Young Jersey Breeders Named for 2026

The Board of Directors of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) has named nine recipients of the Young Jersey Breeder Award for 2026. They are Tommy Allen, Reedsburg, Wis.; Mitchell Endres and Sydney Flick, Lodi, Wis.; Neal Frerichs, LaGrange, Texas; Corey and Kristen Metcalf, Milton, Wis.; Michelle Morian and Rose Morian, Atlantic, Pa.; and Brent Rocha, Tillamook, Ore.

The first Young Jersey Breeder Awards were presented in 1976. Since then, more than 320 producers have received this award, including this year’s recipients.

The Young Jersey Breeder Award is presented to individuals or couples younger than the age of 40 on January 1 of the year nominated who merit recognition for their expertise in dairy farming, breeding Jersey cattle, participation in AJCA and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) programs, and leadership in Jersey and other dairy and agriculture organizations. The honorees will be recognized at the Young Jersey Breeders Banquet to be held in conjunction with the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings in Springfield, Mo., on June 18, 2026.

The group will be featured in a breeder roundtable discussion on Wednesday evening, June 17.

Tommy Allen

The Allen family shares a strong enthusiasm for Jersey genetics. As Tommy Allen forges forward with the next generation of All-Lynn Jersey breeders, he has big dreams for his small but mighty Jersey herd in Reedsburg, Wis.

It was a common sight for a young Tommy and his grandfather, AJCA Master Breeder David Allen, to be seen at Registered Jersey sales throughout the Midwest and at the All American Jersey Show. Together, they would be perusing the sale catalog, discussing the pedigrees and potential of each lot in the sale and later purchasing their key individuals with intent.

Tommy acquired his first animal through the Badger Treasure Sale, which was previously held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Jersey Spring Spectacular in Viroqua, Wis. That was the first bite of the Jersey-bug Tommy needed, as his herd rapidly grew from there in both quantity and quality.

Mitchell Endres and Sydney Flick

Growing up, the Endres family regularly attended the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. annual meetings, meeting Jersey breeders from coast to coast. For Sydney (Endres) Flick and Mitchell Endres, this was a foundation for instilling their love of the Jersey cow and propelling their careers within the dairy industry.

Today, the brother-sister duo operates Jazzy Jerseys with their father, Dave Endres, in Lodi, Wis. They milk over 800 Registered Jerseys on the family-owned operation, which also employs eleven full-time employees. In addition to the dairy, the Endres run 1,300 acres of land.

Their parents, Dave and the late Patty Endres, encouraged Sydney, Mitchell and their brother, Vincent, to be involved early on. The kids exhibited at the Lodi Agriculture Fair, exhibited multiple projects in 4-H and were active in FFA starting in middle school.

Neal Frerichs

When Neal Frerichs was just five years old, his parents gave him a calf, which ignited his passion for the Jersey breed. Not only did she take him on the path of a career in dairy farming, but she also led him to celebrity status with her commercial spotlights for Blue Belle Creameries.

Today, Neal, his parents, and uncle operate Frerichs Dairy Inc. in LaGrange, Texas. While the dairy and its supporting businesses have evolved over the years, one thing has remained constant: their admiration and focus on Registered Jersey cattle.

Growing up, Neal was extremely involved on the family’s farm. Eventually, he joined 4-H, showing Jerseys at local events. His involvement encouraged other youth to participate, increasing participation in Jersey competitions and enjoyment of the program. He received the Gold Star Award, Texas 4-H’s top honor, given annually to only two youth per county.

Corey and Kristen Metcalf

Corey and Kristen Metcalf each knew early on they were destined to be involved in the dairy industry. They faced many obstacles, but this determined duo has overcome those challenges to build what Glacier Edge Dairy is today in Milton, Wis.

When Corey was in third grade, his father and uncles dispersed their Holstein milking herd. Growing up, he was active in 4-H and FFA and showed a variety of animal projects. After high school, he spent a few years working for a harvesting operation where he traveled from Texas to the Canadian border, learning about crops, harvesting, and people management. While working on those crews, his desire to dairy farm only grew.

Kristen also grew up on a farm where her father and uncles milked 350 Holsteins. When she was 14-years-old, her father passed away unexpectedly. While she and her sisters were no longer involved with the milking herd, they continued to raise and show elite registered Holstein heifers while being active in 4-H, FFA and the Junior Holstein Association. She later attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, after graduation, had careers with the Wisconsin Holstein Association, Hoard’s Dairyman magazine, and GENEX Cooperative.

Michelle and Rose Morian

It all started with two sisters who shared a love for the little, but mighty, brown cow. When Michelle and Rose Morian were young, they watched their parents, Gary and Denise, in admiration as the family dairy farm proved itself through times of both trial and triumph.

Today, Mish-Ro Jerseys is home to 35 Registered Jerseys in Atlantic, Pa.  If you were to look back in their story, the landscape looked very different in 1990 on the dairy. At the time, their parents had just started dairy farming and purchased cattle as they were able. They added their first Registered Jerseys to the herd the following year.

As the sisters began their careers in the show ring, they did not always place where they wanted. After a day of frustration, their father helped the girls learn a life lesson: breeding cattle from your own barn’s genetics is a worthwhile – and affordable – way to improve your herd genetics.

Brent Rocha

In recent years, Brent Rocha and his family have become a well-known name in the Registered Jersey business. R&R Dairy/Pacific Edge in Tillamook, Ore., is home to over 1,400 Registered Jersey cows that not only are productive, but have the phenotypical characteristics to influence the Jersey breed for generations to come.

Like many farm kids, Brent, and his brother, Scott, were out in the barn at a young age. They helped feed calves and eventually selecting their own animals to show at the Tillamook County Fair and Western National Jersey Show.

In 2016, Brent and Scott began making the mating decisions on the farm.