Denton Receives Kevin Boyle Leadership Award

by Brenda Brady, Senior Communications Coordinator, GENEX

How does a determined college kid studying for a career in music end up receiving the highest dairy leadership award your cattle genetics cooperative bestows? The story takes a lifetime to unfold for Mike Denton, who recently received the Kevin Boyle Leadership Award from GENEX, and the same ambitious spirit of that young man remains!

The year was 1974 and a young Mike Denton was following his passion for music on scholarship at McLennan Community College, where he joined a jazz band. However, a love for music wasn’t enough when he had the opportunity to return home to his roots on the family dairy farm.

Dairy farming is where Mike remained for over 20 years. Then in 1998, he became the first full-time GENEX employee residing in Texas. While his position title has changed several times during the past 21 years (currently Territory Sales Manager), his role has generally stayed the same and so has his passion for working with cows and people.

Mike worked closely with Kevin Boyle, whom this award is in remembrance of, and says, “During his career, Kevin instilled in me that our GENEX members and customers always come first.”

Dave Goedken (left), Vice President of U.S. Sales and Service, presents the 2019 Kevin Boyle Leadership Award to Territory Sales Manager Mike Denton.

Mike has taken that to heart and works tirelessly to serve the needs of each farm in his territory. The size of Mike’s sales area, encompassing central and eastern Texas as well as central Oklahoma, does create a challenge, but he has developed solutions and works with multiple communications channels to make sure he is staying in contact with customers.

While bringing knowledge and solutions to customers is his job, Mike says, “If I had been in this position before farming, I would have been a much better farmer. I bring insight to dairy farmers, but they provide me with so much more.”

Mike is willing to assist producers even if they don’t reside in his area. Several years ago, he was a part of an assessment team sent to the Dominican Republic to research dairy market conditions and needs. His work set the stage for an ongoing USDA project that GENEX is a partner in. The project works with farmers in that country to improve genetics and farm efficiency.

Dave Goedken, Vice President of U.S. Sales and Service, sums up Mikes service to GENEX, “Mike is the ultimate team player with a servant’s heart, who has earned the respect of customers, fellow GENEX employees and the dairy industry. His dedication to customers and to GENEX is second to none.”

About the Award

The Kevin Boyle Leadership Award was established in honor of Kevin Boyle, a former GENEX employee who demonstrated vision, devotion and pride for the cooperative. Recipients of the award exceed expectations in the following five categories: Commitment to improving dairy reproduction and genetics, willingness to help others, ability to provide superior support services, excellence in communication skills and positive attitude.