Remembering Ronnie Mosser

The USJersey family wishes to share the words read by Executive Secretary Neal Smith prior to the Max Gordon Award presentation at the 2025 National Jersey Jug Futurity in remembrance of Ronnie Lee Mosser, Geneva, Ind. The video that was played throughout the Futurity can be found by following this link.

Jersey friends and family, let us take a moment to honor the life and legacy of a man who meant so much to all of us — our friend, colleague, and an integral part of the All American Jersey Shows and Sales — Ronnie Lee Mosser.

On Sunday, October 19, 2025, we lost someone whose life was woven deeply into the fabric of the Jersey breed and the Jersey family. Ronnie’s love for Jerseys wasn’t just a career — it was his calling. For over 23 years, he poured his heart and energy into helping breeders around the world develop cows that were not only more profitable but also longer-lived and better balanced as a USJersey employee, but he carried a lifetime of  passion with him for the Jersey breed and the people involved with it.

When Ronnie joined our  team, he asked a simple but powerful question: “Where should I focus my energy to do the most good?”
We told him — the Type Appraisal Program.
And as he did with everything, he dove in headfirst. Within months, he became one of its brightest stars. Soon, he was training others, sharing his knowledge, his passion, and his trademark patience and humor.

It wasn’t long before he became Senior Appraiser, leading the program to record growth and popularity. Under his leadership, the number of cows scored annually more than doubled to over 115,000. He personally placed scores on 181,724 Jersey cows.  Ronnie knew cows — as well as anyone, and better than most. But more importantly, he knew people. He had a gift for connecting with them. He could score your two-year-old at 72 and somehow, you’d still be smiling when he left the barn. That was Ronnie — fair, kind, and deeply human.

Ronnie was also a star of the dairy industry working sales, shows, and through international travel. His enthusiasm was boundless, his curiosity endless. And when he was told that his passion, personality, and love for the Jersey breed made him a perfect ambassador for USJersey, he took that title to heart.

He truly became our Ambassador — representing not just the organization, but the very spirit of what it means to be a part of the Jersey community.

In times when there was friction between philosophies on breeding goals, Ronnie built bridges. His background gave him credibility on both sides, and his character earned him respect everywhere he went. He helped us all see beyond differences — to see the target, not the hazards — and to focus on building something better, together.

When we think of Ronnie, we think of purpose. We think of loyalty. We think of family. He loved his family dearly, and he loved Jersey people everywhere. Some will remember him by that famous coffee mug covered in Queen of Quality stickers — and maybe by the mystery of what exactly was in it besides coffee.

But above all, we’ll remember his heart.
Ronnie’s signal was always: “Lean on me. I’ve got your back.”
And he meant it.

He may have been about 5’5” and 125 pounds, but he carried an entire breed’s hopes and friendships on those shoulders. He helped us heal old wounds. He built bridges — and then offered to carry us across them.

So today, we remember Ronnie not with sadness alone, but with gratitude.
For his laughter, his guidance, his friendship, and his unwavering belief in what the Jersey breed — and Jersey people — could become.

Ronnie Lee Mosser was, and always will be, our Ambassador.
May we honor him by carrying forward the bridge he built — together.