27 Consecutive Years In the Black for Select Sires PLAIN CITY, OHIO, USA "Select Sires is stonger than it’s ever been," comments its General Manager, Richard Chichester. "Whether you’re talking about genetics, finances or marketing strength, we’re in a great position. In fact, this marks the 27th consecutive year Select has finished in the black. And we’ve done it by delivering a high quality product coupled with responsible cost control. These were Chichester’s opening comments in his report to the Cooperative’s Board of Directors at their Annual Meeting held in Plain City, OH on March 24th and 25th. He followed with his vision of Select’s future and the theme it must embrace for continued success. The future he spoke of will include new leadership as Chichester will retire at the end of this calendar year with the distinction of being the longest tenured manager in A.I. "Serving Select Sires has been an incredible journey," Chichester remarked. "Together, we’ve made a difference. Making A World of Difference William Thompson, Vice President - Marketing and Development continued with a report that Select had produced the best sales results in history. "The federation truly achieved excellence in 1998," Thompson lauded. Borrowing the words of Marshall Field, he told the group "'To do the right thing, at the right time, in the right way; to do things better than they were ever done before;’ these are the hallmarks of excellence." In presentating Market Penetration Awards for 1998, he honored All West/Select Sires, Minnesota/Select Sires and Prairie State/Select Sires for their leadership among members in dairy semen sales. Those posting the high marks in beef sales were Cache Valley/Select Sires and East Central/Select Sires. For the sixth straight year, the Select Mating Service (SMS), mated over one million cows in the USA with nearly 1.5 million recommendations in 1998. Global totals for the program reached an astounding 2.5 million recommendations. On the international scene, 1998 was another banner year with sales to 67 different countries and record-breaking unit sales. The young Direct Transfer Embryo Division also saw terrific growth thanks to the international marketplace, posting history making sales. Leadership Re-elected Select’s Board of Directors, made up of farmer-directors from the 10 member co-ops, re-elected its current slate of officers to guide the future of the industry’s most influential A.I. cooperative. Ohio Holstein breeder Charles Moellendick continues as President, David Timm from Oregon leads as First Vice President and Kentucky’s Charles Shackelford serves as Second Vice President. As is the tradition, Select Sires’ excellence shines true in the outstanding lineup of sires, the programs they offer and the people serving the marketplace. All three help the federation of 10 farmer-owned and controlled cooperatives achieve its basic objective: to provide America's best genetics at reasonable prices. Copyright 1996-9 Select Sires Inc. Last updated 4-Jun-1999. Web Site Design by Point & Click Software, Inc.