WORLD DAIRY EXPO ▶▶▶ WDE recognises global
The World Dairy Expo recognised global dairy leaders in March this year. Here we talked with the 2022 recipients of the Recognition
BY ZANA VAN DIJK, EDITOR DAIRY GLOBAL Dairy Producer of the Year
John Ruedinger from Van Dyne, Wisconsin, US: Ruedinger Farms, Inc.
Ruedinger is a leader in the dairy industry not only on his own farm but also in organisations supporting his community and the global dairy industry. Ruedinger has served in leader- ship roles that placed him in the room during
the creation of Cooperative Resources International and URUS, a holding company with cooperative and private ownership. URUS has strong roots in the global agriculture industry. On the farm, Ruedinger, his wife, Karen, and daughter and son-in-law, Jamie and David Zappa, operate Ruedinger Farms Inc. together. The team’s 1,500-cow dairy has an average production of 90 pounds (41 kg) of milk and 6.75 pounds (3 kg) of solids per cow per day. Upon receiving this award he stated, “I am honoured, humbled, proud,” adding that he is proud to have accomplished being a successful dairyman and agriculture leader in the world of agriculture. “We are transitioning to the next generation with our daughter Jamie and David – always looking to the future to become the best at what
we do while maintaining a sustainable dairy business for future generations.” And what about support in the global dairy sector? “Being on the board of directors of Genex cooperative has allowed me the opportunity to work with dairy and beef producers in the US as well as many countries around the world. Through my leadership on the board of directors, I travelled extensively working with international genetics board of directors in France, Germany and the Netherlands. I have travelled to the Czech Republic and Brazil to talk about my dairy business and the challenges we face, hoping to help and expand my knowledge of the industry to local dairy farmers and cooperatives. “I feel very fortunate in 2018 to have been in a leadership position with- in CRI-Genex during the time of the merger of CRI-Genex and Koepon holdings to form URUS. This was an industry first, joining a US-based genetics cooperative with a private corporate business. “I have always been involved outside our dairy business with industry groups as well as cooperatives. When you combine the family dairy business to the family of industry groups and cooperatives, you create a bond among groups of people that forever change your perspective of the agriculture world. Working to create a sustainable future for those around the world is exciting for me.”
International Person of the Year
Mark Comfort from Cardinal, Ontario, Canada: Udder Com- fort, Comfort Holsteins and Comfort Tunis Co-founder and co-owner of Udder Comfort.
Comfort has been helping dairy
producers around the globe improve an- imal care with his naturally based products
since 1998. His testimonial-driven marketing spotlights individual success stories centred around Udder Comfort from World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion exhibitors to commercial dairy producers in 21 countries.
8 ▶ DAIRY GLOBAL | Volume 9, No. 3, 2022
In the 1980s, Comfort played an integral role in establishing cross-border relationships between Canada and the United States through his company Transfer Genetics, which became TransCanada Select Sires and was sold to Select Sires in 2000. Comfort remains ac- tive as a dairy cattle breeder through Comfort Holsteins and has bred a number 1 sire in Germany and Japan. He and his wife Bev are also sheep breeders with Comfort Tunis. “I was surprised and honoured to be given such an award. I have had a great team of people working with me the last 20 years, all dedicated to help dairy producers solve udder problems. There is no substitute for dairy producers to have quality udders to work with on a daily basis. Udder Comfort has been that natural solution reducing antibiotic use in 21 countries.”
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