WHAT IS PREMIER SELECT SIRES?

Mark Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer

In the previous newsletter we explained what Select Sires is and how it exists for the mutual benefit of the six U.S. farmer-owned A.I. cooperatives in the United States. In this article we will zoom in on Premier, one of those six member cooperatives—YOUR member cooperative—and how it is designed to benefit you as a farmer owner.

As you know, a cooperative is an organization owned and governed by its members. But what does that look like practically for your local A.I. cooperative, Premier Select Sires?

Premier provides a truly grassroots approach to its governance and direction. Farmer members of Premier have the responsibility of electing delegates from their geographical region to establish the governing foundation of the cooperative. One of the most important tasks of the elected delegates is to nominate and seat a board of directors to oversee and carry out the mission of the cooperative. That board employs a team of staff members to complete the daily functions of the organization and provide service to member owners.

Premier, like the other member cooperatives, provides marketplace protection for its members through many strategic methods.

Premier Board Members

One advantage of Premier is its shared ownership position in Select Sires, Inc. This includes exclusive access to the family of genetic brands, involvement on committees to present local guidance on strategies for the future of the stud, and investment in new research and technologies designed to enhance our offerings to member producers.

Premier also negotiates terms and programs with dozens of other providers of products, technologies, and services to create a robust offering of additive and supportive items that we deliver directly to your farm. Many of these offerings are very intentional to help our producers maximize profit by enhancing and protecting your genetic investments in your herd. Examples are Zoetis™, CowManager®, Agrarian Solutions®, SimVitro® Herdflex™, and many others.

Premier employs the highly talented resources to make sure our members receive industry leading support, services, and consultation to help assess how the products and services we offer can be tailored to each member producer’s specific herd and goals.

We are 100% owned by the members who use our services and buy our products. That means we have a very clear purpose in all that we do, and any excess generated is evaluated annually by the board to either distribute patronage dividends and/or invest in the cooperative to better serve our members.

We would like to thank you, our members, for being the most important part of the Premier cooperative!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kenny Taylor, President, District 4, Fayetteville TN

James Cook, 1st Vice President, District 3, Penhook VA

Jim Houser, 2nd Vice President, District 2, Spring Mills PA

Mike Saylor, Treasurer, District 4, Jonesborough TN

John Edd Harris, Secretary, District 3, Musella GA

Steve Craun, District 3, Bridgewater VA

Bob Cruikshank, District 1, Ogdensburg NY

Kelvin Hatch, District 2, Columbia PA

Jonathan Lamb, District 1, Oakfield NY

PUBLIC DIRECTOR

Tim Riley, Columbia TN

DELEGATES

Pat Ard, District 4, Ruth MS

Vern Buessing, District 4, Baileyville KS

Emma Currie, District 1, Tully NY

Crystal Edwards, District 2, Union Bridge MD

David Harvatine, District 1, King Ferry NY

Johan Heijkoop, District 3, Mayo FL

Joel Krall, District 2, Lebanon PA