Virginia dairy producer James Cook, the President of the Board of Directors for Select Sire Power, announced at the recent annual meeting of the cooperative that Select Sire Power’s successful sales year would allow $2.1 million to be returned to member-owners in an accelerated patronage dividend. “Select Sire Power has just completed the largest sales increase in our history, growing over 104,000 units in our Maine to Florida sales area. This influx of new customers allows the cooperative to be more aggressive in getting profits back to our customers,” Cook stated. The $2.1 patronage returns includes 50% of the profits from 2017 returned immediately to customers of Select Sire Power.
The meeting also recognized the accomplishments of retiring General Manager Norm Vincel. Vincel became General Manager in 2011 and oversaw a tremendous period of growth for Select Sire Power. During his tenure, sales increased by over 230,000 units and the cooperative was profitable every year returning $15 million to customers. He will retire April 1, 2018 and Chief Financial Officer Mark Carpenter will then assume his duties.
The cooperative also heard from Pennsylvania Alternate Dairy Princess Casandra Blickley, along with reports on marketing, beef, and the announced intent to merge with Southeast Select Sires. An annual highlight is recognizing the students of Select Sire Power customers receiving $15,000 in scholarships from the cooperative.
This year’s Wayne Dudley $3000 Scholarship winner was Jared Dueppengiesser of Perry, New York from Cornell University. Other recipients include Isabelle Leonard from Spottswood, Virginia, Stephanie Bishop from Delhi, NY, Emma Currie from Tully, New York, Sandra Krone from Fountainville, Pennsylvania, Willow Voegtlen from Columbia Crossroads, Pennsylvania, Kayla Windecker from Frankfort, New York, Justin Ayers from Annville, Pennsylvania, Mariah Casaday from Charlottesville, Virginia, Courtney Gould from Salisbury Massachusetts, George Lamb from Buskirk, New York, Jessica Skellie from Newark, New York, Sarah Thomas from Pittsboro, North Carolina, and Tony Rice from Mount Pleasant Mils, Pennsylvania.
Select Sire Power is one of nine member cooperatives forming Select Sires. Current sales coverage area is 15 states from Maine to Florida. The annual meeting reported a growth in sales to 1,541,574 units and 157 employees serving the member owners.
