Select Sires

Fickel Appointed
to USDA Advisory Committee

PLAIN CITY, Ohio, Nov. 4, 2005 — Jerry Fickel, Latin America Sales Manager for Select Sires, Inc., has been appointed to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products.

In this role, Fickel will advise Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman and play a vital role in shaping U.S. agricultural trade policies that economically benefit the private sector. The appointment lasts through April 2007.

"It is an honor for Select Sires to have Jerry Fickel chosen to be part of this advisory committee. His experience, knowledge and keen interest in agricultural exports will be valuable for all U.S. agriculture companies," said Lon Peters, vice president dairy sire products services, Select Sires.

Fickel was chosen based on his background in international marketing of products like semen, embryos and live animals, as well as his experience as an animal breeder. He is current chairman of the National Association of Animal Breeders’ international marketing committee and exports livestock through his own company, Agropec International Corporation. Fickel is also affiliated with the Livestock Exporter’s Association of the USA and Florida International Agri-Trade Council.

Fickel and his wife, Ana Maria, resides in Miami, Fla. They have three sons, Bertram, Daniel and Gabriel.

Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc., is North America’s largest A.I. organization and is comprised of 10 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.

Select Sires Inc., 11740 U.S. 42 North, Plain City, Ohio 43064 / Phone: (614) 873-4683 Fax: (614) 873-5751