FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2015
Contact: National Dairy Shrine
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Wilson Named National Dairy Shrine Guest of Honor
Doug Wilson, CEO of Cooperative Resources International (CRI) in Shawano, Wisconsin, has earned the highest recognition from the National Dairy Shrine. The Guest of Honor award, presented annually, recognizes a contemporary dairy leader for outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the dairy industry.
“One only has to lookthrough Doug’s long list of accomplishments to recognize that he has been a leader throughout his career,” stated Keith Heikes, chief operative officer of CRI subsidiary Genex Cooperative, Inc., in a nomination letter for Wilson.
Wilson has dedicated more than 47 years to the cattle industry. For 45 of those years, he has served the members and customers of CRI, Genex and predecessor organizations. In his early days with the cooperative, Wilson worked within the dairy cattle breeding department. During that time he was instrumental in the development of the linear type evaluation system and led implementation across the industry, giving seminars in the U.S. and around the world.
Today he serves as the CEO of CRI, a holding cooperative with subsidiaries dedicated to cattle geneticsand reproductive service (Genex), agricultural testing (AgSource Cooperative Services) and advanced assisted reproduction technologies and biotechnology (MOFA Global). Under his management, the cooperative has grown to more than $191 million in revenueand more than 1,500 employees.
Wilson’s leadership extends beyond CRI. The dairy improvement industry has recognized Wilson’s abilities by electing or appointing him to numerous roles, including board chairman of the National Association of Animal Breeders, Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding and multiple breed advisory committees.
Neil Smith speaks on Wilson’s involvement with the American Jersey Cattle Association and throughout the dairy improvement industry. “Doug is a visionary, deeply committed to the development of the U.S. dairy industry through genetic advancement. As we at the Jersey association have experienced time and again – and especially as the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding has transitioned into its service role for genetic evaluations – he leads in the best sense of our industry’s cooperative heritage. His aim is always a meeting of the minds, something accomplished through his unique style of personal engagement and, quite frankly, knowing the facts better than anyone else around the table.”
In the broader agriculture and cooperative business communities, Wilson has been a cooperative leader serving on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives for six years, including three years as president. He also provided leadership to Iowa State University, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the University of Minnesota and the Wisconsin State Fair, among others.
For his contributions, Wilson has been recognized with awards and commendations such as the Wisconsin Honorary FFA State Degree, Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture’s Commendation Award for Service, World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year, Cooperative Builder Award and the Distinguished Graduate Award from Iowa State University.
Steven Larson, editorial consultant for Hoard’s Dairyman and former director and past president of National Dairy Shrine, sums up Wilson’s many accomplishments and contributions. “In his industry, in his state, in his community and in his family, Doug has always gone above and beyond the call of duty. Few individuals can match his record of achievement, recognition and dedication. He is more than fitting to join the ranks of National Dairy Shrine’s Guests of Honor.”
Wilson will receive the Guest of Honor award at the National Dairy Shrine banquet on Thursday, October 1 in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information about the banquet or about students, producers and industry representatives being recognized by National Dairy Shrine, please contact National Dairy Shrine at . Information on the National Dairy Shrine membership is also available online at Dairy enthusiasts are encouraged to become a part of the most important organization honoring our dairy heritage, inspiring future leaders and promoting the dairy industry.
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Pictures are available if desired. Please contact to obtain photos of the honorees.