We Are GENEX

By Huub te Plate, COO

Member representation at GENEX is achieved by dairy and beef producer members across the USA electing delegates and alternates for their respective membership region.

These delegates and alternates elect GENEX council members (also dairy and beef producers from across the USA) and represent members' interests at two important events during the year: fall input meetings and the annual meeting. During both events, delegates and alternates hear from and provide input to the cooperative’s council and management.

The fall delegate input meetings are always interactive. The typical agenda for the event includes a director’s report with financials, governance and strategic information as well as a management report focused on GENEX and industry happenings. For many delegates, the highlight is what comes next: input sessions where we ask delegates and alternates for feedback on particular topics.

This year, we asked delegates what sets GENEX apart, how do we want to differentiate GENEX and how should GENEX be identified as a brand? In essence, besides delivering world-class products and services, what do you want GENEX to be?

Your delegates’ top answers were:

1) Cooperative - Maintain our status as the top bovine genetics cooperative;

2) Quality - Continue to provide quality products and services to members and customers;

3) Reliable - This speaks to our knowledgeable and friendly staff and the dependability of our products;

4) Innovation - Research-based technologies should continue to serve us well into the future;

5) Service - Carry on the tradition of providing timely, resourceful and problem-solving service;

6) Affordable - Continue to offer competitive, cost-effective prices.

These six cornerstones were not surprising. Delegates (and members) value our status as a cooperative. Grassroot input is essential to any farmer-governed cooperative.

Quality speaks for itself; outstanding genetics as well fertile semen create pregnancies.

Reliable, knowledgeable, friendly, dependable staff – this is where we excel. While in a commoditized world product can be copied to some degree but having first-class staff cannot. Like a professional sports team, outstanding individuals can be drafted or bought, but it’s the team that brings home the championship.

Reliable, knowledgeable and friendly staff - that's what you can expect from GENEX.

Innovation is another area we take pride in. GENEX and our predecessors have established many industry firsts:

› Calving ease summary, herd life evaluation & total economic sire index

› Dairy mating system (MAP program)

› Pocket Thaw™ semen thawing method

› Chute-side beef reproductive service

› Dairy and beef sire fertility rankings (PregCheck™ rankings)

› Nucleus herd (GENESIS)

› Ideal Commercial Cow™ (ICC$™) index

Service. It was great to hear delegates comment over and over that GENEX is “more than arm service.” We deliver solutions as a service. Well-educated and knowledgeable staff provide answers to many issues. If answers were not provided on the spot, delegates reported excellent follow-up.

Count on the GENEX team of professionals for their quality work, dependability and dedication to delivering solutions.

Affordable. We have a challenging dairy and beef economy, and being cost effective is a must. Just a couple months ago, GENEX became a cooperative within URUS. The URUS group drives cost effectiveness in the breeding program, semen production and back-office functions. Just as you look at where you can become more efficient in your operation, so do we.

We have found our definition of “We are GENEX.” Directors and delegates have given us the guide to follow. I trust you will see the top six GENEX traits come through in our daily actions and communications with members and customers.

Count on the GENEX team of professionals for their quality work, dependability and reliability, and their dedication to delivering solutions as a service.