Getting to Know the Premier Breeder of the Junior Show: Chase Rozler

Chase Rozler of Cowbell Acres from Canton, N.Y., was named Premier Breeder of the 2021 All American Junior Jersey Show. He is the 14 year-old son of Christine Sheesley-Rozler, (the 1989 National Jersey Queen), and Matt Rozler.

Chase and his brother Graham are no strangers to the green shavings in Louisville, having exhibited there several times since becoming Jersey Juniors. This year Chase was proud to have two class winners in the junior show. He and his twin brother, Graham, work hard throughout the year to exhibit their show string together.

 

How did it feel to be awarded Premier Breeder of the All American Junior Jersey show?

It was a huge surprise. I never expected to win Premier Breeder because I didn’t have four cows that were bred by me. My mom said it was a good habit to get in (filling out the form), just in case.

 

What everyday tasks went into preparing your string for the All American Junior Jersey show?

My grandma, grandpa, and mom take care of the cows every day (feeding and milking). My brother, Graham, and I help with chores when we aren’t in school or have football/sports. We had two cows in our string that had never been to a show before, not even as calves or heifers. They had to be taught how to lead and washed a few times before they went. Walking them as often as possible, even just for five or ten minutes a day makes a big difference and pays off by the time you take them to a show.

 

Tell me about the story behind the cow/s that won?

It was exciting to have two of my cows win their classes in the All American Junior Show.

The Summer Junior Two-Year-Old, Cowbell Casino D’Orsay, is named after a restaurant in Old Quebec City near the Notre Dame Cathedral where we went on a quick vacation right before D’Orsay was born. D’Orsay goes back to the first calf given to me that I showed by myself, Cowbell Guapo O’Reilly (she was a full sister to Cowbell Guapo Ricochet). D’Orsay went to every show this year with us after she calved at the end of June. She has become one of my favorites ever to show!

The Senior Two-Year-Old, Cowbell Shoes Cleopatra, was one of the “rookies”. She had never been to a show before we brought her to Louisville. (She still needs some leading lessons!) She’s one of my mom’s favorites in the barn because she is sired by our own bull, Cowbell Blue Suede Shoes (he is a “Verbatim” son out of one of her favorite cows, Cowbell Guapo Sneakers, E-91%). Her grandam was Cowbell Redwood Charity, E-94%. My brother and I were each given a daughter out of her to show when we were little. “Cleopatra’s” dam is Cowbell Impression Cairo-ET, she was Junior Champion of the N.Y. State Fair Open show when she was a calf.

 

What is your favorite memory from the All American Jersey show before this week?

My favorite memory before this week was showing my cow Rio in the National Jersey Jug Futurity. (Rio is D’Orsay’s grandam.) It was really cool because “Rio” was number one and was the first one through the spotlight!

 

What does a show day look like for you at the All American Jersey show?

Things really start to get busy the day before the show, with bagging schedules and making sure they’re all clipped. My mom starts pushing the cows to fill up on hay the night before the show. We are super busy the day of the show. This year, Graham and I didn’t go back to the hotel with my grandparents, we slept in the barn, and were able to help more than usual. The crew started washing and bedding at 4 a.m. The cows all had their grain and lots more hay and our fitter, Jasenko Gavranovic started setting toplines. We only had two calves in the string; the spring calf belonged to our friend Katarina Emerich, and Graham had a winter calf, and then we had a good break before we started showing the cows. Once the cow classes started, Graham and I were really back and forth to the ring and showing the rest of the day or waiting in line for pictures or the ultrasound.

 

How many people are behind the scenes and what are their different roles?

We had a fun bunch around our string this year. Everyone pitched in to keep the cows clean and fed or following with a poop tub to the ring. Our crew included my grandparents (Tracy and Carol Sheesley), my mom (Christine), my brother (Graham), Caylei Arnold, Elizabeth Hyman, Elizabeth Peila, Katarina Emerich and her mom Wanda.

Wanda Emerich has the most important role as head chef, she even brought us snacks in the ring! Jasenko did the clipping with his girlfriend, Hannah Nelson. A friend of ours from high school, Derek Morrill, had a Holstein cow in another string and volunteered to run a poop bucket for the day. We all pitched in when it came to show prep. It was a scramble when “D’Orsay” was in the ring and we had two cows in the next class. The crew was so big this year, Wanda made a spreadsheet for the menu/meal plan! It was nice to have Rebecca Ferry and her sister Sandy Scott near us in the barn, my mom said Becky kept texting her updates from the show ring.

 

Are there any traditions you hold at shows, especially the All American Jersey show?

Ehrler’s Ice Cream! Something we look forward to every year!

(There is a “tradition” of my mom saying we will get a “pack picture” (the entire crew in the pack with the cows) and it never happening. She did get one at State Fair this year, but not Louisville!)