Edward K. Wittorff
Ed Wittorff of Wittspride farm, is this year’s Distinguished Cattle Breeder. He was born and raised in Davis, Illinois on the very farm his parents started in 1957. This herd was then relocated to Ava, Missouri in 1974. Following college, Ed went to work in the AI industry, KABSU, NOBA, Sire Power, then ABS. In 2003, he returned home to work on the farm full time. Currently, Eric and his son Jacob are helping Ed on the farm.
Wittspride farm began with Ed’s father Walt, Sr. purchasing a small farm, ten grade Brown Swiss and a few registered heifers purchased as 4-H dairy project calves for Ed and his siblings to show at the fairs. Other purchases were made from Larch Grove and Sugar Valley plus additional Swiss cattle at the Schneiderman dispersal. The majority of the herd today traces back to those 4-H projects. In 1973, Walt Sr. became a National member of the Brown Swiss Association and the “Wittspride” prefix began. The entire herd was loaded into a single truck and relocated to its current location in Ava, Missouri in 1974. More grade Brown Swiss were added to the herd and immediately entered into the “IE” program.
Today, with about 120 mature registered Brown Swiss and Holsteins, Wittspride boasts a Holstein BAA of over 109 and several 90 and 91-point Swiss on the premises. It seemed to take forever to get a cow to score Excellent, now high scoring cows are the norm. Very few purchases are made, only the occasional heifer going too cheap at the Heart of America Sale. It is gratifying to breed from within, to breed an All American 4-year-old, Tonja E94 in 2016. Several other cows have performed well for their new owners, and the type is transmitting to the next generations.
Type is important, but the cows have to milk to pay the bills, so production, components, and udders have always been the focal points. This philosophy and a little luck developed cows like Titan Beth “E”, a Missouri State Fair Grand Champion that sold at the Kansas National Sale and made a big record for her new owner in Colorado. Blend Debbie “E” graced the cover of the Select Sires Brown Swiss Website. Along with those two cows, the prefix Wittspride has went on to have several All-American Nominations and several with new owners that have went on to have great success in the show ring. The Wittorff’s get satisfaction from positive comments about the udders and dairyness of their cows.
The Wittorff family has always been involved in the dairy associations of the state and at National levels. Ed is now serving on the Board of the Brown Swiss Association of Missouri and has for numerous years. Eric’s son, Jacob, has become an active Junior Member of the Missouri Brown Swiss Association and received the highest Junior Award, the Charlie Voelker Memorial Award during the 2025 Ozark Empire Fair. Ed also has served on numerous committees and offices within the Missouri Holstein Association, as well.
The Wittorff family gives back to the community through numerous outlets. They have always been supporters and volunteers of the local 4-H clubs. They have all been active members in FFA and are still involved through Ava’s chapter, including the booster club. Walt also serves at the president of the Trinity Lutheran Church Council.