The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Nearly 20 A.I. technicians, sales representatives, Select Mating Service® (SMS®) genetic consultants, Select Reproductive Solutions® (SRS®) specialists, Program for Genetic Advancement™ (PGA™) coordinators, sales support managers and specialists and dairy analytics, information systems and administrative personnel took part in Select Sires' employee orientation held February 14 and 15 at the Select Sires headquarters in Plain City, Ohio. Employees from six member cooperatives and Select Sires Inc. attended the two-day event where they received superior education to better serve Select Sires' customers. Following orientation, a majority of the attendees participated in an additional two days of extensive sales training.

"Orientation gives our employees the opportunity to visit our facilities, view sires and connect with other employees across the country," said Lyle Kruse, vice president of U.S. market development for Select Sires. "This was another outstanding group and it is evident that our company is growing by adding enthusiastic and professional individuals who have the ability to provide our customers with outstanding service."

The participants were presented with in-depth information about Select Sires' programs including PGA, SRS, SMS, StrataGEN®, Aggressive Reproductive Technologies™ (ART™), CowManager®, Breeding to FeedingSM and Program for Fertility Advancement™ (PFA™). Instruction on the topics of reproductive solutions, fertility research, beef and dairy sire programs, cattle evaluation, herd management products and Select Sires' gender SELECTed™ process was given as well as a detailed tour of the Select Sires headquarter facilities.

Orientation and sales training participants included: All West/Select Sires: Brad Barham, Turlock, Calif.; COBA/Select Sires Inc.: Jason Blood, Linesville, Pa. and Terry Gowin, Marana, Ariz.; East Central/Select Sires: John Hulbert, Monticello, Wis. and Katherin Parsons, Portage, Wis.; NorthStar Cooperative: Dillon Beyer, Reedsville, Wis., Kassy Fry, Corunna, Ind., Shane Gearhart, Hermansville, Mich., Tianna Howe, Oshkosh, Wis., Kelly Raterink, Zeeland, Mich., Scott Shoupe, Peshtigo, Wis., Doug Swanson, Oconto, Wis. and Alex Zechiel, Argos, Ind.; Select Sires MidAmerica: Tim Hyde, North Logan, Utah; Select Sire Power Inc.-Jan Donnelly, Nichols, N.Y. and Select Sires Inc.: Eric Renner, Delphos, Ohio, J Spinks, Worthington, Ohio and Kandace Zimmerman, Columbus, Ohio.

Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc., is North America's largest A.I. organization and is comprised of nine farmer-owned and -controlled cooperatives. As the industry leader, it provides highly fertile semen as well as excellence in service and programs to achieve its basic objective of supplying dairy and beef producers with North America's best genetics at a reasonable price.