The boards of directors from Select Sires Inc. and five local member cooperatives have voted to unite the federation to become Select Sires Cooperative Inc., according to a company press release. The decision must next be ratified by delegates or member-owners from each of the five member cooperatives.
If approved, Select Sires will remain a farmer-owned and -controlled cooperative.
“The decision to unify is going to be a pivotal force for Select Sires. We have had a tremendous history of success, but we can’t lean on our laurels,” said Dorothy Harms, chairman, Select Sires Inc. board of directors. “We must move forward, look to the future and make changes to secure our position as the industry leader.”
As part of a strategic planning program that was initiated in 2016, each of the six member cooperatives and Select Sires Inc. signed a letter of intent that enabled the cooperatives to study the benefits, opportunities and risks of a potential unification, the press release states. Farmer boards from five of the six cooperatives, including All West/Select Sires, CentralStar Cooperative Inc., COBA/Select Sires Inc., Select Sires MidAmerica Inc., and Minnesota Select Sires Co-op, Inc., voted to recommend the unification proposal to their respective delegate or farmer-owner voting body. While the vote to recommend unification was not unanimous, Premier Select Sires will remain a Cooperative Member of Select Sires Cooperative Inc. and will have access to Select Sires’ genetics and programs.
