The Premier Pioneer, Summer 2019

SUMMER 2019

Imagine you’re buying a vehicle. You can buy a base-level model from a used car salesman who will get you out the door and on your way. It’ll get the job done, but when you pull off the lot, you’re on your own and you inherit the headaches that might come with it. And that can be costly.

A better option is to buy a vehicle full of useful options from the trusted dealership that will stand by you—providing the parts, services, and help you need throughout your car’s life—ensuring that you experience all the benefits of your investment.

care for healthy, productive animals.

As member-customers who Ride With Premier, we thank you for your patronage. It is our commitment to serve you as your trusted advisor and reliable partner, and we strive to help you experience all the benefits of your genetic investments.

Flip over to pages 4 and 5 to meet a few of our membercustomers and learn why they Ride With Premier!

That’s how it is with Premier Select Sires. By choosing to Ride With Premier, you are choosing a team whose commitment to you reaches much further than our industry-leading, highly fertile beef and dairy semen.

You’re choosing the Premier family, where we work together, grow together, and improve together. We care about the entire scope of your operation, and we supplement all of your genetic investments with the services, products, and expertise you need to create and

IN THIS EDITION:

Message from the CEO................................................................... 2 Breaking Down Language Barriers................................................. 3 Ride With Premier........................................................................... 4 What’s a BSR?................................................................................. 6 Cooperative News........................................................................... 7

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MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

by Mark Carpenter

Support your local cooperative and share in the benefits Every time you choose to purchase a product or use a service through Premier, you are supporting the cooperative you own, and you share in its success. These choices you make lead to return benefits, enhance future transactions, and build a stronger partnership for the future. As a member of the Premier Select Sires Cooperative you can be proud of our uncompromised commitment to your success.

Every purchase you make helps to develop, enhance, and deliver the products and services available to our member owners. The best part is that Premier is 100% owned by the member dairy and beef producers we serve. Every dollar we earn stays within your local cooperative and is put back to work for you. Your support provides members with opportunities to receive cash patronage distributions, affordable genetics, and quality services, and it supports agriculture in your community.

I am so proud and honored each day to work for you. Your success fuels our passion. Besides bringing you access to the industry-leading genetic lines of Select Sires, Accelerated Genetics, and Genervations, we also carry many proven quality products and supplies.

many similar products already in your operation. If we can provide you with an alternative quality product at a fair price, it only makes your cooperative stronger when you choose Premier. We’d welcome the opportunity to further introduce all we can offer the next time your Premier representative visits your operation. If you’d care to take a look in advance, our new website has a robust product section with informative descriptions that can be reviewed at www.premierselectsires.com.

Our employees take great pride in being your trusted advisor and work hard to offer solutions that fit your specific operational needs. We value our partnership with our members and welcome the opportunity to show you all the ways your cooperative can serve you.

Thank you in advance for your continued trust and support.

In a time where many providers in our industry are losing control to outside investors, we are more proud than ever to be true to our purpose and to be wholly owned and controlled by our members. #RideWithPremier

Did you know that your cooperative’s portfolio includes nearly 400 different products? These range from A.I. and heat detection supplies, cow and calf care, and udder health, to feed additives and parasite control. You are probably using

Follow our new BEEF Facebook page!

www.facebook.com/PremierSelectSiresBeef

FIND THE SEMEN STRAW

SUBSCRIBE TO PREMIER E-NEWS!

for a chance to WIN a special Premier Select Sires prize!

1. Find this semen straw hidden somewhere in the newsletter 2. Go to www.PremierSelectSires.com and click the“Newsletter Contest” button on the home page 3. Tell us where you found the straw to enter the drawing!

You may also send your submission in the mail. Write us a note including the following information: your name, account number, address, and where you found the semen straw. Mail it to the following address for a chance to WIN! Premier Select Sires Newsletter Contest Attn. Laura Ritchey 1 Stony Mountain Road Tunkhannock, PA 18657

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CONGRATS! Congratulations to Rodney Horst of Maryland, who was the winner of our Spring edition semen straw contest!

The semen straw was on page 4, on the roof of the house in the photo.

The next edition of the Premier Pioneer will be a special online edition. To receive Premier Select Sires e-news, please subscribe on our website using the link on the home page. www.premierselectsires.com

Premier Select Sires held a Hispanic herdsman training in February. Attendees and presenters, pictured above, discussed a variety of reproductive and management topics and enjoyed a tour of the host farm, New Hope View Farm, LLC in Homer, NY.

BREAKING DOWN LANGUAGE BARRIERS In February, Premier Select Sires held a one-day training in the northeastern territory for Hispanic herdsmen. The goal of the program was to educate attendees on how to become more efficient and valuable employees by offering information on a variety of reproductive and management topics.

