Joan Seidel of Fleetwood, Pa., was presented the 33rd Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award on Thursday at World Dairy Expo in memory of Duncan MacKenzie, the 1961 Klussendorf winner. While this year’s Klussendorf-MacKenzie award winner has an impressive dairy résumé, it is most important to note that Seidel exemplifies the standards that made Duncan MacKenzie the forbearer of this award.
Elite Dairy, Lylehaven Farm, Ruann Dairy, Pappys Farms, Cormdale Genetics, Snyder's Homestead, Brigeen Farms, Woodmansee Holsteins, Tumbleweed Farms, Green Meadows, Friendship Farm, and Pintail Point are among the farms that this year’s Duncan MacKenzie winner has worked for as she spends nearly 300 days on the road preparing cattle for shows, sales, and classifications.
Seidel’s story began on her family dairy farm in Avon, N.Y., when she began showing dairy cattle at age nine. As she honed her skills, she went on to win numerous All-New York and Junior All-New York Awards. As she transitioned from Junior Holstein activities, the 2024 Duncan MacKenzie winner hit the road as an adult working for Bennett Farms and Ruann Dairy. During those early days, she learned from great mentors including John Bennett and Lewis Porter.
With that experience under her belt, Seidel, along with her husband, Doug, formed the Camelot Cattle Company, where they ran a showstring together. Clients and their cattle benefitted from the excellent care Seidel provided, and eventually, those animals won numerous All-American nominations. During these days, the Camelot Cattle Company was known for winning multiple Herdsmanship Awards at Expo.
With character being an important qualification for the Duncan MacKenzie award, Seidel's personal attributes are many as this year’s award nominators were quick to point out that she gives freely of her time and skills to educate and mentor young people on proper care and presentation of their cattle. When peers speak about Seidel, she is recognized for the outstanding work ethic and attention to detail that she brings to each task.
The humility that she also brings to work is also undeniable; there is no task too big or small for Seidel. She never complains and is an effective team member helping in whatever task needs to be completed, whether picking up manure or fitting the cows before they go to the ring. People ultimately trust Seidel with their prized animals, and she treats them all with the same respect whether it is the local 4-H project or an All-American.
Above all, Seidel brings forth strength, character and an undeniable passion for the dairy industry. Those are among the many reasons that Joan Seidel of Fleetwood, Pa., has become the fifth woman to win the Duncan MacKenzie Award in the past 33 years.
