Steve Chesworth from Dubbo said it was an overwhelming shock when their cow, Tomargo Recluse Stanley Starbaby, was named the senior champion female in the Holstein judging at Sydney Royal Show.
"It was a little surreal, we've been exhibiting Holsteins at Sydney since 1985 and she was the first broad ribbon we've ever won," Mr Chesworth said.
"Although we thought Starbaby was pretty special, we're always cautious because we've never been able to bring it home before."
Judge, Marcus Young from Ridgely, Tasmania said the Chesworth's cow was one he had had his eye on all day.
"She had that lovely high, wide rear-udder, tremendous qualities and an overall bloom through the udder," Mr Young said.
Mr Chesworth said they had an anxious lead up to the competition with Stanley Starbaby injuring her udder on the way down to the show.
"We were fairly concerned about her but now she's home she looking perfect," Mr Chesworth said.
The injury didn't affect the judging on the day, with Starbaby also winning best senior udder.
The champion's family had been in the Chesworth's stud since the herd was started in 1970 and she traces back to a cow his father bought from his uncle.
The stud is still a family affair today, with Steve and his wife Erika running 950 milking Holsteins with their son, Duncan and his wife, Danielle; their youngest, Campbell also helping out.
While, their daughter Emma and her husband Jim, manage the family's on-farm milk processing factory which produces their milk brand, Little Big Dairy Co.
Tomargo Recluse also had the honorable mention in the intermediate section for their two and a half to three year old cow, Tomargo Recluse Solomon Apricot.
"That was a really unexpected start to the day and that would have been enough," Mr Chesworth said.
The Walsh's from Jaspers Brush dominated much of the rest of the competition.
Their stud, Waljasper, given the ribbon for champion intermediate female.
Justin Walsh said the cow, Waljasper Sid Suzette, had a impressive prodigy, her dam named supreme champion at Sydney in 2016 and 2017.
Sid Suzette also saw her own success as a heifer, named junior champion at the NSW State Show and winning the All Australian junior yearling in 2017.
Mr Walsh said they were excited she had reached her potential as a milking cow.
The reserve senior champion also went to Waljasper, with Waljasper Frosty Lola, and the stud received an honorable mention for their heifer, Waljasper King Doc Suzette.
The Walsh's success in the breed continued with a heifer from another of the family's studs, Walstar, named junior champion.