Thirteen participants from two different states attended the meeting, representing six Premier Select Sires’ member dairies. New Hope View Farm, LLC in Homer, NY hosted the training.

Earl Ingram, Reproduction and Management Training Specialist for Select Sires Inc., translated each session throughout the day.

“We wanted to highlight some opportunities that employees could have if they work as a team, and to challenge their thought process on things they could do to make their workplace a more efficient and pleasant one,” said Ingram. “This of course, is to have Hispanic employees become more valuable to the farm in spite of their language and cultural differences.”

the sessions, and topics included “What’s New at Premier Select Sires,” “What’s New in Reproductive Management,” “Synchronization–The Pitfalls and Successes,” “Teamwork– The Building Block to Leadership,” “Reproductive Benchmarks–What All the Numbers Mean,” and “Beef on Dairy and ProfitMAX™–Why Do We Sometimes Use Beef Bulls on Dairy Cattle?”

New Hope View Farm, LLC graciously provided a tour of their operation as well.

Ingram said that an added benefit of the event was the fact that it lasted only one day. It was direct and “to the point,” preventing attendees from losing an excessive amount of work time.

David Whitlock, Southern Regional Marketing Manager for Premier Select Sires, also assisted with the day’s events and said that trainings like the one at New Hope View benefit everyone involved.

“As we continue to strive to add value

to our patrons’ operations, we have to find new settings to up our game,” said Whitlock. “Our recent training at New Hope View Farm was one of those opportunities.”

In addition to Ingram and Whitlock, the following individuals from Premier Select Sires were fundamental in organizing and presenting the training: Trever Babcock, Northern Regional Marketing Manager; Nancy Holmes, Area Sales Manager; Andrew Sutton, Reproductive and Monitoring Systems Specialist; and Scott Zehr, Reproductive and Product Support Specialist.

Ingram said that due to the success of this training, he foresees similar events in the future. He looks forward to finding ways to improve by adapting to the needs of farm employees and their employers.

“I sincerely applaud the initiative of putting on a Hispanic herdsmen conference, because it’s the most efficient way to get our message out to these employees.”

Several Premier employees presented

™ProfitMAX is a trademark of Select Sires Inc.

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Jay Wolff is a dairy farmer in Johnsonville, NY running a 300-cow Holstein operation. The farm was founded nearly 75 years ago in 1945, and Jay became the third generation on the farm after purchasing it from his father. He is married to Andrea Wolff and has two children, Kaleb and Karson. Jay’s oldest son, Kaleb, is particularly fond of “working with Dad,” and he spends a lot of his free time helping Jay on the farm.

Jay’s future goals include milking more cows, and maintaining profitability despite hard times through the use of high-quality genetics.

Jay works with Premier Dairy Coordinator Jerry Emerich, and Premier Area Sales Manager, Eric Lundberg, who also happens to be his cousin. Lundberg selects the bulls for Jay’s mating program, and Emerich mates the cows.

“I like working with Jay because we have the ability to get the good genetics and see improvement on the farm over time. We see the return that those genetics bring,” said Lundberg.

Photo (left to right): ASM Eric Lundberg, Kaleb Wolff, Jay Wolff

BRENDAN & ELAINE MARTIN

JAY WOLFF

Mount Solon, VA

Johnsonville, NY

“We RIDE WITH PREMIER because they offer a powerful lineup of bulls that combine the most economically important traits in today’s beef industry, including calving ease, growth, and end-product merit. They are also proud to stand behind their product and offer top notch customer service to all their customers.”

“I RIDE WITH PREMIER because of their high genetics. I want to build better genetics on my farm for the future of my son.”

Martin Angus, located Mount Solon, VA, is owned and operated by Dr. Brendan Martin, DVM, and his wife Elaine. Both Brendan and Elaine grew up on farms, and then met at Gardiner Angus Ranch in Ashland, KS while working as interns. They later married, and since 2015, the couple has been growing Martin Angus. They now have about 275 cow/calf pairs and sell bulls and bred heifers.

“What helps us is thinking outside the box and not doing exactly what our neighbors do. We want to capture value in what we do and capitalize on our opportunities,” said Elaine, when talking about how they strive for steady progress.

Brendan not only works at Martin Angus, but also runs Valley Herd Health, his veterinary clinic, and works as a Premier Independent Beef Sales Representative to help other producers benefit from the value of Select Sires genetics and artificial insemination techniques.

Brendan and Elaine say that producers, especially young producers, need to remember to think ahead.

“You’re in it for the future, not now,” said Brendan. “The mating you do now will stick with you for ten to fifteen years. You get through the hard years and think future-minded and it will pay off.”

