Your cooperative’s member-elected delegates gathered virtually for the March 2021 GENEX annual meeting, where leadership shared the outcome of an unprecedented year.
“By mid-March 2020, the entire world was facing a new reality with the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Sander Flanderijn, CFO. “However, GENEX quickly took measures to ensure continuous production and supply for dairy and beef producers. And, as agriculture workers were deemed essential, our members, customers and staff around the globe recognized their calling and kept on going. Thanks to their dedication, we achieved record-level net savings and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.”
As CEO Huub te Plate took to the screen, he described the 2020 results as the cooperative’s best financial performance ever and then shared what’s next for GENEX.
“Your cooperative is as strong as ever. With a modernized cooperative structure and best-in-class semen production programs, we are ready to move into our next phase: expanding into new product and market combinations and leveraging our global network,” states Huub. “To producers all around the globe, we are committed to equipping you with the tools, team and cooperative for success in this generation and the next.”
A new generation of co-op council leaders announced
“In the past year, your cooperative took big and bold steps to modernize our structure and create a GENEX that will remain relevant to its progressive dairy and beef producer members and customers for generations to come,” stated John Ruedinger, GENEX Council President and dairyman from Van Dyne, Wisconsin. “Along with this modernized structure, came changes to your cooperative’s council.”
In 2020, GENEX transitioned from geographical membership regions to a 4-tier membership structure based on the amount of business each member does with the cooperative. At the 2021 annual meeting, the cooperative held the first election of GENEX council members based on those tiers. All nine council positions were up for election.
The producer-members elected to your cooperative council include:
Tier 1
- Jody Schaap, Woodstock, Minnesota
- Bill Zimmerman, Foley, Minnesota
Tier 2
- Israel Handy, St. Johnsville, New York
- Bobby Robertson, Tahlequah, Oklahoma
- James Loomis, Fabius, New York
Tier 3
- Tony Bakeberg, Waverly, Minnesota
- Casey Dugan, Casa Grande, Arizona
Tier 4
- John Ruedinger, Van Dyne, Wisconsin
- Anthony Machado, Turlock, California
Those named to officer positions include John Ruedinger, President; Bobby Robertson, 1st Vice President; Israel Handy, 2nd Vice President; and Casey Dugan, Secretary.
Thank you for your service to the co-op
As the new cooperative council was announced at the annual meeting, GENEX President John Ruedinger also honored the seven retiring directors who altogether dedicated 88 years of service to your cooperative and its predecessors.
“These individuals can be proud of their dedication to the cooperative and the accomplishments achieved during their time on council – especially the business combination that formed URUS and the cooperative modernization process,” states John Ruedinger. “Each individual brought valuable experiences and perspectives to board room discussions along with a commitment to setting the course for serving the next generation of kids and cows.”
Recognized for their dedication and service were:
