By MELISSA HART
Michigan Correspondent

THREE RIVERS, Mich. — Terry Koebel has been in the registered Holstein business long enough to realize each cow is a work in progress, and mastering the art of black-and-white is a lifelong goal.

Because of his appreciation and dedication to Holsteins, Terry has garnered the annual coveted award of Master Breeder from the Michigan Holstein Assoc. (MHA).

Growing up on a cash crop farm with a grade herd of Holsteins in Three Oaks, Terry met his wife, Jennie, and began his quest for the best as she introduced him to the registered Holstein business. Jennie began taking Terry to registered Holstein sales, most notably the MHA sales. With his wages from Koebel Farms, he began investing in Holstein genetics.

Honing their craft together, Terry and Jennie began their mastery project, and not only developed a great herd of cattle known as Tri-Koebel Holsteins, but have raised three Holstein enthusiasts in daughters Greta, Ava and Tera.
With the motto “Mastering the Art of Black-and-White,” Tri-Koebel Holsteins have worked their way along the tanbark trail to the winners’ circle down, learning with each experience. Earning champion banners of all sorts over the years, their winning began with the opportunity to buy into one of Jennie’s parents’ cows, Kret-Mar Elevation Joanie.

Joanie became a foundation cow for Tri-Koebel and, generations later, Tri-Koebel Aspen Jolly was produced. Unbeaten in her first year in the show ring, Jolly was sold and ended up unanimous All-Canadian as a Spring Heifer. She has since calved in, scored VG and begun a new chapter as a brood cow. This was an exciting milestone for the Tri-Koebel clan, as they’ve worked to breed a desirable cow for the purebred industry – and even better, she traces back to one of their original cow families.

Another interesting milestone for the Koebel family was having the top seller at the National Holstein Convention Sale in 1997, when Michigan was the host. Tim Baker of Star Summit Holsteins made the purchase, which was a descendent of his own Star Summit breeding.

Last summer he stood second in the Michigan Holstein Futurity with an offspring of this convention purchase – second to Koebel’s winning entry, Tri-Koebel Everything.

Jennie said, “It was special to not only have the top seller when Michigan hosted the convention, but then to have a Michigan breeder buy her and then continue to do well with the cow family, that was great.”

Watching their three girls grow and develop into capable young women has also been gratifying for the Koebels. The oldest, Greta, graduated from Michigan State University and enjoys working with the show cattle. When she’s not making decisions about the show string, Greta is working for other breeders at shows and sales around North America. She helps her father with the breeding decisions and is in complete control of the show herd.

The middle daughter, Ava, has been involved with showing and participating in Holstein activities and is attending college. Tera, the youngest, is a student at MSU and also enjoys working with the show string.

“Tera is our PR person; she is good with the meet-and-greet end of things,” her mother said. “Watching the girls go out and scout an animal, buy her, bring her home and develop her into something successful is very gratifying, as a parent.”

The Koebels have been MHA members for more than 30 years and served as sale, show and membership committee chairs. Terry is the District 4 president and Jennie serves as its secretary. He has served as the sale committee chair and been a delegate to the National Holstein Convention. They are members of the Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan and National Corn Growers Assocs. and the Michigan and American Jersey Cattle Clubs.