The Martins work with their Premier Area Sales Manager Mike Marchand.

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Dr. Lee and Lori Duckworth are the owners of Grassy Valley Angus in Afton, TN, a family-run operation that traces back more than seven decades. They have three children, Ashley, Andrew, and Alexandra.

Grassy Valley Angus was founded by Lee’s grandfather, A.L. Duckworth Sr., and was grown by Lee’s father, A.L. Duckworth Jr., and Lee himself. All three generations have practiced or currently practice veterinary medicine. Over the years, the Duckworths have held tight to their family values while committing to the use of technology to improve. They invest in technologies such as A.I, EPDs, embryo transfer, ultrasound, genomic testing, and more.

Grassy Valley Angus strives to create practical cattle that thrive in their environment. Each April, the Duckworths hold an annual production sale, in which they have marketed their highperformance bulls and elite females for nearly 30 years.

Lee works with his Premier Area Sales Manager, Marcus Starnes, and other Premier representatives to get the genetics and services he needs to create cattle that will increase the profitability of the producers who purchase them.

JOY WIDERMAN Gettysburg, PA

“JoBo RIDES WITH PREMIER because Premier goes above and beyond here at the farm. Their exceptional people go the extra mile to ensure that we at JoBo are successful, from helping with our repro to excellent service, to great conversations on what we should use next. We can’t thank them enough for that.”

LEE & LORI DUCKWORTH Afton, TN

“We RIDE WITH PREMIER because they offer a wide variety of quality genetics and outstanding customer service!”

JoBo Holstein Farm, LLC is a 1,000-cow dairy in Gettysburg, PA. Joy Widerman is a partner in the operation, which was founded in the early 1970s when her parents moved from Lancaster County, PA to Gettysburg with their 35-cow herd. JoBo has expanded over the years into the progressive operation it is today. It is family owned and operated, and the partnership consists of Joy’s parents, John and Bonnie Hess; her brother, John Hess, Jr.; her sister, Josie Riser; brother-in-law, Dale Brown; and herself.

JoBo Holstein Farm strives to be a sustainable business that produces excellent products while maintaining efficiency and achieving maximum profitability. The ultimate goal is to create a great place for the family to work together and thrive for generations to come. The family finds value in staying positive and encouraging producers across the industry to do the same.

“It is important that all farmers work together and support each other,” said Joy. JoBo works closely with several Premier representatives, including Jeff Benedict, Area Sales Manager; Carli Woodward, Reproductive Specialist; and Michelle Cornman, Dairy Coordinator.

According to Joy, “We really feel that Select is a part of our success.”

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WHAT’S A BSR? INDEPENDENT BEEF SALES REPRESENTATIVES

TOP PHOTO (left to right): Brad Clark, Area Sales Manager for Premier Select Sires; Tommy Crawford, Crawford Angus Farm; Robert Dragland, Independent Beef Sales Representative for Premier Select Sires. BOTTOM PHOTO: Wista and Tommy Crawford of Crawford Angus Farm in Lewisburg, TN. Crawford Angus Farm, owned by Tommy and Wista Crawford, is a 390-acre registered Angus farm in Lewisburg, TN. The couple currently raises about 65 cows and 12 bred heifers.

Tommy learned how to artificially inseminate cattle from Select Sires. He strongly believes in the use of high-quality genetics, saying that Crawford Angus tries to breed with top bulls every year. This year, they have used a lot of semen from 7AN395 FORTRESS, 7AN394 TRACTION, 7AN528 GROWTH FUND, 14AN461 ACCLAIM, and several other Select sires.

“We do everything on this farm that we can to improve it,” said Tommy.

To Tommy and Wista, “everything” includes utilizing the expertise of their Premier Select Sires representatives— especially their Independent Beef Sales Representative (BSR) Robert Dragland.

BSRs are independent contractors of Premier Select Sires who provide customers with the same great service as full-time Premier Select Sires representatives. They offer field support, industry-leading training, and access to the highest fertility semen and most complete beef sire line-up in the industry,

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all the while developing their own business. Due to growth in the Select Sires Beef program, BSRs are becoming increasingly important to the Premier Select Sires team, which strives to provide the genetics, products, and services that membercustomers need, when they need them.

Dragland works as a BSR in Tennessee, servicing 35 farms across two counties. He has been in the A.I. industry for 40 years, 10 of which he spent with Select Sires. He has been breeding cattle since high school and estimates that he has bred about 150,000 cows in his lifetime.

“We couldn’t do it without Robert,” said Wista.

Tommy agrees, saying, “Robert is just always there with us anytime we need help. He gives us information on bulls, brings our supplies, and

services our tank anytime.”

