Michelle Cornman of Select Sire Power was honored as the Select Mating Service™ (SMS™) genetic consultant of the year in front of an audience of her peers at Select Sires' SMS Evaluators Conference held April 24 through 27 in Wisconsin.
This national award is presented annually to a genetic consultant who exemplifies the qualities that make SMS known throughout the world as the premier mating program in the industry. The recipient must have years of superior service, a history of high-quality evaluations and the ability to build and maintain successful relationships with dairy producers.
Cornman grew up on her family's farm as an active participant in 4-H projects and dairy judging contests. In 1989, she was recognized as a Holstein Association USA Distinguished Junior Member semi-finalist and was a member of the winning dairy judging team at the collegiate competition at the North American International Livestock Exposition. Cornman earned a bachelor's degree in dairy science from Virginia Tech before beginning a career at Sire Power mating cows and working with young sire sampling program herds. She joined Select Sire Power nine years later, after the merger with Select Sires. Currently she is a dairy coordinator, working with dairy producers every day to improve their herds through corrective matings and managing Program for Genetic Advancement™ (PGA™) cooperator herds. She continues to own a few cattle and show them at various shows, serves as Holstein chair of the Premier National Junior Holstein Show and is an active member of the Pennsylvania Holstein Association.
"Michelle's passion for good cows, her customers' success and her team approach make her a valuable part of our team," says Norm Vincel, general manager of Select Sire Power. "Michelle takes each individual mating seriously and tries to create the best cow possible for the next generation. She works closely with technicians and sales people and from our customers' point of view, she is one of the most valuable members of their dairy."
Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc. is North America's largest A.I. organization and is comprised of nine 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.
5.19.2016
