MADISON, Wis. — In her wildest dreams, 18-year-old Ashley Sears never imagined her Guernsey cow, Indian Acres MM Pistachio Pie, could win the title of Supreme Champion at the largest, most competitive dairy show in the world. Especially, since only one other Guernsey cow in history ever captured the coveted title nearly 30 years ago.

But, in fact, her dreams became a beautiful reality when Seth Johnson, executive director of the American Guernsey Assoc. and announcer at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis. said “It’s the Guernsey!” when naming the 2007 Supreme Champion beneath the spotlights on Oct. 6.

“When they announced the winner of Reserve, I thought to myself, maybe it’s not us, but maybe it is,” recalled Massachusetts native Sears, still reeling from the once-in-a-lifetime moment. “Then when they said the Guernsey, I couldn’t believe it – I just couldn’t believe it – I started crying – it was an incredible moment – something I’ve dreamed about all my life.”

According to Johnson, not only was Pistachio Pie the first Guernsey to win the title since 1979, but Sears is the first junior exhibitor ever to win both junior and open show Supreme Champion in history, a truly impressive feat.

“It was all unbelievable,” said Sears. “I think breathtaking is the best word to describe the whole experience.”

“This is by far the most prestigious show in the world for all breeds combined, so to win at Madison and beat everyone, it’s a huge step for the breed,” described Johnson, who estimated that there are 15,000 total registered Guernseys in the United States, up nearly 5,000 in the past two years. “People said she couldn’t win at Harrisburg and she did it, then they said she couldn’t do it at Madison and she did, now she’s done it all. It’s near unanimous in the Guernsey breed, this cow is amazing.”

Seven dairy breeds, including the Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss, Aryshire, Red and White Holstein, Milking Shorthorn and Guernsey competed for Supreme Champion on the final day of competition at the Expo. And out of 2,483 total cattle exhibited at the World Dairy Expo, more than 730 Holsteins and 415 Jerseys were shown; while only 195 Guernseys paraded across the colored shavings this year.

“So in a nutshell, it’s huge for the breed,” added Johnson. “If ever we had a cow in contention, this was the one. People love her from all different breeds.”

According to Johnson, “this cow didn’t just appear” though. “Pistachio Pie comes from a deep-rooted cow family with three generations named excellent,” he added.

Sears, who raised Pistachio Pie from birth, said that it all started with her granddam, Pecan Pie, purchased by her mother and grandfather back in 1995. Pecan Pie was shown at World Dairy Expo several years ago, when she was named Reserve Intermediate Champion and Reserve All-American. The first of the Pie family, Pecan then produced Pumpkin Pie, who competed as the 2nd place spring yearling at the Expo. Pumpkin Pie and Four Winds Magicman then sired Sear’s ultimate dream cow, Pistachio Pie in 2002. Pistachio Pie, in turn, produced the high-seller of Guernsey Classic International sale at Expo, Indian Acres Challenge The Pie, who sold for $18,000.

“I know people dream of this, I just feel so fortunate to experience it at such a young age,” she said. “And to raise her from calf to cow and see her win this prestigious title is amazing.”

Rightly said, Sears and her Guernsey show cow Pistachio Pie are no strangers to the show arena. Pistachio Pie’s vast show winnings include being named the Supreme Champion in both the junior and open shows at the 2007 All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Penn., just two weeks prior to Madison, another record broken by the winning duo.

Also, Pistachio Pie was named the 2006 International Guernsey Cow of the Year; 2006 All-American and Junior All-American as a four-year-old, just to name a few. An avid Guernsey exhibitor, Sears, of South Deerfield, Mass. has been showing since she was three-years old at local, state and national shows her entire life, according to her mother, Carrie. She has raised nine All-Americans, including Pistachio Pie and today, she attends Cornell University as a freshman, majoring in agribusiness.

Sears, who grew up on a 97-cow Massachusetts dairy farm said she hopes to one day be an agricultural lawyer.

She credits her love and passion for the Guernsey cow to her mom, who also grew up on a Guernsey farm and encouraged her involvement with the breed.

Johnson said that Guernseys may be making a comeback in the industry, “we’ve seen a lot of functional trait improvements in the breed over the past five or six years and this cow is an excellent example of that.”

“People are excited that Guernseys are making a comeback and are now able to compete on the same level with the Jerseys and Holsteins,” Sears said. “Everyone has been so supportive, it’s neat being the underdog – winning Supreme – it’s really neat.”

To view a UTube video of Pistachio Pie winning in Madison, visit the American Guernsey Cattle Association website at www.usguernsey.com