Dragland works with the Premier representatives in his area, including Brad Clark, the Area Sales Manager of his region. Dragland strives to help his customers achieve success on their operations using his personal experience and a network of peers.

Dragland takes a balanced approach when helping producers select bulls and breed them, making him a trusted partner.

“Breeding bulls by the numbers is like painting by number. It’ll get the job done, but it ain’t artwork,” said Dragland.

Of course, motivated producers like the Crawfords make the job of BSRs easier and more enjoyable. The Crawfords are passionate about their operation and invest a great deal of time and effort towards producing high-quality animals.

“They’re a team and I think that makes lots of difference,” said Dragland. “There is consistent quality in what they sell.”

Premier Select Sires is committed to helping producers through personal, faceto-face relationships like the one between Dragland and the Crawfords. Talk to your Premier representative to ensure that you are taking advantage of all the services, programs, experts, and other resources Premier has to offer you!

COOPERATIVE NEWS HEIMBACH AND DELONG RETIRE Bob Heimbach, Reproductive Service

Earl DeLong, Area Sales Manager (ASM)

Specialist (RSS) in Pennsylvania, retires July 5, 2019 after 40 years of service.

in New York, retires on July 31, 2019 after 30 years of service.

Heimbach began in 1979 as a relief technician, working for a preceding cooperative of what is now Premier Select Sires. After about two years, he accepted a full-time technician position in Snyder County, PA where he has worked since. His area has grown to become two to three times larger than when he started.

DeLong joined the team in 1985 after about ten years of working as a technician for another A.I. company.

He first joined Select Sires as an independent distributor, and then accepted a job as an Area Sales Manager when a position became available in his home area of New York. He has served in that role since.

Heimbach has always held a strong commitment to serving others.

“You help enough other people get what they need, you get what you need,” said Heimbach. “When you go the extra mile and do the extra stuff you shouldn’t need to do, that comes back to you.”

“Bob has always paid attention to details and wanted to know the facts on everything,” said Brian Boyer, RSS Supervisor. “He has always wanted to do what was best for his customers with what he has learned.”

Heimbach was born and raised on a dairy farm and has had a strong passion for dairy cattle since he was a teenager. In the early 1980’s, he decided to start a herd of his own and purchased a few heifers. He says that his first experience shipping his own milk consisted of him milking three cows by hand and putting it in cans for pickup. Today, he has a 100-cow dairy herd.

In retirement, Heimbach plans to spend more time with family and traveling with his wife. He is also excited to have more time to dedicate to his herd.

“In one breath, I’m not ready to stop—I’ve built relationships with customers and they’re like friends and family. My job has been about making those guys profitable and being willing to listen. Not everybody wants to go the same direction. There’s a lot more to success in our industry than genetics.”

“We work as a team, even through stressful times, which farmers unfortunately go through too often,” said DeLong. “It makes it easier.”

“Earl is a team player and has always been willing to go the extra mile for a coworker,” said Trever Babcock, Northern Regional Marketing Manager for Premier Select Sires. “Anyone who knows Earl knows he can recite a bull pedigree back to its very beginning and can do this on any dairy breed. You just do not possess this kind of knowledge without a love for what you do.”

DeLong has enjoyed the challenge of meeting his customers’ different needs, and working alongside his coworkers to bring customers solutions to their problems.

“Earl was a great ASM because he cared,” said Babcock. “He cared for his customers and coworkers as if they were friends and family. He always kept a watchful eye out for his customers and steered them in the right direction if they seemed to be going off track. He was not afraid to give them his opinion but at the same time, and back it up with facts.”

In retirement, DeLong hopes to get back into cow ownership more actively. He said he is also willing to help out his friends at Premier Select Sires as needed with breeding schools and other events.

“When you work for Select, you never actually retire. You might just take a step back, but you still keep your connections.”

PLANET was bred by David Bishop of Doylestown, PA. Here are the Bishops with PLANET, celebrating his 10th birthday in 2013.

McAuley has provided more than 1,066,950 matings!

McAuley is an SMS Evaluator and Area Sales Manager for Premier Select Sires in the southern region.

Congratulations to David McAuley, who has been named the 2019 Select Mating Service® (SMS®) Consultant of the Year!

“His dedication to his customers is always apparent and his work ethic is second to none. He has been a mentor to many, including myself. David McAuley is a true asset and leader for Select Sires!”

-David Whitlock, Premier Southern Regional Marketing Manager ®Select Mating Service and SMS are registered trademarks of Select Sires Inc.

On May 14, 2019, the late 7HO8081 PLANET became the #2 lifetime selling Holstein sire with 1,507,309 total units!

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PREMIER SELECT SIRES, INC. 1 Stony Mountain Road Tunkhannock, PA 18657

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