The Bullvine

About The Bullvine

Every article from TheBullvine.com (http://TheBullvine.com) — read aloud so you can keep up with dairy while you're milking, hauling, or driving fence. Daily dispatches on genetics, milk economics, herd management, policy, and the stories the trade press won't touch. No fluff, no PR, no filler — just our journalism in your ears. New articles go live in audio within hours of publication. Subscribe and the day's Bullvine comes with you.

Publisher

The Bullvine

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Sept 2024

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

659 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   E665 Hank Van Exel’s Parents Milked Grade Cows by Hand. He’s the 84th Klussendorf Winner

   Brenda Lee, the World Dairy Expo Holstein show announcer, began reading the citation before the crowd heard his name. But behind the applause and the silver Tiffany trophy waiting on the table was a reality most showmen never have to face: thirty-five years of forty-hour hauls across the desert, building a legacy from a grade herd his Dutch immigrant parents milked by hand in 1954, and loading the trailer this fall without the intermediate champion he lost just days before the trip. In the registered dairy business, greatness isn’t handed down—it is argued into existence, proven in the bulk tank, and paid for in sweat, highway lines, and heartbreak. This is the story of Hank Van Exel, the 84th Klussendorf winner, and it will fundamentally challenge how you view the sacrifices you make, the cattle in your barns, and the next generation standing beside you. The Story You'll Hear The phone call that ended college: How a sudden family medical crisis cut his Cal Poly days short and dropped him straight into a trial-by-fire herd takeover. One argument at a time: What it took to convince an old-school, progressive father that papered genetics were worth betting the farm on. The judge who bought the ring: Why he stunned exhibitors at a 1992 county show by buying the five Jerseys he had just finished placing—and the heat he took for milking a mixed herd long before component pricing made it standard. Four months on the blacktop: The physical and mental toll of 35 consecutive years making the grueling drive from Lodi to Madison, sharing the cab with fellow show-ring royalty. Supreme highs, quiet grief: The partnership behind Expo legend Rosiers Blexy Goldwyn-ET, and the devastating empty stall that every true cowman understands. Why "fair" is never "equal": The unvarnished, non-negotiable rule he gave his children about coming home, and why sentimentality ruins farm succession. The mentor's gift: A timeless piece of advice from Doug Maddox on what handing a calf to a kid actually does for the future of our industry. Hank Van Exel represents the rare, vital bridge between relentless commercial reality and the romance of the registered cow. He didn't inherit an empire; his parents arrived with empty hands and milked cows into buckets. Over five decades, Hank built Exels Holsteins and Jerseys into a powerhouse recognized across 15 countries. Yet this conversation isn’t a victory lap of ribbons and credentials. It is a masterclass in human longevity, resilience, and operational discipline. Hank speaks with startling candor about the friction of generational transfer, the grueling depression of the post-show load-out, and the courage it takes to pursue breeding choices before the market catches up. Whether you are milking 50 cows in a tie-stall barn or managing thousands on a Western commercial dairy, Hank’s story strikes at the universal heart of why we stay in agriculture: the pursuit of excellence, the pride of doing things right, and the profound responsibility of lifting up the young people who come after us. Read the complete written feature on Hank Van Exel—featuring archival photos of the early Lodi dairy, complete production records, and his five core business lessons for breeders—at https://www.thebullvine.com/people-legacy/hank-van-exel-klussendorf-award/ (https://www.thebullvine.com/people-legacy/hank-van-exel-klussendorf-award/) Subscribe to The Bullvine Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform to ensure you never miss an industry-defining story.

2. 

   7 Oct 2026

   E664 Peter Vail, 87, Earns the Honorary Klussendorf and Still Tells Kids to Pick a Calf

