Frank Ulrick posthumously awarded
2008 Distinguished Service Award

Last year, the Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society created a new award to recognize members who have made a valuable contribution to the advancement of the Milking Shorthorn breed in Canada through leadership, excellence in breeding, and breed promotion.  This year, the CMSS is proud to posthumously recognize Frank Ulrick of Seagrave Milking Shorthorns.

Born and raised in Chisholm Township near Powassan, Ontario, Frank was a life-long farmer, taking great pride in producing quality product as well as breeding exceptional cattle.  He married his wife Carmel in 1952 and they raised four daughters (Ruth, Nancy, Margaret, & Joyce) and a son (Dan) on the farm.  Dan eventually farmed in partnership with Frank, adding the Nordica prefix to the herd, and Margaret married Fred Barrett of Oceanbrae Farms in Prince Edward Island.

Frank was an avid exhibitor of Shorthorns both locally, nationally, and internationally.  Over the years, Frank and family bred and owned six Grand Champions at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, including Seagrave Perfect Nadia in 1980, the matriarch of a cow family that continued to excel for several generations.  Frank and Dan also showed in the United States on many occasions, including the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin.  

Twice a President of the Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society, Frank was a long time Board member of the Society, and was committed to the continued genetic improvement and expansion of the Shorthorn breed.  He was also a great ambassador for Canada, as he and Carmel represented their herd and Canada at many American Milking Shorthorn conventions and events.  Frank also travelled to Australia to tour Illawarra herds and he and Carmel talked often about the hospitality they received from fellow Australian breeders.

Frank was often instrumental in starting several breeders with their first Milking Shorthorns, as well as serving as a mentor for those starting their herd.  He was a proponent of genetic expansion in the Milking Shorthorn breed, using the best red breed genetics to modernize and improve his Shorthorn herd while retaining the longevity and efficiency of production for which his cattle were often known.

The Seagrave/Nordica herd was dispersed in 2002, with cattle going on to improve numerous herds in Canada and the United States.  Frank passed away in 2004, but is remembered fondly by many friends and fellow breeders as a great gentleman with a keen love for the Shorthorn breed.