Jerry Emerich, Premier Select Sires Dairy Coordinator and Beef Specialist, retires December 31, 2024 after 42 years of dedicated service to the Select Sires federation. Please join us in thanking him for his contributions and dedication to our cooperative!
Jerry grew up on a dairy farm in Miami County, Ohio. He began his Select Sires career in 1981 as an intern at Select Sires headquarters in Plain City, Ohio. Upon graduation from Ohio State University in the fall of 1982, he was hired by George Miller to work as a sales representative in Minnesota. In 1984 Jerry returned to Ohio to work in International Marketing, which included administering the Select Mating Service® (SMS®) to customers in Canada and Latin America. In 1993 he relocated to provide SMS and Program for Genetic Advancement (PGA) services to customers in the northeastern United States, while continuing to provide SMS services overseas. In 2000, Select Sires underwent a merger with Sire Power, and Jerry became an employee of Select Sire Power. In 2009, he was appointed Northeast Beef Specialist in addition to his roles in dairy. In 2018, Select Sire Power and Southeast Select Sires underwent a merger and Jerry became an employee of Premier Select Sires.
Jerry is proud of his long tenure with Premier Select Sires and its preceding cooperatives, and he has contributed to the organization in many different ways. In addition to his roles listed above, he was involved in the rewriting of the SMS program twice and has served on the NAAB International Marketing Committee. For the last 10 years, he has helped to proofread the Select Sires beef sire directories before they go to print. Jerry has been recognized with several special awards, including 2013 Genetic Consultant of the Year and 2022 Beef Specialist of the Year.
Even when Jerry is not “on the job,” he is immersed in cattle and genetics. He and his wife operate a 60-acre farm, developing Angus and Jersey genetics.
“Our family has been blessed to have bred one of the highest lifetime-to-date Angus sires for beef unit sales at Select Sires, 9AN578 Augustus,” said Jerry.
Jerry says that the greatest enjoyment of his career is having a hand in the improvement of customers’ herds over multiple generations.
“They are milking better cows with more genetic value, all with fewer health issues,” said Jerry. “A great example is the evolution of Ideal Dairy Farm and Cookiecutter Holsteins in New York state. When I began working with the herd in 1997, they were milking 250 cows and participating in the Program for Genetic Advancement (PGA). Over the next 27 years, the herd has grown to over 3500 milking females, utilizing more elite genetics, and has gone from sampling young sires to breeding the next generation of breed leading genetics at Select Sires. That’s what I call coming full circle!”
During his career, Jerry has had the opportunity to travel and work in 23 countries outside the United States. He has helped countless dairy and beef producers reach their goals, and he has always been willing to lend a helping hand to his colleagues.
To his coworkers, he says, “Always treat your customers and coworkers with honesty and integrity and you will be successful in your career. We have a great group of employees at Premier Select Sires that I am proud to be associated with.”
“There is no doubt Jerry has and will continue to leave his stamp on the A.I. industry with the cows he has produced through his years of dedication to the SMS program with customers,” said Trever Babcock, Premier Regional Sales Manager. “It’s not hard to see the quality and consistency Jerry has mated into the herds he has touched. Jerry’s dedication to the dairy as well as the beef industry will be a legacy that is seen for many generations to come. Thank you, Jerry, for your many years of dedication and service to the agriculture industry. Enjoy the next chapter in life!”
In retirement, Jerry plans to keep busy on his farm, “hopefully breeding another ‘Augustus!’” He will continue in his role as Premier Beef Specialist on a contract basis. Jerry serves on several boards of agriculture and church organizations. He has recently made a four-year commitment to work closely with the All-American Jersey Sale and Show in Louisville, KY. When time allows, Jerry and his wife, Wanda, would like to travel out west and overseas, as well as visit their daughter, Katarina, in Wisconsin.
Thank you, Jerry, for what you have brought to Premier and the Select Sires federation over the years!
Photo: A great shot of Jerry evaluating a cow!
Photo: Wanda, Katarina, and Jerry, Christmas 2022
Photo: First place group of four females at the 2023 Clinton County, NY Fair (all Select Sires pedigrees)
Photo: 9AN578 Augustus
Photo: Dorado Golden Z Maria (EX-92) – Jerry and Wanda’s “most complete Jersey bred to date.”
5-5 305d 22680 5.2 1184 4.0 904
DJ Zuma x VG TBone x EX Berretta