A keen interest in genetics, an unyielding commitment to Registered Holsteins as well as the fortitude to forge his own path have guided the 2024 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder to success in the dairy business. Holstein Association USA recognized Trent Hendrickson as this year’s Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder.
Trent farms along with his wife, Kelsey, at Trent-Way Genetics in Blanchardville, Wisconsin. The couple has four young children: Trevor, Grace, Lee, and Jeffrey.
Throughout the past 12 years, Trent and Kelsey have built Trent-Way Genetics from the ground up. They have grown it into a nationally and also internationally recognized name, specializing in balanced type cows and Red and Red-Carrier genetics. The herd consists of 400 cows and 600 youngstock. They have a Rolling Herd Average of 28,483 pounds of milk with a 4.0% fat test and 3.2% protein.
“I’m really thankful and proud of what we’ve accomplished to be able to receive this award,” Trent shares. “I’m kind of in awe about it. It’s exciting to be a representative of this next generation of young farmers.”
Trent grew up on his family’s Jeffrey-Way Holsteins farm in Belleville, Wisconsin. He was involved in the Junior Holstein Association, showing, and dairy judging as a youth. Following high school, Trent attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He returned home to farm at Jeffrey-Way Holsteins in 2010, after graduating with his degree in animal science with a dairy emphasis.
In 2011, Trent started farming with Dave Erickson, a Registered Holstein breeder looking towards retirement. Dave managed the crops and provided the feed, while Trent owned 100% of the cows. After six years of farming with Dave, Trent and Kelsey purchased the building site and continued to expand the farm.
Trent’s sharp eye for good cows and concentration on dairy cattle genetics have led the farm to success. In addition to marketing breeder bulls to other dairymen, 45 bulls from Trent-Way Genetics have gone into A.I. They’ve also bred 83 Excellent cows with the Trent-Way prefix. They ranked second in BAA for herds over 250 in 2023 with a BAA of 109.5.
Behind the high-performing herd and in-demand genetics is a young man with a love of breeding top-notch cows — and also a desire to raise his family on the farm. At Trent-Way Genetics, the Hendricksons value hard work, passion for the industry, as well as pride in breeding excellent cow families.