   In 1964, a young Cornell graduate sold off his small herd of quality Brown Swiss. For most aspiring cattlemen, that dispersal would have been the quiet end of a short-lived dream. But for Peter Vail, walking away was actually the first step in a sixty-year build. He didn't just come back to the industry—he returned to rewrite the rules of modern show ring genetics, ultimately putting his name on 75 official placings across six breeds in a single week at World Dairy Expo. Yet, as he stood on the colored shavings to receive the highest honor in the dairy show ring, he didn't want to talk about the millions he invested or the record-breaking sales. He wanted to talk about a kid from Vermont who walked up to him and asked to lease a calf. This story will completely change how you measure a lifetime of success in the barn. The Story You'll Hear: The 1964 dispersal that could have ended it all, and the three-generation fertilizer business that fueled his massive return to the industry Why he paid for an IVF session on a cow seven years after selling her for a $210,000 breed record The undeniable "coincidence" connecting all five owners of the 2017 Supreme Champion The exact standard he uses to choose his partners—and why October polish means nothing without February grit The true return on investment of a leased calf, and why saying "yes" to a young exhibitor became his defining trademark We all chase the banners, the high classification scores, and the lucrative dispersals. But Peter Vail’s journey proves that the true value of a cow family isn't found at the gavel—it's found in the daughters, the partners, and the people who come after you. Vail, recently named the 19th Honorary Klussendorf recipient at 87 years old, is a living legend who has owned or bred champions across five different breeds. But behind the staggering statistics is a fiercely loyal cattleman who prizes 365-day caretakers over show-week fitters. His perspective forces us to look past the glitz of Madison and examine the human infrastructure of our own operations. You’ll leave this episode feeling reminded of why you fell in love with this industry in the first place, and inspired to hold the door open for the next generation. Don't miss a beat of this incredible journey—hit subscribe to The Bullvine Podcast wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Want to dive deeper into the data and the 75-placing Expo run? Visit https://www.thebullvine.com/breeder-profiles/peter-vail-klussendorf-legacy/ (https://www.thebullvine.com/breeder-profiles/peter-vail-klussendorf-legacy/) to read the full feature profile on Peter Vail, complete with the exclusive Klussendorf network breakdown. We want to hear from you: who was the cattleman who first opened a door for you? Share your story with us on social media and connect with a community that knows the true value of a good cow and a great caretaker.

3. 

   6 Oct 2026

   E663 Joe Price Wins the 2026 Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award: Butlerview’s Manager Gets Called to the Shavings

   Imagine being 13 years old, standing in the barnyard, and watching the trucks load up everything your family has built. For Joe Price, the dispersal of his childhood dairy herd wasn't just a heartbreak—it was the moment that forced a quiet kid to figure out if he actually loved the cows, or just the life. Fast forward through a devastating farming accident, the heart-wrenching sale of his own elite 112.1 BAA herd, and a high-stakes leap of faith to manage a string of million-dollar show cattle for someone else. This isn't just an episode about winning the prestigious 2026 Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award or breeding a Supreme Champion Heifer. It’s a raw, honest look at what it takes to rebuild from scratch, survive the pressure of the wash rack, and stay grounded when the whole world is watching your cattle. This story will change how you look at the people quietly working the pitchforks in the shadows of the show ring. The Story You'll Hear The day the trucks came for his childhood herd—and the moment he realized he had to step up. The tragic farming accident that forced him to walk away from his own elite herd. The life-changing phone call that suddenly put nearly a million dollars of cattle in his care. The heartbreak of losing a legendary cow at the peak of her career. The unseen, daily grind required to turn an 11th-place calf into a Supreme Champion Heifer in just 12 months. Why the true secret to his decades of success is simply never being afraid to ask a question. We spend a lot of time in this industry talking about genomics, feed efficiency, and component markets. But at its core, dairy farming is a human endeavor fueled by grit, heartbreak, and resilience. Joe Price's journey matters because it strips away the glamour of the colored shavings to reveal the relentless, unglamorous grind required to achieve greatness. He didn't win the Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award because he stood at the halter of the world's most famous cows; he won it because he spent 16 years sweeping the aisles, tracking feed intakes, and making the invisible, daily decisions that turn good cattle into legends. His story is a testament to the fact that you don't have to be the loudest voice in the room to leave a lasting legacy. It's a reminder that behind every Grand Champion banner is a team of people who have sacrificed sleep, navigated profound personal loss, and chosen to keep going because they simply feel "comfortable and safe" around the cows. You'll walk away from this episode with a renewed respect for the quiet leaders in our industry, the vital importance of mentorship, and the true cost of greatness. Don't miss the full, in-depth profile on Joe Price's incredible career and his staggering show ring stats. Visit https://www.thebullvine.com/show-reports/world-dairy-expo/joe-price-klussendorf-mackenzie/ (https://www.thebullvine.com/show-reports/world-dairy-expo/joe-price-klussendorf-mackenzie/) to read the complete article and explore our archive of resources, from genetic insights to farm economics. If this story struck a chord with you, hit subscribe on Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode of The Bullvine Podcast. We want to hear about the mentors who shaped your own dairy journey—reach out, share your story with us on Facebook or LinkedIn, and join the conversation with a community of producers who get it.

Who has been a guest on The Bullvine

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Sarah Hagenow
• Chandler Barber
• Andrew Hunt
• Hannah Woodhouse
• Molly Westwood

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

3.4 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

3.4 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

72

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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