging teams, organizing Jersey events, mentoring breeders or helping someone get started with their first Jersey, the sisters have made investing in others an important part of their involvement in the dairy industry.
For Michelle and Rose, the same willingness to listen, learn and improve that transformed their own herd is now something they strive to pass along to the next generation.
Their success at Mish-Ro Jerseys demonstrates that progress is not determined by the number of cows in a barn. It can be built through careful mating decisions, patience and the pursuit of continual improvement—one generation at a time.
The American Jersey Cattle Association was organized in 1868 to improve and promote the Jersey breed. Since 1957, National All-Jersey Inc. has served Jersey owners by promoting the increased production and sale of Jersey milk and milk products. For more information on its programs and services, visit www.USJersey.com or call 614/861-3636.
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