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Program participants included: CentralStar Cooperative: Gage Nettrour, Bremen, Indiana, Kylee Stout, Waterloo, Indiana, Emily Middleton, Kingston, Michigan; COBA/Select Sires: Bob Campbell, Columbus, Ohio, Rob Watercutter, Houston, Ohio; Premier Select Sires: Luke Johnson, Harrisonburg, Virginia, Amber Kirk, Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania, Emily Lewis, Pylesville, Maryland, Vanessa Hostetter, Annville, Pennsylvania; and Select Sires Inc.: Darcy Krick, Highmore, South Dakota and Kayla McNett, Eugene, Oregon.

Select Sires hosted a new employee orientation and sales training February 23-26 at Select Sires Inc. headquarters in Ohio. Statewide safety precautions, including masks, temperature recordings, limited contact and added sanitation, were maintained to keep new employees and presenters safe.

“Orientation connects expert speakers with our industry’s future leaders,” said Joel Mergler, director of global talent development. “Select Sires’ orientation and sales training are designed to be collaborative and informative to help new employees grow in their field of expertise and identify profit opportunities in the dairy and beef operations they serve.”

The first segment of training includes facility and laboratory tours, as well as a virtual sire parade. Presentations from industry representatives and Select Sires personnel review the cooperative’s history, service programs, herd management products, the basics of genomics and genetic prowess. New employees learn about semen collection and Select Sires’ leading quality assurance and uncompromised fertility. In this era of data collection, employees are presented with strategies to enhance farmer-owners’ success, including diversification opportunities like beef x dairy. The second training segment features a professional agricultural sales workshop.

Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc., is the largest global A.I. cooperative and is comprised of six farmer-owned and -controlled local organizations in the United States. As the industry leader, it provides highly fertile semen, as well as excellence in service and programs to supply dairy and beef producers with the world’s best genetics.